A 57-year-old Villa Vie Odyssey passenger from Florida, Joel Greiff, had planned to live on the ship for 10, 20, or even more years. However, after just 26 days, Villa Vie suspended operations, and passengers had to disembark in Cambodia.
Greiff first learned about the Villa Vie Odyssey in April 2024 and was immediately drawn to the idea of a community at sea. He contacted a sales agent, asked questions, and eventually stayed on the ship for four days in May 2024. Within minutes of boarding, he knew he had found his new home.
Life On Board
Greiff was attracted to the ship’s community aspect, where residents could live, socialize, and participate in various activities. He followed residents on Facebook, reached out to them, and asked about their experiences. They reported being happy with their decisions, which reassured Greiff.
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In August, Greiff left his home in Florida, spent a couple of months visiting friends and family, and then moved onto the ship on October 1. He introduced himself to many people on board and tried to meet different individuals. The ship offered various activities, including arts and crafts, plays, karaoke, and dinners for Jewish residents.
Decline in Services
However, Greiff noticed that services and amenities had deteriorated since his initial visit in May 2024. Laundry was done less frequently, and the itinerary kept changing, with the ship sometimes sitting at sea for days. Despite this, Greiff was fine with the situation. Before going to Angkor Wat, he had to do his own laundry, which was an indication of the decline in services.
The crew, on the other hand, received praise from Greiff, who thought they deserved accolades and respect. The company’s communication platform, Circle, was used to inform residents about itinerary changes, visa applications, and other ship business.
Suspension of Operations
On Sunday, residents were informed through Circle that if the company didn’t receive money by Tuesday, the ship would not continue sailing. The message was repeated on Monday, and on Tuesday morning, Greiff received a message telling him to disembark. It was about 7 a.m., and he had to leave the ship by 2 p.m. that day.
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Greiff was able to repack his belongings quickly. He had fit everything he owned into four checked suitcases and two carry-on bags before arriving in Asia, which made it easier for him to repack within an hour. For people who had lived on the Odyssey for two years and had a home’s worth of belongings, it was much harder. After disembarking, he went to a small town in Cambodia called Kampot, which he found peaceful, unlike the busy and noisy Sihanoukville where the ship was.
Greiff has been helping his fellow residents with their luggage and finding places to stay. The residents are coming together to support each other. Despite losing money on his 26-day stay, Greiff doesn’t care, as he values the experiences and friendships he made on the ship.
If the ship becomes a viable business again, Greiff would consider getting back on. He has rented an affordable two-bedroom apartment for a month in Kampot, about three hours away from Sihanoukville, where the ship is, and has been going back to the ship to help his fellow residents with their belongings.
