Round-the-World Cruise Delay Leaves Passengers Stranded in Belfast for Three Months

Belfast Harbor Turning Into Cruise Ship Parking Lot

Indefinite delay for passengers hoping to get home after fire postpones stop

BELFAST, Northern Ireland—Passengers hoping to hop off Viking Orion in Belfast and set foot on dry land after a round-the-world cruise are out of luck, and may be indefinitely delayed. The ship was scheduled to depart the city on January 19, but a fire in the engine room delayed its departure by several days.

Viking is now saying the ship will not depart until at least March 8, leaving passengers stranded in Belfast for three months.

“This is a very disappointing situation for our guests,” Viking said in a statement. “We are doing everything we can to make their stay in Belfast as comfortable as possible.”

As many as 900 Viking Orion passengers are now stuck in the city, which is not a traditional tourist destination compared to other stops on the itinerary, like Egypt and India.

Local residents are welcoming, but the crush of stranded tourists has become impossible to ignore. Most are eager to get home.

“I just want to get home and I can’t,” said passenger Stephen Mercer from Texas.

Viking is offering passengers a full refund for their cruise, as well as a credit for a future cruise. The company is also paying for the passengers' accommodations and meals in Belfast.

“We understand that this is a difficult situation for our guests,” Viking said. “We are doing everything we can to make their stay in Belfast as comfortable as possible.”

Among the disruptions, some stranded passengers are reporting issues with the provided accommodations. Many have been given rooms in a Holiday Inn Express. The hotel is reportedly unable to meet the demands of the unexpected guests.

“The hotel is completely overwhelmed,” Mercer said. “There are people sleeping in the lobby.”

Despite the challenges, Viking insists it is doing its best to help passengers.

“We are committed to resolving this situation as swiftly as possible,” the company said.

Passengers, however, say there is still a lot of uncertainty.

“We don’t know when we’re going to get home,” Mercer said. “We’re just taking it day by day.”