A cruise ship set for a 3 ½-year around-the-world voyage finally departed from Belfast’s dockside after spending four months stuck in the Northern Ireland capital.
Passengers cheered, applauded, and hugged the liner’s chief when he confirmed on Monday night that they were ready for departure. The Odyssey left dock and anchored in Belfast Lough overnight, where it stayed as the ship’s operator completed some final paperwork. The vessel was scheduled to leave Northern Ireland’s waters late Tuesday.
Having embarked from Southampton in May, the ship had docked in Belfast to be outfitted for its epic journey. It spent months at the Harland & Wolff shipyard, where the ill-fated RMS Titanic was constructed more than a century ago, undergoing work on its rudder and engine.
During this prolonged stopover, Villa Vie Residences, the ship’s operator, covered living expenses for dozens of passengers. Though they could spend their days on the ship and enjoy meals and entertainment, overnight stays were prohibited. While some passengers chose to return home, others stayed in hotels in Belfast or toured other parts of Europe.
Cyndi Grzybowski, 69, from Appling, Georgia, said she had always dreamed of seeing the world and was thrilled for the voyage to commence. Nonetheless, she cherished “every minute” in Belfast.
“We started out as strangers in Southampton and Belfast and now we truly are family,” Grzybowski remarked. “Thank you all so very much – truly, Belfast has been such a wonderful place.”
For some passengers, the wait became a life-changing experience. Gian Perroni from Vancouver, Canada, and Angie Harsanyi from Colorado got to know each other during the Belfast layover and are now engaged, planning to marry aboard the ship in April.
“We found our soulmates,” Perroni said. Reflecting on the months “marooned” in Northern Ireland, he added, “we’ve learned patience and perseverance – and learned how wonderful the people of Belfast have been.”
The Odyssey, built in 1993 and operated under various names by several cruise lines before being sidelined by the coronavirus pandemic in 2020, was acquired by Villa Vie Residences in 2023. This residential ship offers travelers the unique opportunity to buy a cabin and live at sea, circumnavigating the globe. On its maiden voyage, it plans to visit 425 ports in 147 countries across seven continents.
Marketing material targeting adventurous retirees and digital nomads promotes “the incredible opportunity to own a home on a floating paradise,” complete with a gym, spa, entertainment facilities, onboard hospital, business center, and “culinary arts center.”
Cabins—branded as “villas”—are priced starting at $99,999, plus a monthly fee, for at least the 15-year operational life of the vessel. Passengers also have the option to join segments of the voyage lasting weeks or months.
Villa Vie Residences’ chief executive, Mikael Petterson, admitted feeling “a little stressed” as they awaited the final clearance to depart. He offered a mixed review of Belfast: “Your summer is horrible, and you can’t cook to save your lives. But you do know how to drink.”
