Passengers on a luxury cruise liner erupted into cheers, applause and hugs as the vessel finally set off from a Belfast dock. After being unexpectedly stranded for four months in the city, the Villa Vie Odyssey embarked on a three-year voyage, bidding farewell to the Northern Ireland city on Monday night.
The residents of the cruise ship waved goodbye to Belfast, carrying memories and souvenirs from their unexpected stop. One passenger, who had built a model of the Titanic during the wait, expressed enjoyment of Belfast but excitement for the upcoming journey. Another passenger, expressing gratitude to Belfast for hosting them, highlighted the city as a wonderful place.
During the unexpected stay in Belfast, passengers had the opportunity to explore the city and its attractions. Some passengers even formed deep connections, like Gian Perroni from Canada and Angie Harsanyi from the US, who got engaged under a supermoon. The sense of camaraderie among passengers was evident as they bid farewell to Belfast with a bike tour before their departure on Monday.
After some last-minute paperwork delays, the atmosphere in the cruise terminal turned joyous as confirmation came that the ship was ready to collect passengers. The ship planned to anchor in Belfast Lough overnight before commencing its journey in earnest the following morning.
Passenger Andy Garrison, who expected to stay in Belfast for only three days but ended up for six weeks, shared his excitement about setting sail. Reflecting on the stay, he expressed appreciation for Belfast and the enjoyable time spent there. Another passenger, Cyndi Grzybowski, from Georgia, eagerly anticipated fulfilling her dream of exploring the world through the voyage.
The luxury cruise ship offers various rental options and villa ownership opportunities for passengers. Chief Executive Mike Petterson expressed relief as administrative issues were resolved, allowing the ship to set sail. Passengers, crew and officials were all eager to bid Belfast farewell and embark on their long-awaited journey to various destinations.
As the luxury liner finally set sail from Belfast, passengers were filled with anticipation and excitement for the adventures that lay ahead after a memorable and unexpected stop in the vibrant city.