A luxury cruise ship which was stranded in Belfast for four months is to return to the city just hours after it finally set sail. Chief executive of Villa Vie Residences Mike Petterson said the liner still had to complete administrative paperwork before it could finally depart to undertake a three-year round-the-world cruise. Advertisement Villa Vie Odyssey had been scheduled to leave the city in May but was delayed as it needed repairs.
Passengers cheered, applauded and hugged the liner’s chief when he confirmed on Monday night that they were ready for departure from Belfast port. However, on Tuesday the ship remained docked off the Co Down coast and information on the Belfast Harbour website indicated that it was expected to return to the port in the afternoon with another departure scheduled for 11pm. Advertisement Mr Petterson told the PA news agency: “We still have some administrative paperwork to be finished before leaving the Belfast area.
” Advertisement He said passengers would not disembark when the ship returned to port and the liner would leave when the paperwork was completed before midnight. The residents of the Villa Vie Odyssey waved goodbye to the city they had become so familiar with on Monday night, bringing souvenirs and memories with them. Advertisement One man, who carried a self-assembled model of the Titanic on board on Monday, said he enjoyed Belfast but was ready for the rest of the cruise.
Another woman from Georgia said she had always wanted t.