Queensland woman spends $63,000 on 3-year ‘endless’ cruise, only for trip to be canceled before boarding: ‘Absolutely devastating’

Lisa McKay, a retiree from Queensland who previously worked as a teacher, put more than $63,000 toward a multi-year residential cruise that was meant to circle the globe for over three years, according to Dexerto. She apparently expected to step aboard the Villa Vie Odyssey on November 15, but the company called off the remaining voyage before that date arrived.

People already living on the ship received notice on October 27 to disembark while the vessel sat docked in Sihanoukville, Cambodia. The trip, often called an “endless” cruise, ended roughly a year sooner than the original schedule had set out.

McKay described the outcome as crushing after she had already handed over the large sum. She told ABC, “I don’t have that money to waste and lose. It’s just been devastating, absolutely devastating.”

Operator links decision to sharp rise in fuel expenses

Villa Vie Residences attributed the early finish to fuel prices that had climbed steeply. Officials said the monthly cost per cabin moved from $1,800 to around $8,000 and explained that they decided against charging passengers the higher amount. Residents were reportedly told to abandon ship in Cambodia as fuel allegedly ran low.

Several travelers who had already settled onto the ship reportedly sold their homes and paid as much as $1 million for the long-term stay. McKay had not yet joined them when the cancellation came through.

She also spoke about the low odds of recovering what she paid. McKay stated, “My chances of getting my money back [are] very, very slim. Travel insurance doesn’t cover boutique ships.”

Before booking, McKay had come across unfavorable online comments about the operator. She said she received assurance that reservations would not be accepted if the cruise was not certain to proceed.

People who spent time on board described the closing weeks as tense, noting a division that developed among different groups of residents. One traveler labeled the stretch “emotionally exhausting,” even though that person had been off the ship for a few weeks by then.

The company had earlier announced plans for a second residential cruise vessel to begin service in early 2029. Not every cruise story ends in disappointment, as shown by this unexpected Carnival birthday cruise story.