The cursed cruise: how the dream of never-ending luxury at sea became a nightmare
Villa Vie Residences has ended the MV Odyssey’s around-the-world voyage, leaving more than 200 passengers to disembark in Cambodia after the company ran out of money. The ship had been marketed as a way to escape political turmoil and spend years at sea, but a surge in oil prices linked to the war in Iran made its operating costs unsustainable.
The 642ft vessel, formerly the cruise liner MS Braemar, set sail from Belfast in October 2024. A couple could pay $319,998 for a four-year voyage, with monthly fees for services including food, drinks and wi-fi; fuel costs per cabin in parts of Asia had climbed from $1,800 to as much as $8,000. Passengers were given seven hours to leave and taken by bus to Sihanoukville, while the company said it was considering restructuring and recapitalisation over the next 60 days.
In short
- Rising fuel costs ended the Odyssey’s residential cruise.
- More than 200 passengers were taken ashore in Cambodia.
- The company is considering restructuring over the next 60 days.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Long-term residential cruises can offer people a distinctive way to travel, build community and enjoy services without repeatedly organising new homes and journeys. The company’s original plan may have been reasonable when costs were lower, and the reported fuel-price surge could have made a previously viable voyage unsustainable; restructuring might still protect passengers’ interests and preserve the service.
The case against
A costly, multi-year voyage depends on reliable planning, clear communication and enough financial resilience to protect passengers if conditions change. Ending the trip abruptly and giving passengers only seven hours to disembark suggests that the company did not adequately safeguard people who had paid substantial sums and entrusted it with their homes and travel plans.
Explained simply
Residential cruise ships offer cabins for sale or rent to people who want to live at sea for extended periods, with meals and other services provided for a fee. Villa Vie Residences sold the MV Odyssey as a way to travel around the world while making a ship your home.
The Odyssey was formerly the cruise liner MS Braemar, a 642-foot ship that left Belfast in October 2024. Its passengers had paid substantial sums for a multi-year voyage, alongside monthly charges for services such as food, drinks and wi-fi.
Running a ship requires large amounts of fuel, so changes in oil prices can sharply affect its costs. The story concerns the risks of a long-term travel plan that depends on a company being able to keep paying those costs and providing services far from shore.