Villa Vie Odyssey Passengers Describe Abrupt Shutdown of the Cruise They Lived on

Passengers on a live-aboard round-the-world cruise say they were abruptly asked to leave the ship and given solely hours to disembark.

Villa Vie Residences, which operates the residential cruise ship Villa Vie Odyssey, mentioned on Tuesday it had halted operations because of surging gas prices.

The ship was docked on the port of Sihanoukville in Cambodia when the announcement was made, with passengers saying they got solely eight hours to disembark.

“On October 27, 2026, we acquired discover from the CEO at round 6 a.m. that each one residents needed to disembark by 2 p.m. that day,” passengers Lanette Canen and John Bodin informed Enterprise Insider by e mail.

Canen and Bodin have been on the Odyssey because it first set sail in September 2024 and run a YouTube channel known as Dwelling Life on a Cruise about their experiences on board.

“We knew leaving was a risk, however the eight-hour discover nonetheless shocked us,” they mentioned.

The couple shared a video on their YouTube channel that seems to indicate the second a employees member introduced that passengers should go away the ship.

“Sadly, they have been unable to safe the gas essential to proceed operations,” a male voice says within the video.

A discover on the Villa Vie Residences web site says the corporate is working with residents to rearrange short-term dwelling preparations and that it’s evaluating restructuring choices over the following 60 days.

Mikael Petterson, government chairman of Villa Vie Residences, informed Enterprise Insider he understood residents’ emotions of shock and unhappiness.

“I get it. I get it. I really feel terrible,” he mentioned in a telephone interview. “They’re relying on me to make the selections right here and there is nothing else I am centered on. I am the villain within the story, however I am doing all the pieces I can to help the residents on an answer ahead.”

Petterson mentioned that till final week, he was in talks with a possible investor and was anticipating a brand new infusion of money. When the deal fell aside, he mentioned, the corporate was out of choices.

Villa Vie Residences Chief Government Kathy Villalba did not instantly reply to requests for remark.

Hovering gas prices

Villa Vie Residences mentioned in a press release Tuesday that the surging cost of fuel for the reason that starting of the Iran warfare had made working the cruise liner more and more troublesome.

The corporate mentioned its month-to-month gas bills per cabin, which had beforehand averaged about $1,800, had risen as a lot as 344% in elements of Asia, to an estimated $6,000 to $8,000.

“For the reason that battle started in late February, now we have taken vital steps to scale back gas consumption, together with slowing the itinerary and spending extra time in port,” Villa Vie Residences mentioned.

“These measures haven’t been sufficient to offset the extraordinary enhance in gas prices, and now we have been unable to proceed carrying the ensuing working losses.”

On August 1, Villalba, the CEO, despatched residents a message titled “Pressing operational replace” on an inside messaging platform. Within the message, she referenced a “gas contribution” that had been beforehand requested of residents. Enterprise Insider has seen a screenshot of the message.

“When the gas contribution was requested a number of months in the past, participation was not common,” she wrote in the message. “The contributions acquired helped some, however they lined solely a part of the extraordinary enhance in gas prices.”

Villalba wrote that the “cash-flow” problem had continued, and the Odyssey wanted 650 metric tons of gas, including that gas costs had nearly doubled.

“We’ve now reached a vital level. The dearth of full participation, mixed with the unprecedented enhance in gas prices, means we should make quick and artistic operational choices to protect the voyage,” her message mentioned.

It continued, “We’re asking each Resident who didn’t beforehand contribute to please achieve this now. We’re additionally asking those that are in a position to present further help to think about serving to with this quick gas requirement.”

Villalba described the monetary want as “actual, quick, and essential to hold Odyssey transferring.” It went on, “This can be a second when preserving our house and persevering with the voyage requires help past contractual minimums from those that are in a position to present it.”

Residents scrambled to depart their cabins

Among the many passengers requested to disembark on Tuesday with only some hours’ discover was Barbara Fiegel, 62, who has lived together with her associate aboard the ship since December 2024.

“All people’s simply shocked, all people’s simply saddened by this complete concern,” she mentioned. “We’re nonetheless processing, making an attempt to debate what we will do.”

Fiegel mentioned she and her associate booked a lodge room in Cambodia, then returned to the ship Tuesday night and Wednesday afternoon to empty their protected and pack their belongings. “As we speak, as we approached, as we went again on the shuttle again to the ship, I could not cease crying,” she mentioned.

They plan to return on Thursday to gather their remaining objects. Fiegel described the ambiance on the Odyssey as a “ghost city.”

Joel Greiff, 57, moved aboard the ship at first of the month and deliberate to reside on the ship for 10 or 20 years or extra. “I don’t suppose that might be taking place,” he mentioned.

When residents have been informed to disembark, Greiff emptied his cabin. “I personally grabbed all the pieces,” he mentioned.

He mentioned he want to return if Villa Vie Residences resumes operations. If not, he’s planning to maneuver to Thailand. Within the meantime, he has rented an condominium in Cambodia for a month.

Greiff mentioned he plans to return to the Odyssey on Thursday to help different residents and “assist with their baggage, assist them discover a place, and simply begin getting them and all their stuff off the ship.”

Jacob Shamsian contributed to this story.

Have you ever spent any time on the Villa Vie Odyssey as a cabin proprietor, renter, or employees member? When you’ve got a narrative to share, get in contact with this reporter: jzitser@businessinsider.com.