A cruise ship taking passengers on a 3 1/2-year around-the-world voyage finally sailed from Belfast香蕉视频直播檚 dockside, after spending in the Northern Ireland capital.
Passengers cheered, applauded and hugged the liner香蕉视频直播檚 chief when he confirmed on Monday night that they were ready for departure. The Odyssey left dock and anchored in the sea inlet Belfast Lough overnight. And there it stayed, as the ship香蕉视频直播檚 operator said it needed to complete some final paperwork. The vessel was scheduled to leave Northern Ireland香蕉视频直播檚 waters late Tuesday.
The ship embarked from Southampton in May and put in at Belfast to be outfitted for departure. It spent months at the Harland & Wolff shipyard, where the doomed RMS Titanic was built more than a century ago, undergoing work on its rudder and engine.
In the meantime, the ship香蕉视频直播檚 operator, Villa Vie Residences paid living expenses for dozens of passengers, who were allowed onto the ship during the day and provided with meals and entertainment, but could not stay overnight. Some went home, while some stayed in hotels in Belfast or visited other parts of Europe.
Cyndi Grzybowski, 69, from Appling, Georgia, said she had always wanted to see the world and was excited for the voyage to begin, but had enjoyed 香蕉视频直播渆very minute香蕉视频直播� in Belfast.
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One pair of would-be voyagers became engaged while waiting for the cruise to begin.
Gian Perroni from Vancouver, Canada, and Angie Harsanyi from Colorado, got to know each other walking to and from the ship during the Belfast stopover. They are now engaged and plan to be married aboard ship by the captain in April.
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Built in 1993 and operated under different names by several cruise lines over the years before being becalmed by the coronavirus pandemic in 2020, the Odyssey was bought by Villa Vie Residences in 2023.
The residential ship is the latest venture in the It offers travelers the chance to buy a cabin and live at sea on a ship circumnavigating the globe. On its maiden voyage, it is scheduled to visit 425 ports in 147 countries on seven continents.
Marketing material, aimed at adventurous retirees and restless digital nomads, touts 香蕉视频直播渢he incredible opportunity to own a home on a floating paradise,香蕉视频直播� complete with a gym, spa, entertainment facilities, onboard hospital, business center and 香蕉视频直播渃ulinary arts center.香蕉视频直播�
Cabins 香蕉视频直播� billed as 香蕉视频直播渧illas香蕉视频直播� 香蕉视频直播� start at $99,999, plus a monthly fee, for the operational life of the vessel, at least 15 years. Passengers can also sign up for segments of the voyage lasting weeks or months.
Villa Vie Residences香蕉视频直播� chief executive Mikael Petterson acknowledged he felt 香蕉视频直播渁 little stressed香蕉视频直播� as the awaited final clearance to depart. And he gave Belfast a mixed review.
香蕉视频直播淵our summer is horrible,香蕉视频直播� he said, and 香蕉视频直播測ou can香蕉视频直播檛 cook to save your lives. But you do know how to drink.香蕉视频直播�
