Villa Vie Odyssey’s ambitious world cruise has taken another dramatic turn, with residents told to leave the ship in Cambodia.
After months of delays, the residential cruise ship finally departed Belfast in September 2024, beginning what was supposed to be a continuous 3.5-year voyage around the world.
But on 27th October 2026, Villa Vie Residences announced that it had suspended operations because of soaring fuel costs, leaving the future of the voyage uncertain.
Fortunately for anyone curious about what life aboard the ship has really been like, several passengers have been documenting their experiences on YouTube.
From the excitement of finally setting sail to the unexpected challenges along the way, these channels offer a fascinating look at life on Villa Vie Odyssey.
Here are the YouTubers worth following for a first-hand perspective on the ship and its extraordinary journey.
What Happened to Villa Vie Odyssey
On 27th October 2026, Villa Vie Residences announced that it had suspended operations while the ship was in Cambodia.
The company said rising fuel costs had made its current business model unsustainable, with monthly fuel expenses climbing from around $1,800 per cabin to as much as $8,000 in parts of Asia.
Residents were instructed to disembark, with the company working to arrange temporary accommodation.
Villa Vie is now exploring restructuring and additional funding, but there’s no guarantee that the cruise will resume.
MidLife Cruising
Steve and Angela from MidLife Cruising were among the best-known YouTubers documenting life aboard Villa Vie Odyssey.
The American couple originally purchased a cabin on the ship and began posting videos about their experience in 2024, including almost 50 updates before they were even allowed to board in Belfast.
They continued sharing their adventures once the ship finally started sailing, giving viewers a detailed look at the realities of residential cruising.
However, in October 2025, the couple announced that they had sold their cabin and were moving on to a new chapter of full-time cruising.
Their earlier videos are still well worth watching if you want to see what life on Villa Vie Odyssey was like, including the challenges of getting the voyage underway.
You can also follow them on Facebook and Instagram if you want to see more!
TODAY’S BEST CRUISE DEALS!
Don’t miss these offers…
Living Life on a Cruise
Living Life on a Cruise is a YouTube channel run by Johan Bodin and Lanette Canen, a couple who relocated from Maui in Hawaii, to document their world cruise experience.
The couple aren’t retired and had planned to continue working while living on the ship, sharing regular videos about their travels and everyday experiences.
Their channel has become particularly interesting following Villa Vie Odyssey’s sudden suspension of operations in October 2026.
Johan and Lanette were among the residents affected, documenting the shock of having to leave the ship in Cambodia after spending around two years travelling the world.
Their videos offer a personal perspective on both the rewards and the risks of making a cruise ship your permanent home.
You can check out all their social channels and blog from their Linktree page.
The Kiwi Odyssey
Katrina Howard is a New Zealander who runs The Kiwi Odyssey channel, which is solely dedicated to her experience on the cruise with her husband Mike.
Katrina’s videos offer another personal perspective on life aboard Villa Vie Odyssey, from the long delays in Belfast to the experiences of travelling on a residential cruise ship.
Her channel is worth exploring if you want to see more of the voyage through the eyes of someone who experienced it first-hand.
JJ Cruise
JJ Cruise is a YouTube channel run by Jared and Jordan – a married couple who’ve already spent more than 700 nights at sea on cruises around the world.
They had originally announced in early 2024 that they would be joining the Villa Vie Odyssey, but the plan was delayed. Eventually, they boarded in mid-June 2025, but their time on the ship turned out to be a short visit – just 16 nights onboard.
It’s still worth subscribing, though: even if their Villa Vie stay was brief, their videos offer a unique window into what life on board can be like.
Final Word
What began as an exciting adventure around the world has turned into a very different story for the residents of Villa Vie Odyssey.
These YouTube channels offer a fascinating look at what life aboard the ship was really like, from the long delays in Belfast to the destinations visited and the friendships formed along the way.
And with the future of the cruise now uncertain, some of the creators are sharing what happens when your floating home suddenly stops sailing.
Whether you’re interested in residential cruising or simply curious about what went wrong, their videos are well worth exploring.
TODAY’S BEST CRUISE DEALS!
Don’t miss these offers…
