Stranded cruise ship passengers who left Belfast yesterday after months of delays have been thrown into limbo again after the luxury vessel was forced to turn back.
The Villa Vie Odyssey left Northern Ireland yesterday after being stranded for months at the port.
Its 125 passengers – mainly from North America – finally took off yesterday after patiently waiting during repairs on vessel.
But now the unlucky cruiser has made a U-turn back to port – just hours into the voyage.
This is thought to be due to some missing paperwork, the BBC News reports.
It is scheduled to return to Belfast Harbour at about 1.30pm today according to the harbour information.
Now passengers face another anxious wait to find out when they will get to enjoy the adventure they paid handsomely for.
The Odyssey is expected to disembark for the second time at 11pm tonight, according to the broadcaster.
Passengers either rent their suites for 35 to 120 days or buy them for anything from £90,000 up to £260,000.
John Frim said he was a bit ‘confused’ by the situation, but added he was ‘happy to be home’ and to have slept in his ‘own bed’ on board the vessel for the first night.
Donna Martemucci was in high spirits despite another unexpected twist of events, saying the return to port was ‘another day to explore a lovely city,’ she told the broadcaster.
The cruise ship was meant to set sail in May before it was marooned after breaking down.
Many of the passengers were unfazed about the long wait in Northern Ireland.
Two guests even met and fell in love during the unexpected delay and have already become engaged.
Gian Perroni, from Vancouver in Canada, and Angie Harsanyi, from Colorado in the US, had both bought cabins and neither were looking for a relationship.
But the pair started walking through Belfast on their way to and back from the ship, and realised how compatible they were.
Gian said the two were ‘made for each other’, adding: ‘We found our soulmates.’
Others praised the ‘hospitality and kindness’ they received in Belfast while getting to know their temporary home during the prolonged delay.
What has the cruiseliner said after return to Belfast?
Mike Petterson, the chief executive of Villa Vie Residences, told at the terminal he was ‘a little stressed’ but they were working to sort ‘a few last-minute things.’
He said: ‘It’s administrative paperwork. We needed the right person to press the button, at the end of the day. It’s been done and we’re putting the vessel in motion right now.
‘The harbour master has been in direct contact with the MD. We’ve been expecting this outcome for hours.’
He said departure was due just before midnight, when the terminal was due to close.
‘The good news is that we have complete clearance and we will be out of here very, very, very soon.’
When asked about his memories of Belfast, he quipped ‘your summer is horrible’ and ‘you can’t cook to save your lives, but you do know how to drink.’
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