Passengers waiting to embark on three-year 'dream world cruise' find love after months stranded on dry land in Belfast

25 September 2024, 10:08 | Updated: 25 September 2024, 12:50

Two strangers who met while stranded in Belfast waiting for their cruise to set sail have fallen for each other and will marry.

Gian Perroni and Angela Harsanyi were due to set sail on a three-year 'dream world cruise' in May, but have been forced to wait after engine issues and an array of other delays stalled the trip.

The cruise, recently renamed Villa Vie Odyssey has been mired in delays and controversy since its announcement.

But while stranded in the Northern Irish city, the pair met, began dating and found they "completely meshed."

Four months later the couple is engaged and plans to tie the knot when the ship finally sets sail.

The company had been covering the costs of those stranded in Belfast, but last week Villa Vie Residences informed those hoping to board the vessel, which is still due to depart, that it would no longer pay the $500,000 (£382,000) monthly cost of covering hotel bills.

It branded the costs "unsustainable."

Ms Harsanyi said: "We found that we had so much in common and enjoyed being in each other's company, so much that we really couldn't picture a life without each other.”

Speaking to Sky, Canadian Gian said he was due to leave Belfast four months ago but the Odyssey "ended up having a lot of issues that had to be addressed - many of them were surprises as we came along the way".

"About six weeks ago, we found ourselves commuting daily back to the ship, back to our hotels in central Belfast," he continued.

"And we just created a really deep friendship that blossomed into romance."

Ms Harsanyi is sure this isn’t just a summer romance as she declared Mr Perroni to be “the one.”

She said: "When you know, you know.

"Once I became friends with him and spent a bit of time with him, especially over the last five weeks, I started to get an understanding of his morals, his values and his future beliefs."

On his proposal, Mr Perroni said: "We started talking about getting married a few weeks ago," he said. "It's a first marriage for Angie - it's not my first marriage, but I wanted to do it right.

"We nice found a nice little jeweller in town, we picked out the ring together, and then I was planning on asking her on the ship, but we were out one night walking along the River Lagan - during the supermoon last week - the time just seemed right. So I popped the question."

The couple will get married on board the ship when it finally sets sail.

And, luckily, they don’t have to worry about a honeymoon, with the Odyssey due to make 400 stops on its multi-year trip.

While the delays have brought love for one couple, other guests have had their "dream" holiday devastated by an array of issues on the Odyssey.

A woman who sold her worldly possessions to embark on the three-year "dream world cruise" was kicked off the ship after her private WhatsApp messages were leaked.

Jenny Phenix, 68, from Florida, was booted off the round-the-world trip after it was claimed her chat messages affected "community morale".

The divorced mother-of-two's plans to embark on the £265,000 voyage across Europe, Asia and the Americas, have been scuppered after being given the boot - despite ongoing delays, altered routes and changing itineraries.

“During the past year and a half I have liquidated businesses and possessions, eagerly awaiting my new life cruising the world," the mother-of-two told The Telegraph.

However, following Ms Phenix's messages, she was contacted weeks before the ship was due to sail over comments that had "significantly impacted the morale" of fellow passengers."

The frustration among the residents grew after every delay," Ms Phenix said following the delays.

"I tended to be one of the most outspoken in asking important questions," she revealed in an interview with The Telegraph.

"Many of the residents thanked me privately for speaking up for the entire group."

She added that she was not the only one upset as the maiden voyage kept getting pushed back.

Holly Hennessy, 67, also from Florida, who is travelling with her cat Captain had previously told the new outlet of issues with the cruise.

"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," she previously told the Telegraph.

In a statement, Mike Petterson, the chief executive of Villa Vie Residences, said “Ms Phenix broke multiple terms and conditions and signed a non-disclosure agreement. The founding residents voted and agreed to uphold her suspension and we plan on respecting that decision. We have nothing else to comment on the ongoing dispute."