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Luxury Cruise Ship Villa Vie Odyssey Faces Continued Delays Off Northern Ireland Coast
The luxury cruise ship Villa Vie Odyssey, which has been stranded off the coast of Northern Ireland for four months, remains anchored after two unsuccessful attempts to commence its long-awaited round-the-world voyage. Originally scheduled to embark on a three-and-a-half-year journey on May 30, the ship encountered unexpected repair issues that left its 125 passengers marooned in Belfast throughout the summer.
On Monday night, passengers were finally allowed to board the vessel, igniting hopes of departure. However, shortly after boarding, the ship dropped anchor just a few miles away at the entrance of Belfast Lough, where it has remained since. The operator, Villa Vie Residences, announced that “some administrative paperwork” needed to be finalized before the ship could leave the Belfast area, with a new departure time set for Tuesday night at 11 PM. Yet, as of Wednesday morning, the ship was still in place.
The Villa Vie Odyssey, now 31 years old and inactive for four years prior to its acquisition by the cruise company, is expected to set sail later today according to updates from Belfast Harbour. Passengers who have spent the last two nights onboard shared an optimistic atmosphere with reporters. Gian Perroni and Angie Harsanyi expressed that they were merely waiting for final certification to be completed.
As they prepared to leave Belfast behind, many passengers reflected on their time in the city. One man proudly carried a model of the Titanic onboard and expressed his enjoyment of Belfast but was eager to continue his journey. A woman from Georgia remarked that she had always dreamed of seeing the world but felt grateful for Belfast’s hospitality, calling it “a wonderful place.” Notably, one couple even got engaged while waiting for their cruise to begin.
John Frim, another passenger, admitted to feeling somewhat “confused” by the ongoing situation but was pleased to have spent his first nights onboard in his “own bed.” Seventy-five-year-old Andy Garrison commented on the resilience of his fellow passengers during their extended wait for repairs. While he appreciated his time in Belfast, he expressed excitement about finally setting sail.
The cruise itinerary includes stops in Brest, France, followed by Spain and Portugal before heading across the Atlantic to the Bahamas, where they will spend an extended period. Despite the delays and challenges faced over the past months, passengers are ready to embrace their long-anticipated adventure at sea.