They sold their belongings, listed their townhouse for sale, and began their new life<\/a> in a 140-foot stateroom they called \u201chome\u201d in April 2025.<\/p>\n But after only a year and a half at sea, the couple\u2019s dream came to an abrupt stop.<\/p>\n Along with the ship\u2019s 200 or so other full-time passengers, the Gulds were ordered to disembark last week in Sihanoukville, Cambodia, after fuel costs became unaffordable for its operator, Villa Vie Residences, according to numerous news agencies, including The Associated Press<\/a>.<\/p>\n During a video call from a hotel in Sihanoukville on Friday, the couple said they were disappointed by the ship\u2019s failure but had no regrets about their lifestyle choice.<\/p>\n They made it to 30 countries, including several in North and South America, plus Japan, the Philippines, Taiwan, New Zealand, Australia, Vietnam, China and Thailand.<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s a lot of stuff that we\u2019ve seen and done that most people may just dream about and very few will actually get out there and do,\u201d Jim says.<\/p>\n Memorable adventures included zip lining in Fiji, attending a baseball game in Tokyo and scuba diving, Jim says, \u201call over the French Polynesia.\u201d<\/p>\n They were impressed with Halong Bay in Vietnam, designated as a World Heritage Site by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.<\/p>\n \u201cIt looks just like a painting that was somebody\u2019s imagination,\u201d Chris says. \u201cIt couldn\u2019t actually be real, but it\u2019s real.\u201d<\/p>\n They enjoyed line dancing with locals in Australia, Indonesia and Vietnam.<\/p>\n \u201cWe had a line dancing group on board,\u201d Chris says, \u201cand we\u2019d get together and dance every sea day. And the leader of the group would make contacts (with line dancers) in different cities where we were going to be visiting and make arrangements for us to join them. What other travel method would give you that opportunity?\u201d<\/p>\n The couple, longtime computer educators in South Florida, documented their adventures on their website, Geeksontour.com<\/a>, and maintained their tech training business on board the ship. A fast Starlink Internet connection kept them busy producing how-to classes and livestreams for paid subscribers in the United States.<\/p>\n During their downtime on the ship, the couple participated in community theater and musical performances staged by fellow passengers. \u201cWe didn\u2019t need the standard cruise ship entertainment on board,\u201d Chris says. \u201cWe had more fun doing it ourselves.\u201d<\/p>\n In addition, the couple said they loved socializing with fellow passengers who had interesting backgrounds \u2014 \u201cauthors, and actors,\u201d Chris says. \u201cWe had a Nobel Laureate on board.\u201d<\/p>\n The first sign of trouble came on Aug. 6, the couple said.<\/p>\n \u201cWe were in Singapore,\u201d Chris says, \u201cand we got word that they needed money or we wouldn\u2019t be able to leave.\u201d<\/p>\n Jim adds, \u201cThey needed money for fuel and to pay the port fees. So they did a cash call, you know, and said we need to raise a couple million dollars or we would be stuck there.\u201d<\/p>\n By that time, according to a CBS News report<\/a>, the ship owed money to a port agent, fueling companies, food vendors and the crew. Passengers raised money and one resident contributed $400,000 to get the ship moving again, the report said.<\/p>\n Villa Vie Residences, which launched the Odyssey\u2019s voyage in October 2024, did not respond to phone messages and emails seeking comment for this news article.<\/p>\n In retrospect, the Gulds suspect that the ship operators didn\u2019t charge enough for the service they were offering. The couple said they spent $170,000 to guarantee the right to live in their cabin for 15 years, then paid $5,000 a month to cover water, electricity, internet service, fitness facilities, laundry, twice-weekly housekeeping, education and entertainment programs and all of their food and beverages.<\/p>\n![\"Jim](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/tfl-l-geeks-on-tour-02.jpeg\")
Jim and Chris Guld were forced to leave their residential cruise ship in Cambodia. Photo of the couple from a hotel bar after disembarking. (Jim and Chris Guld\/Courtesy)<\/p>\n![\"Jim](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/tfl-l-geeks-on-tour-03.jpeg\")
The Villa Vie Odyssey, left behind in Cambodia by Jim and Chris Guld. The ship’s operators, Villa Vie Residences, reportedly could no longer pay for fuel to keep its full time around-the-world residential voyages afloat.(Jim and Chris Guld\/Courtesy)<\/p>\n