A luxury cruise ship’s long-awaited departure from Belfast still looks uncertain as the ship remains off the coast of Northern Ireland this week.
The Villa Vie Odyssey cruise ship, which was stranded in Belfast after its first departure and had to return due to a paperwork error, is still waiting to embark on its 3.5-year journey. The 642ft ship was originally scheduled to sail about five months ago.
There were reports earlier this week that passengers were told they would be sailing on the evening of Wednesday, October 2, but the Odyssey appeared to still be anchored off the Bangor coast at lunchtime on Thursday.
Odyssey was supposed to depart on May 30 but was delayed due to needing repairs. The highly anticipated cruise could cost up to £260,000 and features an “infinite horizons package” that will give passengers lifetime access. Some cruisers reportedly sold their homes to afford the trip.
The ship is then expected to head to Brest, France, where it will make several stops before heading to the Bahamas. The luxury cruise offers charters for 35 to 120 days, or villas can be purchased for between £90,000 and £260,000.
As passengers waited for the Odyssey to dock, the much-delayed voyage made headlines around the world. Here are some of our media partners’ most notable stories about this board.
Couple who met on a cruise were stranded in Belfast, preparing to get married on the ship
Two strangers who have been stranded in Belfast for months, waiting for their journey to begin, have fallen in love with each other and are ready to get married when the ship sails.
Gian Perroni and Angela Harsanyi were due to be on the Odyssey for a three-and-a-half-year voyage from 30 May when engine problems forced them to remain in Northern Ireland.
But while they were staying in the city, they started dating and found they were “completely entwined.” They got engaged four months into their relationship.
Watch: Luxury cruise ship passengers find love while stranded in Belfast
Two women kicked off dream ship ‘due to complaints made on passenger WhatsApp group’
One of the people who will not be on the ship is 66-year-old Bonny Kelter. She paid more than £75,000 for a cabin but was one of two women whose contracts were terminated in July after she made critical comments in a private WhatsApp group.
Nine boxes and two suitcases of items, including eight months’ worth of medicine and a case full of jewelry, are still on board.
Kelter was unable to collect his belongings before selling his home in New Jersey and returning to the United States, where he stayed in an Airbnb in New York state.
He now hopes to reach an agreement with the owners of Villa Vie Residences to board the Odyssey later on its global voyage. Ms Kelter said: “It would be great if we could make this work so I can start living my dreams.”
In a joint statement for TelegramHe said he and the cruise line were “working towards a mutual agreement and positive resolution.”
Florida ‘ship enthusiast’ boards the Belfast ship with his pet cat
Florida native Holly Hennessy, 67, a self-described “cruise junkie” who travels with her cat Captain, is trying to make the most of the ship’s time in Belfast but is dying to get out to sea. He said: “I have always wanted to live on a ship and this will be a dream come true for me.
Of the weather in Belfast, Ms Hennessy told The Telegraph: “It didn’t feel like summer. To me it was winter. I’m used to Florida sunshine. I had to go out and buy vitamin D tablets.
He said the Captain was enjoying life in Belfast but was taking time to get used to the “noise of the big city”. “He’s used to water,” he said.
Ms Hennessy said although she had enjoyed her time in Belfast, she was now keen to leave.
“I wish the problems would be resolved in June, but now I’m waiting,” he said.
While in Belfast, passengers can spend time on the ship, which has amenities such as fine dining, a golf simulator and a swimming pool, during the day, but they must disembark at night.
Read the full story in the Telegraph here.
Passenger panels with Titanic model
“Everybody’s ready to go,” said passenger Andy Garrison. “It’s been very frustrating,” he said of the delays. “The nice thing is that people are really resilient about it.”
He was originally from Dallas, Texas, and was boarding the plane with a model of the Titanic in his hand, unconcerned that other passengers would think it was a bad omen. “Maybe, but that’s their problem, it’s not my problem,” he said, laughing.
Read the full story from Sky News here.
Click below to see the latest Northern Ireland headlines