Passengers who were about to embark on a 3-year cruise haven’t sailed in months

These travelers live their own lives. Gilligan’s Island story.

Passengers on Villa Vie Residences’ Odyssey cruise ship were set to set sail on a three-and-a-half-year voyage around the world in May, but due to problems with the ship, they have been living in Belfast, Northern Ireland, for the past three months.

The world cruise offered passengers the opportunity to purchase a cabin — known as a “villa” — and live at sea for the duration of the voyage, visiting 425 ports in 147 countries on seven continents. Cabins started at $119,999, plus a flat monthly fee, according to the cruise’s website. Passengers also had the opportunity to sign up for shorter voyages, lasting either a few months or a year.

However, the ship, which was originally built in 1993 but decommissioned in 2020, has been plagued by problems with its rudder and gearbox, causing a three-month delay. The Odyssey is currently undergoing maintenance at the Harland & Wolff shipyard in Belfast, where the Titanic was built more than 100 years ago.