Villa Vie CEO Kathy Villalba’s Deleted Apology to Odyssey Residents: ‘I Still Don’t Want This to Be the End’

Villa Vie Residences CEO Kathy Villalba issued a now-deleted apology to residents of the Odyssey cruise ship, acknowledging the pain they have faced amid ongoing delays and uncertainty. In the message, Villalba expressed remorse for the situation, telling residents, 'I still don't want this to be the end,' signaling her desire to salvage the embattled residential cruise project. The apology came after months of frustration from passengers who had purchased long-term cabins but remained stuck in port due to mechanical and regulatory setbacks. Villalba’s note, which was shared with residents before being removed, highlights the growing tension between the company’s leadership and its customers, many of whom have invested significant savings into the promise of a life at sea. The deletion of the message has only fueled further speculation about the company’s stability and transparency. As Villa Vie Residences works to get the Odyssey underway, the incident underscores the challenges facing the residential cruise model and the trust gap that must be bridged for the venture to succeed.