The long-awaited departure of a luxury cruise ship in Belfast appears to still be in limbo as the liner remained off the coast of Northern Ireland this week.
The Villa Vie Odyssey cruise ship which was stuck in Belfast after its initial departure, having had to return due to a paperwork error, is still waiting to set sail on its three and a half year journey. The 642ft liner had originally been scheduled to leave nearly five months ago. There had been reports earlier this week that passengers were told they’d depart on the evening of Wednesday 2 October – but the Odyssey appears to still be docked off the coast of Bangor.
The Odyssey was supposed to depart on the 30th of May, but was delayed due to needing repairs. The highly anticipated cruise could cost up to £260,000 and has an “endless horizons package” that will allow passengers lifetime access. Some cruisers reportedly sold their homes to afford the trip.
The vessel is expected to travel to Brest, France, next and make several stop-offs before heading to the Bahamas. The luxury cruise offers rentals from 35 to 120 days, or villas can be purchased ranging from £90,000 to £260,000.
As passengers wait for the Odyssey to pull up anchor, the much-delayed trip has made headlines around the world. Here are some of the most noteworthy tales about those board.
Two strangers stranded in Belfast for months waiting for their cruise to get under way have fallen in love and are set to marry when the ship sets sail.
Gian Perroni and Angela Harsanyi were both meant to be on the Odyssey for a three-and-a-half-year cruise from 30 May, when engine problems forced them to stay in Northern Ireland.
But while staying in the city, they started dating, and found they “completely meshed”. Four months into their relationship, they’re engaged.
Watch: Luxury cruise ship passengers find love while marooned in Belfast
One person who will not be on board is 66-year-old Bonny Kelter. She paid more than £75,000 for a cabin but was one of two women who had their contracts terminated in July for making critical comments in a private WhatsApp group.
Nine boxes and two suitcases of her possessions are still on board – including an eight-month supply of medicines and a safe full of jewellery.
Kelter was unable to retrieve her belongings before returning to the US, where she is staying in an Airbnb in New York state, having sold her home in New Jersey.
She now hopes to reach a deal with owners Villa Vie Residences to board Odyssey later in its global journey. Ms Kelter said: “It would be wonderful if we can make this work so I can start living my dream.”
In a joint statement to The Telegraph, she and the cruise line said they were “working towards a mutual agreement and positive resolution”.
Holly Hennessy, 67, from Florida, a self-confessed “cruise addict”, who is travelling with her cat Captain, is trying to make the most of the ship’s time in Belfast but is eager to get to sea. She said: “I have always wanted to live on a ship, and it will be a dream come true for me.
On the weather in Belfast, Ms Hennessy told The Telegraph: “It hasn’t felt like summer. It has been winter as far as I’m concerned. I’m used to the Florida sunshine. I had to go out and buy vitamin D tablets.
She said Captain has enjoyed life in Belfast but has taken time to adjust to “the noise of a big city”. “He’s used to the water,” she said.
Despite having enjoyed her time in Belfast, Ms Hennessy said she was now eager to leave.
“I would have liked for the problems to be resolved in June, but now I’m just waiting,” she said.
While in Belfast, passengers have been able to spend time on the ship, which boasts amenities including fine dining, a golf simulator, and a swimming pool, during the day but must disembark at night.
Read the full story in the Telegraph here.
“Everybody is just ready to go,” said passenger Andy Garrison. “It got very frustrating,” he said of the delays. “What’s nice is the people are being really resilient about it.”
Originally from Dallas in Texas, he was boarding clutching a model of the Titanic, and wasn’t worried if other passengers thought it was a bad omen. “They may, but that’s their problem, that’s not my problem,” he said, laughing.
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