A cruise ship that offered passengers the opportunity to live on board for years has left Cambodia without its residents after its owner suspended operations, citing soaring fuel costs linked to the Iran war.The Villa Vie Odyssey departed from the port town of Sihanoukville early on Wednesday (November 4), carrying around 50 crew members but no passengers. More than 200 people who had paid tens of thousands of dollars for long-term stays on the vessel were forced to disembark last week.The ship’s Florida-based owner, Villa Vie Residences, suspended operations, saying rising fuel prices caused by the Iran war had made running the vessel prohibitively expensive.According to Taing Sochitkrishna, head of the Sihanoukville tourism department, in Cambodia, around 100 passengers remained in Cambodia, while the others largely flew to other destinations in the region.Passengers collected their remaining belongings from the ship on Tuesday, with many saying they did not expect to return.“There are still many things on the ship that I wish I could take with me,” Shirine Thomas, from Wilmington, North Carolina, said after collecting some of her belongings.
Rent a ship, live permanently on the sea
The Villa Vie Odyssey had been sailing around the world for at least 755 days. It was among a handful of cruise ships offering passengers the option of renting or purchasing long-term, and even permanent, residences on board.However, the sudden suspension of operations has left passengers uncertain about the future of their expensive arrangements.Mary Ann Demsar, a 67-year-old retired high school teacher from Ontario, Canada, said passengers had received little information from the company about what would happen next. “We don’t get any clear indication from the owners of Villa Vie as to what is happening,” she said.“They’ve been so quiet, the only information we get is from the wonderful government and the representatives here in Cambodia.”
Where is the cruise ship headed?
The ship’s final destination remained unclear after it departed Cambodia. Some passengers and maritime tracking websites indicated that it was heading towards Singapore. The ship left behind passengers who had invested tens of thousands of dollars in the promise of living aboard a cruise ship while travelling around the world.CBS News reported that once the ship gets to Singapore, it could potentially be auctioned off. But Villa Vie’s CEO Mikael “Mike” Petterson said they’re exploring all their options to get the vessel back.
57-year-old sold his condo to pay for cruise
Joel Greiff, 57, decided to sell his condo in Naples, Florida, and take an early withdrawal from his 401(k) to pay for permanent residency via one of Villa Vie’s Endless Horizons programs. New York Times reported that Greiff paid $350,000 for a long-term stay. He boarded the ship on Oct. 1 but was told he would have to vacate the vessel after just 26 days.
