ADVERTISEMENTThe Villa Vie Odyssey round-the-world cruise was to be the trip of a lifetime for many passengers.
The residential ship was set to circumnavigate the globe every three and a half years stopping at over 400 ports in 147 countries.
But despite being scheduled to leave at the end of May, the vessel is still stationary in Belfast port - along with hundreds of stranded passengers.
Reports suggest the ship may depart sometime this week, but a definite date has not been announced.
Many who signed up for the epic voyage sold their houses and belongings in preparation for a potentially permanent move to live at sea.
Grace and Jerry Grady, an American-Italian couple who spoke to Euronews Travel in May, did exactly that.
When we contacted them again in late September, the situation is not as expected. Instead of regaling stories of far-flung lands, the pair explain that they are putting their sailing dreams on hold and heading back to America.
Why hasn’t the ‘endless’ cruise around the world set sail?
Although some 800 passengers were ready to set sail at the end of May, the Villa Vie Odyssey cruise liner was not.
Over the next few months, the vessel underwent a series of checks and tests for certifications which repeatedly found areas that needed improvement before it could leave.
The ship is over 30-years-old, bought by Villa Vie Residences from Fred Olsen Cruise Lines, and needed recertifications to be deemed seaworthy.
“These were unforeseen things that have taken time because they are not simple things, especially when this cruise ship is going to be going around the world for three and a half years,” says Jerry.
In the beginning, passengers were allowed to live on the ship and use its various facilities like bars and restaurants.
“The liner is really well restored inside, it’s back to its original beauty,” Jerry explains.
They could also take off on trips to other countries, comped by owners Villa Vie Residences. The Gradys visited Amsterdam, Tenerife, Seville, Liverpool and Wales.
But after further certification issues, passengers were no longer allowed to stay onboard and were moved to hotels.
ADVERTISEMENT“We’ve been in six or seven hotels in Belfast alone because of availability - sometimes it’s difficult to find accommodation when there are events or sports matches,” says Jerry.
For the last few weeks, Villa Vie has also stopped covering all passengers’ expenses - although the Gradys say they will be reimbursed.
The months have worn on and passengers have begun to lose patience as the company repeatedly issued last-minute notices that the ship was ready to leave - requiring some to cut short trips away - only to announce another delay.
“We’ve been here so long that taxi drivers and restaurant servers have come to know our names,” says Grace.
ADVERTISEMENTApparently the mayor of Belfast even made a speech thanking the stranded passengers for boosting the local economy - quipping that the passengers had been there longer than he’d been in power.
“It’s just been waiting and waiting and waiting,” adds Jerry. “We should get citizenship.”
‘Our children are worried for us’
Grace and Jerry are not dwelling on the negatives of the situation. They praise the crew for their friendliness and efficiency and note they were offered trips to destinations that didn’t duplicate the cruise itinerary.
However, their daughters decided that these were not ideal circumstances for their retired parents and urged them to return to the US until more concrete information on the ship’s departure was available.
ADVERTISEMENTThe Gradys say they are lucky that one of their daughters has insisted they stay with her. “Other passengers probably would have left but they’ve sold their homes and don’t have anywhere to go,” says Grace.
The couple have decided to give up their spot on the cruise, but have not ruled out returning at a later date.
“One of the best parts of the last few months was meeting fellow residents, we’ve formed this bond with them and had dinner and taken trips together,” says Jerry.
“We met the two people who met in Belfast and got engaged, which is now all over the news.”
ADVERTISEMENTThe couple may take advantage of the ship’s guest service, where friends and relatives can visit and have their own cabin for $33 (€29.50) per person per day for up to two weeks.
Alternatively, they may rejoin as passengers as the voyage works on a pay-as-you-go basis with an itinerary split into 16 segments ranging from 35 to 120 days each.
“It’s been a dream and at some points a nightmare too, but we’re not giving up on it,” says Jerry. “We’ll be back,” adds Grace.