A couple who have spent around £680,000 on their dream to spend three years sailing around the world have given an update on the situation.
Earlier this year, the Odyssey cruise ship - which is operated by Villa Vie Residences - was scheduled to set sail from Belfast and begin the first leg of its ambitious three-and-a-half year journey.
Fast forward to late September and the ship is still stranded in the Northern Irish capital as it undergoes a series of tests and repairs, over four months after its intended departure date.
The indefinite hold-up has also impacted passengers hoping to make the voyage, however they are not letting this setback dampen their spirits.
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Among these passengers are couple Lanette Canen and Johan Bodin who bought a cabin onboard the Villa Vie Odyssey with the intention of sailing around the world in perpetuity, and are sharing regular updates on the cruise via their YouTube channel.
In their latest video, posted yesterday (24 September) the couple revealed a major update on the situation - sharing they have now received their Passenger Ship Safety Certificate (PSSC).
This might not sound like anything significant, however the couple explained this means they are one step closer to boarding.
"We are super, super excited," Lanette said, adding that this is all they need to get onboard.
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The couple also claimed that shipyard Harland & Wolff, which is where the Odyssey is currently docked, has just gone into administration - which means they can't board the ship in its current location. However, Harland & Wolff told LADbible that it has not gone into administration, saying these claims are false.
"There's no way for us passengers to actually board where the ship is," Johan claimed.
However the couple are remaining positive about their situation, as Lanette explained the current plan is to board 'in a different location' on Friday and 'hopefully' set sail on their mega journey the next day.
However this all apparently depends on the Villa Vie getting a spot in the cruise ship terminal.
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"We gotta have some luck sometime," Lanette joked, while Johan added: "We certainly need something to go Villa Vie's way... and I really think this is it."
The Villa Vie Odyssey ship originally launched back in 1993 and has sailed under the name of Braemar between the years of 2001 and 2020 before being sold to Villa Vie Residencies in 2023.
Villa Vie Residences' CEO Mike Peterson spoke about the ongoing process to get the ship underway last month, saying: "When you're the first at doing something, you will run into hiccups, but we're definitely getting there, and although we are late, we will launch."
Topics: Cruise Ship, Lifestyle
Brenna Cooper