For Jim and Chris Guld of Oakland Park, retirement was supposed to be a permanent voyage across the globe. After selling their townhouse and parting with their earthly possessions, the former computer educators moved into a stateroom aboard the Villa Vie Odyssey, imagining a future where they would circle the earth multiple times over several years. Their life became a whirlwind of luxury and adventure, taking them through thirty countries where they zip lined in Fiji, explored the ethereal landscapes of Halong Bay in Vietnam, and bonded with fellow travelers ranging from actors to a Nobel Laureate.
The idyllic existence came to a crashing halt last week when the couple and roughly two hundred other residents were ordered to disembark in Sihanoukville, Cambodia. The sudden eviction followed a series of financial crises for the ship’s operator, Villa Vie Residences, which struggled under unsustainable fuel costs and mounting debts to port agents and vendors. Even after some passengers pooled millions of dollars in an emergency cash call to keep the vessel moving during a previous scare in Singapore, the company eventually ran out of steam.
Despite losing an initial investment of 170 thousand dollars used to secure their residency—money they fear will vanish if the company files for bankruptcy—the Gulds remain remarkably upbeat. They spent eighteen months operating their tech training business via satellite internet while participating in onboard community theater, creating memories that Jim believes most people only ever dream about. For them, the experience was worth the risk, even if it ended with an unexpected hotel stay in Southeast Asia.
Rather than rushing back to South Florida to reclaim a traditional domestic life, the couple is extending their journey on land. They are currently heading toward Chiang Mai, Thailand, to visit old friends and teach workshops at Payap University on smartphone photography and the realities of living on a cruise ship. With their belongings still tucked away in their cabin somewhere nearby, they admit they would gladly pay more money just to get back on board; after all, India and Africa are still waiting for them.