Villa Vie Odyssey had originally been scheduled to leave the city in May
A luxury cruise ship which was stranded in Belfast for four months is to return to the city just hours after it finally set sail. Chief executive of Villa Vie Residences Mike Petterson said the liner still had to complete administrative paperwork before it could finally depart to undertake a three-year round-the-world cruise.Passengers cheered, applauded and hugged the liner's chief when he confirmed on Monday night that they were ready for departure from Belfast port.
The residents of the Villa Vie Odyssey waved goodbye to the Northern Ireland city they had become so familiar with on Monday night, bringing souvenirs and memories with them. After a proposal under a supermoon, they said they have found their soulmates. Andy Garrison, 75, who said he will be on board for at least three and a half years, said he arrived in Belfast for what he thought was three days in August and ended up there for six weeks.
He said the passengers had been "resilient" in waiting for the repairs to be completed and described them as a "really nice group". Cyndi Grzybowski, 69, from Appling, Georgia, said she had always wanted to see the world and was excited for the voyage to begin.
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