Passengers of a ‘cursed’ cruise ship who were left stranded in Belfast for four months are hoping to finally hop aboard tonight as they set off on a three year, all-inclusive global voyage.
The swanky Villa Vie Residences’ Odyssey was supposed to set sail in May but has been dogged by a series of issues, from broken rudders and a faulty gearbox to steel works and engine problems.
It left globetrotters who are paying £27,000-a-month for their new onboard cabins abandoned in rainy Northern Ireland for the summer rather than sunning themselves in the Caribbean, as planned.
Yet tonight, 125 passengers started crowding into a ferry terminal, escaping the pouring rain as they start to say goodbye to the city that became their temporary home for months, planning to hopefully set off on a trip of a lifetime – as long as the ship can set sail by 11pm tonight.
Passengers celebrate the news that the Odyssey will be leaving Belfast after months of waiting
125 passengers started crowding into a ferry terminal tonight, escaping the pouring rain as they say goodbye to the city that became their temporary home for months
Two passengers wave Belfast goodbye as they prepare to sett off again after months in Belfast
Residents of the Odyssey celebrate the news that the Ship will be departing
Captain the Cruising Kitty getting ready to set sail the luxury ship
Residents of the Odyssey celebrate the news that the ship will be departing Belfast after three months
A man holds up a model of a ship as the huge cruiseliner gets ready to set off again
A passenger cries tears of joy after the news that the ship will finally sail this evening
Holly Hennessey boards the Villa Vie Odyssey cruise ship at Belfast Port’s Cruise Ship Terminal
Standing at the port in Belfast eagerly awaiting to board the ship, Cyndi Grzybowski said: ‘I am all in now. I’ve sold my home, car, all my possessions, left my job.
‘We’ve waited months for this so it will be exciting if tonight’s the night.
‘The people in Belfast were so warm – the weather not so much – but the people were great.’
Hailing from Florida, known as the country’s Sunshine State, Holly Hennessey, 67, travelling with her six-year-old Siamese cat Captain, told MailOnline:
Ms Hennessey paid £275,000 for her balcony mini-suite which has space for a double bed, small living area and a balcony.
Luckily for Captain, who is a self-proclaimed ‘cruise addict’ having spent every winter of his life onboard a boat, the space is pet friendly. ‘Villa Vie is a community and a real community has pets,’ Ms Hennessey said previously.
Dr David Austin, from Georgia in the United States sold his home hoping for a new adventure.
Eagerly awaiting to get onboard today, the retired anthesiaogist said: ‘The last four months our community has formed and come together to support each other – there’s even been an engagement. We are helping each other out.
‘To travel the world with a group of like-minded adventurers is a dream.’
Last night dozens of the cruise passengers took a last lap of Belfast on beer bikes, being cheered on by city locals who they have come to know so well.
The round-the-world trip will take passengers to all seven continents, stopping at 147 ports and 425 different locations over the three-and-a-half year period.
A pair hug after hearing the ship will finally be departing after they made Belfast their temporary home
A man smiles as the ship gets ready to set off after months of waiting around
Passengers were allowed to have full access to the ship in the day – which includes three restaurants, four lounges, a library, gym, golf simulator and spa
A woman celebrates after hearing the luxury ship will finally take off from Belfast
People celebrate after news that the luxury ship will take off after months in Belfast
An Odyssey passenger cries tears of joy after the news that the ship will finally sail this evening
People celebrate as they get ready to leave Belfast after being there since May
The first stop will be Bremerhaven before the cruise continues to Amsterdam and Lisbon before trawling across the Atalantic to begin the Caribbean stint of the tour.
The huge cruise ship had arrived at Queen’s Island in the Northern Ireland capital on May 30 to be outfitted but was plagued with a series of mechanical problems.
So instead of soaking up the rays on tropical beaches or exploring quaint European cities, cruisers were left in a drizzly British quayside.
Passengers were allowed to have full access to the ship in the day – which includes three restaurants, four lounges, a library, gym, golf simulator and spa with a pool and two hot tubs – but were forced to disembark into local hotels and AirBnBs at night.
Many immersed themselves in local culture, sinking pints of Guinness at tradtional pubs, checking off all the tourists attractions such as nearby Giant’s Causeway – sometimes twice – and making new friends at Sunday church or at the races.
The Odyssey’s parent company, Villa Vie Residences had initially covered the living expenses of their guests, but as the delay extended, they announced they would no longer cover costs as it was ‘unsustainable’, leaving many to arrange their own accommodations.
Some of the unlucky passengers, who were mostly American, had to fly home temorarily as they were struggling with the cost of living in the Northern Irish capital.
But for Gian Perroni, from Vancouver in Canada, and Angie Harsanyi, from Colorado in the US, the weeks spent delayed in Belfast led to a whirlwind romance.
The pair met in the city after being unable to board and quickly fell for each other. Soon enough they got engaged and getting matching tattoos trinity knot tattoos to always remember their Belfast love story.
The couple will be married by the ship’s captain on the deck of the boat when they travel between Costa Rica and Panama in April.
Many immersed themselves in local culture, sinking pints of Guinness at tradtional pubs, checking off all the tourists attractions such as nearby Giant’s Causeway
A man and woman smile as the ship in Belfast finally gets ready to set off again
People celebrate upon the news that they will will finally be leaving Belfast after months
A woman looks elated as the luxury ship gets ready to depart after months in Belfast
Passengers board the Villa Vie Residences’ ‘Odyssey’ cruise ship, which has been stranded in Belfast since May
People celebrate as they prepare to take off from Belfast this evening
Passengers cheer after hearing the cruise ship which has been stranded in Belfast since May will sail tonight
The loved-up couple told MailOnline today they were looking forward to sailing off into the sunset together and embarking on their ‘perpetual honeymoon’.
Mr Perroni: ‘It has been a long few weeks but it’s all about patience. We got engaged last week and time has gone by so fast. We spent most of our time enjoying the city.
‘We will get married between Panama and Costa Rica and get the captain to marry us – we haven’t actually asked him yet – but that’s the plan.
‘Half of our wedding party is already onboard and our friends will come out as well.’
Angie was originally travelling with her sister but will now split her time between both cabins.
She added: ‘I will share rooms between the two of them. Gian has been really understanding that this was originally a sister trip.
‘We will miss Belfast. Fantastic folk, lovely landscape. Despite the weather it’s a great city. It’s always going to be a special place for us.’
Retired doctor Basia Kruszewska, 69, from New York added: ‘It’s great to get going today but we are feeling overwhelemed.
‘We have been dreaming about this and waiting for such a long time but it is overwhelming.
Two people look elated upon hearing the news that the luxury ship will finally set off again
A couple smile at the camera as they look forward to the next leg of their journey on the cruise
People standing in the rain before getting on the ship which will soon depart from Belfast
Passports are checked as the ship finally gets ready to depart after months of waiting in Belfast
A woman celebrates as the ship is finally ready to set off from Belfast this evening
Two women hug before the luxury ship finally takes off this evening
Belfast Port passengers await the chance to board Villa Vie Residsences Odyssey
People embrace after hearing that the cruise ship will set sail
Belfast Port passengers await the chance to board Villa Vie Residsences Odyssey
‘Belfast was great. If we had to be stuck somewhere Belfast was a good place to be but we are keen to get moving.’
Cabins on the cruise cost anywhere between £75,000 and £700,000 for the 15-year life of the cruise. It meant some of the cruisers sold their homes and the majority of their possessions.
Those who bought the cabins will be able to continue living on the ship after the three-year tour comes to an end.
The Odyssey, formerly known as the MS Braemar from Fred Olsen Cruise Lines, was built in 1993 and can hold up to 929 passengers.
It was acquired by Villa Vie Residences in March 2024 to offer unlimited cruises. There is, however, the option to book shorter spells between 35 and 120 days.
The average passenger is aged 58 and 90 per cent of those onboard plan to stay onboard for the full world cruise taking in all seven continents. Around half the cabins are currently occupied by one person.
The cruise ship underwent an extensive refit at the famed Harland and Wolff shipyard in Belfast, including major repairs to its rudder stocks and grey water tanks, which were essential to meet environmental standards.
