What we know as much-delayed Belfast cruise ship finally sets sail

Passengers on board the round-the-world cruise ship that has been stuck in Belfast for nearly five months are celebrating after the Villa Vie Odyssey finally set sail.

However, in a last-minute twist to the ongoing saga, the liner that was originally due to head to Hunterston in Scotland to refuel is now heading straight to France, with Villa Vie Residences chief executive confirming: “We have enough fuel to make the journey."

Travellers on the luxury liner thought they had waved goodbye to the Northern Irish capital for good on Monday, only to be told they would be heading back to dry land on Tuesday, when bosses were told to head back to complete some unfinished paperwork.

But the cruise ship remained just a few miles off the Co Down coast on Tuesday and on Wednesday before finally setting off on Thursday, with Petterson saying the ship was now “fully certified without conditions”.

Passenger Holly Hennessey declared: “Hallelujah! All of us are beyond words, delighted, and the celebration is already under way.”

The liner was stranded in the city in May, when unexpected repairs forced passengers to spend much of their time off the ship in Belfast and the rest of Northern Ireland.

Why was the Villa Vie Odyssey delayed?

The Odyssey's departure will come as a relief to its 125 passengers, whose once-in-a-lifetime round-the-world trip has been beset by problems.

The ship was supposed to set sail from Belfast on 30 May, but was delayed by nearly five months because of issues with its rudders and gearbox that needed to be repaired.

It is scheduled to visit 425 ports in 147 counties across three-and-a-half years, a feat it will repeat for the next 15 years.

Having finally departed on Thursday, 3 October, it was due to overnight in Ayrshire, Scotland, to refuel before setting sail to Brest in France and eventually onwards to the Bahamas, via other stops.

However, it changed direction as headed to France as scheduled, with Petterson confirming: “We have enough fuel to make the journey."

During the five-month wait, some passengers decided to catch the ship elsewhere later and returned home, although some had reportedly sold theirs to fund their trip.

One couple, John and Melody Hennessee, spent the wait time converting their three cabins into a two-bedroom, two-bathroom suite.

Two other passengers – Angela Harsanyi, 53, from Colorado in the US and Gian Perroni, 62, from Vancouver in Canada, got engaged after getting to know each other while walking around the ship.

Another couple, Melody and John Hennessee, from Palm Beach in Florida, have said they plan to remain on cruise ships for the rest of their lives.

During the months-long delay, passengers were able to spend time on board during the day but had to disembark in the evenings to stay in hotels. Others used the time to travel around Northern Ireland.

The cruise offers rentals that last from 35 up to 120 days or a villa on board can be purchased, ranging in price from £90,000 to £260,000.

On Tuesday, 1 October, chief executive of Villa Vie Residences, Mike Petterson, said the cruise ship had to complete administrative paperwork before it could finally depart to undertake its three-year round-the-world cruise.

He said passengers would not disembark when the ship returned to port and the liner would leave when the paperwork was completed before midnight.

When the Odyssey finally set sail to Scotland two days later, Petterson said the ship was “fully certified without conditions”.

What have passengers said?

When the ship was anchored off Northern Ireland, passenger Donna Martemucci told the BBC, who approached the liner via a boat, that people were “drinking and partying on board”.

“We know it’s going to happen eventually, we’re not exactly sure when, but we know it’s going to be soon,” she said.

Many of the passengers thanked the Northern Irish capital for hosting them for many months, praising the people and the many pubs the city has to offer.

Andy Garrison, 75, who carried a self-assembled model of the Titanic said he will be on board for at least three-and-a-half years, said he arrived in Belfast for what he thought was three days in August and ended up there for six weeks.

He said passengers had been “resilient” in waiting for the repairs to be completed and described them as a “really nice group”.

He said: “I like Belfast a lot actually, I would stay here and enjoy myself except I’m leaving on a ship."

Cyndi Grzybowski, 69, from Appling, Georgia, said: “We started out as strangers in Southampton and Belfast and now we truly are family. Thank you all so very much – truly, Belfast has been such a wonderful place. I have so enjoyed every minute here.”

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