Residents who sold homes for spot on ‘endless’ cruise allegedly kicked off after two years as operator cites expensive fuel costs
The passengers said there were warning signs
Passengers on board a residential cruise ship were told to disembark in Cambodia earlier this week. Some residents allegedly sold their possessions, including their homes, to live on the 642-foot ship, but the ship’s operator said it suspended operations because of rising fuel costs.
The cruise ship, called The Odyssey, arrived in Cambodia on Tuesday, where the 203 residents were told to disembark. According to a press release from Villa Vie Residences, the Florida-based company that manages the residential cruises, the company was working to find “temporary living arrangements” for all passengers displaced.
The press release said that the monthly fuel expenses, which “historically averaged $1,800,” had increased in price and “recently reached an estimated $6,000 to $8,000 in parts of Asia.” Villa Vie Residences said that it “cannot simply pass increases of that scale on to residents.” Oil prices have surged this year since the war with Iran began.
Residents paid a lot to live on The Odyssey
The cruise ship launched from Belfast, Northern Ireland, in October 2024, according to BBC News. It promised “an unparalleled lifestyle of luxury and exploration.” Residents could rent or buy cabins to live aboard a cruise ship, with the company’s site advertising a variety of residencies. Five-year residencies start at $59,999, and permanent residencies range from $119,000 to $439,999.
One couple who spoke to Ladbible, Lynn and Paul Montoya, claimed they paid $179,000 for their own cabin aboard what they called an “endless” voyage. They also said that they paid maintenance fees.
However, their journey came to an end 17 months after boarding. They claimed that residents were given hours to pack and leave the ship, adding that there was “disbelief, crying and sadness.”
Another passenger, Pamela Reckamp, told NBC News about one woman who, during the meeting, claimed that she hadn’t been made aware of the financial struggles the company was experiencing. “I sold my house,” Reckamp recalled her saying, “I sold my car. I bought my home on this ship.”
Shocked but not surprised
Reckamp, who rented a cabin with her husband, said she wasn’t surprised The Odyssey had ceased operating. She claimed that the company had previously held a meeting in September to raise $1 million from residents so that the journey could continue.
Lynn and Paul claimed that there were several warning signs in the days and weeks leading up to the residents being asked to disembark. Paul speculated that there had been “trouble for some time.”
“They’ve changed itineraries, we’ve lost our internet because of non-payment to Starlink, food levels went down dramatically over the last few months,” he claimed. The couple also said the company asked residents for money “a number of times,” which they voluntarily contributed on top of the reported $6,000 they were already paying in maintenance fees.
Have a tip we should know? [email protected]
Follow The Mary Sue:
