A luxury cruise ship which finally set sail after unexpectedly spending four months in Belfast ahead of a three-year voyage is expected to return to the city. Passengers cheered, applauded and hugged Villa Vie Odyssey’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.
The BBC has reported that passengers have been told that they would be temporarily returning to the city so that some final paperwork can be completed. The luxury liner became stranded due to unexpected repair works in May , forcing passengers to become familiar with the sights Belfast and Northern Ireland has to offer. The residents of the Villa Vie Odyssey waved goodbye to the Northern Ireland city they had become so familiar with on Monday night, bringing souvenirs and memories with them.
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 to see the world , but thanked Belfast for hosting them, calling it “a wonderful place”. One pair of would-be voyagers became engaged while waiting for the cruise to begin.
Gian Perroni, from Vancouver in Canada , and Angie Harsanyi, from Colorado in the US.