The Villa Vie Odyssey finally departed from Belfast (Northern Ireland) on Monday night (September 30th) after a 4-month delay but encountered further setbacks.
Shortly after setting sail, the vessel halted just a few miles into Belfast Lough, reportedly due to unresolved administrative paperwork. Several departure deadlines were missed, creating uncertainty among passengers and observers onshore.
The ship, formerly known as Braemar under Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines, is now officially en route for her planned three-and-a-half-year voyage. As of 11:00 a.m. GMT (7:00 a.m. ET) Friday (October 4th), Odyssey was making her way toward Brest (France) where she is scheduled for a brief one-day stop before continuing to Bilbao (Spain).
Villa Vie CEO Mike Petterson confirmed the updated itinerary, a welcome development for the passengers who invested significant sums - some having even sold their homes - to embark on this long-awaited journey.