by Clodagh Kilcoyne, BELFAST (Reuters) – Cruise passengers are to set sail from Belfast on Monday on a three-and-a-half-year world voyage after being stranded in the city for months as the ship underwent unexpected repair works. Some plan to make it their forever home.
Passengers of the Villa Vie Residences’ Odyssey, described as the world’s first continual cruise, can either buy their cabins for the entire operational life of the ship or rent them to travel segments of the journey.
The ship, with capacity for 650 passengers, was originally due to depart from the Northern Irish capital in May but was held up for repairs due to issues with its rudders and gearbox.
After a series of sea trials, the Odyssey announced on social media on Friday that it had received approval from Britain’s Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) and Public Health and was looking forward to welcoming passengers aboard.
“It has just been dragging on (for a) long time,” said John Frim, from Canada, who together with his wife Monica opted for the cruise to mark their 50th wedding anniversary. “(But) we’ve never lost faith in the concept.”
Monica added: “We’re not happy about the delay… but when you think in a period of three-and-a-half years, what’s four months?”
The cruise company paid the guests’ accommodation costs in Belfast and elsewhere in Europe as compensation for the unexpected delay.
Also read: Round-the-World Cruises Selling Out More Than a Year in Advance
The inaugural voyage will last 1,301 days, visiting all seven continents and stopping at 425 ports, ranging from Rio de Janeiro to Singapore. The ship is equipped with restaurants, a pool, spa, business center and medical facilities.
Even though passengers have been stuck in Belfast awaiting to board, they have tried to enjoy their time in the city.
“I will always have a fond place in my heart for Belfast,” said retired American wealth manager Holly Hennessy. “Meeting so many different kind people, living in an urban environment, being carless, and being away from American politics has been wonderful.”
Some of the passengers hope to stay on the cruise for the rest of their lives, such as Melody and John Hennessee, also from the United States, who told the BBC that the ship would now be their home.
Others fell in love as they waited for the repair works to be completed. Canadian Gian Perroni and American Angela Harsanyi met at the Belfast hotel where some of the passengers stayed, and announced their engagement last week.
“It probably couldn’t get any better than that, right?” Harsanyi told Sky News. “We’re getting married between the Panama Canal and Costa Rica.”
Related Article: Historic First: Cruise Ship Reaches North Pole of Inaccessibility
(Reporting by Clodagh Kilcoyne and Amanda Ferguson in Belfast, Catarina Demony in London; editing by Mark Heinrich, Reuters)
This article contains reporting from Reuters, published under license.
Sign up for gCaptain’s newsletter and never miss an update
Essential maritime and offshore news, insights, and updates delivered daily straight to your inbox
By Annika Inampudi and Ignacio Gonzalez May 17, 2026 (Bloomberg) –Stomach bugs on cruise ships recently hit a nearly two-decade high as more people than ever board the vessels, underscoring how...
The last six passengers and some of the crew of the hantavirus-hit MV Hondius anchored off Tenerife were readying to disembark on Monday as the ship's captain praised their patience and discipline during an "extremely challenging" few weeks.
TENERIFE/MADRID, May 9 (Reuters) – Countries prepared to evacuate their citizens from the luxury cruise ship hit by a deadly strain of hantavirus that is due to anchor near Tenerife early on Sunday,...
Subscribe to gCaptain Daily and stay informed with the latest global maritime and offshore news
Essential news coupled with the finest maritime content sourced from across the globe.
Sign Up
Join The Club
