An Orange County woman on Thursday detailed her experience living on a cruise ship that left hundreds of passengers stranded in Cambodia after the owners said fuel costs forced them to stop.
When NBC Los Angeles interviewed Sharon Lane on Zoom in the summer of 2025, she was excited to spend the next 15 years onboard The Odyssey. But she says she began noticing less food, fewer ports and more time idling.
Lane, now 78, welcomed NBCLA into her new home, which was sparsely furnished because she sold most of her belongings last year. The retiree had not planned on living in Orange County — or even on land — again.
“We were literally floating out in the ocean, not spending gas to propel ourselves in any one direction or the other,” Lane said.
The 642-foot residential cruise ship, owned and operated by Florida-based Villa Vie, promised a luxurious life at sea. On Tuesday, the company, citing soaring fuel costs, halted operations in Cambodia, leaving 200 passengers, which include some of Lane’s friends, stranded.
Lane says health issues forced her off the ship back in August, 15 months after boarding. She said she knew the ship was having a hard time “staying afloat” when operators allegedly asked passengers to pay additional fuel fees several times over the past several months.
“I went, ‘They got to be out of their minds. How dare they?’ she said, later adding, “I have friends on that ship that couldn’t afford. They sold everything, and they live on Social Security, and they did not have high-end jobs when they were working.”
She also says she noticed fewer meals and more sea days, when the ship wasn’t going anywhere.
“They went from lunchtime to almost 7 o’clock. They would put cookies out. That’s not enough food,” Lane said. “They were mad people were taking food and hoarding it in their food. You don’t feed them. What do you expect?”
Villa Vie has not responded to NBCLA’s phone calls and emails for comment. In a statement posted on its website Tuesday, Villa Vie said, in part: “Monthly fuel expense that historically averaged approximately $1,800 has recently reached an estimated $6,000 to $8,000 in parts of Asia. The company cannot simply pass increases of that scale on to residents.”
It goes on to say it’s “working with residents to coordinate disembarkation and identify temporary living arrangements.”
Lane said she has heard from friends onboard the ship who say they are not getting help from the company.
“Despite what the owners said to media, they were not given help, any coupons for hotels,” she said.
Her room at sea costs more than $200,000 for 15 years or the life of the ship, according to Lane. She is now working with her insurance company.
“You know the phrase giving the bum’s rush? That’s what it feels like to me. On one level, I’m sad. Open another level, I’m angry,” she said.
Villa Vie said it’s working toward restructuring over the next 60 days, but no financing has been finalized.
