Stranded cruise ship to return to Belfast hours after leaving – MASHAHER

Belfast’s stranded cruise ship, which finally set sail on Monday after months of delays, is set to return to the port on Tuesday afternoon.

Villa Vie Residences’ Odyssey was scheduled to leave the city in May but was delayed as it needed repairs.

The round-the-world cruise liner anchored off the coast of Northern Ireland overnight on Monday, and was expected to set sail again on Tuesday.

But passengers have been told they will be returning to the port so some final pieces of paperwork can be completed.

Passengers who spent the night on board described the mood as positive – despite not hitting the high seas just yet.

Donna Martemucci told the BBC: “Another day to explore a lovely city. All good.”

John Frim said he was a bit “confused” by the situation but was “happy to be home” and have slept in his “own bed” on board the vessel for the first time.

According to the Belfast Harbour website, the ship will arrive back in the port at 13:30 BST on Tuesday.

It is scheduled to leave Belfast again at 23:00.

The ship had faced 17 weeks of delay and was still in a Harland and Wolff repair yard long after the scheduled boarding time of 17:00 on Monday.

Some 125 passengers boarded the cruise liner at about 20:00 and it left the port just after 23:30.

There were shouts of “goodbye Belfast” and waving as they disappeared on to the Odyssey for their round-the-world cruise which, for many, will last for years.

Had it kept to its original departure date in May, the ship would be in the Bahamas by now.

Another passenger on board the ship, Mary Ann Demsar, said she was still “very excited” to be on the cruise and to “see the world”.

“It’s been tough getting here with all the delay but I’ve had the time of my life these last five months exploring Ireland and Europe and enjoying everything Belfast has to offer.”

Ms Demsar, who is Canadian, said the delays on Monday were “nerve-racking”.

“Not sure exactly what’s happening but we are going to be docking back in Belfast today and then leaving later on.

“There is some paperwork that still needs to be done.”

She said passengers enjoyed “a lovely dinner”, went to lounges and there was “some dancing” on board.

“It was nice to see workers with the sparklers celebrating the beginning of the voyage,” she added.

“It was very nice to see the lights of Belfast in the distance.”

Villa Vie Residences’ Odyssey arrived at Queen’s Island in the Northern Ireland capital to be outfitted before it was scheduled to leave on 30 May for the first leg of its cruise.

But until Monday 30 September, the ship was stuck in Belfast due to problems with its rudders and gearbox.

The vessel had some final inspections to pass this week before it was signed off to sail.

The unexpected layover in Belfast has cost the company millions of pounds.