A luxury residential cruise ship has set off from Belfast Harbour having been docked for four months after unexpectedly spending that time in the city ahead of a maiden three-and a half year world voyage.
As The Belfast Telegraph reports, passengers cheered, applauded, and hugged the cruise ship’s chief following his confirmation on Monday night that they were ready for departure.
The cruise ship had been at Harland & Wolff, undergoing major refurbishment and repairs that delayed the residential cruise ship’s departure that was originally to have taken place in May.
Residents of the 650 capacity vessel, Villa Vie Odyssey, waved goodbye to the Northern Ireland city they had become so familiar with, bringing souvenirs and memories with them.
The development Afloat adds follows an announcement on the operator's facebook on 28 September that the Odyssey has officially passed its Maritime Coastguard Agency (MCA) and Public Health clearance.
Last night, Afloat tracked the 24,344 gross ton ship shift berths from H&W on Queen’s Island to the nearby Belfast Cruise Terminal, located also on the south bank of the harbour estate.
Villa Vie Odyssey departed Belfast Harbour and was tracked offshore of Bangor, where it transpired it had anchored overnight. At the time of writing this morning, however, the residential ship remains in Belfast Lough.
