Sign up for Simon Calder’s free travel email to receive expert advice and money-saving discounts
Get Simon Calder’s travel email
Get Simon Calder’s travel email
Passengers who call a cruise ship home were stranded on the ship in Northern Ireland for three months after delays on their round-the-world voyage.
Those on board the Villa Vie Residences Odyssey spent the summer in the port of Belfast after the ocean liner was unable to leave the cruise terminal due to necessary repairs to the rudder and gear.
The ship was scheduled to leave Northern Ireland’s capital on May 30 for the first leg of its three-and-a-half-year cruise.
Its maiden voyage was scheduled to visit all seven continents, with stops in over 425 ports in 147 countries.
Built in 1993, the ship has sailed for various cruise lines, including Cunard (as Crown Dynasty) and most recently Fred Olsen Cruise Lines as Braemar.
Instead of paying a daily fare, passengers could purchase their cabins for the multi-year voyage directly at prices ranging from $99,999 (£75,600) to $899,000 (£680,000).
While those already in Belfast can spend time in their cabins during the day to make the most of the onboard entertainment – including access to a swimming pool, theater, gym and restaurants – they must leave the ship to take shuttle buses to the hotels provided each evening.
Some travelers, including Angela and Stephen Theriac, have traveled around Europe while stationed in Belfast, visiting destinations such as Spain and Greenland.
The couple told the BBC their extended stay in Northern Ireland was “part of the adventure” and said they were passing the time sampling local cuisine and drinking a few pints of Guinness in Belfast’s pubs.
Likewise, Lanette Canen and Johan Bodin are documenting their long stay in Belfast on their YouTube page “Living Life on a Cruise” with tours and ship tours and say they plan to live in their cabin for “at least 15 years”.
However, Holly Hennessy, a Florida native who is traveling with her cat Captain, an experienced “cruise cat,” is unable to leave the city and head to sunnier climes with her cat while she waits for the ship to be repaired.
Mike Petterson, CEO of Villa Vie Residences, expects the ship to set sail at the end of next week, provided sea trials are successful.
“When you are the first to do something, you run into difficulties, but we are definitely making progress and although we are late, we will start,” he said.
For more travel news and tips, listen to Simon Calder’s podcast
