Hundreds of passengers have been left stranded in Cambodia after residential cruise ship Villa Vie Odyssey unexpectedly suspended operations this week, leaving residents homeless and heartbroken.
Lanette Canen and Johan Bodin were among hundreds of guests who looked forward to a new life at sea when they boarded permanent residential world cruise ship Villa Vie Odyssey in October 2024.
The 56-year-olds sold a business to fund a $100,000 (£75,000) cabin on the ship – plus monthly maintenance fees of $3,500 (£2,633). Lanette ran a windshield-replacement company from the ship, and the pair documented their journey on their Living Life on a Cruise YouTube channel.
But their life took an uncertain turn this week when the cruise company Villa Vie Residences told guests they had to leave the ship in Cambodia, claiming high fuel costs forced it to stop sailing and enter “temporary layup”.
Guests were told at 6am on Monday they had to disembark by 2pm that day.
The cruise ship has capacity for 970 passengers, but 200 were on board when it suspended operations.
The couple said they knew leaving was possible because rumours had circulated on the ship about financial difficulties, but the eight-hour notice still surprised them.
Lanette said: “Our immediate reaction was a deep sense of heartbreak at having to leave the home and community we had built over the past two years.
“It was difficult to process the news while packing up our life and saying goodbye to the place we had come to love.”
Sihanoukville, Cambodia, was the latest stop on the itinerary anyway, but passengers hadn’t expected to be staying.
She said Villa Vie helped unload suitcases and provided shuttles to and from the port, but it has not helped with paying for hotels.
Lanette said a fellow resident has offered to help others struggling financially with lodging costs and is working to arrange a charter flight to San Francisco.
She said: “Villa Vie has not given us a date for returning onboard. Regardless of whether operations resume, we have decided to move on. The company was planning to increase our maintenance fees, which would have priced us out.”
The couple now plan to stay at a hotel in Sihanoukville for about a week, then spend some time in Phnom Penh, and travel to Vietnam, Bali in Indonesia, and Thailand, where they hope the lower cost of living will help sustain their lifestyle while they figure out their longer-term plans.
We’ll keep sharing the adventures, challenges and everyday moments along the way. Our journey is simply taking a different route.
Lanette said: “We’re doing well, considering everything, but we are heartbroken. There have been many hugs and tears. We loved our two years aboard, the adventures, the friendships, and especially the community. Many residents are settling together off the ship, so those connections are continuing on land.”
Other residents have complained about a lack of communication and support from the cruise line.
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One former resident, Sharon Lane, who had to leave the ship last year due to health issues, says her friends on board have been left confused.
She told The Independent: “There seems to be confusion as to what is being provided to residents.
“Communication has been an ongoing issue. I am very concerned for my friends. They need to figure out transport, visas, housing; it is very stressful.
“It took me weeks to arrange my departure, and they [only] had a few hours.”
Sharon still owns a cabin on the ship because her contract terms don’t let her rent it out, and a sale now looks unlikely.
She added: “I’ve lost money; everyone who owns has or will lose money.
“It is devastating for some who sold their own properties to fund this.
or the money to buy one. It breaks my heart.
“I hope the owners of the ship keep the interests of the residents in mind.”
Villa Vie Residences said in a statement that it had suspended operations to avoid passing on higher fuel costs caused by the Iran war to passengers.
The cruise line said it is evaluating potential paths forward, but it has not finalised any financing or transaction.
The Independent has contacted Villa Vie Residences for further comment.
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