Hawaii couple who were told to leave cruise ship 2 years into 15-year stay share footage of what it was like on board when everyone had to leave

This couple from Hawaii were told they had to leave their cruise ship, Villa Vie Odyssey, in less than a day after spending 2 years on board.

This was extremely stressful, and also a little strange.

Imagine being told you have to vacate your premises by 2pm today.

That’s exactly what happened, and the couple have documented their last day on the ship.

A brief recap of what happened to the Villa Vie Odyssey cruise ship

Lanette Canen and Johan Bodin woke up one day (quite early, by the way) to find that their dream at sea was over.

The crew of Villa Vie Odyssey, their cruise ship, told guests they had to disembark within hours.

And it’s not like they were Hawaii – or anywhere else in the US – when this happened.

Nope.

They were in Sihanoukville, Cambodia.

The company cited fuel prices of $6,000 to $8,000 a month for each cabin as the reason for the sudden action.

Financial issues had been raised a while ago, but the news still came as a shock for Bodin and Canen.

“We knew there were serious financial difficulties, but receiving notice around 6am that we needed to leave by 2pm was still a shock,” the couple told Supercar Blondie.

This took its toll on the Hawaii couple

Emotionally, being told you have to leave after with eight hours notice is a rollercoaster.

But it’s also difficult on a practical level.

What are you taking with you? What are you leaving behind?

A voice over the ship’s speaker advised: “They can still leave their belongings secured in their villas. We still don’t know at this moment the outcome and the future. Therefore, we kindly and highly recommend everybody to take only the essential items for the following day.”

The couple’s video showed guests waiting for bus transfers with their luggage.

They also captured several emotional moments as residents said goodbye to the crew and fellow travelers.

They told Supercar Blondie: “The crew were wonderful helping everyone with luggage and getting ashore, and we’re grateful to them.”

The situation with their belongings on the cruise ship was strange

One thing that may not be clear was that the decision to leave the boat was made for them by the ship’s administration.

Lanette and Johan said they received the unexpected news in the morning, when they learned that all residents were required to vacate the Villa Vie Odyssey by early afternoon the same day.

This was mandatory for all residents on board, and what was strange was that this was supposed to be a temporary measure.

The residents were initially instructed to take only essential items to facilitate the process.

Lanette and Johan said that guests were later allowed back on the ship to recover the rest of their belongings.

Is this legal?

The short answer is yes.

But with a few caveats.

Their ship, Villa Vie Odyssey, was forced to stop in Sihanoukville, Cambodia due to financial reasons.

Technically, residents do not own anything other than their belongings on board, which is why they don’t get to decide when or if they get back on board.

What’s next for the couple?

Following their departure from the Villa Vie Odyssey, the couple plans to remain in Southeast Asia for the foreseeable future.

Currently staying in Sihanoukville, Cambodia, they intend to extend their tourist visa to stay in the region for about 60 days.

They also plan to travel to Vietnam for a few months before potentially visiting Thailand or returning to Bali.