After a four-month delay filled with setbacks, the Odyssey residential cruise ship, Villa Vie Odyssey Cruise, finally set sail from Belfast late Monday evening.
Villa Vie Odyssey Cruise departed at 2240 GMT amid cheers from those on board, ready to start their round-the-world voyage.
Joe Martino, a 61-year-old actor from Chicago, expressed his excitement: “We are going to have one heck of a time tonight; we are going to party like there’s no tomorrow.” Despite the prolonged delay due to technical and administrative issues, the mood was jubilant as passengers like Martino, who had waited in Belfast, anticipated the journey ahead.
However, the departure was not without its final hurdle. A significant delay occurred as passengers waited in the terminal past the scheduled boarding time due to a last-minute paperwork issue. Mike Petersen, head of Villa Vie Residences, which owns the Odyssey, eventually announced departure clearance, leading to an outburst of joy among the passengers.
Another passenger, Holly Hennessy, shared her relief and anticipation while holding her cat, Captain: “I’ve been in Belfast for four months and two days, but hey, who’s counting?”
Initially slated to leave on May 30, the ship faced numerous challenges, including outfitting, certification, and engine repairs, significantly extending its stay in Belfast’s Harland & Wolff shipyard—famous as the birthplace of the Titanic. Further complications arose when the shipbuilder entered financial administration this month.
The Odyssey offers passengers the unique option to buy or rent long-term cabins on what is dubbed a “residential” cruise ship, promising an endless adventure across the globe. During the delay, passengers could stay on the ship during the day but had to find alternative accommodations at night, leading many to explore Northern Ireland or other parts of Europe.
With the long-awaited departure finally realized, the Odyssey will first navigate to Brest, then to Bilbao, followed by the Azores, and then cross the Atlantic toward the Caribbean. Designed to house about 600 passengers, this floating town aims to visit all seven continents, making over 425 stops in 147 destinations, with each port visit lasting between two to seven days.
