3 months ago
29
Around 200 passengers, who are planning to travel the world on a three-year cruise, are still stuck in
Belfast
, Northern Ireland waiting for the past 3 months for the ship to depart.
The ship
Villa Vie Residences
'
Odyssey
was originally set to embark on a three-and-a-half-year
world cruise
on May 30 but the ship is still on land because of the ship's rudder shafts, steelwork, and engine.
A self-described "cruise addict" Florida resident Holly Hennessey has been stuck in Belfast and is waiting for the ship to set sail.
During the day, passengers are permitted to be on board the vessel. However, they are required to leave the ship each evening.
The Odyssey, a vessel built in 1993 and offline since 2020, is currently undergoing repairs at Belfast's Harland & Wolff shipyard—the same location where the Titanic was constructed over a century ago.
Villa Vie Residences' marketing manager, Sebastian Stokkendal, has expressed optimism about resuming the voyage soon, following necessary fixes to the ship's rudder shafts, steel work, and engine.
While awaiting the ship's readiness, Villa Vie Residences has been covering living expenses for about 200
stranded passengers
in Belfast. The company has also arranged accommodations in other European cities for those wishing to explore further. Passengers can spend their days on the ship, enjoying meals, entertainment, and shuttle services, but must return to their temporary accommodations each evening.
Villa Vie Residences is actively working to address passengers' concerns and prepare for a smooth launch of the world cruise, with scheduled stops in Bremerhaven, Amsterdam, and Lisbon before heading to the Caribbean.
