THEY SOLD THEIR HOMES TO LIVE AT SEA; NOW THEIR ‘FOREVER CRUISE’ HAS STOPPED
For some passengers aboard the Villa Vie Odyssey, the ship was more than a holiday destination. It was supposed to be their home for the rest of their lives.
Some had sold their houses and invested their savings in cabins aboard the residential cruise ship, hoping to spend their retirement travelling the world without ever needing to return to a permanent home on land.
Now, that dream has unravelled.
More than 200 residents were forced to disembark in Cambodia in late October after operator Villa Vie Residences suspended operations, blaming sharply rising fuel costs linked to the Middle East conflict.
The vessel subsequently sailed to Singapore without its passengers and was detained under a court order over a financial claim.
For residents who had sold their properties, the sudden shutdown meant losing access to their floating home without a permanent home to return to. They have had to arrange alternative accommodation, with some remaining in Cambodia while others travelled elsewhere.
One resident reportedly paid $350,000 for a cabin and lived aboard for just 26 days before being forced to leave.
Residents have explored efforts to buy the vessel and revive the voyage. But its future—and whether they will recover their money—remains uncertain.