The cruise with the Villa Vie Odyssey, which was supposed to go around the world, apparently doesn’t have a good star. The ship has been lying idle in Belfast harbor since the end of May. Hundreds of passengers are stranded. Loud “Euronews“Many of them sold their homes and belongings to live on board permanently.
Cruise passengers: “We stayed in six or seven hotels”
The 30-year-old ship repeatedly failed certifications. Extensive improvements are now needed. All passengers had to leave the ship and be accommodated in hotels. G. Grady says: “We stayed in six or seven hotels here in Belfast.”
Passengers’ patience is being strained as Villa Vie Residences repeatedly made last-minute departure announcements that were then postponed. Her husband, J. Grady, adds: “We’ve been here so long that the taxi drivers and waiters know us by name.”
The couple understands the problems because the Odyssey is a thirty-year-old ship. “These were unforeseen things that took time because they are not easy to solve, especially when this cruise ship is supposed to travel around the world for three and a half years,” says J.
Some cruise lovers are stuck
Operators have stopped covering all passengers’ costs. “Euronews” explains that this further aggravates the situation, especially since some passengers have no other accommodation because they sold their homes. This is also reported by the “star“.
Due to the ongoing uncertainty and the concerns of their children, the Gradys are returning to the United States for the time being. “Our children are worried about us,” says G.. Despite the setbacks, they remain optimistic and hope to be able to continue the cruise at a later date.
Woman left behind on cruise ship after stroke
An 80-year-old cruise passenger, on the other hand, suffered a stroke some time ago during an excursion on the African island of São Tomé and Príncipe and was subsequently left behind by Norwegian Cruises. According to her son-in-law Kurt Gies, Julie Lenkoff was only helped by American tourists after she was discharged from the hospital because she had neither cash nor a credit card with her. They contacted their daughter in the USA and informed her about the incident. “Nobody at Norwegian Cruises wanted to take responsibility,” said Gies.
Norwegian Cruises said it made multiple attempts to contact Lenkoff and worked with the local port agent. Nevertheless, the family organized her return themselves. After her return to the USA, Lenkoff’s condition continued to worsen and she suffered a second stroke.