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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Is the cruise ship stuck in Belfast finally ready to sail? | Is the cruise ship stuck in Belfast finally ready to sail? |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Randy and Kit sold their home in Colorado | Randy and Kit sold their home in Colorado |
| Randy and Kit sold their home in Colorado | Randy and Kit sold their home in Colorado |
| Published3 hours ago | |
| After five months docked in Belfast the Villa Vie Residences cruise ship could be about to set sail. | After five months docked in Belfast the Villa Vie Residences cruise ship could be about to set sail. |
| The ship, which arrived in Belfast to be outfitted on 30 May should have departed four months ago, but was held up as it needed repairs. | The ship, which arrived in Belfast to be outfitted on 30 May should have departed four months ago, but was held up as it needed repairs. |
| Passengers on the world tour were then left stranded in Belfast. | Passengers on the world tour were then left stranded in Belfast. |
| The chief executive of the company behind the ship, Mikael Petterson, said bringing the ship out of a layup "proved a little more challenging than we expected”. | The chief executive of the company behind the ship, Mikael Petterson, said bringing the ship out of a layup "proved a little more challenging than we expected”. |
| '£22m deep so far' | '£22m deep so far' |
| The vessel has some final inspections to pass before it is signed off to sail. | The vessel has some final inspections to pass before it is signed off to sail. |
| “Ultimately, things haven't exactly gone our way," Mr Petterson continued. | “Ultimately, things haven't exactly gone our way," Mr Petterson continued. |
| "And although we're crossing our fingers that everything goes beautifully we don't know. | "And although we're crossing our fingers that everything goes beautifully we don't know. |
| "If something comes up we'll have to deal with it”. | "If something comes up we'll have to deal with it”. |
| Mikael Petterson said "the non-believers will be believers as we sail out over the next number of days" | Mikael Petterson said "the non-believers will be believers as we sail out over the next number of days" |
| Mikael Petterson said "the non-believers will be believers as we sail out over the next number of days" | Mikael Petterson said "the non-believers will be believers as we sail out over the next number of days" |
| The unexpected layover in Belfast has cost the company millions of pounds. | The unexpected layover in Belfast has cost the company millions of pounds. |
| “We're about £22m deep so far," he explained. | “We're about £22m deep so far," he explained. |
| "We planned for a little more than half of that. So we're about £10m over budget. | "We planned for a little more than half of that. So we're about £10m over budget. |
| "It's not the end of the world, but, yeah, it's certainly a little unexpected.” | "It's not the end of the world, but, yeah, it's certainly a little unexpected.” |
| Mikael said he understood that some of the passengers were feeling frustrated by the delay. | Mikael said he understood that some of the passengers were feeling frustrated by the delay. |
| “I totally get it. Hopefully we can make up for a lot of that, and we're only days away from actually achieving that dream.” | “I totally get it. Hopefully we can make up for a lot of that, and we're only days away from actually achieving that dream.” |
| Petterson laughed off speculation on social media about the future of the ship. | Petterson laughed off speculation on social media about the future of the ship. |
| "There are always going to be haters but the non-believers will be believers as we sail out over the next number of days." | "There are always going to be haters but the non-believers will be believers as we sail out over the next number of days." |
| ‘It feels like I’ve been banned from my home’ | ‘It feels like I’ve been banned from my home’ |
| The deck of the Odyssey cruise ship | The deck of the Odyssey cruise ship |
| The deck of the Odyssey cruise ship | The deck of the Odyssey cruise ship |
| The thought of a winter in Belfast is sobering to even the most upbeat of the Odyssey’s passengers. | The thought of a winter in Belfast is sobering to even the most upbeat of the Odyssey’s passengers. |
| Randy and Kit Cassingham sold their home in the Colorado mountains, their cars and all their belongings to become residents of the ship. | Randy and Kit Cassingham sold their home in the Colorado mountains, their cars and all their belongings to become residents of the ship. |
| Their windowless cabin cost them a six-figure sum. It will be their home for the lifetime of the Odyssey ship. | Their windowless cabin cost them a six-figure sum. It will be their home for the lifetime of the Odyssey ship. |
| “It’s lovely,” said Kit. | “It’s lovely,” said Kit. |
| “They do all the cooking, cleaning and laundry. We can travel the world without the hassle of airports or trains or packing and unpacking.” | “They do all the cooking, cleaning and laundry. We can travel the world without the hassle of airports or trains or packing and unpacking.” |
| But standing at Belfast Harbour and looking over at the ship is a wistful moment for Randy. | But standing at Belfast Harbour and looking over at the ship is a wistful moment for Randy. |
| “It is frustrating because it feels like we've been banned from our own home," he said. | “It is frustrating because it feels like we've been banned from our own home," he said. |
| “We have paid our bills. We live there. | “We have paid our bills. We live there. |
| "Yet we can't be there right now, and it's all the paperwork and all the inspections and getting things ready, we understand that, but we are getting anxious to go.” | "Yet we can't be there right now, and it's all the paperwork and all the inspections and getting things ready, we understand that, but we are getting anxious to go.” |
| Ready to go home | Ready to go home |
| Holly Hennessy and her cat named Captain | Holly Hennessy and her cat named Captain |
| Holly Hennessy and her cat named Captain | Holly Hennessy and her cat named Captain |
| Holly Hennessey, from Florida, is travelling with her six-year-old Siamese cat Captain. | Holly Hennessey, from Florida, is travelling with her six-year-old Siamese cat Captain. |
| Since they have been in Belfast they have had to move six times, staying in hotels, an apartment and an Airbnb. | Since they have been in Belfast they have had to move six times, staying in hotels, an apartment and an Airbnb. |
| She and Captain are now staying at a well-known hotel in the city centre. | She and Captain are now staying at a well-known hotel in the city centre. |
| Having a cat with her has made the delay a “big challenge”. | Having a cat with her has made the delay a “big challenge”. |
| “I had all this stuff and cat paraphernalia I had to bring with me," she told BBC News NI. | “I had all this stuff and cat paraphernalia I had to bring with me," she told BBC News NI. |
| "And it’s been tough to find things on short notice. | "And it’s been tough to find things on short notice. |
| "Had I known it was going to be for months I’d have booked maybe a place on a farm, or a seaside town.” | "Had I known it was going to be for months I’d have booked maybe a place on a farm, or a seaside town.” |
| Staff are ready and waiting for guests to board | Staff are ready and waiting for guests to board |
| Staff are ready and waiting for guests to board | Staff are ready and waiting for guests to board |
| After almost four months in Belfast, knowing her local shopkeepers by name and attending a local church, Holly is ready to go. | After almost four months in Belfast, knowing her local shopkeepers by name and attending a local church, Holly is ready to go. |
| “I’ve been hopeful for the last 114 days, we just have to wait. | “I’ve been hopeful for the last 114 days, we just have to wait. |
| “I wish for everyone’s sake we hadn’t had these delays. | “I wish for everyone’s sake we hadn’t had these delays. |
| "I wish the communication from the approving agencies would have been better. | "I wish the communication from the approving agencies would have been better. |
| "We have really been at their mercy and it’s not a good feeling to let somebody else be in control of things.” | "We have really been at their mercy and it’s not a good feeling to let somebody else be in control of things.” |
| 'I will not miss your weather' | 'I will not miss your weather' |
| Maintenance work continues on the ship | Maintenance work continues on the ship |
| Maintenance work continues on the ship | Maintenance work continues on the ship |
| Holly said the Villa Vie cruise company has been good at keeping passengers informed and have updated passengers twice a week at a minimum. | Holly said the Villa Vie cruise company has been good at keeping passengers informed and have updated passengers twice a week at a minimum. |
| But, for Holly she feels any delay will be worth it. | But, for Holly she feels any delay will be worth it. |
| “I’m doing this because I want to live on a ship. I’m not doing it for the travel as much as I’m doing it for the lifestyle. | “I’m doing this because I want to live on a ship. I’m not doing it for the travel as much as I’m doing it for the lifestyle. |
| “I feel a sense of belonging here," she added, "but I will not miss your weather”. | “I feel a sense of belonging here," she added, "but I will not miss your weather”. |
| Related topics | Related topics |
| Belfast | Belfast |
| Cruise ships | Cruise ships |
| Northern Ireland | Northern Ireland |