Couple pays $1 million for a cruise meant to last 15 years. Then the ship dumps them in Cambodia, and the company does ‘absolutely nothing to help’
Residents state they had seven hours to leave, and a lender now holds the ship that could be sold.
“It was great, for a while,” blogger Randy Cassingham states about the MV Odyssey cruise he and Kit began two years ago. According to New York Post, the couple paid roughly $1 million, believing the arrangement would continue for a minimum of 15 years. Operator Villa Vie later announced it could not cover rising fuel costs, and more than 200 passengers were removed from the ship in Cambodia.
Cassingham says he and Kit have no regrets even though the voyage ended so suddenly. “Money aside, it was a fantastic adventure,” he adds. He also says the company did “absolutely nothing to help” passengers find a place to stay.
Kit says the cabin cost the couple between roughly $370,000 and $380,000 at first, with expenses of $7,000 or more monthly after that. Asked whether they expect a refund, she answered, “No, no, no, no.” Travelers who lose money on a trip are a recurring concern, as with a woman who overpaid for Japan flights.
Lender takes control of the ship
The MV Odyssey set sail from Northern Ireland in 2024 with a promise to visit seven continents. Lifetime suites started near $130,000 and topped $440,000, with monthly fees climbing from $2,000 to $10,000. Some passengers sold everything they owned to pay for a place aboard. Villa Vie says the monthly fuel bill per cabin climbed from about $1,800 to between $6,000 and $8,000 in parts of Asia, and it blames the Iran war. It adds that it cannot pass the full increase to residents, calling that “not a realistic solution.”
Carol Larson of California, who put down $120,000 for a cabin, states passengers had seven hours to leave. The ship’s captain has stated residents received more than 24 hours’ notice. Passengers being told to leave a ship at short notice is not new, as seen when Royal Caribbean’s canceled Alaska sailing.
According to CBS News, a message to residents stated that the ship is now under its lender’s control. “The lender has taken possession of the ship, but that does not mean the Odyssey’s future has been decided,” the message reads. Multiple sources state the ship will soon move to Singapore, where it could eventually be auctioned.
A resident-led effort to buy the ship failed after a lender refused funding, even though 169 residents were willing to add money. The message also stated that a Chapter 11 bankruptcy would cost about $3 million for the first 60 days. Founder Mike Petterson stated, “This is a 30- to 90-day process, and, during that process, we have time to get a restructure done.”
Cambodian officials have since offered free sightseeing tours and help with housing and onward travel for the 203 stranded passengers. Villa Vie plans to work toward restructuring and recapitalization over the next 60 days, and no financing or transaction has been finalized.
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