Everyone on our desk at Independent Travel has been gripped by the story of the Odyssey cruise ship that left passengers stranded in Cambodia after high fuel costs apparently forced it to stop sailing. We’ve actually all been watching this Villa Vie ship closely since it was due to set sail in 2024, promising a “never-ending cruise” that would visit more than 425 ports in 147 destinations over the course of three and a half years. This ship has been beset by troubles, starting with a string of last-minute repairs that meant passengers were forced to wait four months at dock in Belfast as the sailing date got pushed back. There followed various dramas – including a passenger being kicked off for impacting community morale and residents being asked to contribute to expenses – culminating in passengers being turfed off the ship in Sihanoukville (not the nicest part of Cambodia by any stretch of the imagination).
What I think is so interesting about this cruise is that it's a residential cruise ship, designed for full-time living. The whole saga wouldn’t have been quite so dramatic if this was your run-of-the-mill two-week cruise holiday. Indeed, we’re not talking about a cancelled trip; these were people's homes. Passengers had given up their whole lives and paid six figure sums to sail. It also got the team thinking about whether we could live on a cruise ship. My initial thought was absolutely not. I love the water and I love being on the move, but the thought of being trapped on a ship makes me pretty anxious. However, after travel writer Amelia interviewed 77-year-old Sharon Lane, who packed up her life into 19 boxes and four suitcases bought a cabin on Odyssey, I began to see the appeal. Sharon spoke about the camaraderie of passengers, as well as the fact that she no longer had to cook or clean for herself – not to mention she found time to read an epic 18 books in three months.
Travel writer Natalie, who is currently considering setting sail on her first cruise, said that for her "a full-time commitment to cabin life may be overboard". She added: "My tendency to take side quests on my travels would also likely leave me homeless, chasing my floating home as it pulls out of port." Amelia said that she would consider living on a cruise, but not for the rest of her life: "If I had the money to buy a cruise package that lets you rent out a cabin for a few months at a time, I would do it, but not necessarily for the cruise facilities, rather as a way to see as much as the world as possible in a short time period." Meanwhile, assistant travel editor Emilee Tombs enjoyed her Japan cruise a couple of years ago, but believes that life on land is preferable. She says: "I'd miss my morning run (a loop around the top deck wouldn't quite cut it for me – I like to get out in nature) and I can't think of anything worse than a treadmill as an alternative. I'd also hate not to be able to cook my own meals. I find cooking fun and a stress-reliever so having to eat out every day would be a big no-no for me."
Ultimately it seems that, even for four women who have careers dedicated to travel, full-time cruise life is just one step too far.
Read about what it's like to live full-time on a cruise ship
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Villa Vie Odyssey docking at Sihanoukville Autonomous Port, after permanent residents living aboard the vessel were forced to disembark in Cambodia (Reuters)
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Pet passports set to return - what travellers to EU need to know
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Role of Japanese comic in tourist boom in Cotswolds village
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What Spain’s general strike will mean for flights and holidays
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Queenie Shaikh went in search of liminal spaces in her home city to find unsettling courtyards and empty tunnels
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At the Freedom Sculpture Park in Montgomery, there is a powerful tribute to the resilience of Black Americans
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Scottish writer Robin McKelvie shares how you can do one of the world’s most famous driving routes by public transport
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Would you ever live on a cruise ship?
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After hundreds of passengers were left stranded in Cambodia following the unexpected suspension of operations on board the residential cruise ship Villa Vie Odyssey, this week I want to know: would you live on a cruise ship? Do you want to ride the wave of life at sea? Or are you happy on dry land?
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In last week's newsletter, I asked whether you would book a stay at a haunted hotel. Some 66 per cent of you were too spooked by the idea, with 34 per cent keen to check in to a house of horrors.
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When it comes to beating the winter blues, there are plenty of ways to lift your mood. If the recent change in weather has left you feeling a little meh, a product like the Lumie mini offers a daily dose of light therapy, bringing some of the benefits of natural sunlight indoors (and it’s compact enough to pop in your suitcase, too).
A good night’s sleep can also make all the difference, whether you’re at home or away. I swear by these magnesium supplements to help support a restful night, while the Snoozeband sleep mask is ideal for blocking out early morning light or getting some shut-eye in hotels without blackout curtains. The built-in headphones are an added bonus, allowing you to listen to relaxing music as you wind down, wherever you happen to be.
Of course, the cynics among us might argue that nothing beats a sunshine-filled holiday when it comes to lifting the spirits. If you’re escaping somewhere warm and balmy this winter, London Sock Company’s travel socks can help ease foot fatigue along the way. For men's summerwear, the ETQ sale is well worth a browse, while the Roman sale has plenty of reduced styles for women, from summer staples to winter wardrobe updates.
And finally, if your luggage could do with an upgrade before your next getaway, our experts have rounded up the best luggage brands to shop, whatever type of journey you have planned.
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Dubai has had a hard time of it this year. Thanks to Trump’s war in the Middle East, the once-popular holiday destination has struggled to attract the high volume of visitors it had become accustomed to. After the US carried out strikes on Iran on February 28 and Iran responded with retaliatory attacks on allied states in the Gulf, the city became a shadow of its former self. But could it be that Dubai is back? The tourism board certainly hopes so, and this week announced a couple of initiatives that makes the visa process more streamlined to the emirate, as well as an invitation-only tourism membership programme that will launch in November. Back in July, Dubai started an initiative offering residents rewards worth more than £600 to invite visitors to the emirate. The “Dubai Invite” programme encouraged locals to bring their friends and family to Dubai in exchange for benefits such as hotel stays, dining experiences and attraction tickets.
We also saw British Airways resume flights to Dubai this week following an eight-month suspension. The route was initially scheduled to start back up on 25 October, but was delayed until 3 November. BA now plans to run two seven-hour and 50-minute flights a day during the summer 2027 travel season. The UK’s Foreign Office lifted its advice against all but essential travel to the UAE in June, but does note that: "British nationals currently in the Middle East should be prepared for possible flight cancellations, periodic airspace closures and potential travel disruptions." The next few months will be telling. The US-Iran war started as Dubai’s high season was coming to an end and visitors numbers would have started to fall anyway (although the drop in 2026 was significantly higher than you’d normally see for the low season). Now the winter sun season is starting up again, it’s unlikely that visitors will return in close to the same high numbers as in 2025, but the message from the tourism board is clear: Dubai is open for business and keen to get its tourists back.
Is it safe to travel to Dubai? The Foreign Office advice
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Escape the winter chill with a pre-Christmas cruise around the Caribbean’s most beautiful islands. Sailing from Barbados, discover St Lucia’s lush landscapes, Curaçao’s colourful pastel harbour, Bonaire’s tranquil beaches and more.
On board Renaissance, enjoy delicious full-board dining, fantastic entertainment and convenient luggage porterage. Includes return flights from Heathrow and transfers, departing 6 December 2026. Find out more.
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Unwind at The Yorkshire, a grand hotel in the heart of Harrogate, and save up to 63%. Enjoy breakfast, a bottle of prosecco and late checkout.
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Escape to rural Kent for a relaxing break at Hurst Farm, perfectly placed for exploring the county’s top attractions. Includes late checkout.
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.jpg?quality=75&width=1368&crop=3%3A2%2Csmart&trim=0%2C0%2C0%2C0&auto=webp "Montgomery Freedom Sculpture Park")
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