Passengers ordered to leave ‘endless’ world cruise after selling all possessions to live on board

A ‘never-ending cruise’ offering the chance to live aboard the ship while traveling the world has been brought to a halt in Cambodia due to rising fuel costs.

Villa Vie Residences sold permanent cabins onboard its 509-cabin Odyssey vessel, ranging from $119,999 (£90,000) to $349,999 (£263,000), as well as offering rental options, including rent-to-buy and three-year terms.

The ‘endless’ cruise offered the unusual option for folks to make the cruise their home while traveling and around the world, and was set to make stops in more than 400 ports, taking around three-and-a-half years to circumnavigate the globe, before setting off again.

The luxe cruise came with its own pool deck, onboard spa, restaurant, bar, and a pickleball court, as well as offering trips out and cooking classes.

The Odyssey cruise offered permanent residential options (Villa Vie Residences)

Several residents have said that being onboard the cruise actually works out cheaper than living on land, with Angela and Steve, from the MidLife Cruising YouTube channel saying they spend an average of just $47.16 (£35) per day.

Meanwhile, couple Randy, 66, and Kit Cassingham, 71, who sold all their possessions, including their Colorado home, to live onboard Odyssey said back in January that they had no plans to ever leave.

Randy said: “I’m not coming off this ship alive. We had designed and built a house that was our dream home. I expected to die there.

"But fate clearly had a different plan for us."

However, for now, their journey has come to an end as Villa Vie Residences has announced today (27 October) that it had ‘suspended operations in Cambodia as the company works to address extraordinary increases in fuel costs and evaluate restructuring and recapitalisation alternatives’.

Several of those onboard said they had 'sold all their possessions' to get a spot (Villa Vie Residences)

In a press release, the company said its fuel costs had risen from an historical average of $1,800 (£1,350) per cabin to an estimated $6,000 (£4,500) to $8,000 (£6,000) in parts of Asia.

“The company cannot simply pass increases of that scale on to residents, and the resulting shortfall has placed its current operating model under unsustainable financial pressure,” it wrote in the release.

The company said it is currently working with its residents to ‘coordinate disembarkation and identify temporary living arrangements’.

The press release went on to say that it recognises this is a ‘difficult and disruptive period for residents, crew members, and employees, and is working to support those affected as plans develop’.

The vessel has now came to a halt in Cambodia due to rising fuel costs (Villa Vie Residences)

A spokesperson for Villa Vie Residences said in a statement: "Since the conflict began in late February, we have taken significant steps to reduce fuel consumption, including slowing the itinerary and spending more time in port.

“Those measures have not been enough to offset the extraordinary increase in fuel costs, and we have been unable to continue carrying the resulting operating losses. Passing the full increase on to residents is not a realistic solution.

“Our focus now is on supporting residents, crew, and employees while we work toward restructuring and recapitalisation over the next 60 days. That work is ongoing, and no outcome is assured."

The statement added: “Villa Vie Residences continues to evaluate potential paths forward, but no financing or transaction has been finalised.”