'Never-ending' cruise where it will always be sunny is cheaper than buying a home

Ever dreamed of leaving behind your life on land to set sail on the seven seas? It appears that now you can - well, sort of.

Departing from Belfast on 30 May, the Villa Vie Odyssey cruise offers you a chance to escape the mundane realities of day-to-day life and live onboard, with some cabins costing less than the price of a house.

The trip will last three-and-a-half years and will dock at 425 ports in 147 different counties across the globe, perfect for anyone seeking solace from nosy relatives.

The ‘first perpetual world cruise’ will also stop at the various ports for between two and seven days, meaning the more adventurous passengers will be able to explore the far flung destinations without strict time constraints.

It will kick off with a tour of Northern Europe, before heading on to the Caribbean, North and South America, East Asia, the Pacific, the Middle East, Africa and back round to Europe again.

The itinerary of the cruise has even been meticulously designed so that it stays nice and sunny throughout the entirety of the voyage.

If spending over three years of your life on a ship is already making you feel a little sea-sick, there are a few different options regarding your length of stay.

The Villa Vie cruise will stop at 140 countries. (Villa Vie Residences)

Villa Vie offers passengers a flexible 'pay-as-you-go' option where you can join for certain parts of the trip.

The cost works out at $89 (£70) per day and covers your rent, utilities, food, travel, and entertainment while on-board.

Friends and family are also able to stay with you on your adventures, for just $33 (£26) a day per guest.

For the long haul passengers, the cruise offers the option to own a cabin from as a little as $99,999 (£78,300). For comparison, according to Zoopla, the average house price in the UK is £264,500 as of March 2024.

And if spending three years living away from dry land isn't enough for you, Villa Vie also has the 'Endless Horizons' package, offering 'lifetime access to an ocean view villa' and you simply transfer ships when the cruise does.

This costs $299,999 (£234,900) for one and $499,999 (£395,600) for two people.

The cruise will last three-and-a-half years. (Villa Vie Residences)

There is no shortage of amenities either, with Villa Vie boasting 'fast and reliable web access' for anyone looking to work remotely on the ship as well as a medical centre, plenty of entertainment and a retirement package.

And the ship itself features eight decks with three restaurants, five bars and lounges, a pool with two Jacuzzis, a spa and fitness centre and a library.

"Villa Vie Odyssey will be customised for her immersive, 3.5-year global circumnavigations, ensuring all the comforts and amenities of home. Named by the residents themselves," Mikael Petterson, CEO of Villa Vie Residences, said in a statement.

"Odyssey reflects the company ethos of creating a community to share unforgettable moments of discovery on an extended journey, connecting people, places, and self.”

See you all on-board!