Paid $100,000 for Life at Sea, Now Searching for a Roof Over Their Heads

**The Story of Lanette and Johan** Lanette Kanen and Johan Bodin were among hundreds of guests eagerly awaiting a new life at sea when they boarded the Villa Vie Odyssey in October 2024. The 56-year-old couple sold their business to pay for a $100,000 cabin, as well as a monthly maintenance fee of $3,500. Lanette managed a windshield replacement company right from the ship. Additionally, the couple chronicled their journey on the largest video hosting platform. But this week, their lives took an unexpected turn: the cruise company Villa Vie Residences informed guests that they would have to leave the ship in Cambodia. The reason was high fuel costs, which forced the vessel to be put on “temporary mooring.” On October 26 at 6 a.m., people were informed that they had to leave the ship by 2 p.m. that same day. The ship is designed for 970 passengers, but at the time of the cruise suspension, there were 200 people on board. Rumors about the company’s financial difficulties had long circulated on the vessel, but the urgent notification still came as a surprise. “My first reaction was deep regret that we would have to leave the home and community we had built over the past two years. It was hard to process this news while we packed our things and said goodbye to the place we had come to love,” said Lanette. According to her, the company assisted with unloading luggage and organized transfers from the port, but did not cover hotel accommodations. Lanette shared that one of the residents offered help to those facing financial difficulties with housing and is working on organizing a charter flight to San Francisco. “Villa Vie did not inform us when we would be able to return on board. Regardless of whether the cruise resumes, we decided to move on. The company planned to increase the maintenance fee, which would have put us in a bind,” she said. Now the couple plans to spend about a week in a hotel in Sihanoukville, then spend some time in Phnom Penh before heading to Vietnam, the Indonesian island of Bali, and Thailand. They hope that the lower cost of living will allow them to maintain their standard of living while they build long-term plans. According to Lanette, many passengers have bonded and plan to settle nearby on land. **Complaints from Other Passengers** Other residents complained about a lack of communication and support from the cruise company. Sharon Lane was one of the passengers but still owns a suite on the ship. Lane had to leave the ship last year due to health issues. She is now very worried about her friends. “Communication problems arise constantly. They need to resolve issues with transportation, visas, housing; it’s very difficult. It took me weeks to organize my departure, and they had only a few hours,” she said. Sharon still owns a cabin on the ship because the terms of her contract do not allow her to rent it out. Selling the cabin is no longer an option. “I’ve lost money. Everyone who owns cabins has lost or will lose money. For those who sold their property to pay for the trip, this has been a real disaster,” added Lane. **What the Company Says** In a statement, Villa Vie Residences said that the company suspended operations to avoid passing increased costs related to the fuel crisis onto passengers. The cruise company stated that it is considering possible options for further action but has not yet completed the financing process for the project.