When Villa Vie Odyssey suspended operations, Dwight Greene and his wife, Sheila, were already on another cruise bound for Singapore. Most of their belongings, including a full-size refrigerator and a large-screen television, were still in their cabin. The couple are now waiting to learn whether and when the ship will reach Singapore—and whether they can return aboard to collect their things.
A trial voyage led to life aboard
Dwight and Sheila, travel video creators from Fort Worth, Texas, first sailed on Villa Vie Odyssey in May 2025. They took a weeklong “try before you buy” trip from Acapulco, Mexico, to Mazatlán and enjoyed it enough to decide to join the residential cruise ship.
Six weeks later, after returning from another trip in Europe, they had just two weeks to pack. They kept their home in Texas and boarded Odyssey in Yokohama, Japan, in August 2025 with seven large suitcases. Dwight had visited Tokyo once, more than 30 years earlier, and was excited to return to the region. He recalls boarding as one of the happiest days of his life.
Shipboard friendships became part of the trip
The couple said Odyssey felt different from other cruise ships they had sailed on. Passengers regularly greeted one another and made introductions, while dinner seating often changed so people could share meals with different shipmates. The ship had both a buffet and a restaurant serving table meals. Dwight said he and Sheila drank wine almost every day. A former stage actor, he also joined a shipboard musical after one of the performers dropped out.
They did not want to spend all their time aboard. Instead, they treated the ship as a “mobile base,” exploring destinations on shore before returning to their cabin. When the itinerary changed in March and the ship was in Dunedin, New Zealand, they disembarked and spent several weeks traveling by rental car with two friends. They later flew to Melbourne to rejoin the ship.
Fuel concerns and itinerary changes prompted an early departure
When Odyssey first called at Sihanoukville, Cambodia, in late September, the couple went ashore to explore. They reboarded in early October at Laem Chabang, near Bangkok, to collect some of their belongings. That was their last time aboard.
By then, passengers were discussing fuel concerns. The Greenes had also heard that several port calls might be dropped, leaving the ship at sea for long stretches with only brief stops to refuel. They worried that internet access could be limited and that they might not be able to disembark in time to reach Singapore for a Royal Princess cruise they had already booked. They decided not to stay aboard Odyssey, traveled in Thailand and then continued to Singapore.
Their new cruise was due to end on November 10, close to Odyssey’s scheduled arrival in Singapore. The couple had planned to transfer there.
The couple are waiting for news of the ship
After learning that Odyssey had suspended operations, the Greenes said they had arrangements that gave them somewhere to go for now, while recognizing that other passengers faced more difficult circumstances. They took essential items with them when they left, but most of their belongings remain on the ship.
They are continuing their journey on another cruise ship and waiting for updates. If Odyssey is in Singapore when they arrive in mid-November, they hope to board again. The ship’s next steps—and when passengers will be able to retrieve belongings left aboard—remain uncertain.