A cruise ship can be a holiday, a home or even a retirement plan. But for passengers aboard the Villa Vie Odyssey, that plan came to an abrupt halt when they were told to leave the vessel in Cambodia with just hours to pack. Among those forced ashore were Lanette Canen and Johan Bodin, who had sold their business and brought a cabin expecting to make life at sea their long-term home.

The couple boarded the ship in October 2024 after selling their business to pay for a cabin costing around $100,000. They also faced monthly maintenance fees of about $3,500. Lanette continued running a windscreen-replacement business remotely from the ship, while the pair shared their travels on their Living Life on a Cruise YouTube channel.

Eight hours to leave their homes

Their plans made a  sudden changed on Monday, October 26, when residents were told they had to disembark by 02:00pm. According to the couple, the message arrived at around 6am, leaving them eight hours to pack up two years of life onboard.

Lanette described the news as heartbreaking, saying they had built a home and community during their time at sea. Although rumours about the company’s finances had circulated among passengers, she said the short notice still came as a shock.

A cruise that promised a home at sea

The Villa Vie Odyssey left Belfast in October 2024 on a planned three-and-a-half-year journey around the world. Unlike a conventional cruise, the company offered cabins for purchase or rent, allowing residents to stay onboard for extended periods or make the vessel their permanent home.

Residents could buy or rent cabins and stay onboard for years rather than booking a succession of holidays and hotels. The ship had been at sea for more than 750 days when the suspension was announced. Local officials said 203 passengers and 156 crew were aboard when it arrived in Sihanoukville, Cambodia. More than 200 people were suddenly left to find accommodation far from home.

Fuel costs put the voyage on hold

Villa Vie Residences said it had suspended operations in Cambodia because of an extraordinary rise in fuel costs, which it linked to the war involving Iran. The company said fuel expenses that had historically averaged around $1,800 per cabin each month had climbed to an estimated $6,000 to $8,000 in parts of Asia.

Slowing the ship and spending longer in port had not offset the increase, while passing the full cost on to residents was not considered realistic. The company said the ship would enter a temporary lay-up, with crew remaining onboard to maintain the vessel and its essential systems. It planned to seek restructuring and new investment over the following 60 days, but warned that no outcome was guaranteed.

The couple’s next move

Lanette and Johan have decided not to wait for the ship to resume sailing. They told The Independent they had not been given a date for returning onboard and that a planned increase in maintenance fees would have made their stay unaffordable anyway. The couple planned to spend about a week in a hotel in Sihanoukville before travelling to Phnom Penh, Vietnam, Bali and Thailand. They hope the lower cost of living in parts of the region will give them time to work out what comes next.

Lanette said the departure was emotional, with hugs and tears as residents said goodbye. Some have chosen to remain together on land, keeping the friendships formed during the voyage. The company has not confirmed when, or whether, residents will be able to return. Its proposed financial restructuring remains unresolved. For the couple, however, the decision has already been made: after two years at sea, they are moving on rather than waiting to see whether the Odyssey sails again.