They made a cruise ship their home, then got kicked off in Cambodia. Now their dream life is on hold.

Passengers of the Villa Vie Odyssey cruise ship now face the task of deciding their next steps after being told to disembark in Cambodia. Suy Se / AFP via Getty Images Joel Greiff, 57, was among the new residents who boarded the ship on October 1. He and others had to pack up their belongings quickly as the ship was closed down due to an oil-price crisis, according to management. Villa Vie Residences, the operator of the cruise, cited fuel prices as the primary reason for shutting down the ship.

Founder Mikael Petterson expressed his concern over the situation and stated that he was doing everything he could to find a solution for the residents. As residents grapple with the abrupt change, their reactions range from disappointment and despair to gratitude for the time they had on board, and a hopeful outlook that the ship will resume operations.

The Villa Vie Odyssey marketed itself as a "home at sea" offering five-year, permanent, and multi-cabin residency packages, promising continuous travel around the world and visits to more than 400 ports in over 140 countries. The Guld family, who moved aboard the Odyssey in April 2025, are in Cambodia and plan to continue their travels to South Asia and Africa.

Claude Sadovsky, a resident who paid about $100,000 for his cabin, left the ship three weeks before the shutdown and returned to Hawaii, expressing surprise at the ship's closure.

Some residents are considering buying the ship if they can raise enough money, while others, like the Guld family, will head to Malaysia and Singapore for medical check-ups and then remain in the region, hoping that circumstances may change.