cruise ship stranded at greenland

Luxury cruise ship pulled free days after getting stuck off Greenland's coast, authorities say

Previous attempts to free the stranded ship were unsuccessful.

LONDON -- A luxury cruise ship carrying 206 people has been pulled free days after it got stuck off the coast of Greenland, authorities said.

The Joint Arctic Command, which is part of Denmark’s defense forces, announced in a social media post on Thursday that the ship, named the Ocean Explorer, was finally pulled free at high tide in Greenland, which is a semiautonomous territory of Denmark.

MORE: Rescue efforts underway for luxury cruise ship that ran aground in Greenland

The 343-foot long and 60-foot wide vessel, which is operated by Australia-based cruise company Aurora Expeditions, was traveling toward a remote corner of Greenland on Monday when it ran aground above the Arctic Circle near Alpefjord in the Northeast Greenland National Park, the northernmost national park in the world.

The Greenland Institute of Nature's research ship Tarajoq, which unsuccessfully tried to free the cruise ship Wednesday, managed to pull the Ocean Explorer free, the Joint Arctic Command said.

"We’re really happy that it went so well and that the passengers and crew of the ship can now see an end to the difficult situation they’ve been in for the last few days," Commander Captain Brian Jensen of the Joint Arctic Command, said in a statement.

The cruise ship is now sailing to a port maintained by Maritime Accident Investigation Board for further inspection, the Joint Arctic Command said.

The SunStone Maritime Group, which chartered Aurora Expeditions for the trip, said in a statement that no one was injured during the incident. There was "no pollution of the environment and no breach of the hull," the statement said.

"The vessel and its passengers will now be positioned to a port where the vessel’s bottom damages can be assessed, and the passengers will be taken to a port from which they can be flown back home," the company said.

Previous attempts to free the stranded ship on Tuesday and Wednesday were unsuccessful.

It was unclear why the vessel ran aground, and the incident will remain under investigation, officials said.

ABC News' Jon Haworth, Will Gretsky and Emma Ogao contributed to this report.

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Luxury cruise ship stranded in Greenland with Covid-positive passengers is finally pulled free

COPENHAGEN, Denmark — The luxury cruise ship MV Ocean Explorer was successfully pulled free on Thursday, three days after running aground in Greenland with 206 people on board, authorities and the ship’s owner said.

The ship was freed by a fisheries research vessel at high tide, said the cruise ship’s owner, Copenhagen-based SunStone Ships, and the Joint Arctic Command, which coordinated the operation.

“There have not been any injuries to anybody onboard, no pollution of the environment and no breach of the hull,” SunStone Ships said in a statement. The research vessel which pulled the cruise ship belongs to the Greenland Institute of Natural Resources, a government agency, it said.

It said the cruise ship and its passengers will now travel to a port where the damage to the vessel’s bottom can be assessed, and the passengers will be taken to a location from where they can be flown home. There was no immediate comment from the tour company that organized the trip, Australia-based Aurora Expeditions.

The cruise ship ran aground Monday above the Arctic Circle  in Alpefjord  in Northeast Greenland National Park, the world’s northernmost national park. The park is nearly the size of France and Spain combined, and approximately 80% is covered by  an ice sheet . Alpefjord is about 240 kilometers (150 miles) from the closest settlement, Ittoqqortoormiit, which is nearly 1,400 kilometers (870 miles) from the country’s capital, Nuuk.

The Bahamas-flagged cruise ship has passengers from Australia, New Zealand, South Korea, the United Kingdom and the United States. It has an inverted bow, shaped like the one on a submarine, 77 cabins, 151 passenger beds and 99 beds for crew, and several restaurants.

Earlier Thursday, Aurora Expeditions said three passengers had Covid-19.

“These passengers are currently in isolation. They are looked after by our onboard doctor, medical team and crew, and they are doing well,” it said in a statement. Others on the MV Ocean Explorer are “safe and healthy,” it said.

Australian newspaper The Sydney Morning Herald quoted a retiree from Australia who is on the ship, Steven Fraser, as saying: “Everyone’s in good spirits. It’s a little bit frustrating, but we are in a beautiful part of the world.”

Fraser told the newspaper that he had come down with Covid-19 on the ship.

Cmdr. Brian Jensen of the Joint Arctic Command told Greenland broadcaster KNR that the ship is likely to go to Iceland, the closest place with large ports.

“Now it is exciting to find out what the condition of the ship is,“ Jensen was quoted as saying by KNR. “They are in the process of investigating whether the ship is intact and seaworthy and ready to sail on.”

The ship’s owner said several other vessels had rushed to the scene “and offered their assistance, which however, was not needed.” It said it had also “arranged additional tug assistance in case it was needed, however, this has now been canceled.”

Dozens of cruise ships sail along Greenland’s coast every year so passengers can admire the picturesque mountainous landscape, waterways packed with icebergs of different sizes and glaciers jutting out into the sea.

Danish broadcaster DR said there were 400 cruises in Greenland in 2022 and 600 cruises in 2023.

The Danish Maritime Authority asked police in Greenland to investigate why the ship ran aground and whether any laws had been violated, a police statement said, adding that no one has been charged or arrested. An officer has been on board the ship to carry out “initial investigative steps, which, among other things, involve questioning the crew and other relevant persons on board,” it said.

The cruise liner began its current trip on Sept. 2 in Kirkenes in Arctic Norway and was due to return to Bergen, Norway, on Sept. 22, according to SunStone Ships.

The primary mission of the Joint Arctic Command is to ensure Danish sovereignty by monitoring the area around the Faeroe Islands and Greenland, including the Arctic Ocean in the north. Greenland is a semi-independent territory that is part of the Danish realm, as are the Faeroe Islands.

The Associated Press

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A Luxury Cruise Ship, Stuck Off Greenland’s Coast for 3 Days, Is Pulled Free

The Ocean Explorer had been traveling toward Northeast Greenland National Park when it ran aground on Monday, officials said. The ship was pulled free on Thursday.

By Eduardo Medina

A luxury cruise ship that had been stuck for three days after running aground off the coast of Greenland was pulled free on Thursday morning, the authorities said.

The ship, the Ocean Explorer, had been carrying 206 passengers and crew members and was headed toward Alpefjord, in a remote corner of Greenland. The ship’s destination was the Northeast Greenland National Park, the world’s northernmost national park, which is home to icebergs, glaciers and high mountains.

The Joint Arctic Command, which is part of Denmark’s defense forces, and SunStone Maritime Group , the coordinators of the rescue operation, said in statements on Thursday that the ship had been pulled free by a vessel named Tarajoq.

There were no reported injuries on board the ship, and there was no threat to the environment. The ship’s operator, Aurora Expeditions, a cruise company based in Australia, said in a statement on Thursday that “all onboard are safe” and that it appreciated “the patience and understanding of our passengers during this process.”

“We are waiting on the relevant authorities for advice regarding our next steps,” the company said.

The rescue came after an unsuccessful attempt on Wednesday, in which a fishing research vessel owned by the government of Greenland tried and failed to pull free the Ocean Explorer at high tide. Bad weather also slowed the government’s rescue operations, officials said.

Before the ship was freed, the Joint Arctic Command had said that “the crew and passengers are in a difficult situation, but after the circumstances, the atmosphere on the ship is good and everyone on board is fine.”

It was unclear what caused the ship to run aground near Greenland, which is part of Denmark but has autonomy over most domestic affairs. Officials said there were no indications that the ship had suffered serious damage to its foundation.

Cruises around Greenland have become increasingly popular with tourists seeking adventure and comfort aboard ships packed with amenities.The Ocean Explorer, built in 2021, was made to “travel to the world’s most remote destinations,” according to Aurora Expeditions’ website .

Prices for a 17-day expedition that tours Greenland start at more than $15,000 per person. The ship has a gym, a Jacuzzi and spacious suites that are 640 square feet, offering guests two large master bathrooms, one master bedroom and expansive views of the sea .

Photos of the stuck Ocean Explorer on Wednesday showed a blue-and-white ship floating in waters with frosted mountain peaks in the distance.

Extreme cold did not appear to be a major issue for stranded passengers on Wednesday: The temperature in the area was around 2.2 degrees Celsius, or about 36 degrees Fahrenheit, that night.

Jenny Gross contributed reporting.

Eduardo Medina is a reporter covering breaking news. More about Eduardo Medina

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Expedition cruise ship carrying 206 freed after running aground in Greenland

An expedition cruise ship that got stuck in a remote part of Greenland with hundreds of people on board was freed Thursday.

The Ocean Explorer ship was pulled loose by research vessel Tarajoq, which is run by the Greenland Institute of Natural Resources , the Danish military’s Joint Arctic Command said on Facebook .

The vessel ran aground earlier this week in Alpefjord in the Northeast Greenland National Park. The tide previously failed to free the ship, the Joint Arctic Command said on Tuesday.

Operator Aurora Expeditions said that all on board are safe and there is no environmental damage. "We are waiting on the relevant authorities for advice regarding our next steps," the company said in an emailed statement.

"We would like to extend our deepest gratitude to the management and team of the Tarajoq vessel, for assisting us during this challenging time, and our team who have worked tirelessly to ensure the safety and comfort of our passengers," the statement continued. "We also sincerely appreciate the patience and understanding of our passengers during this process. We remain committed to assisting them as the situation progresses."

Photos shared by Joint Arctic Command on Facebook earlier in the week showed the ship – which is carrying 206 passengers and crew members – on calm water in sunny weather conditions. Officials said there is no evidence the ship had suffered serious damage as a result of the grounding.

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Denmark’s Danish Maritime Authority has asked police in Greenland to investigate why the ship ran aground and whether any laws had been violated, a police statement said, adding that no one has been charged or arrested. An officer had been on board the ship to carry out “initial investigative steps, which, among other things, involve questioning the crew and other relevant persons on board,” it added.

The primary mission of the Joint Arctic Command is to ensure Danish sovereignty by monitoring the area around the Faroe Islands and Greenland, including the Arctic Ocean in the north. Greenland is a semi-independent territory that is part of the Danish realm, as are the Faroe Islands.

Contributing: The Associated Press

Nathan Diller is a consumer travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Nashville. You can reach him at [email protected].

Cruise ship freed after being stranded in Greenland for days

More than 200 people were stranded on the ship until a fishing research vessel pulled it free

A luxury cruise ship that had been stranded in remote Greenland since Monday was freed Thursday with an assist from a fishing research vessel, Danish authorities said.

The Joint Arctic Command, part of Danish defense forces, said in a statement that the expedition cruise ship was pulled free by the Tarajoq, which is operated by the Greenland Institute of Natural Resources. The Ocean Explorer, carrying 206 passengers and crew on a voyage to observe rugged glacial terrain, ran aground in an area advertised as the largest and northernmost national park in the world.

Authorities were notified Monday afternoon local time that the ship ran around in the Alpefjord in Northeast Greenland National Park, known for picturesque glaciers, icebergs and muskoxen that roam the coast. Authorities said there have been no injuries aboard the Ocean Explorer and the incident does not pose a threat to the environment.

However, three passengers have covid-19, according to Aurora Expeditions, an Australian-based cruise line that owns and operates the Bahamas-flagged ship. The cruise line said in a statement the passengers have been in isolation and were receiving treatment from its medical teams and crew members.

“All other passengers, Expedition team and crew remain safe and healthy,” Ocean Explorer officials said in a Wednesday statement.

In the days before the ship was freed, Danish authorities scrambled to find solutions, including contacting nearby ships and dispatching local units. In an update Arctic Command posted to Facebook on Wednesday, it said the Tarajoq had arrived but failed in an early attempt to pull the cruise ship free at high tide. The Arctic Command had also called for a patrol vessel to aid the recovery of the cruise ship, but it was not on schedule to arrive until Friday.

“There is a long way for immediate help, our units are far from that and the weather can be very unfavorable,” Captain Brian Jensen of the Arctic Command said in the statement, which was translated into English on Facebook. “Of course, we are following the situation closely and take this incident very seriously,” Jensen added.

The Ocean Explorer is designed for travel to remote destinations across the world, according to the company’s website . The company told AP in a statement its passengers and crew were not in danger, and ensuring a safe recovery was its “foremost commitment.”

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Stranded cruise ship the Ocean Explorer freed three days after running aground in Greenland

The ship, which has passengers from around the world on board, was pulled free from mud and silt by a fishing vessel.

Thursday 14 September 2023 14:04, UK

A luxury cruise ship has been freed after it ran aground in northwestern Greenland.

The Ocean Explorer - which has 206 passengers on board - got stuck in mud and silt on Monday in Alpefjord, a national park 870 miles (1,400km) northeast of Greenland's capital Nuuk, the Danish military's Joint Arctic Command (JAC) said.

After three failed attempts to free the ship, it was "successfully" pulled free by a fishing vessel, Tarajoq, at high tide.

SunStone Ships, the vessel's owner, said the ship will be taken to a port to assess any damage, while the passengers will be flown home.

"There have not been any injuries to any person onboard, no pollution of the environment and no breach of the hull," SunStone said in a statement.

Before the rescue, the JAC had sent its larger inspection vessel, Knud Rasmussen, to the site, which was expected to arrive on Friday evening .

'Everyone's in good spirits'

The Ocean Explorer, which is operated by Australia-based Aurora Expeditions, left the Norwegian port of Bronnoysund on 6 September, according to tracking data from MarineTraffic.com.

The ship has 77 cabins, 151 passenger beds and 99 beds for crew.

There are also several restaurants, an infinity pool and a two-level lounge with a piano bar and panoramic windows at the bow of the ship, according to Ulstein, the company that built it.

More from Sky News: P&O cruise liner 'crashes into petrol tanker' Tiny Cornish port town hosts 60,000 tonne cruise ship

Some of those on board are from Australia, UK, New Zealand, US and South Korea, and were described by passengers Steven Fraser and Gina Hill as "a lot of wealthy older people".

Earlier on Thursday, the retired couple from Australia told the Sydney Morning Herald that "everyone's in good spirits".

"It's a little bit frustrating, but we are in a beautiful part of the world," Mr Fraser was quoted as saying.

Mr Fraser said he was one of a number of passengers who had tested positive for COVID, but there is a doctor on board.

Lisa, another passenger, told CNN that her biggest fear at the moment is running out of alcohol, but if the worst did happen, she had a back-up plan.

"I had swimming lessons before I came and I'm a good swimmer," she said.

"So look out: I could be swimming back to Iceland."

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Members of the Sirius Dog Sled Patrol - a Danish naval unit that conducts long-range reconnaissance and enforces Danish sovereignty in the Arctic wilderness - were in the vicinity of the stranded ship.

They visited on Tuesday and reported that everyone on board was fine and no damage to the vessel had been reported.

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Luxury cruise ship pulled free three days after getting stranded in Greenland

The MV Ocean Explorer and its 206 passengers have been pulled free after running aground in Greenland earlier this week.

The luxury cruise ship stranded in Greenland has been pulled free at high tide. 

The successful rescue operation took place on Thursday, three days after the MV Ocean Explorer ran aground with 206 people on board, authorities and the ship's owner said.

The ship was freed by a fisheries research vessel at high tide, according to the cruise ship's owner, Copenhagen-based SunStone Ships, and the Joint Arctic Command, which coordinated the operation.

"There have not been any injuries to anybody onboard, no pollution of the environment and no breach of the hull,” SunStone Ships said in a statement. 

The research vessel which pulled the cruise ship belongs to the Greenland Institute of Natural Resources, a government agency, it said.

What happened to the MV Ocean Explorer?

The MV Ocean Explorer ran aground in northwestern Greenland on Monday.

With the closest Danish Defence ship over 2,000km away at the time of the incident, help was not expected to arrive until Friday evening.

“Our units are far away, and the weather can be very unfavourable,” said Cmdr Brian Jensen of the Joint Arctic Command at the time.

The Joint Arctic Command is a joint operational territorial command of the Danish Defence operating in Greenland and the Faroe Islands. As well as protecting the sovereignty of the Kingdom of Denmark in the Arctic Region, it carries out search and rescue missions, research and pollution prevention tasks in the region.

On Wednesday, a research ship owned by the Greenland government unsuccessfully attempted to pull the ship off ground during high tide.

Three passengers on board the ship were reportedly isolating with Covid-19.

The 104.4-metre-long and 18-metre-wide Ocean Explorer ran aground in Alpefjord, above the Arctic Circle in the Northeast Greenland National Park. 

The park is nearly the size of France and Spain combined, and approximately 80 per cent is covered by an ice sheet. 

Alpefjord is about 240 km from the closest settlement, Ittoqqortoormiit, which is nearly 1,400 km from the country’s capital, Nuuk.

What will happen to the cruise ship passengers now?

The cruise ship and its passengers will now travel to a port where the damage to the vessel’s bottom can be assessed. The passengers will be taken to a location from where they can be flown home. 

The Bahamas-flagged cruise ship has passengers from Australia, New Zealand, South Korea, the United Kingdom and the United States. It has 77 cabins, 151 passenger beds, 99 beds for crew and several restaurants.

Jensen told Greenland broadcaster KNR that the ship is likely to go to Iceland, the closest place with large ports.

“Now it is exciting to find out what the condition of the ship is,“ Jensen was quoted as saying by KNR. “They are in the process of investigating whether the ship is intact and seaworthy and ready to sail on.”

The ship's owner said several other vessels had rushed to the scene “and offered their assistance, which however, was not needed.” It said it had also “arranged additional tug assistance in case it was needed, however, this has now been cancelled.”

There was no immediate comment from the tour company that organised the trip, Australia-based Aurora Expeditions.

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Why did the cruise ship run aground?

Dozens of cruise ships sail along Greenland’s coast every year so passengers can admire the picturesque mountainous landscape, waterways packed with icebergs of different sizes and glaciers jutting out into the sea.

Danish broadcaster DR said there were 400 cruises in Greenland in 2022 and 600 cruises in 2023.

The Danish Maritime Authority asked police in Greenland to investigate why the ship ran aground and whether any laws had been violated, a police statement said, adding that no one has been charged or arrested. 

An officer has been on board the ship to carry out “initial investigative steps, which, among other things, involve questioning the crew and other relevant persons on board,” it said.

The cruise liner began its current trip on 2 September in Kirkenes in Arctic Norway and was due to return to Bergen, Norway, on 22 September, according to SunStone Ships.

The primary mission of the Joint Arctic Command is to ensure Danish sovereignty by monitoring the area around the Faeroe Islands and Greenland, including the Arctic Ocean in the north. Greenland is a semi-independent territory that is part of the Danish realm, as are the Faeroe Islands.

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Fishing trawler fails to free cruise ship grounded in Greenland with 85 Australians on board

Topic: Maritime Accidents and Incidents

The Ocean Explorer cruise ship became stuck in mud and silt on Greenland's coast. ( Danish Air Force/Arctic Command via Reuters )

A fishing trawler's attempt to free a luxury cruise ship that ran aground two days ago in a remote part of Greenland has failed, leaving the vessel and 206 people on board still stranded.

Key points:

• The ship has been stuck in Alpefjord national park in Greenland since Monday
• A fish trawler failed to pull the ship free during high tide, Danish military said
• 85 Australians are on the ship, a Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade spokesperson said

Among those on board are 85 Australians, according to a Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade spokesperson.

The Ocean Explorer has been stuck since Monday in mud and silt in the Alpefjord national park, some 1,400 kilometres north-east of Greenland's capital Nuuk, Denmark's armed forces said.

The large trawler sought to pull the cruise ship free during high tide, but the attempt ultimately failed, the Danish military's Joint Arctic Command (JAC) said in a statement.

Armed forces personnel stationed in Greenland have inspected the Ocean Explorer and spoken to those on board, concluding that they were in good condition.

"The crew and passengers are in a difficult situation, but under the circumstances the atmosphere on the ship is good and everyone on board is doing well," the JAC said.

The Danish navy's Knud Rasmussen patrol vessel was expected to arrive at the Alpefjord site on Friday afternoon local time, the JAC said.

The ship became stuck in Alpefjord national park, a remote part of Greenland. ( Danish Air Force/Arctic Command via Reuters )

"If everything goes well, they will help the ship get out of this emergency that they're in at this moment. But it depends on how everything looks when they arrive on Friday so we need to see how it goes," a JAC spokesperson said.

The passengers and crew remained safe on board, Australian travel operator Aurora Expeditions said earlier.

"There is no immediate danger to themselves, the vessel or the surrounding environment," Sydney-based Aurora said in a statement.

Photos taken by the Danish military showed the Ocean Explorer sitting upright in calm waters with the sun shining.

Greenland, a semi-sovereign territory of Denmark in the North Atlantic Ocean with a population of just 57,000, attracts tourists with its rugged landscape and a vast ice cap that covers much of the island.

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Luxury Cruise Ship Carrying 206 Passengers Runs Aground in Arctic Circle with 2 COVID-19 Cases

The Ocean Explorer cruise ship is stranded near Alpefjord in Northeast Greenland

Gabrielle Rockson is a staff writer-reporter for PEOPLE. She joined PEOPLE in 2023 and covers entertainment and human interest stories. She's interviewed David Beckham, Zendaya, Timothée Chalamet and many others. Her previous work can be found in OK! Magazine, MyLondon, GRM Daily, and more.

SIRIUS/Joint Arctic Command via AP

A luxury cruise ship carrying 206 passengers and crew has run aground in Northwestern Greenland.

The Ocean Explorer became stranded near Alpefjord in the Northeast Greenland National Park on Monday, reported NBC News .

The 375,000 square mile area, which is known for icebergs, is the most northerly national park in the world. No injuries or damage were reported in the incident, according to a statement from the Joint Arctic Command's Facebook page.

In the post on Tuesday, Cmdr. Brian Jensen of the Joint Arctic Command stated: “Our units are far away, and the weather can be very unfavorable.”

He added that a Danish navy ship — which is closest to the stranded vessel — is expected to arrive on Friday. Another nearby cruise ship has also been contacted should its assistance be needed.

Despite there being no risk to human life or the environment, the incident is being taken “very seriously," Jenson made clear in the Facebook statement. 

The Joint Arctic Command also revealed that the ship had so far been unable to free itself despite Tuesday's tides. Meanwhile, Associated Press stated Wednesday that a Greenland government-owned fishing vessel will attempt to use a high tide to free the cruise ship. The fishing vessel is expected to arrive later Wednesday.

Jensen added of the rescue attempts: "Regardless, the most important thing for us is that everyone gets to safety."

Two of the stranded passengers have COVID-19 , according to an Australian passenger on board, as reported by The Guardian . Gina Hill, who is traveling with her husband, said they felt a shudder and then what sounded like a scrape as the ship ran aground. However, she added that the passengers were in "good spirits."

Hill said that passengers had been told by the crew that two other passengers had COVID-19 and that they had been isolated.

Per ABC News , the ship is 343 feet long and 60 feet wide. The cruise ship is said to belong to Ulstein Group in Ulsteinvik, southern Norway, according to NBC News.

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

“We are actively engaged in efforts to free the MV Ocean Explorer from its grounding. Our foremost commitment is to ensure the vessel’s recovery without compromising safety,” Aurora Expeditions, who operate the ship, told AP News.

Capt. Flemming Madsen of the Danish Joint Arctic Command also revealed that passengers on the ship are tourists from the United States, New Zealand, Britain, Australia, and South Korea, the outlet reported.

The Danish Defence and Aurora Expeditions did not immediately respond to PEOPLE's request for comment.

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Peter Morrison

The Odyssey, a US cruise liner operated by Villa Vie Residences docked at Harland & Wolf ship repair facility in Belfast Harbour, Northern Ireland, Friday, Aug. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Peter Morrison)

BELFAST, Northern Ireland (AP) — Lanette Canen and Johan Bodin gave up life on land to become seaborne nomads on a years-long cruise.

Months later, the couple has yet to spend a night at sea. Their ship, the Odyssey, is stuck in Belfast undergoing repair work that has postponed its scheduled May departure for a 3 ½-year round-the-world voyage.

Bodin said Friday that they have enjoyed their pit stop in the Northern Ireland capital, but “when we’d visited every pub and tried and every fish and chips place and listened to all the places that have Irish music, then we were ready to go elsewhere.”

“We’re ready to set sail, for sure,” added Canen.

Villa Vie Residences’ Odyssey is the latest venture in the tempest-tossed world of continuous cruising.

It offers travelers the chance to buy a cabin and live at sea on a ship circumnavigating the globe. On its maiden voyage, it is scheduled to visit 425 ports in 147 countries on seven continents. Cabins – billed as “villas” — start at $99,999, plus a monthly fee, for the operational life of the vessel, at least 15 years. Passengers can also sign up for segments of the voyage lasting weeks or months.

Marketing material, aimed at adventurous retirees and restless digital nomads, touts “the incredible opportunity to own a home on a floating paradise,” complete with a gym, spa, putting green, entertainment facilities, a business center and an “experiential culinary center.”

But first, the Odyssey has to get out of the dock.

It’s now at Belfast’s Harland & Wolff shipyard, where the doomed RMS Titanic was built more than a century ago.

Villa Vie Residences’ marketing manager Sebastian Stokkendal said the company had been “humbled by the scale of what it takes to reactivate a 30-year-old vessel from a four-year layup.”

He said that after work on the rudder shafts, steel work and engine overhauls, the ship is almost ready to depart.

“We expect a very anticipated successful launch next week where we will head to Bremerhaven, Amsterdam, Lisbon, then across the Atlantic for our Caribbean segment,” he said in an email to The Associated Press.

In the meantime, the company has been paying living expenses for about 200 passengers. They are allowed onto the ship during the day and provided with meals and entertainment, but can’t stay overnight. The cruise line has paid for hotels in Belfast and in other European cities for those who want to explore more of Europe while they wait.

Passenger Holly Hennessey from Florida told the BBC she can’t leave Northern Ireland because of her shipmate – her cat, Captain.

She said that at first “I thought I’d go home, or the ship sent some people to the Canary Islands. And then I found out that because I have my cat with me, I can’t even leave.”

“I want to thank Belfast for being so welcoming to all of us,” she said.

Bodin and Canen – a Swede and an American who met when both lived in Hawaii -- have used the time to travel to Italy, Croatia and Bodin's hometown in Sweden, where they are awaiting news of the Odyssey.

Canen plans to run her Arizona-based auto-glass business from the ship. Bodin, a carpenter, is running a YouTube channel documenting the couple’s temporarily stalled journey.

Built in 1993 and operated under different names by several cruise lines over the years before being becalmed by the coronavirus pandemic in 2020, the Odyssey was bought by Villa Vie Residences in 2023.

The residential cruising business has proved a troubled one. MS The World, launched in 2002, is currently the only vessel of the type in operation. Another venture, Life at Sea, canceled its planned 3-year voyage late last year after failing to secure a ship.

Canen and Bodin put down a deposit on Life at Sea – they got their money back – and also gambled on Victoria Cruises, another stalled venture from which they are still seeking a refund.

But they are undeterred.

“We might be crazy, stupid, naive or resilient,” Bodin said. “I don’t know, you can put any label on it that you want.”

Lawless reported from London.

Copyright 2024 The  Associated Press . All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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A residential cruise ship that's supposed to sail the world for 3 years has been stuck in Northern Ireland for 3 months

• Villa Vie Odyssey was supposed to set sail on a global cruise from Belfast in May.
• Problems with the ship mean it's been docked there for the past three months.
• Some passengers are staying positive and using the delay to take trips elsewhere.

A residential cruise ship that was supposed to travel around the world has been stuck in Northern Ireland for the past three months.

Business Insider previously reported that the  Villa Vie Odyssey  was initially set to sail from Belfast in May. The ship has been docked there because it needed updating, as it's more than 30 years old. It was previously called the Braemar and operated by Fred Olsen Cruise Lines.

Villa Vie has said issues such as the aging ship's rudder stocks and recertification have delayed its departure by three months.

The 509 cabins cost at least $100,000 each. The Odyssey is due to sail around the world every 3 ½ years , visiting 147 countries and 425 destinations en route.

While the ship is stuck in Belfast, passengers can go on board during the day but not stay on it overnight.

The cruise line's CEO, Mikael Petterson, told BI in an email on Thursday that Villa Vie had provided residents with hotels, other cruises, shore excursions, and trips to the likes of Spain, Liverpool, and Amsterdam.

It's also welcoming residents on board, "where they can get their rooms ready and connect with crew and fellow residents," he added. "It is great to see the relationships building and the community bonding as we are looking forward to the next 15 years of discovery."

One couple on the ship, Johan Bodin and Lanette Canen, previously told BI they'd traveled elsewhere during the delay, to the likes of Italy, Croatia, Slovenia, and Sweden.

The couple said Villa Vie had also sent them on various excursions, including a trip to the Canary Islands and a cruise to the Norwegian fjords.

"We understand there are hiccups," Bodin told BI. "They're schmoozing us a bit to keep us happy. They're almost being too serviced-minded — I don't need to be pampered all the time."

Related stories

Holly Hennessey, from Florida, told BBC News: "We can have all of our meals, and they even have movies and trivia entertainment, almost like cruising except we're at the dock."

Angela and Stephen Theriac told the outlet they'd spent the delay traveling around Spain by train, visiting Greenland, and taking weekend trips to England.

"We keep teasing we will apply for residency here in Belfast," Angela Theriac told the BBC.

"We have eaten in every restaurant and had a Guinness in every pub," her husband added. "It is just all part of our adventure."

Angela Theriac previously told BI she and her husband had started decorating their floating condo with "personal touches," adding: "Our room is our bedroom, and the ship is our home."

Petterson, Villa Vie's CEO and founder, told BI, "We are going through the last few surveys and expect to launch within the next week."

He added that sea trials were scheduled for Monday.

Watch: Cruise ship captain breaks down 8 cruise ship disasters in movies and TV

• Main content

Cruise ship stranded in Belfast for three months

• Northern Ireland
• Friday 30 August 2024 at 5:32pm

Passengers on a around-the-world cruise ship have been enjoying an extended stay in Belfast - now three months after the vessel was due to set sail from the city's dock.

Villa Vie's Odyssey cruise ship was scheduled to leave on 30 May for the first leg of a round-the-world cruise.

As they wait to start their three-and-a-half-year voyage, residents spend their days onboard the docked ship disembarking to stay in hotels overnight.

The Odyssey cruise ship, a retired cruise vessel purchased by a start-up during Covid, arrived at Queen’s Island in the Northern Ireland at the start of summer.

It has yet to set sail due to issues with the ship's rudders and gearbox.

Florida native Holly, who is onboard the ship with her cat, spoke to ITV's This Morning from Belfast.

She said: "I can leave the ship. In fact, I have to leave the ship every evening. We can spend our days aboard now but I can't leave Belfast because of the kitty.

"Belfast has been incredibly welcoming, and warm in spirt if not in temperature. I've never had so much use for an umbrella in my life.

"I've had to buy Vitamin-D which normally I have an abundance of. I don't know how you guys do it living in this climate."

As for how long it will be until cruise ship sets sail for sunnier climes as planned, Holly explained: "We have had many dates given to us that we were told we thought we would set sail.

"We still have to do sea trials that is probably early next week and hopefully as soon as the sea trials are done and verifications are given we will be on our way.

"We have had delay after delay after delay but it is well worth it for the life that we are going to be able to live. It will be a wonderful way to live I think."

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Meet the cruise passengers stranded in Belfast

Cruise passengers are making the most of some unexpected time in Belfast after their voyage was beset by delays.

Passengers on Villa Vie Residences' Odyssey have been stranded for three months.

The ship arrived at Queen’s Island in the Northern Ireland capital to be outfitted before it was scheduled to leave on 30 May for the first leg of a three-year round-the-world cruise.

But it has still not left thanks to problems with its rudders and gearbox.

Read more here .

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A 3-year cruise for remote workers has left ticket holders stranded in Belfast for months

Lanette Canen and Johan Bodin gave up life on land to become seaborne nomads on a years-long cruise.

Months later, the couple has yet to spend a night at sea. Their ship, the Odyssey, is stuck in Belfast undergoing repair work that has postponed its scheduled May departure for a 3 ½-year round-the-world voyage.

Bodin said they have enjoyed their pit stop in the Northern Ireland capital, but “when we’d visited every pub and tried and every fish and chips place and listened to all the places that have Irish music, then we were ready to go elsewhere.”

“We’re ready to set sail, for sure,” added Canen.

Villa Vie Residences’ Odyssey is the latest venture in the tempest-tossed world of continuous cruising.

It offers travelers the chance to buy a cabin and live at sea on a ship circumnavigating the globe. On its maiden voyage, it is scheduled to visit 425 ports in 147 countries on seven continents. Cabins – billed as “villas” — start at $99,999, plus a monthly fee, for the operational life of the vessel, at least 15 years. Passengers can also sign up for segments of the voyage lasting weeks or months.

Marketing material, aimed at adventurous retirees and restless digital nomads, touts “the incredible opportunity to own a home on a floating paradise,” complete with a gym, spa, putting green, entertainment facilities, a business center and an “experiential culinary center.”

But first, the Odyssey has to get out of the dock.

It’s now at Belfast’s Harland & Wolff shipyard, where the doomed RMS Titanic was built more than a century ago.

‘Humbled’ by the effort

Villa Vie Residences’ marketing manager Sebastian Stokkendal said the company had been “humbled by the scale of what it takes to reactivate a 30-year-old vessel from a four-year layup.”

He said that after work on the rudder shafts, steel work and engine overhauls, the ship is almost ready to depart.

“We expect a very anticipated successful launch next week where we will head to Bremerhaven, Amsterdam, Lisbon, then across the Atlantic for our Caribbean segment,” he said in an email to The Associated Press.

In the meantime, the company has been paying living expenses for about 200 passengers. They are allowed onto the ship during the day and provided with meals and entertainment, but can’t stay overnight. The cruise line has paid for hotels in Belfast and in other European cities for those who want to explore more of Europe while they wait.

Passenger Holly Hennessey from Florida told the BBC she can’t leave Northern Ireland because of her shipmate – her cat, Captain.

She said that at first “I thought I’d go home, or the ship sent some people to the Canary Islands. And then I found out that because I have my cat with me, I can’t even leave.”

“I want to thank Belfast for being so welcoming to all of us,” she said.

Bodin and Canen – a Swede and an American who met when both lived in Hawaii — have used the time to travel to Italy, Croatia and Bodin’s hometown in Sweden.

Canen plans to run her Arizona-based auto-glass business from the ship. Bodin, a carpenter, is running a YouTube channel documenting the couple’s temporarily stalled journey.

Built in 1993 and operated under different names by several cruise lines over the years before being becalmed by the coronavirus pandemic in 2020, the Odyssey was bought by Villa Vie Residences in 2023.

The residential cruising business has proved a troubled one. MS The World, launched in 2002, is currently the only vessel of the type in operation. Another venture, Life at Sea , canceled its planned 3-year voyage late last year after failing to secure a ship .

Canen and Bodin put down a deposit on Life at Sea – they got their money back – and also gambled on Victoria Cruises, another stalled venture from which they are still seeking a refund.

But they are undeterred.

“We might be crazy, stupid, naive or resilient,” Bodin said. “I don’t know, you can put any label on it that you want.”

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Stranded For 3 Months After Cruise Malfunction, Passengers Share Their $3,500/Month Cabin

T hree months , that’s how long the passengers of a world cruise have been stranded in Belfast , facing continuous delays—and they are loving it .

The vessel, called Villa Vie Residences’ Odyssey , docked at Queen’s Island in the Northern Ireland city for maintenance before its scheduled departure on May 30, 2024, for what was expected to be a three-year voyage. However, issues with the ship’s rudders and gearbox have kept it grounded.

Some passengers, like Holly Hennessey from Florida, had to turn the Irish city into their temporary home. Stuck in Belfast with her cat, she describes the situation as “hunkering down” while waiting for the ship to be ready.

Passengers of a residential cruise have been stranded in Belfast, Ireland, for three months. Their trip was expected to last for at least three years

Image credits: Villa Vie Residences

Although travelers are allowed to spend the day on the ship, they must disembark in the evenings.

“We can spend all day aboard the ship, and they provide shuttle buses to get on and off,” Ms Hennessey said. “We can have all of our meals and they even have movies and trivia entertainment, almost like cruising except we’re at the dock.”

Due to the years-long nature of the ship’s voyages, passengers have the opportunity to purchase their cabins outright instead of paying a daily rate, allowing them to stay on board beyond the initial three-year trip.

For Hennessey, this is a dream come true, as she claimed to have always wanted to live on a ship. “I want to stay just as long as I am able,” she added in an interview with the BBC .

Image credits: Captain the Cruising Kitty

Another couple on the cruise, Angela and Stephen Theriac, have used their time in Belfast to travel to neighboring countries. They’ve taken trips around Spain, England, and even Greenland.

Angela believes the stranding of the ship has been a blessing in disguise, as it has allowed her to make the most of their situation. “We keep teasing that we will apply for residency here in Belfast,” she stated.

Stephen, on the other hand, explains that the time they’ve been stranded has allowed them to visit every restaurant and pub in the city. “It’s all part of our adventure,” he explained.

Another couple was less thrilled about the prospect of being stranded, having to pay upwards of $3,500 for each month they stay on their cabin

Image credits: Living Life on a Cruise

Despite the mishap, Lanette Canen and Johan Bodin also decided to make the most out of the mishap and decided to start a Youtube channel to document their experience.

The couple have also taken the chance to visit neighboring countries, specifically Croatia and Sweden.

The pair revealed that they intend to stay indefinitely on the ship, but explain that they opted for a plan that allows them to “pay as they go.”

This meant that they had to pay an initial deposit of $100,000, with further payments going towards covering the full price of their cabin, as well as providing them with a variety of benefits.

Healthcare, lunch, dinner, entertainment, trips and other activities organized by the cruise’s community are all included in the fee which coincidentally comes at around the same estimated monthly expenses of a family in Belfast, at around $3,500, according to Numbeo .

Some passengers have sold their houses and invested their savings into the project, having no other choice but to make the most of their time while maintenance continues

Other travelers who have been on the vessel since the beginning, like Dr. David Austin, have resigned themselves to their fate . 

“I was committed, having sold my house right before my arrival, and I’ve stayed committed to this adventure with every delay,” he said, considering the idea of feeling disappointed about the delays a waste of time.

For the ship’s CEO, Mike Petterson, his passenger’s Belfast adventures might be coming to an end, and he gave an optimistic forecast. “We expect the ship to launch by the end of the next week,” he revealed.

Petterson also highlighted the “affordability” of the residential ship, labeling it as an unprecedented opportunity for those who want to live the rest of their lives sailing the seas.

“Step into a realm where every morning greets you with a new horizon, and every night serenades with a lullaby of waves. At Villa Vie, find the perfect residence tailored to your taste,” reads the cruise’s website .

The company describes the ship as the “most affordable of its kind,” promising would-be buyers 15 years of ownership of each of the vessel’s luxurious cabins

But how much does it cost to live aboard the Villa Vie? 

Their website lists cabin costs that range from $99,999 to $899,000, depending on the size of the room, view, and other accommodations like balconies and extra furniture.

Monthly fees range from $1750 at the cheapest to $7999 for a solo passenger in their most expensive suite.

Ownership is not permanent, however, as the villa only remains private for a maximum of 15 years.

Rental segments are also available that work like more traditional cruises . Prices vary depending on the area of the world to be visited, with Singapore being the cheapest at $3,204 and the Mediterranean the costliest at $24,485 for single passengers.

Mike Petterson believes the recent stranding to be an inevitable consequence of his business model, which he says is “unprecedented.”

“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,” he added.

Netizens praised the travelers for embracing their unexpected delay in Belfast, which gave them a chance to explore the area

Belfast netizens welcomed the passengers of the stranded ship and invited them to enjoy the city while they could. Others expressed some healthy level of jealousy at the lifestyle those aboard the Villa Vie are leading.

“Welcome to Belfast and I hope you get to see more of our beautiful country,” wrote one local.

“I would love to be delayed in Belfast for 3 months!” said a reader.

“There are so many beautiful, interesting places to visit! Just a bus ride outside Belfast,” recommended another Belfast citizen.

“Brilliant attitude and a great city to be lucky enough to be delayed in,” wrote one reader, commending the travelers for keeping their spirits high.

“Time for a full scale tour of Ireland! dodgy weather yes, but full of natural beauty,” wrote an Irish user.

“Like jail, but on water,” wrote one reader, as others reacted with less enthusiasm at the ship’s mishap, wishing the best for the travelers as they wait

World cruise passengers (and cat Captain) stranded in Belfast for three months

Travellers have once-in-a-lifetime trip delayed as technical issues hit Villa Vie’s Odyssey’s maiden voyage

Passengers who paid more than half a million pounds for a three-year world cruise have been stranded in Belfast for three months.

The Odyssey, operated by Villa Vie Residences, was meant to sail from the Northern Ireland capital on May 30 for the first leg of its voyage.

But instead of setting out on a journey that will circle the globe, visiting 425 ports and more than 100 islands in Europe, Asia and the Americas, the ship has been plagued by delays and problems with its rudder and gearbox.

It remains in dock near the yellow cranes of the Harland & Wolff shipbuilding company that built the doomed liner Titanic in 1911.

That has left its passengers with no choice but to sample the Belfast craic this summer, rather than sipping cocktails in the Caribbean.

Holly Hennessy, 67, from Florida, a self-confessed “cruise addict”, who is travelling with her cat Captain, is trying to make the most of the ship’s time in Belfast but is eager to get to sea. She said: “I have always wanted to live on a ship, and it will be a dream come true for me.”

On the weather in Belfast, Ms Hennessy told The Telegraph: “It hasn’t felt like summer. It has been winter as far as I’m concerned. I’m used to the Florida sunshine. I had to go out and buy vitamin D tablets.

“There have been a few days of sunshine when I have been able to get out and walk along the river. The people are so nice.

“You have to make the best of it. I have been walking everywhere and getting to know all the shopkeepers in Belfast. There’s a bunch of us that have been here so we have really contributed to the Belfast economy.”

Ms Hennessy usually spends the summer months in Milwaukee, and she said she was “homesick” for the Midwestern city.

“If you’re a traveller, things don’t always go to plan, but it’s rare for something like this to happen for three months,” she said. “I have taken three cruises around the world already so I’m not doing this to visit countries, it’s more to be able to live at sea.

“That being said, I was looking forward to south-east Asia.”

She said Captain has enjoyed life in Belfast but has taken time to adjust to “the noise of a big city”.  “He’s used to the water,” she said.

Despite having enjoyed her time in Belfast, Ms Hennessy said she was now eager to leave. 

“I would have liked for the problems to be resolved in June, but now I’m just waiting,” she said.

While in Belfast, passengers have been able to spend time on the ship, which boasts amenities including fine dining, a golf simulator, and a swimming pool, during the day but must disembark at night.

The cruise company is paying for hotel rooms in the city for the passengers while they are waiting to begin the voyage.

“We can have all of our meals and they even have movies and trivia entertainment, almost like cruising except we’re at the dock,” said Ms Hennessy.

“We have eaten in every restaurant and had a Guinness in every pub,” said Stephen Theriac, another passenger, who joked he might apply for residency in Belfast. “It is just all part of our adventure.”

As well as taking traditional passengers, Odyssey is also one of the world’s first cruise ships to carry residents.

The residents have bought their cabins, costing between £78,730 and £708,590 plus monthly fees, outright for the 15-year life of the vessel.

With daily costs on board as low as about £70 many people will find it cheaper than living on land.

The inaugural 1,301-day journey from Belfast was meant to head to northern Europe before visiting Iceland, Greenland, Canada and the east coast of the United States.

From Miami, the ship will sail to the Caribbean and down South America, past Antarctica then back up the west coast of the US before travelling to Japan, the South Pacific, Australia and New Zealand before a short spell in dry dock in late October 2026.

Mike Petterson, the chief executive of Villa Vie Residences, told the BBC that the Odyssey would launch by the end of next week.

He said: “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.”

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