Passengers left stranded in Belfast after their cruise ship was beset by delays say one challenge has been the weather.
The ship Villa Vie Residences' Odyssey arrived in Northern Ireland to be outfitted before it was set to leave on May 30th for a round-the-world cruise.
The cruise ship, however, has still not departed yet thanks to issues with its rudders and gearbox.
The passengers can stay on the ship during the day but can't sleep there at night for insurance reasons.
Florida resident Holly Hennessey is among those on board - along with her cat Captain - and told Lunchtime Live she's survived her first Belfast summer.
"If there has been one challenge for me it is the weather," she said.
"I took it as personal endurance test.
"Now that the leaves are actually starting to turn here, I survived an entire very wet Belfast summer."
Holly Hennessey and her cat Captain in front of Belfast City Hall. Image: Facebook/Captain the Cruising KittyMs Hennessey explains that people have bought their cabins on the cruise ship.
"Villa Vie is a residential ship and people will actually be living onboard the ship," she said.
"We have a community and owners believe that communities have pets.
"On this ship they are allowing a limited number of kitties.
"Part of the reason I was stuck in Belfast is because I play by the rules".
Ms Hennessey said she flew into Dublin, as the UK doesn't allow people to fly with pets in-cabin, and then and took a taxi to Belfast.
"Technically the paperwork was good for only one entry into the EU - and since I had technically left the EU - coming to Belfast, I didn't want to take a chance," she said.
A view of the Villa Vie Residences' Odyssey cruise ship. Image: Facebook/Captain the Cruising KittyMs Hennessey said they're being kept updated "a minimum of two times a week".
"I used to live aboard my own 53-foot boat, I owned her for 17 years," she said.
"When they said that the inspecting agencies required our rudder stocks to be replaced, which were planned for the next dry dock two and a half years from now in Singapore, I audibly said, 'Oh no'.
"That same repair on my little vessel took 16 weeks".
'We're getting closer'
Ms Hennessey said they're making the best of the situation.
"Most of us are intrepid world travellers, we get that travel isn't always predictable, and most of us have made the best of it.
"I've found Belfast to be home, almost, for three months [but] I can't believe you guys consider this summer".
Ms Hennessey said she's not putting any money on the departure date for the cruise ship.
"There were a number of times that we thought we were leaving the next week," she said.
"I've given up trying to predict [when we'll leave] - we're getting closer every day but I'm a 'believe it when I see it' kind of person.
"I've stopped putting money on the exact date when we're going to go".
'Maybe we should stay put'
Angela and Stephen Theriac, who are originally from Florida but live in Nicaragua, said they're really enjoying their time here.
"We feel like we've been here so long that it might be time to submit that [residency] application," Angela said.
"We're all just travelers and adventurers at heart so after the first delay we just jumped on a cruise.
"We came back a second time and after the next delay we went on another cruise.
"This time we [thought] you know what, maybe we should just stay put for a while and enjoy what Belfast has to offer."
Angela said they've also made day trips to Dublin and "done all the touristy things".
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