Cruise passengers waiting to set sail on a round-the-world voyage have been left stranded for a staggering three months in Northern Ireland after a slew of infrastructure issues plagued the luxury liner.
The Villa Vie Residences’ Odyssey ship had been scheduled to depart Belfast back on May 30 for the first leg of a three-year cruise before problems were detected with its rudders and gearbox, BBC News reported.
The delays have meant some passengers have spent months living on the docked cruise ship — with no sail date in sight.
Dr. David Austin, who sold his house in Georgia to set sail, said he had long “stopped counting down” the days until the ship is finally ready.
“The payoff of seeing the world in this fashion is too great to feel too disappointed with each delay announcement,” he said.
“I was committed, having sold my house right before my arrival, and I’ve stayed committed to this adventure with every delay.”
It wasn’t immediately clear how many passengers were currently stuck living on the docked ship.
After first encountering the technical issues, the cruise liner sent the majority of passengers off on other cruises, or flew them home to wait for a new departure date.
Holly Hennessey, a Florida native, said she is among those who have unexpectedly “hunkered down” on board because she is traveling with her cat and is unable to come and go from Belfast while she waits for the ship to be ready.
“We can spend all day aboard the ship and they provide shuttle buses to get on and off,” Hennessey said. “We can have all of our meals and they even have movies and trivia entertainment, almost like cruising except we’re at the dock.”
Angela and Stephen Theriac, of Nicaragua, said they’ve already settled in with the locals due to the delays.
“We keep teasing we will apply for residency here in Belfast,” Angela said.
“We have eaten in every restaurant and had a Guinness in every pub,” her husband added.
The voyage, billed as the first round-the-world residential cruise, allows passengers to buy a cabin outright or pay as you go for the various legs of the three-year cruise.
The cost of a cabin ranges from $99,999 to $899,000, according to the cruise’s website.
The cruise liner’s CEO, Mike Petterson, said he expects the ship to finally set off next week.
“We’re not focused on the next days or weeks, we are focused on the rest of our lives and what this company will do for the residents and the industry,” he said.
“When you’re the first at doing something, you will run into hiccups, but we’re definitely getting there, and although we are late, we will launch.”