Angela Harsanyi and Gian Perroni are meant to be sailing the world, dropping into famous cities each day before relaxing in their cabins by night. Instead, they’re trapped in Belfast. Yet they couldn’t possibly be happier.
They were both set to travel on the Ville Vie residential cruise ship. But when the ship’s departure was delayed after failing sea trials, they were forced to spend time together.
Fate struck and the two cruisers started falling in love. And now, they have recently announced their engagement.
Harsanyi, a 53-year-old from Colorado, and Perrioni, a 62-year-old Canadian, bonded amongst other passengers as they kept themselves busy in the city of Belfast.
Harsanyi told The Guardian: “About six weeks ago, we started walking back and forth to the ship every day together.
“It was about an hour’s walk, there and back every day. And through that, we started finding how similar we were and how much we enjoyed each other’s company.
“And we found out that the hour walk wasn’t long enough … We found that we had a lot more in common, and wanted to be more than friends.”
Things have been moving quickly, with the couple already even getting matching tattoos. The couple is already planning their wedding, aiming for the next Northern Hemisphere spring, while the ship will be in Central America.
Harsanyi says she’s been swept off her feet like never before.
“I’ve never been married, so he’s a pretty special man, I think, to have won my hand and my heart over.
“Gian has very old-fashioned mannerisms, and he has a lot of compassion. He’s caring. He’s very friendly, he’s funny. He is very calm and stable. He is very compassionate. He’s romantic. I mean, I don’t know how much time you have, but my list is pretty long.”
Harsanyi will be travelling with her sister Lisa, who is set to join the ship soon. She says she’ll stick with her sister rather than move in with her new partner.
“One part I really love about Gian is that that doesn’t bother him at all. He respects that this is a girls’ trip, and that’s what I came here for – and it’s pretty hard to find a man open enough to that when he first gets married.”
The couple both opted for the life-changing experience due to being fed up with their average routines and definitely have already got more than they bargained for from the experience.
The ship has finally passed its sea trials, and assuming no more hurdles arise, it should be sailing very soon. While the delay was a strenuous one for many, Harsanyi and Perroni definitely made the most of it.
Many eyes will be peeled as we wait to see if the ship will finally set sail, and if it does, what other stories might emerge from this first-of-its-kind cruise.
For more insight into what’s happening, read the story of Fran, an Aussie who’s already owed $85,000 from a different failed residential cruise, who’s nervously awaiting the ship finally setting sail.
