larryf@happy-wanderers.com
Information on this website is our opinion only. This site was created to help others considering this wonderful lifestyle, and for our own use.
Anchors Away! Next Stop - Everywhere!
As I write this, we've past our 100-days at sea anniversary. In the past 100+ days, we've visited 7 countries and stopped at 19 different ports. Time has gone by quickly, even the cruising days at sea. Lately, I've upped my social presence. Normally, Connie's the "Social Butterfly" in our family. With her being off ship, I've forced myself to step up and try to meet more people and ...
In my previous blog, I jokingly mentioned my confusion about using the term "sailing". A reader, who has been a mariner for over 45 years emailed me and let me know that the correct nautical term is "steaming". This is also funny and outdated, as I don't think there are many ships powered by steam anymore. I may stick with the incorrect nautical term of "cruising". Below, you'l...
We continue to float/sail around the Indonesian islands slowly. Why do they call it "sail" when we use engines and not sails? I guess "engining" around the ocean would sound funny. What would you call it? Maybe cruising the Indonesian islands? We recently picked up a bunch of new residents, and some that have already been onboard and are returning. Lately, I've been trying to be more sociable...
Before I get to the travel logs, I thought I would share a little bit about how our life on the Villa Vie Odyssey has been going. In a couple words - pretty good. Since we arrived in Bali, Indonesia, we haven't had as many "sea days", where we slowly head to the next port. The new routine has been spending 2 to 4 days at a port, travel for a day or two then spend another 2 to 4 days at the next po...
With the events taking place in the world, fuel prices have sky-rocketed and are becoming scarce. At least in Asia and Australia, fuel is getting hard to find. Australia imposed a restriction on providing fuel to "foreign" vessels. They're giving priority to domestic ships, which caused the Odyssey to re-evaluate our travel plans. Since fuel wasn't going to be available in Darwin, we did...
In 2004, when we started travelling fulltime in a motorhome, I wrote an article about "slowing down" and enjoying life. Now that we're cruising fulltime, this philosophy is being applied every day to the maximum. Not only as a philosophy, but also literally! The ship usually cruises at less than 10 knots. This is less than 12mph. I look out over the ocean and can spen...
The sailing to New Zealand from Australia went smoothly. However, we quickly got our indoctrination into this groundbreaking method of cruising. The Villa Vie Odyssey is a "proof of concept" for the idea of living fulltime on a cruise ship, sailing around the world. The Odyssey has only been sailing as a "residential" ship for 15 months. This is her first trip around the world and new lessons...
It was a long flight from Los Angeles to Sydney, Australia. We time traveled to the future, as we left late at night on Feb. 17th, flew for 15 hours, but arrived the morning of Feb. 19th! Since we arrived in the morning, we were concerned about what to do with our 6 cases of luggage! We didn't think the hotel would let us check-in this early, so we hoped they had a place to store ou...
With about 6-weeks left until we embark on our new adventure, we're trying to take care of last issues, and thinking of what we're forgetting. Cruising fulltime on the Villa Vie Odyssey brings up several logistical challenges. Luckily, many other people have been on the Odyssey for over a year, and Villa Vie Residences has figured out how to handle some of these ...
New Villa Vie Odyssey 5-Year Purchase Plan We bought a "Porthole Cabin" on the Villa Vie Odyssey. After we're onboard and see our cabin and if we don't like the porthole cabin, we have the option to upgrade to a full window cabin for a little more cost. Our purchase of the cabin is for 15+ years, or the life of the ship. However, Villa Vie recently came out with a new 5-year purchas...
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