The luxury cruise liner stranded in Belfast for four months is finally setting sail after three days marooned in Belfast Lough. But in another twist to the beleaguered round-the-world voyage, it appears to be taking a detour via Scotland, according to passengers. “We have just lifted the anchor and sounded the horns about 20 minutes ago and we are on our way to Scotland,” said one passenger, Angie Harsanyi, at around 4.
30pm on Thursday. All day the eight-storey Villa Vie Odyssey gently pivoted on its anchor about a mile from the seaside town of Bangor, just east of Belfast, being overtaken by cargo vessels and Stena ferry ships on their way to Great Britain. Some of its 125 passengers have spent four months in Belfast after the ship required repairs.
It was due to depart for France at the weekend but the company blamed “administrative paperwork” for the latest delay. On Thursday afternoon, the Marine Tracker website still showed its forecast route as Brest, in France, but a passenger said Scotland would be the first stop. A short video clip posted on social media by one passenger at around 4pm conveyed clear excitement that they were finally setting off on their odyssey.
“I’m excited to say we have finally received clearance to leave Belfast after three days sitting in the harbour,” on his new Dr V World Travel TikTok channel. To the sound of cheers in the background, he added: “We are finally leaving and in the next 20 minutes we will be leaving and heading o.