Stranded Cruise Vessel Resumes Journey Following Technical Setback Due to Administrative Hurdle
Initially, Villa Vie Odyssey took off from Belfast, Northern Ireland on a Monday evening, following a delay of approximately four months. However, its journey didn't go too far, as it halted after covering a few miles into the Belfast Lough waterway, allegedly due to some pending final administrative formalities.
Multiple departure schedules passed by, causing both the passengers and spectators ashore to ponder about the situation's actual status.
But now, the vessel, which used to be the Braemar under Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines, is once again in motion.
As per marine monitoring website Vesselfinder, by 11:00 a.m. GMT (7:00 a.m. ET) on Friday, Odyssey was progressing towards Brest, France.
Villa Vie CEO Mike Petterson confirmed this information to CNN on Friday. He revealed that the ship would spend a day in France before setting sail for Bilbao, Spain.
This update is undoubtedly welcome news for the passengers, many of whom have spent substantial sums of money and even abandoned their homes to embark on this delayed voyage.
On Thursday, Holly Hennessey, who is traveling with her feline companion, shared with CNN that the passengers had recently conducted a "mini" christening ceremony on board and were overjoyed to have been granted permission to set sail.
According to Angela Theriac, an American passenger who's cruising with her husband, the experience has been less than ideal and at times frustrating, but they are looking forward to embarking on the journey of a lifetime.
Petterson had earlier stated that the delay was due to a prolonged certification process.
Since the ship was constructed in 1993, it has been required to comply with the standards of a brand-new vessel, Petterson explained.
CNN reporters Julia Buckley and Marnie Hunter contributed to this report.
The passengers are eagerly awaiting the arrival in Brest, France, as per the latest news, as Villa Vie Odyssey, formerly the Braemar, is now progressing towards its destination. This development is a significant relief for many passengers who have invested heavily and endured a prolonged wait.
Given the vessel's new route, some passengers are now planning their travel itineraries, with Brest serving as an intermediate stop before the final destination in Bilbao, Spain.
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