From The New Yorker · Shayla Love · · 3m
The Cruise That Never Ends
A residential cruise ship sails indefinitely, but financial chaos and crew disputes force its eventual abandonment.
In brief
A residential cruise ship sails indefinitely, but financial chaos and crew disputes force its eventual abandonment. The Odyssey, a cruise ship designed for permanent residency, faced financial collapse after residents paid millions for cabins but could not cover monthly costs. Originally reported by The New Yorker.
The Odyssey Begins
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In July 2024, Starr Davis, a retiree from Florida, joined the Odyssey, a residential cruise ship that started in 2024 and was never supposed to end.
An Anonymous Warning
An anonymous source warned that positive coverage of Villa Vie Residences might 'jeopardize the finances of your readers' by creating a false impression of security.
The Facebook Group
Residents used a Facebook group with nicknames like 'the pirate' and 'the mermaid', and shared A.I.-generated images of the ship as a floating dictatorship.
Singapore Crisis
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In Singapore, Villalba asked passengers for over a million dollars to buy fuel, causing residents to boo her and shut down the ship’s internet.
Toni Trombecky's Story
Toni Trombecky, a former federal employee, paid $150,000 for a fifteen-year cabin contract and boarded the ship in Australia in January 2026.
Financial Strain
Residents faced rising fuel costs, with Villalba adding a $1,500 fuel surcharge that sparked tensions between those who paid and those who did not.
The NDA and Censorship
Residents signed nondisclosure agreements, and Villalba started flagging negative discussions on Facebook as hate speech, creating a climate of secrecy.
The Fuel Shortfall
In Singapore, Villalba asked for over a million dollars to buy fuel, but the ship had no money left for fuel, provisions, or crew salaries.
The Disembarkation
On October 26, 2024, the Odyssey’s residents were forced to leave the ship at an industrial port in Cambodia by 2:00 p.m.
The Aftermath
Residents who had paid for cabins faced financial ruin, with some losing thousands of dollars and others unable to return home.
The Final Days
By early November, some crew members were still on board without payment, and the ship was under the control of a lender.
The Last Passenger
Dana Teton, a seventy-one-year-old passenger, lost $11,000 but felt grateful he had not lost more.
The Future
The Odyssey’s residents will continue traveling in East Asia by land or return home if they have a place to go.
The Ship's Fate
The Odyssey was moved to Singapore, where it might be sold, but Villa Vie Residences had no plans to regain control.
The Financial Collapse
The ship’s monthly operating costs exceeded its revenues by more than two million dollars, leading to its eventual abandonment.
The one thing
The Odyssey, a cruise ship designed for permanent residency, faced financial collapse after residents paid millions for cabins but could not cover monthly costs.
