SKIP FORWARD - Booking a Four-Year "Anti-Trump Cruise"

Christian Klumpp

The four-year "Skip Forward" package offered by a cruise provider leaves no doubt as to its target audience: it is aimed at anyone who wants to escape the Trump years.

Donald Trump is returning to the White House. For those dreading the upcoming four years, they can board the cruise ship “Villa Vie Odyssey” and sit out Trump's presidency. With an ironic jab at the coming term, the four-year cruise, which is to sail around the world, is called "Skip Forward"—essentially, "Fast Forward."

What is meant by this seems clear, even though the press release from the luxury travel provider VILLA VIE RESIDENCES does not explicitly state that their product is intended for Trump haters. After all, they also offer other packages, such as the one-year cruise "Escape from Reality" or the three-year "Everywhere but Home" tour.

NOT A BARGAIN

However, the experience is far from cheap. One should have a cool $255,999 (per person) saved up to afford the "Fast Forward" cruise. Over the course of approximately four years, a total of 425 ports in 147 countries will be visited. The ship can accommodate up to 600 anti-Trump passengers. For those wishing to bring a partner, a double room can be booked for a modest $160,000 per person. For such high sums, the provider promises that the passengers' culinary needs will be well taken care of. After all, the tickets include meals for four years. The ship features 485 cabins, three restaurants, eight bars, four lounges, an expanded pool with four whirlpools, a spa and fitness center, and a well-equipped library.

The “Villa Vie Odyssey” is an older ship, originally launched in 1993 as the “Crown Dynasty” by Cunard. It was extensively renovated before being incorporated into the fleet of luxury cruise line Fred Olsen Cruises in 2001. In 2023, it underwent another complete overhaul to operate as a cruise ship with living quarters. The ship is registered in Nassau, Bahamas, and the operator is based in Florida.

The ship will circle the South American continent from the Pacific to the Atlantic in early 2025, return to the Caribbean, pass through the Panama Canal, and head through Central America to California, Hawaii, and Alaska by summer. In the fall, it will head towards Asia and reach Australia in early November, before spending a large part of the following winter in French Polynesia, the Cook Islands, and the Fiji Islands.

Back in December 2023, the provider made headlines when it offered a three-and-a-half-year cruise on the Villa “Vie Odyssey”. Apparently, the plan did not go as expected, and there is still space for 600 passengers who are dissatisfied with the incoming US government.

Pics by: villavieresidence