Cruise ship passengers stranded in Belfast have lastly set sail for a round-the-world journey after months marooned in Northern Eire.
The Villa Vie Odyssey was meant to embark on a three-and-a-half-year cruise on 30 Might however engine issues pressured the vessel – and its passengers – to remain in Belfast.
After a four-month delay, the ship ultimately set sail on Monday night time at round 11.35pm. It’s spending its first night time at sea only a brief distance from the dock, in Belfast Lough, earlier than persevering with its journey on Tuesday.
“The people are amazing,” Mrs Hennessee stated. “They’re so kind and generous. It’s just amazing. We’ve made a lot of new friends, it’s been fun.”
She continued: “We’ve done pretty much every tourist thing Belfast has to offer. We just about frequent every restaurant you have in Belfast.
“We now love Guinness, that is a giant factor. We have now one each day.”
“American Guinness is not fairly like it’s over right here,” her husband added.
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The Villa Vie Odyssey cruise ship in Belfast on Saturday. Pic: PA
The passengers clutched souvenirs – together with one mannequin of the Titanic – as they gathered to board the Villa Vie Odyssey on Monday night.
Andy Garrison, 75, constructed the duplicate ship over three or 4 days after arriving in Belfast for what ought to have been a three-day keep earlier than setting sail in August.
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Andy Garrison along with his mannequin of Belfast’s most well-known ill-fated ship, Titanic. Pic: Liam McBurney/PA Wire
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A passenger boarding the ship on Monday night. Pic: PA
Requested if he was apprehensive it may very well be a nasty omen, he replied: “No, I’m not. As a matter of fact I’m going to put this on the wall of my room.”
Mr and Mrs Hennessee made essentially the most of their time stranded on UK shores by additionally visiting Tenerife and Paris, in addition to having fun with a shorter voyage on a Norwegian ship.
Whereas they have been “ecstatic” to lastly obtain a departure date, Mrs Hennessee added: “But this [delay] allowed us to finish the renovations on our cabin. Now we can cruise in style, it’s ready.”
The posh ship affords rental cabins from 35 to 120 days – or complete villas might be bought for £90,000 to £260,000.
Individuals who purchase a villa personal the area for nonetheless lengthy the ship operates, with a minimal assure of 15 years.
The stranded passengers have been unable to remain onboard through the four-month delay and have as an alternative stayed in resorts and short-term rental properties in Belfast.
Two of the ship’s passengers have had a very memorable time, going from being strangers to getting engaged whereas stranded.
