It was supposed to be the trip of a lifetime taking in the world’s most unforgettable experiences, from marvelling at the sublime beauty of the Norwegian fjords to sipping rum cocktails in the Caribbean.
But instead, cruise passengers who paid £27,000-a-month for a three-year voyage spanning Europe, Asia and the Americas have spent the last three months in a rather less salubrious location – a rain-lashed quayside in Belfast.
The Odyssey, which is operated by US cruise line Villa Vie Residences and can hold nearly a thousand passengers, was set to leave the city on May 30 for the first leg of its voyage, but problems with the ship’s rudders and gearbox mean it is still docked.
As a result, rather than luxuriating in the tropical sun, those on board have been left to make do with Guinness and fish and chips in Belfast’s pubs – paired with excursions to Liverpool and Tenerife.
The unlucky passengers, who are mainly Americans, left their normal lives behind for the round-the-world trip, with some selling their homes and possessions to pay between £75,000 and £700,000 to buy their cabins for the 15-year life of the vessel.
While they are able to stay on the ship during the day and use its facilities – which include three restaurants, four lounges, a library, gym, golf simulator and spa with a pool and two hot tubs – they have to disembark at night and stay in local hotels.
Lanette Canen and Johan Bodin, both 54, have decided against staying put and embarked on a European tour of Norway, Spain, Italy, Croatia, Slovenia, and Sweden. But others are hunkering down and trying to make the most of their unexpected sojourn in Belfast (with the help of some Vitamin D tablets).
Lanette Canen and Johan Bodin, both 54, have decided against staying put in Belfast and embarked on a European tour of Norway, Spain, Italy, Croatia, Slovenia, and Sweden
Holly Hennessy, 67, from sunny Florida, is travelling with her cat Captain and doing her best to adapt to the new surroundings
Angela and Stephen Theriac, from Nicaragua, joked that they plan to apply for residency in Ireland because they love it so much
Villa Vie Residences offered customers the chance to buy a cabin onboard The Odyssey – which was built in 1993 and can hold 929 passengers – in return for unlimited cruises. There was also an option to book shorter spells on board of between 35 and 120 days.
The average passenger is aged 58 and eight per cent of the owners come from the US, with 90 per cent planning to stay onboard for the full world cruise taking in all seven continents. Around half the cabins are currently occupied by one person.
Holly Hennessy, 67, from sunny Florida, is travelling with her cat Captain and doing her best to adapt to the new surroundings.
‘It hasn’t felt like summer. It has been winter as far as I’m concerned. I’m used to the Florida sunshine. I had to go out and buy vitamin D tablets,’ she told the Telegraph.
‘There have been a few days of sunshine when I have been able to get out and walk along the river. The people are so nice.’
Dr David Austin, from Georgia in the United States sold his home just for a chance at the new adventure – but is remaining optimistic.
‘The payoff of seeing the world in this fashion is too great to feel too disappointed with each delay announcement,’ he said.
‘I was committed, having sold my house right before my arrival, and I’ve stayed committed to this adventure with every delay.’
Lanette Canen and Johan Bodin, who met while on holiday nine years ago, sold their car rental business in Hawaii and are set to stay on the ship for 15 years.
They are paying $35,000 (£27,000) a month to stay on the ship, and while they have the option to sell their cabin, they plan to ‘see how things go’ once they finally begin the cruise.
Mr Bodin said: ‘While in Northern Ireland we’ve been to loads of pubs and eating fishing and chips. We also went to Giant’s Causeway and then in Ireland we did the Castaway tours.’
The couple say they have fallen in love with Irish music and the local cuisine.
The Odyssey, run by Villa Vie Residences, was set to leave Belfast for the first leg of its three year journey on May 30
The luxury cruise liner includes cabins that are worth between £70,000 and £700,000
Ms Canen and Mr Bodin have taken the chance to fly around Europe and visit countries like Italy (pictured)
The pair, who are seen here in Croatia, sold their car rental business in Hawaii to move onto the residential cruise ship and are booked in to stay on the cruise for 15 years
Lanette and Johan met while on holiday in Hawaii nine years ago and are paying £27,000 a month to go on the cruise
Mr Bodin continued: ‘I’ve never met so many cool, fun, friendly people – we keep getting asked to go out for pints by locals, everyone is so friendly.’
After the first postponement, the couple travelled to the Norwegian fjords, before spending some time travelling around the countryside in Ireland.
They also went to the Canary Islands for almost two weeks before flying to Croatia and spending another two weeks there.
They were then told that the ship would be setting sail on July 31, so they flew back to Belfast where they spent another two weeks but once again the departure date was extended.
Ms Canen, from Arizona, said: ‘We were able to get on the ship – but not allowed to sleep on there, though we can do everything else.
‘They have an open bar for us but the whole thing has just been delayed and delayed.
‘We are normally used to just travelling with a backpack – we’ve only done one cruise together for two weeks, but it’s a great way of seeing the world
Ms Canen is continuing to work on running her car window repair business based in Arizona while globetrotting, while her partner is vlogging the couples’ travelling experience.
Ms Hennessey has adapted to Britain’s rainy climate, saying: ‘I’ve never had so much use for my umbrella in my life, and I carry my raincoat everywhere I go’
Holly is travelling with her cat, Captain, and is a self-proclaimed ‘cruise addict’
Passengers can also enjoy pools, a golf simulator, fine dining experiences and more while on board
Amenities including onboard the ship include access to a swimming pool, a theatre and a gourmet restaurant
Others on board have taken to making Belfast their ‘unexpected home’.
Angela and Stephen Theriac, from Nicaragua, joked that they plan to apply for residency in Ireland because they love it so much.
‘We are travellers, and we want to make the most of the place we are in. We keep teasing that we will apply for residency here in Belfast,’ the couple told the BBC.
‘We have eaten in every restaurant and had a Guinness in every pub. It is just all part of our adventure.’
Villa Vie Residences’ Mike Petterson told MailOnline: ‘Coming into Belfast from Edinburgh on our own power we were confident that our beautiful Odyssey would fly through class surveys.
‘We have since then been quite humbled by the scale of what it takes to reactivate a 30-year-old vessel from a 4-year layup.
‘After the lapse of all classifications of class we are now considered a new ship where all machinery and equipment must work as if new.
All passengers have access to the onboard restaurants, pools, hot tubs, spa and fitness centre
Villa Vie Residences CEO Mikael Petterson said the company aims to ’empower travellers to make the world their home’
The ship will circle the world every three and a half years visiting more than 420 ports in 147 countries
‘Despite having to do major works such as the rudder stocks, major steel work and engine overhauls, we have persevered and are now in the last stages of departure. We are scheduling sea trials early next week.
‘We expect a very anticipated successful launch next week where we will head to Bremerhaven, Amsterdam, Lisbon, then across the Atlantic for our Caribbean segment.
‘We are extremely grateful for our residents who have stood by our side through the tough times.
‘We have worked with our residents to provide hotels, cruises, shore excursions, trips to Tenerife, Liverpool and are welcoming them for onboard visits where they can get their rooms ready and connect with crew and fellow residents.
‘It is great to see the relationships building and the community bonding as we are looking forward to the next 15 years of discovery.’