A former resident of Villa Vie Odyssey has revealed that passengers were allegedly experiencing food shortages, being asked to contribute towards fuel costs and spending extended periods drifting at sea months before the residential cruise ship suspended operations in Cambodia.
Credit: NBCLA
Sharon Lane, a 78-year-old retired teacher from California, had paid more than $200,000 for a new life aboard the vessel, intending to spend the next 15 years travelling the world.
However, she left the ship in August 2026 due to health problems, just two months before approximately 200 remaining passengers were unexpectedly ordered to disembark in Sihanoukville, Cambodia.
Speaking to NBC Los Angeles on 29th October, Lane described a series of problems she says became increasingly apparent during her time on board.
Her account provides an insight into the difficulties allegedly facing residents before Villa Vie Residences publicly acknowledged that its financial position had become unsustainable.
Passengers Allegedly Asked To Help Pay For Fuel
Among Lane’s most concerning allegations was that Villa Vie began requesting additional financial contributions from residents to help cover fuel expenses.
She claimed that some passengers could not afford the payments, having already committed much of their savings to making the ship their permanent home.
Lane said she personally contributed hundreds of dollars because she was concerned about friends who lacked the financial resources to help.
“I have friends on that ship that couldn’t afford [it]. They sold everything, and they live on Social Security, and they did not have high-end jobs when they were working.”
She also described periods when the vessel appeared to be conserving fuel by remaining at sea without making meaningful progress towards its next destination.
“We were literally floating out in the ocean, not spending gas to propel ourselves in any one direction or the other.”
Lane’s recollections are consistent with Villa Vie’s subsequent acknowledgement that it had deliberately reduced the ship’s fuel consumption.
In its official announcement on 27th October, the company confirmed that it had slowed the itinerary and increased the amount of time spent in port to reduce operating expenses.
However, Villa Vie said those measures had proved insufficient to overcome the rising cost of fuel.
The company has not publicly addressed Lane’s specific allegations about requests for additional payments.
Claims Of Food Shortages On Board
Lane also raised concerns about food availability, describing occasions when passengers allegedly went for extended periods without substantial meals.
She recalled that the gap between lunch and the evening meal could stretch until almost 7pm, with biscuits provided in the meantime.
According to Lane, the situation caused frustration among passengers, some of whom began keeping additional food for thems
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