World
September 19, 2024 15:13
florida, usa - A 68-year-old woman from Florida who sold all her possessions to travel around the world for three years has been told she is no longer welcome aboard the cruise ship after some critical WhatsApp messages leaked.
Jenny Phenix, a divorced mother of two from Florida, sold everything she owned in pursuit of the dream cruise, which would cost her about $350,000. She said she was banned from the ship after some critical WhatsApp messages were leaked.
Villa Vie Residences purchased the 30-year-old cruise ship MS Braemar and planned to start an 'infinite cruise' this spring, taking the 924 passengers on a 3.5-year journey around the world with 150 stops. 'Our goal is to make life on a cruise ship a lifestyle and a permanent residence,' said Villa Vie CEO Mikael Petterson, targeting retirees and remote working business executives.
The price tag for the onboard lifestyle? Starting from 81 euros per person per day, passengers get accommodation, food and drinks, bi-weekly laundry service, and internet - excluding excursions and extras. The (cheapest) trip around the world amounts to about 105,000 euros.
Interested parties can choose the cheapest cabin with a virtual window to the outside world for 81 euros per day. A 'villa' with a water view costs 108 euros per day, while a 'villa' with a terrace can be reserved from 181 euros per day. Passengers can enjoy three restaurants, a large pool with four jacuzzis, and a space for live music performances and movie screenings.
However, the dream journey did not go completely smoothly. Passengers of the cruise ship were stuck in Belfast for months this summer. The ship was supposed to leave the city on May 30, but due to various problems with the rudders and gearbox, passengers had to remain in the Northern Irish capital.
Jenny Phenix planned to make a stop in Miami along the way to pick up some items for the rest of the cruise. Due to ongoing delays, she informed her fellow passengers in a WhatsApp group that the ship would no longer dock in Miami. She also expressed concerns about her cabin, which was still being used by the crew at the time. After an employee of Villa Vie Residences saw the messages, the woman was informed that her trip was canceled due to 'inappropriate behavior.'
Operational Director Kathy Villalba of Villa Vie Residences informed the woman that employees 'received more than ten formal complaints from passengers about her complaints and negativity.' The behavior of the American 'has had a significant impact on the morale and well-being of the other passengers,' it said. For this reason, the company decided to terminate the contract and cancel the holiday.
'I wasn't rude or disrespectful, and I never engaged in personal attacks,' Jenny Phenix told the Daily Mail. 'They were private conversations, and I never posted messages on social media platforms.'