Villa Vie CEO Sent Now-Deleted Apology to Guests on Halted Cruise

On Friday, the CEO of the corporate behind the doomed Odyssey cruise ship apologized to residents, lots of whom at the moment are stranded in Cambodia. Hours later, that apology was gone.

Villa Vie Residences CEO and founding associate Kathy Villalba despatched Odyssey residents a message on Circle, the ship’s inner messaging platform, saying she was sorry for the “ache, the loss, and the uncertainty” they face after the voyage got here to an abrupt halt this week.

Villa Vie had promised residents of its 509-cabin ship an opportunity to reside completely at sea and circumnavigate the world each three-and-a-half years. On Tuesday morning, residents got solely a few hours’ notice to disembark.

Enterprise Insider reviewed screenshots of the memo, which was deleted hours after it was posted. Three Villa Vie residents with entry to Circle confirmed the memo’s contents and that it was not seen.

In it, Villalba mentioned the media consideration had grow to be “overwhelming” and that she had been suggested to chorus from making additional public feedback.

Villalba and Villa Vie didn’t reply to requests for touch upon the memo or why it was deleted.

Within the apology word, Villalba mentioned the company was nonetheless in talks with potential buyers and expressed hope {that a} resident-led initiative to purchase the ship would succeed.

You may learn the total textual content right here:

Expensive Residents,

I owe all of you a message, and I’m sorry if it has taken me this lengthy to search out the phrases.

I feel a part of me has been in denial that this might actually be taking place. Even now, we proceed to talk with potential buyers, holding on to no matter hope stays as a result of I merely can’t think about letting this dream go.

The media consideration has grow to be overwhelming, to the purpose that reporters at the moment are contacting our households, together with individuals who don’t have anything to do with the corporate.

On the recommendation of counsel, I’ve been requested to chorus from making additional public feedback, notably as even conversations inside Circle are not personal.

However I could not stay silent with out telling you ways deeply sorry I’m for the ache, the loss, and the uncertainty so lots of you might be dealing with.

I do know so lots of you might be hurting, scared, and offended, and I want greater than something that I may take that ache away.

For practically two years, this wasn’t only a enterprise to me. It was my total life. I poured my coronary heart, my soul, and the whole lot I had into it The ship was my child, nevertheless it was your own home, and in so some ways, all of you turned my household. I take care of this neighborhood as if it have been my very own kids, by the great days and the tough ones.

My group used to name me the “Resident Wikipedia,” as a result of I knew all of you by identify and by story. That meant a lot to me, as a result of attending to know every of you individually was the very best a part of all of this.

The considered shedding it leaves a gap in my coronary heart that I can’t start to explain.

Thanks for believing in two bizarre folks with a rare dream. Collectively, we created one thing actually particular. We traveled the world, constructed friendships, shared laughter and tears, and skilled a lifestyle that so few folks ever get to know.

I nonetheless don’t desire this to be the tip.

I sincerely hope the resident initiative succeeds, and we stand prepared to help wherever we fairly can to assist protect the approach to life you might have all grown to like.

Please know that we love and care about each one in all you. By means of the great and the dangerous, even by the disagreements and disappointments, that has by no means modified.

Above all, I hope everyone seems to be protected, supported, and taking care of each other throughout this extremely tough time.

From the underside of my coronary heart, thanks for being a part of this dream.

With love,

Kathy