At last. Passengers hope to board the residential cruise ship Villa Vie Odyssey in Belfast this morning, after an unanticipated delay of four months.
Then stranding of passengers has led to unexpected romance for Gian Perroni and Angie Harsanyi, who got engaged during their unexpected stay.
The cruise company covered expenses for the stranded passengers, and many have enjoyed exploring Ireland while waiting to embark.
Passengers say they are grateful for the warmth of Belfast’s people, and plan to celebrate their departure after a memorable stay that included local experiences and community interactions.
Cruisegoers o the ship were offered rental segments varying from 35 to 120 days, or purchase villas ranging from €110,000 to €315,000.
Owning a villa on board guarantees the room for a minimum of 15 years, but the ownership stays valid for the entire operation of the ship.
Villa Vie CEO Mike Petterson said “We look forward to launching with pride and purpose, knowing we’re not just building a ship but a united community at sea together. While the road has had its challenges, every decision we’ve made is focused on the well-being and safety of our residents. Every decision made in the start up of the company’s residential cruise operation has been focused on the well-being and safety of its residents. We supported our residents with trips around Europe, and spent over $2m in hotel stays and trips to accommodate and entertain them while Odyssey was getting ready for launch. Since residents are scattered throughout Europe in over 20 different hotels, we decided to let residents plan their hotels and way back to the ship for launch. These costs will be compensated with onboard credit of up to $200 per day.”
