Passengers on £680,000 world cruise have been left stranded in Northern Ireland for three months

A catalogue of delays has kept the Villa Vie Residences' Odyssey docked at Queen's Island in Belfast

Passengers who paid up to £680,000 for a world cruise have been left stranded in Northern Ireland for three months.

A catalogue of delays has kept the Villa Vie Residences' Odyssey docked at Queen's Island in Belfast.

The ship was due to depart on May 30, setting off on a three-year cruise - but it has still not left due to problems with its rudders and gearbox, the Mirror reports.

Those on board have "hunkered down" and made the city their home, according to Florida resident Holly Hennessey, who was travelling with her cat, Captain.

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

Passengers were given the option of buying their cabin outright rather than paying a daily rate for their room.

The option, which ranges from £75,000 to a staggering £680,000, according to Villa Vie Residences' website, allows them to remain onboard beyond the initial three-year tour.

Fellow US passenger Dr David Austin, from Georgia, sold his house before taking the trip.

He said: "The payoff of seeing the world in this fashion is too great to feel too disappointed with each delay announcement. I was committed, having sold my house right before my arrival, and I’ve stayed committed to this adventure with every delay."

The cruise was expected to leave by the end of next week, according to Mike Petterson, CEO and founder of Villa Vie Residences.

He said: "We're not focused on the next days or weeks, we are focused on the rest of our lives and what this company will do for the residents and the industry. 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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