68 year old woman sells everything for dream world cruise, Banned after complaints leak
Florida: A 68-year-old woman, who sold everything she owned to fund her dream of a luxurious three-year world cruise, has reportedly been banned from the journey after her private grievances were leaked, leading to claims that she was "impacting community morale."
Jenny Phenix shared with the Telegraph that she had sold her businesses and belongings over the past year and a half, eagerly looking forward to her new life cruising around the world.
Phenix, a divorced mother of two, had liquidated her businesses and possessions, eagerly anticipating her trip aboard the Villa Vie Odyssey. Since December 2023, she had been "living out of a suitcase," waiting for the ship's departure, which faced significant delays.
The problems started when the Villa Vie Odyssey was set to sail from Southampton, England, on May 15, but unforeseen issues during dry docking in Belfast, Ireland, caused delays. The ship had remained idle for four years due to the pandemic, which led to expired certifications that required the company to reapply.As a result, Phenix and the other passengers found themselves in a state of uncertainty for nearly four months.
With the passage of time, Phenix's frustration mounted, especially after it was revealed that the ship would no longer land at Miami, the city where she had planned to get the remainder of her possessions. Even worse, she was informed that the staff was still using her allocated cabin, so she would have to spend some of the trip in a makeshift one.She talked about the delays and unforeseen adjustments with other travelers in a WhatsApp group where she vented her emotions. However, these messages were forwarded to the ship's management, resulting in significant backlash.
This is the second time Phenix's dream to live on a cruise ship got shattered. She had previously booked a spot on the Life at Sea cruise, which was abruptly cancelled in November 2023 after the company failed to secure the ship, leaving her out $30,000 in deposits.
"I cannot even begin to explain the emotional devastation and the physical toll this has taken on me," she stated. "It is still very hard for me to discuss, as I had the same dream everyone else on that ship does, and they took that from me seemingly without a thought.I will have to stay with my daughter until I figure out a whole new plan for my life."
Kathy Villalba, the chief operating officer of Villa Vie, communicated to Phenix in a letter that her contract was being terminated due to "ongoing complaints and negativity." This situation had reportedly led to formal grievances from more than a dozen other passengers. The letter stated that her behavior had greatly affected the morale and well-being of fellow travelers."These were private conversations - I posted nothing on social media platforms," Phenix told the Telegraph.
Frustration grew among residents with each delay, and Phenix frequently voiced their concerns, receiving private thanks from others for her advocacy. Meanwhile, Mikael Petterson, CEO of Villa Vie Residences, stated to the Telegraph that Phenix had breached multiple terms and conditions despite signing a non-disclosure agreement.
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South African police arrest suspect in mass shooting that killed 12, including 3 children
Johannesburg (AP): A 32-year-old suspect has been arrested in connection with a mass shooting which claimed the lives of 12 people including three children at an unlicensed pub earlier this month, South African police said on Monday.
The man is suspected of being one of the three people who opened fire on patrons in a pub at Saulsville township, west of South Africa's capital Pretoria, killing 12 people including three children aged 3, 12 and 16.
At least 13 people were also injured during the attack, whose motive remains unknown.
According to the police, the suspect was arrested on Sunday while traveling to Botlokwa in Limpopo province, more than 340 km from where the mass shooting took place on Dec 6.
An unlicensed firearm believed to have been used during the attack was recovered from the suspect's vehicle.
“The 32-year-old suspect was intercepted by Limpopo Tracking Team on the R101 Road in Westenburg precinct. During the arrest, the team recovered an unlicensed firearm, a hand gun, believed to have been used in the commission of the multiple murders. The firearm will be taken to the Forensic Science Laboratory for ballistic analysis,” police said in statement.
The suspect was arrested on the same day that another mass shooting at a pub took place in the Bekkersdal township, west of Johannesburg, in which nine people were killed and 10 wounded when unknown gunmen opened fire on patrons.
Police have since launched a search for the suspects.
South Africa has one of the highest homicide rates in the world and recorded more than 26,000 homicides in 2024 — an average of more than 70 a day. Firearms are by far the leading cause of death in homicides.
The country of 62 million people has relatively strict gun ownership laws, but many killings are committed with illegal guns, according to authorities.
According to police, mass shootings at unlicensed bars are becoming a serious problem. Police shut down more than 11,000 illegal taverns between April and September this year and arrested more than 18,000 people for involvement in illegal liquor sales.
