Founder of 'Endless Cruise' Blames Trump's Iran War for Collapse

Mikael Petterson, founder of the "endless cruise" operation Villa Vie Residences, has declared himself "the villain" following the company's collapse, which left approximately 200 passengers stranded in Sihanoukville, Cambodia. The Odyssey, a 656-foot vessel that departed Northern Ireland in October 2024, ceased operations after passengers were given only seven hours' notice to disembark.

Villa Vie cited a dramatic increase in fuel prices, attributing the surge to the conflict in the Middle East. The company stated that monthly fuel expenses per cabin had escalated from an average of $1,800 to an estimated $6,000 to $8,000 in parts of Asia, a cost increase that made continuing the voyage unsustainable. Petterson specifically pointed to the decision by U.S. President Donald Trump to strike Iran as a significant factor in skyrocketing oil prices, disrupting supply routes and energy infrastructure.

"I feel awful," Petterson said in a statement. "I'm the villain in the story, but I'm doing everything I can to support the residents on a solution." He added that he believed the venture would have succeeded if not for the conflict, stating, "But I think we would have been absolutely fine and we would have seen this through, if there was no Iran war."

Passengers described a period of increasing turmoil and financial pressure leading up to the ship's docking in Cambodia. According to reports, Villa Vie had repeatedly asked residents for additional funds during the voyage to cover rising operational costs. In April, the company requested a collective loan of $2.2 million from passengers. Later, in September, another $1.5 million was requested, followed by a further $360,000 in the week prior to the suspension of operations.

Residents reported that these requests often coincided with the ship being docked, creating a sense of vulnerability and coercion. "We felt manipulated and when that happened time after time, it began to wear us down and frustrate us," said passenger Lynn Montoya, who, along with her husband Paul, sold their house to fund their participation in the cruise. "Everybody then felt pressured to come up with these funds. We joked that we felt we were being held captive."

As financial difficulties mounted, conditions on board reportedly deteriorated. Internet services were frequently interrupted, and television service was discontinued. Food quality declined, and crew members began informing residents that their own payments were being delayed. Some passengers voluntarily contributed funds to help support the crew, whose pay began to be affected in August.

Despite these contributions, the company issued an official notice on Tuesday morning, instructing passengers to disembark by 2 p.m. the same day. Villa Vie stated it was "working with residents to co-ordinate disembarkation and identify temporary living arrangements." Passengers were given limited time to pack, uncertain about whether to take all their belongings or just essentials.

The "endless cruise" was marketed as a continuous voyage, with residents able to rent cabins for periods or purchase lifetime residencies for up to $440,000. The Odyssey was planned to visit over 400 ports, with a circumnavigation of the globe scheduled every three and a half years. Petterson acknowledged that he was focused on finding a resolution for the stranded passengers.