American tourists sell home for $179,000 cruise cabin, only to see retirement dream sink

Americans Lynn and Paul Montoya sold their house and cars in Wyoming ‌so they could afford to buy a US$179,000 cabin on the residential cruise ship Villa Vie Odyssey, plus roughly $6,000 a month in fees, to spend their r

Their dream lasted 17 months on the ship before its operator abruptly announced this week that soaring fuel prices were forcing it to suspend operations. The company, Villa Vie Residences, informed the Montoyas and some 200 other passengers they had to disembark from the Odyssey at ⁠a port in Cambodia, along with pets and any personal items they could carry from their homes at sea.

"We really hadn't travelled that much out of the United States until probably a few months before we boarded the ship... and we just saw it as a great opportunity to be able to see the world," Paul told Reuters.

Uncertainty over the ship's future is more than just a travel hiccup for those who spent tens of thousands of dollars hoping to make it their home for years to come.

"They've run out of money," Paul said. "That's why they couldn't buy fuel. They've even had difficulties paying the crew on the ship, which even makes it more difficult. So we're really not expecting ‌any money ⁠back."

Source reference: VnExpress International