Joel Greiff moved onto Villa Vie's Odyssey in October 2026.
Courtesy of Joel Greiff
Joel Greiff planned to live on Villa Vie's Odyssey for decades, but was aboard for less than a month.
He packed his Florida life into six bags and boarded the Odyssey earlier this month.
On Tuesday, however, residents were ordered off in Cambodia as Villa Vie suspended operations.
This as-told-to essay is based on several conversations with Joel Greiff, 57, a Villa Vie Odyssey passenger from Florida. It has been edited for length and clarity. Villa Vie Residences and its founders, Mikael Petterson and Kathy Villalba, did not immediately respond to a request from Business Insider.
I planned to live on the Odyssey for 10, 20, or even more years. I don't think that will be happening now.
Still, unlike others, I am celebrating the time I was able to enjoy on the Odyssey, which was 26 days before Villa Vie suspended operations on Tuesday and we had to disembark in Cambodia.
I thought I had found my new home
In April 2024, I read an article about the Odyssey. I called a sales agent at the company and asked a bunch of questions.
The following May, I stayed on the Odyssey for four days. Within five minutes of boarding, I concluded that this was my new home, these were my new neighbors, and this would be my future.
What drew me in was that it would be a place where I could come, live, and be part of a community. I was following residents on Facebook and reached out to a couple of them individually. I asked whether they were happy with their decisions, and they said yes.
In August this year, I left my home in Florida. I spent a couple of months driving around the US, visiting friends and family, and saying my goodbyes. Then, in September, I flew to Bangkok and moved onto the ship on October 1.
Joel Greiff introduced himself as 'Fantastic Joel' to the residents of the Odyssey.
Courtesy of Joel Greiff
I introduced 'Fantastic Joel' — that's what I go by — to many people on a ship. Most enjoyed meeting me. I'm sure a few didn't. There was always something going on, and people were really nice to each other. There were arts-and-crafts, plays, karaoke, and Seder dinners for Jewish residents.
I tried to put myself out there, meet a lot of different people, and say hi. There was always a good community having a good time. I absolutely fell in love with the crew. They deserve all the accolades and respect.
It was clear that things had changed
Compared with my visit in May 2025, it was clear to me that services and amenities had deteriorated by the time I moved aboard in October. Laundry was being done less frequently. Before going to Angkor Wat, I had to do my own laundry. The itinerary kept changing, and we sometimes sat at sea for days. Personally, I was fine with it.
Circle, Villa Vie's communication platform, was how the CEO and residents communicated. It's also how we got internal notices about the itinerary changes, visa applications, and other ship business.
On Sunday, we were told on Circle that if the company didn't receive money by Tuesday, the ship would not continue sailing. On Monday, we were told again that without money, the voyage would stop.
On Tuesday morning, I was at the bus station, coming back from a trip to Angkor Wat, charging my phone and waiting to get the shuttle back to the ship. The message came through on Circle telling us to disembark. It was about 7 a.m., and we had to be out by 2 p.m.
Before I arrived in Asia, I had fit everything I owned into four checked suitcases and two carry-on bags. I was able to repack within an hour. For people who had lived on the Odyssey for two years and had a home's worth of belongings, it was much harder.
I went somewhere quiet, then returned to help
After we disembarked, I went to Kampot, a small town in Cambodia, because I wanted to be somewhere peaceful. People had said it was relaxing.
Sihanoukville, where the ship was, felt like the opposite: a big, noisy place full of casinos and high-rises. I saw staff still working and residents who were discombobulated. I thought, 'I've got to get out of this craziness.'
Joel Greiff is considering spending time in Thailand.
Courtesy of Joel Greiff
For now, I've rented an affordable two-bedroom apartment for a month, about three hours away from Sihanoukville, where the ship is. I've been going back to the ship to help my fellow residents with their luggage, finding places to stay, and getting their belongings off the ship.
The residents are all coming together and helping each other out. Somebody says, "Do you have a suitcase?" and somebody says, "Yes, I have one spare."
I may never get my money back
I paid a lot for a 26-day stay on the Odyssey. Most likely I will never see it again. To me, if I lose the money, I don't need it. I don't care.
After all, the most important things in life are great friends and family, traveling the world, creating adventures, learning new things and, most importantly, helping others.
If the ship somehow finds a way to become a viable business, I would get back on it. If not, I'll explore living in Chiang Mai, Thailand. That was already my Plan B when I left Florida.
Have you spent any time on the Villa Vie Odyssey as a cabin owner, renter, or staff member? If you have a story to share, get in touch with this reporter: jzitser@businessinsider.com.
A 24-year-old travel influencer was killed after a pickup truck carrying a group of travelers was swept away while crossing a river in Nicaragua.
French traveler Emma Marie Laurent was one of three women who died after the vehicle was caught in strong currents following heavy rainfall, according to news agency Jam Press.
The group was traveling through El Manzano, a community in the northwestern department of Chinandega, when they attempted to cross the Nahualapa River at around 1 a.m. on Oct. 9, the same source reported.
Recent rainfall had caused the river to rise, creating dangerous conditions before the vehicle attempted to cross.
The driver, identified as Mexican national Martin Gerardo García Girón, reportedly stepped out of the pickup to assess the water level before attempting the crossing, according to Jam Press.
The water reportedly came close to the driver's knees, but the current swept the pickup away and caused it to overturn.
The driver survived, though accounts have differed on whether other passengers also made it to safety, according to Jam Press.
Authorities were investigating the circumstances surrounding the crossing.
Nicaraguan co-President Rosario Murillo offered condolences to the victims' families following the deaths.
"This is a tragedy," Murillo said, according to reports.
"We express our solidarity and our call to remain vigilant and, in the face of such tragedies, to express our full solidarity."
Murillo also warned about the dangers of crossing rivers during Nicaragua's rainy season.
"Rivers are deceptive; one thinks they are calm and, suddenly, the current comes, and we have tragedies like this that bring mourning to families," she said, according to Jam Press.
Laurent had developed an online following by sharing her travels around the world, including glimpses of life on the road from her van.
Living on a boat full-time is expensive, but so far, it's been worth the costs.
Rachel Murphy
When my husband and I moved to California, we decided to live on a sailboat.
Repairs, maintenance, and docking fees have made the lifestyle more expensive than we expected.
The tight quarters can be challenging, but the experience has been great for our marriage.
Last year, my husband, Michael, and I bought a sailboat to live on full-time.
At the time, we were preparing to move from our home near Louisville, Kentucky, to Santa Barbara, California, where I'd lived for a few years after college.
As excited as we were to move to a new state, we weren't prepared for the higher cost of rent, and paying $2,500 a month for a place we wouldn't even own was a hard pill to swallow for two Midwesterners.
We knew we couldn't afford to buy a house yet, but still wanted a something we could own outright. I figured there had to be an alternative option.
After some thought, I remembered I had previously met a number of people in Santa Barbara who lived aboard boats, and wondered if that would be feasible for us.
My husband and I had each been on a handful of sailing trips, and as lifelong outdoorspeople, exploring by ocean was appealing, even though we knew almost nothing about the logistics.
Once the idea was planted, we couldn't imagine doing anything else.
So far, the experience has been full of ups and downs
Our 1975 43-foot sailboat is a beauty, but it needed a lot of repairs.
Rachel Murphy
After deciding to take this leap, we saved up and consumed every book and YouTube channel about sailing. We even fastened a sailing cleat to the arm of an old chair, and we used that to practice our knots.
In September 2025, we bought a 1975 sailboat outright for $40,000 in San Francisco and sailed it down the coast the morning the papers were signed.
Our 43-foot boat is a beautiful work of craftsmanship, featuring a well-preserved wooden interior with two bedrooms, two bathrooms, a kitchen, and a desk. But unfortunately, the boat came with an overwhelming amount of work from the start.
Along with two bedrooms and two bathrooms, the boat has a desk and a small kitchen.
Rachel Murphy
The previous owner had left us quite a mess to clean up, leaving every drawer stuffed with old kitchenware and junk. Plus, it needed work, like replacing the rotting main sheet, updating the navigation systems, and cleaning out a mildewed freshwater tank — things we've slowly fixed one at a time.
The first night aboard the boat, we lay in bed and thought to ourselves, "What have we done?" We hung up a horseshoe — a lucky family heirloom that had watched over my dad's doorway for 20 years — hoping it still had some luck left to lend us.
Although we've loved living on a boat so far, we were surprised it wasn't more affordable than living on land. Our slip fee, about $1,500 a month, at the marina where we're usually docked, is cheaper than any studio apartment in the area, but we make up the difference in the maintenance that comes with owning a boat from 1975.
There's a saying among boat owners that BOAT stands for "Bust Out Another Thousand" — something we didn't learn until we lived aboard. Boat parts aren't cheap, and anything labeled "marine" comes with a hefty price tag.
Luckily, we've been able to save a lot of money by doing the labor ourselves — whether that's resealing the windows, installing solar, or replacing engine parts. Michael is a great engineer, mechanic, and all-around handy guy, and I'm fair with a wrench.
The extra costs haven't been easy, but the boat certainly feels like home.
Rachel Murphy
Despite the financial challenges of living on board, we've developed a routine that has made this place feel like home.
Most weekday mornings start with espresso from the machine we squeezed onto our limited counter space. We drink it in the cockpit while the rest of the marina is woken up by the loud roars of sea lions.
After work, we like to bike around town and sometimes host dinner parties that end with watching the sunset behind the hundreds of sailboat masts.
On the weekends, we've been able to use the boat to explore the California coast. We pack up on a Friday, sail out to a quiet anchor, and spend a few days hiking, swimming, and watching dolphins from the deck.
A year living aboard has tested us, but it's also brought us closer
Sharing a tight space with my husband can be challenging, but we've blossomed as a team.
Rachel Murphy
After a year on the boat, we trust ourselves more and more as sailors, and the sweetest part has been watching us blossom as a team.
Even though it can be challenging sharing a space with someone who is never more than 10 feet from you, the greatest adventure has been navigating this new lifestyle and learning curve together.
Sure, we miss having a large floor space to stretch, a kitchen big enough for two, and a toilet that doesn't smell like rotten seawater.
Some days, our 43 feet feels larger than life, filled with possibilities and adventure, but other times it feels like we're living in a very expensive closet.
We love inviting friends and family aboard for dinner parties.
Rachel Murphy
Even on those claustrophobic, leak-dodging, seaweed-scented days, neither one of us would trade it. Not yet, anyway. We've been able to explore the Channel Islands, witness incredible coastal wildlife, and learn the skills that come with living on the water: reading the weather, trimming sails, and surfing.
Eventually, we want children, and we can't picture raising them aboard. But for now, we're exactly where we want to be.
There's a narrow window in life when you can uproot everything for something this impractical, and we're standing right in the middle of it.
Chicago's Palmer House serves the original 1893 brownie recipe it invented for the World's Fair.
Kristine Villarroel/Business Insider
The original brownie recipe was invented at Chicago's Palmer House hotel in 1893.
It was designed to be transported easily in lunchboxes for the Chicago World's Fair.
I visited the hotel to try the original brownie, which was rich in both chocolate and history.
When you think of vintage desserts, various ingredients suspended in Jell-O might come to mind. But a Chicago hotel serves one 1893 recipe that will be a lot more familiar to today's tastes: the brownie.
The Palmer House hotel, which is still open today, developed the first-ever brownie in its kitchen as part of the preparations for the World's Columbian Exposition, or Chicago's 1893 World's Fair. The decadent dessert was inspired by a Gilded Age socialite's quest for a treat that could be easily transported.
As a brownie enthusiast, I wanted to try this legendary recipe on a visit to the hotel last year — and I discovered the dessert was rich in both history and chocolate.
The Palmer House Hotel became a symbol of the city's resilience after the Great Chicago Fire.
Chicago History Museum/Getty Images
When the Great Chicago Fire of 1871 decimated the city's downtown, the Palmer House hotel had been open for less than a year.
Its swift reopening in 1873, when Gilded Age wealth rushed to rebuild the city, became a symbol for a city rising from the ashes.
Today, it operates as a Hilton hotel.
The World's Fair came to the city in 1893 to celebrate its grand rebuilding.
Chicago History Museum/Getty Images
Beyond boosting the local economy, Chicago leaders hoped the event would show the world that the growing city had fully recovered from the 1871 fire.
The fair, which was held from May until October 1893, showcased international developments in technology, art, and transportation on the 400th anniversary of Christopher Columbus's arrival in the Americas and attracted over 27 million people to the city, per Choose Chicago.
The hotel chef created the original brownie at the direction of socialite Bertha Palmer.
Chicago History Museum/Getty Images
The Palmer House owners, Potter and Bertha Palmer, were one of the wealthiest families in the Midwestern city during the Gilded Age.
In 1893, Bertha Palmer served as president of the fair's Board of Lady Managers, which gave wealthy women a voice in constructing and decorating the fair's Women's Building, showcasing the achievements of American women, among other tasks.
As part of her role, Bertha Palmer asked the hotel's chef to create a dessert that would be easy to transport in a lunchbox for the other society women serving on the fair's board.
The Palmer House brownie became a staple of the hotel and lasted long past the World's Fair.
Courtesy of Hiltons of Chicago
Although she didn't call it a brownie — the name wouldn't come until 1898, per the hotel — Bertha Palmer's dessert, which she directed to be "more unique than a piece of pie or cake" and "like a cookie, but denser and more decadent with chocolate," per the Hilton website, set the foundation for what is today one of America's favorite desserts.
While the chef's name wasn't preserved alongside the dessert's origin story, their creation lives on.
The final brownie is covered with finely chopped walnuts and a glaze made with apricot preserves and unflavored gelatin.
Today, the Palmer House serves Bertha's Brownie, which follows the original recipe.
Kristine Villarroel/Business Insider
The brownie made using the original 1893 recipe is available to guests dining at the downtown hotel's Lockwood Restaurant and for those stopping by the hotel café, where it is sold as a grab-and-go dessert.
I tried the brownie while dining at the hotel. It was much fancier than other brownies I've had.
Kristine Villarroel/Business Insider
The brownie, which cost $13, was served with a rich chocolate topping, strawberries, and a side of brownie crumbs.
When I took my first bite, I was surprised; it tasted very different from other brownies I've had in the past.
It was chocolatey, rich, and nutty, with a tart-like and fudgy texture that felt almost gritty at times.
Rather than being cake-like, I thought the original recipe leaned a lot more on the dark chocolate. Looking at the recipe's ingredient list, I was surprised by how little flour it actually contained.
Compared to even modern brownie recipes, where cocoa powder is often used to replace melted chocolate, this recipe places greater emphasis on liquid ingredients like dark, cocoa-heavy couverture chocolate, eggs, and butter, and uses a lot of granulated sugar.
The apricot glaze on top also added an unexpected fruity taste to the decadent dessert, making it more dimensional and luxurious than other versions I've tried.
Compared to boxed brownie mixes, Bertha's Brownie felt like an entirely different dessert.
The hotel also offers other brownie-inspired menu items, from pancakes to a cocktail.
Courtesy of Hiltons of Chicago
In addition to serving the original brownie, the Palmer House has other menu items inspired by the 1893 creation.
The hotel's Lockwood Restaurant serves Bertha's Brownie Pancakes topped with brownie crumbs at breakfast and a rye Brownie Old Fashioned garnished with a mini brownie on its drinks menu.
In all, the dessert felt like a tangible — and tasty — piece of history.
The original recipe for the chocolate brownie felt like a dessert category of its own.
Kristine Villarroel/Business Insider
If you asked me to name a fancy dessert, I would probably think of elaborate concoctions like baked Alaska or meticulous recipes like French macarons before a brownie, but the Palmer House brownie might just change that.
More than a sophisticated take on a classic, the recipe is a classic of its own and stands apart from other brownies I've tried.
Eating the brownie felt like biting into a piece of history, and I'll probably be thinking about it until the next time I'm in Chicago.
From a four-month delay in Northern Ireland two years ago to a shock suspension in Cambodia – Amelia Neath delves into the story of the ‘never-ending cruise’ that may have been forced to come to an end
From a four-month delay in Northern Ireland two years ago to a shock suspension in Cambodia – Amelia Neath delves into the story of the ‘never-ending cruise’ that may have been forced to come to an end
A scholar believes a nearly 2,000-year-old account of Jesus may be more historically reliable than previously thought, challenging longstanding doubts about one of the earliest non-Christian accounts of his life.
T.C. Schmidt, an associate professor of religious studies at Fairfield University in Connecticut, is the author of a 2025 book titled "Josephus and Jesus: New Evidence for the One Called Christ," examining a long-disputed passage about Jesus written by the ancient Jewish historian Josephus.
Josephus lived from roughly 37 to 100 A.D. and wrote about Jesus in his work "Antiquities of the Jews," providing one of the few surviving non-Christian accounts of his life.
In the passage, Josephus described Jesus as a wise man who attracted followers and was sentenced to crucifixion under Pontius Pilate. The text also referred to reports that Jesus appeared alive again after his death.
For centuries, scholars have debated whether Christian scribes altered the passage, which contains statements about Jesus that some historians believe would have been unusual for a non-Christian Jewish writer.
But Schmidt told Fox News Digital that his research suggests the passage is authentic, citing linguistic analysis and comparisons with Josephus' other writings.
Schmidt examined ancient versions of Josephus' account in Greek, Latin, Syriac, Arabic and Armenian, using textual comparisons and computer-assisted stylistic analysis to argue that the disputed passage was consistent with Josephus' writing style.
His analysis, Schmidt said, found similarities throughout the passage.
"I show that every single phrase in the passage can be indexed back to Josephus. It all sounds like something Josephus would say," Schmidt told Fox News Digital.
Schmidt also argued that some of Josephus' descriptions of Jesus have been misinterpreted, making the passage appear more favorable to Christianity than Schmidt believes Josephus intended.
For example, he said Josephus' description of Jesus performing supernatural deeds does not necessarily mean the historian believed those powers came from God.
Instead, the language is more ambiguous, leaving open whether those powers were believed to come from divine or demonic sources.
"This actually sounds like something a non-Christian Jew would have said," Schmidt said. "We have other accounts of later Jews saying similar things about Jesus."
"So you add it all together and the style of the passage matches Josephus and the claims of the message match what Josephus would have said as a non-Christian Jew," he added. "In other words, the passage looks totally authentic."
Schmidt said his findings could strengthen the historical evidence surrounding Jesus' life.
"What this passage does is that it solidifies Jesus in history," Schmidt said.
He said Josephus' account corroborates details found in the Gospels, including Jesus' disciples, his reputation for performing miracles and his crucifixion under Pontius Pilate.
Schmidt also emphasized the passage's reference to Jesus' resurrection, arguing that it provides historical evidence of what his earliest followers believed.
"Josephus doesn't himself affirm the resurrection, but he does affirm that early Christians, the disciples of Jesus, believed that Jesus was resurrected on the third day," Schmidt said.
When asked about his book's reception, Schmidt said his book has received positive feedback, with some reconsidering their views on the passage's authenticity.
The authenticity of Josephus' account still remains a subject of scholarly debate, with historians continuing to disagree over how much of the passage may have been altered by later Christian scribes.
Looking ahead, Schmidt said he has identified two or three additional possible connections between Josephus and people associated with Jesus' crucifixion since the book was published — a subject of future research.
Schmidt also encouraged readers to examine historical sources for themselves, noting that his own research led him to question what he had previously been taught.
"I was taught my whole scholarly life that this paragraph by Josephus was not authentic. And I believed that," Schmidt said.
Kimberly Wilson has stayed at more than 20 Four Seasons properties around the world. Her favorite stands out because of its unique guest offerings.
Kimberly Wilson
OK, sue me. I love staying at the Four Seasons.
And after staying at more than 20 properties around the world, one of them stood above the rest.
Here's why I loved this particular Four Seasons; and why I can't wait to go back.
Now, before the hotel police come for me, or rather the Four Seasons police, I will say this: I have loved every Four Seasons property I've ever visited — from Egypt to Portugal to New York City.
Now that I've checked into more than 20 of them at this point, I wouldn't need a second to think about my favorite one. This particular hotel — which I'll share in a minute, don't worry — inches the others out because of what it offers.
This luxury hotel pushes you to do more than simply relax by the pool with a cocktail in hand, enjoy a massage, or dine at a good restaurant or two.
It's the Four Seasons Astir Palace in Athens.
Kimberly Wilson
Astir Palace sits on a peninsula in Vouliagmeni, along the stretch of coast known as the Athens Riviera.
The drive from the city center takes about half an hour. I can't overstate how much that matters. Usually, if I want water this blue in Greece, I'm getting on a ferry and hightailing it to Santorini, Mykonos, or one of the neighboring islands.
Here, I spent the morning taking a tour of the Acropolis and was back in a beach chair before lunch, and that's what I call a win, if I do say so myself.
The hotel first opened in 1960.
Kimberly Wilson
I also didn't realize how much history this hotel had until I got there. It first opened in August 1960, and for years it was where Greek royals and Hollywood stars spent their time, with Jackie Kennedy Onassis and Brigitte Bardot among those who spent summers there.
Former President Barack Obama was actually the very last person to stay at the old hotel when he visited Greece in 2016, right before it closed for renovation.
The Four Seasons acquired the property in 2019.
Four Seasons Astir Palace Hotel Athens is seen from above in Greece, on June 30, 2016.
Creative Touch Imaging Ltd./NurPhoto via Getty Images
Four Seasons bought the property, put roughly $700 million into rebuilding it, and reopened it in 2019 as the company's first hotel in Greece.
They held onto a lot of the original mid-century architecture, so you get the look of the 1960s with all the comforts you'd expect from a Four Seasons today.
Some guests arrive by helicopter or by boat, but I came in a regular car like a regular person. Once I got settled, I realized just how big this place is. The grounds cover about 74 acres, and there are three private beaches, so I always found a spot no matter what time I showed up.
My room had a spectacular view.
Kimberly Wilson
My room faced the water, and the Aegean Sea was so clear that I could see the rocks on the bottom from my balcony.
The hotel is a foodie's paradise.
Kimberly Wilson
The food deserves its own paragraph, so here it is. With nine restaurants on the property, you could eat your way through an entire week without leaving the peninsula, and I came pretty close.
There's Matsuhisa Athens from chef Nobu Matsuhisa if you're craving Japanese, Taverna 37 when you want Greek food done right, and Pelagos, which holds a Michelin star.
The market-to-table experience is the one I keep telling people about, though.
Kimberly Wilson
Through a program the hotel calls Crafted in Greece, guests can sign up for pottery workshops with local artisans, olive oil tastings, Greek dance lessons, and cooking classes at the market.
I went in a little skeptical: My family comes from the Bahamas, where many hotels offer "local experiences," and they tend to be watered-down versions.
Still, I have to say I was pleasantly surprised. This was the first time I experienced the local and the luxury, all in one.
The morning started with a trip to a local market with one of the hotel's chefs, and it quickly became clear that the vendors knew him well.
The chef chose what we'd eat from the market.
Kimberly Wilson
He stopped at nearly every stall to say hello, and we tasted our way through olives, cheeses, and different fruits as he explained what was in season.
He picked tomatoes by smell before he ever looked at them. Clearly, he was an expert at his craft.
Back at the hotel, I got a chance to cook the meal with the chef.
Kimberly Wilson
We brought everything back to the hotel kitchen and cooked together. And by "cooked together," I mean I fake-cooked, while the real chefs prepared the dishes. A couple of hours later, we sat down to a lunch made almost entirely from what we'd carried in that morning.
I've eaten at a lot of beautiful hotel restaurants over the years, but very few hotel meals have been quite like this one, mainly because I knew where every single thing on the plate came from and I had watched the people who grew or made it hand it over.
Why this Four Seasons in Athens beats the other properties
Kimberly Wilson smiles on the rooftop terrace at the Four Seasons in Athens.
Kimberly Wilson
I've never had a bad room or bad service at any Four Seasons, and I don't expect I ever will. Still, what made Astir Palace different for me is that I spent more time experiencing local culture than I ever had at any hotel.
I came home to Maryland with a crooked bowl I made at a local pottery class, a few recipes I'm still trying to get right, and a list of things I still want to try when I return.
Haunted houses can make paranormal tourism a profitable economic strategy for cities. American Haunts, an industry trade group, estimated that the haunted-homes industry generates between $300 million and $500 million in annual ticket sales.
However, some homes have such dark histories that they're better left alone.
To find the most haunted home in every US state, Business Insider considered properties known locally for spooky occurrences, ghost sightings, or with horrifying backstories.
Some of these properties are open to the public, while others have been transformed and are now private residences.
Lucy Yang contributed to a previous version of this article.
ALABAMA: Sweetwater Mansion
Sweetwater Mansion in Florence.
Library of Congress
Located on Sweetwater Avenue in Florence, Alabama, this plantation home was built in 1835 by Gen. John Brahan and first occupied by Robert Patton, Brahan's son-in-law and, eventually, the governor of Alabama.
Many spooky stories are associated with this mansion, including one about the home's caretaker, who one day witnessed a casket appear out of thin air. Inside, she found a man dressed in a Confederate uniform, believed to be one of General Brahan's sons who died in the Civil War, AL.com reported.
Other examples of reported supernatural activities include distant voices of children's giggles and a woman in old clothes wandering the halls, as reported by Forbes.
Property records indicate that the private home, which was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1976, was sold to a hospitality group in 2023. The Willingham, a graduate student magazine at the University of North Alabama, reported that although the sale was part of a hotel investment, the owners have since worked with the Sweetwater Foundation to restore the mansion and find a new purpose for it.
The foundation is led by a descendant of the original owners and also works with descendants of the estimated 300 enslaved people once connected to the property.
ALASKA: Jesse Lee Home for Children
US National Archives and Records Administration
Opened in 1926 as a sanctuary for orphaned children, this property was damaged in a 1964 earthquake and has remained abandoned since.
According to a widely reported urban legend, the spirits of several children are said to roam the hallways of the home after it closed as an orphanage. Visitors reported experiencing "dread and despair" when they walked inside and hearing giggling children and the sounds of jump ropes and bouncing balls, per Haunted Rooms, a ghost tour company.
By 2021, the home was mostly demolished by Seward City, with future plans still under discussion, KDLL reported.
ARIZONA: Winnie Ruth Judd's House
Hedwig Samuelson and Agnes LeRoi, a couple who rented this home, were murdered here in 1931.
Everett Collection/Shutterstock
In 1931, a 26-year-old medical secretary named Winnie Ruth Judd fatally shot two of her friends in this bungalow.
Dubbed the "Trunk Murderess," Judd was caught trying to dispose of her victims' corpses in Los Angeles after she stuffed their bodies into two trunks and other luggage.
After a jury found her legally insane, she was held at a mental health facility, but she escaped in 1962, vanishing for almost seven years before she was found in California, The New York Times reported. Her sentence was commuted in 1971, and she was paroled.
The house remains infamous in the area. Today, it serves as a working office for attorney Robert Warnicke, according to the local outlet KJZZ.
ARKANSAS: Allen House
Google Maps
Built in 1906 by local businessman Joe Lee Allen, this eye-catching home is said to be haunted by several spirits.
Local legend says Allen's daughter killed herself by consuming mercury cyanide on Christmas Day in 1948, according to the Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage, and Tourism. Since then, her ghost is said to have haunted the two floors of this mansion.
While the house used to host ghost tours and haunted mazes, in 2024 the company running the tours announced it would no longer offer them because it was a private residence.
In 2023, the house was listed for $488,000. The listing was removed in March 2024, per Zillow.
CALIFORNIA: Winchester Mystery House
Library of Congress
This eerie mansion has an even creepier backstory. The home was built by Sarah Winchester after her husband, the creator of the Winchester rifle, died in 1881.
Since then, many have claimed, including Sarah herself, that the building is haunted by the spirits of those killed with her husband's invention, per Smithsonian Magazine.
She built the home to escape the angry spirits, and it has many quirks, including "a staircase that leads to nowhere, cabinets that open into walls, and a door that opens up to a 12-foot drop," Business Insider previously reported.
Today, it is open to visitors.
COLORADO: Henry Webber House
National Park Service
The history behind this quaint 1885 building, which is also known as Pioneer Park, is much darker than you'd think.
Henry Webber, a shoe and boot merchant who moved to Aspen in 1880, decided to build this home after making huge profits from his mining investments, per History Colorado.
The spooky story, though, involves Webber's wife, Harriet Webber, who died under "mysterious circumstances" and is said to haunt the house, The Aspen Times reported.
Today, the property is part of Pioneer Park and has been listed in the National Register of Historic Places since 1987, although the house itself — which was sold in 2021 for $11.5 million — remains a private residence.
CONNECTICUT: The Seaside Regional Center
The Seaside Regional Center is in Waterford.
Rachel Rose Boucher/Shutterstock
Formerly known as the Seaside Sanatorium, this building opened in the 1930s to treat children with tuberculosis.
In the 1950s, the property was renamed the Seaside Geriatric Hospital and served as a home for older patients for three years. After that, it reopened as the Seaside Regional Center, a home for people with mental illness, until it was closed in 1996.
Today, the abandoned spot is a popular destination for paranormal researchers, who claim to have seen ghostly orbs and other spooky phenomena, as reported by The New York Times.
In recent years, a developer has been fighting plans to demolish the property, which has been on the National Register of Historic Places since 1996, according to the Connecticut Mirror.
DELAWARE: John Dickinson House
This home is in Dover.
Library of Congress
Also known as Poplar Hall, this plantation home was the childhood home of John Dickinson, one of the Founding Fathers of the US.
Local lore says the home is haunted by Dickinson himself, and visitors have reported hearing the "sound of a quill pen scratching across parchment paper," Delaware Today reported.
The house is owned by the State of Delaware and serves as a park where visitors can learn about Dickinson's life and the stories of the 59 enslaved people who once lived and worked on the plantation, per the National Park Service.
FLORIDA: Riddle House
Google Maps
Located in West Palm Beach, this private residence was first used as a funeral parlor in the early 1900s.
Legend has it that one of the homeowner's employees fell into financial hardship and hanged himself in the attic, the Palm Beach Post reported. His spirit is reportedly just one among many that haunt the home, said to be one of the most active haunted locations in South Florida.
Today, the house is part of the Yesteryear Village park and offers occasional ghost tours.
GEORGIA: Hay House
This mansion is in Macon and is part of The Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation.
Doug Nurnberger/Shutterstock
Also known as the Johnston-Felton-Hay House or the "Palace of the South," this historic residence was built in the late 1850s. Since then, various sightings of spooky figures and swinging chandeliers have been reported.
Today, the mansion is owned by the Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation and serves as a museum. The property has been in the National Register of Historic Places since 1974.
In 2010, a photographer claimed he captured a ghost on camera — wearing a top hat, no less — while snapping pictures of a wedding at the Hay House, as reported by Macon's The Telegraph.
HAWAII: 'Iolani Palace
A view of 'Iolani Palace from Kapiolani Boulevard in downtown Honolulu.
Faina Gurevich/Getty Images
Located in Honolulu, this residence was home to the island's last royal family until the monarchy was overthrown in 1893.
Since then, visitors and staff members have reported hearing footsteps and seeing the figure of a woman believed to be Queen Lili'uokalani, Honolulu Magazine reported.
Most recently, the National Historic Landmark, which is owned by the state, has become a tourist attraction.
IDAHO: Standrod Mansion
Standrod Mansion, built in 1901, at N. Garfield Avenue in Pocatello.
Carol M.Highsmith/Library of Congress
Built by a judge named D.W. Standrod in 1902, this mansion has a tragic backstory. Both of the Standrods' children died at a young age, and the home is said to be haunted by their spirits.
In 2020, the Idaho State Journal reported that a new owner, Barbara Magin, originally from New Jersey, revamped the property and brought it back to life.
Magin shared with the publication that when she visited the home, she felt it was trying to communicate with her, saying, "Help me."
"There are ghosts. I've had experiences with them. And I just told them that I was here to take care of the mansion," she said in the interview. "[They're] welcome to stay."
ILLINOIS: McPike Mansion
A guided tour at the McPike Mansion in Alton.
US Department of Transportation
Built in 1869 for local businessman Henry McPike, this three-story, 16-room brick house is said to be haunted by several spirits.
People have reported hearing children laughing when no one was present, seeing faces appear randomly in the home's windows, feeling touched, and more, according to the mansion's website.
Today, the private mansion is owned by Sharyn and George Luedke and regularly offers ghost tours.
A 2014 feature by Business Insider reported that many locals believe the ghosts of the home's former owners and their servants still surround it.
INDIANA: Culbertson Mansion
Thomas Kelley/Getty Images
The former home of William Culbertson, once the richest man in Indiana, this mansion and its carriage house are said to be haunted.
The carriage house burned down in 1888 after a lightning strike, killing everyone inside. Some believe their spirits roam the property, the Courier Journal reported.
Today, the historic site is owned by the state and offers haunted mansion tours in October.
IOWA: Villisca Axe Murder House
A newspaper clipping from June 14, 1912 reporting on the Moore murders.
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Library/Library of Congress
In 1903, Josiah Moore moved into this residence with his family.
On the night of June 9, 1912, Moore, his five family members, and two guests were brutally murdered in the home. All eight victims were bludgeoned to death with an ax.
The horrific crime was never solved, and the home — per multiple reports — remains haunted by the spirits of the victims.
As of 2024, the private home is owned by Lance Zaal and serves as a local attraction, the Villisca Axe Murder House, which offers tours and even overnight stays for $199 per night, according to its website.
KANSAS: Clutter Family Home
Four members of the Clutter family were murdered by two ex-convicts in The home picture here is from Nov. 2, 1979.
AP
On the morning of November 15, 1959, wheat farmer Herbert Clutter, his wife, and his two teenage children were found bound and shot to death in this home.
Ex-convicts Perry Smith and Richard Hickock were later arrested, convicted, and executed for the crime. American author Truman Capote eventually immortalized the Clutter tragedy in his non-fiction bestseller, "In Cold Blood."
The home, which has been owned by Leonard and Donna Mader, was previously open to tours but is now closed to the public.
KENTUCKY: Loudoun House
Library of Congress
A shining example of Gothic Revival architecture, this elegant home was built in 1851 for Francis Key Hunt.
Some visitors have reported seeing a ghostly woman and capturing orbs in pictures, per Paranormal Traveling.
Today, the mansion is owned by the City of Lexington and is the home of the Lexington Art League and its galleries.
LOUISIANA: Myrtles Plantation
Spanish moss hanging from Crepe Myrtle trees at night outisde the Myrtles Plantation in St. Francisville.
wanderluster/Getty Images
The Myrtles Plantation has been haunted by a series of deaths on its property, including that of two of the owner's children in the 1820s, per Nola.com.
Since then, the plantation has been said to be one of the most haunted homes in the US.
Today, the plantation functions as a hotel with restaurants on-site. The plantation also offers a variety of tours, including an evening "mystery" tour, per the hotel's website.
MAINE: Wood Island Lighthouse
Wood Island Lighthouse in Biddeford.
Chausa Tra/Shutterstock
The 11th-oldest lighthouse in the US, Wood Island Light, was built in 1808 under the orders of then-President Thomas Jefferson.
According to one urban legend shared by the lighthouse's website, it is haunted by the ghost of a fisherman named Howard Hobbs. In 1896, Hobbs shot and killed his landlord, Frederick Milliken, before turning the gun on himself.
Today, the lighthouse is owned by the US Coast Guard and is maintained by the Friends of Wood Island Lighthouse, who run a variety of tours on the property.
MARYLAND: Hager House
This home is in Hagerstown.
Alejandro Guzmani/Shutterstock
This stone house, constructed in the mid-1700s, was built by German immigrant Jonathan Hager, the founder of Hagerstown.
The property is reportedly haunted by as many as 13 ghosts of former residents who died in the home. Visitors have reported hearing disembodied voices and footsteps, seeing objects move on their own, and other paranormal activity, per the Herald-Mail.
Today, the house is owned by the City of Hagerstown and serves as a museum that offers guided tours.
MASSACHUSETTS: Jonathan Corwin House
Judge Jonathan Corwin's home in Salem.
AlessandroV/Shutterstock
Known as the Witch House, this structure is the only remaining building with direct ties to the Salem witch trials.
It is the former residence of Jonathan Corwin, who served as a judge during the hearings that led to the executions of 20 innocent people, falsely accused of witchcraft.
Today, the building is owned by the City of Salem and opens seasonally as a museum, per its website.
MICHIGAN: Bruce Mansion
Google Maps
Built by lumber baron John G. Bruce in 1876, this building has been a popular destination for paranormal investigators.
The house, which at some point served as a location for church events and funerals, saw multiple of its owners die on the property, including John Walker, who is said to have hanged himself in the mansion's central tower after running over a pedestrian and burying him in the backyard, the County Press reported.
Since then, multiple tenants in the house have moved out due to paranormal activity, the County Press also reported.
These days, the home is privately owned and hosts mystery tours, per its website.
MINNESOTA: Glensheen Mansion
GummyBone/Getty Images
On June 27, 1977, an 83-year-old millionaire heiress named Elisabeth Congdon and her nurse, Velma Pietila, were murdered in this massive mansion, as reported by Minnesota Public Radio.
Roger Caldwell, the husband of one of Congdon's adopted daughters, Marjorie, was later arrested and convicted of the crimes. Marjorie herself was charged, but acquitted, of aiding and abetting and conspiracy to commit murder.
In 1982, Caldwell's conviction was overturned based on new evidence introduced during Marjorie's trial. Although Caldwell was offered a new trial, he confessed to the murders after prosecutors cut him a deal.
However, Caldwell only served a little over five years before he was released from prison. He died by suicide in 1988.
Today, the mansion serves as a museum, venue, and beer garden, and offers a variety of tours, per its website.
MISSISSIPPI: The Longfellow House
Library of Congress
Also known as Bellevue, this building was built in 1850 as a private home for slave trader and pirate Daniel Smith Graham.
According to local legend, the building is haunted by the ghosts of the men, women, and children who were abused by Graham, who is said to have been sadistic and cruel, per the house's historical marker.
Today, the private residence is one of the last antebellum houses on the Mississippi Gulf Coast.
MISSOURI: Epperson House
Google Maps
Now part of the University of Missouri-Kansas City, this four-story building is known for its many secret passageways and reported hauntings.
Built by businessman Uriah Epperson in 1923, the 54-room house was donated to the university in 1942 after Epperson's passing over a decade earlier, and it briefly served as a Navy dormitory during World War II, per Fox 4 News in Kansas City.
Since then, the house has gathered local legends of paranormal activity, with reports saying people have heard footsteps and music.
Today, the house is planned to be renovated and turned into a boutique hotel, as reported by Fox 4 News.
MONTANA: Daly Mansion
Tara Krauss/Getty Images
This mansion was bought in 1886 by businessman Marcus Daly, one of the three "Copper Kings" of Montana during the Gilded Age.
Staff have reported paranormal activity in the mansion, such as the smell of roses when none are around and fire alarms going off inexplicably, the Missoulian reported.
Today, the property is owned by the State of Montana and run by the Daly Mansion Preservation Trust. The mansion can be rented for events like weddings and offers seasonal tours inside the property.
NEBRASKA: Fort Sidney
Fort Sidney Museum is located in the Officer's Quarters and is reputed to be haunted.
Google Maps
In 1975, the Lincoln Journal Star published a story titled "A Ghost at Ft. Sidney? Well..." which tried to determine whether the ghost of a young officer's wife still roamed the home.
According to local legends, this historic building, which was once a supply station and trailhead for gold-seekers, is haunted by the ghost of a young officer's wife, who broke her neck in 1885 after falling down a staircase.
Upon her death, the husband boarded up the staircase. However, visitors have said they've heard noises of a person walking up or down the staircase and falling.
Built in 1863 by millionaires Lemuel "Sandy" Bowers and his wife, Eilley, this historic building is said to be haunted by Bowers himself.
According to locals, after Mrs. Bowers' death, many people saw a green light floating around the grounds, along with shadows and the voices of spirits.
Today, the mansion is owned by Washoe County Parks and operates as a seasonal museum.
NEW HAMPSHIRE: Ocean-Born Mary House
Library of Congress
According to local lore, this home is haunted by a woman named Mary Wallace, a folklore figure more commonly known as "Ocean-Born Mary." Her spirit is said to protect the property, where her husband was murdered over a pirated treasure, per New Hampshire Magazine.
Today, the house is a private residence.
NEW JERSEY: Seabrook-Wilson House
This home is in port Monmouth.
Andrew F. Kazmierski/Shutterstock
Also known as the Spy House, this property dates back to 1650, when it was a popular drinking spot for both British and Colonial soldiers.
Now, some say the old tavern is home to as many as 22 different ghosts, from a "devil-worshiping sea captain" to a "blood-thirsty pirate" in the basement, according to the Best of NJ.
NEW MEXICO: Luna Mansion
Google Maps
Formerly a steakhouse, the Luna Mansion is said to be haunted by as many as four ghosts. The most famous is Josefita, who was once the lady of the opulent home, per local news outlet KOAT.
Patrons of the restaurant claimed to have seen an empty rocking chair move back and forth as Josefita appeared and watched them eat.
Today, the building operates as a historic event venue that hosts haunted house tours, according to its website.
NEW YORK: Amityville Horror House
Paul Hawthorne/Getty Images
In 1974, this expensive estate became the site of a horrific mass murder when 23-year-old Ronald J. DeFeo Jr. fatally shot his parents and four siblings.
One year later, George and Kathy Lutz moved into the home with their three children. After only 28 days, however, the Lutz family left, claiming that they had been terrorized by paranormal phenomena such as strange odors, slamming doors, and a voice that screamed: "Get out."
Their claims eventually became the subject of Jay Anson's best-selling book, "The Amityville Horror: A True Story."
NORTH CAROLINA: Biltmore Estate
Wirestock/Getty Images
Among the largest private homes in the US, the massive 8,000-acre Biltmore Estate is said to be haunted by Edith, the wife of its original owner, George Washington Vanderbilt II, of the wealthy Vanderbilt family.
Visitors have reported hearing her laughing and calling for her husband inside the property, per Explore Asheville.
Today, the historic mansion serves as a museum, an attraction, and a winery.
NORTH DAKOTA: Chateau De Mores
GummyBone/Getty Images
Originally built in 1883 as a summer home for Antoine de Vallombrosa, the Marquis de Mores, the 26-room, two-story home is now a museum. However, some people believe this historic building is haunted by a female spirit, the Minot Daily News reported.
Today, the house is a historic site open to the public.
OHIO: Ohio State Reformatory
ullstein bild Dtl./ullstein bild via Getty Images
Built in 1896, the Ohio State Reformatory was designed as a middle-tier prison for criminals too old for a juvenile detention facility but who had committed lesser offenses than those sent to the state penitentiary, according to the building's website.
The state began withdrawing funding from the facility in the 1960s, and by the 1980s, the building had severely deteriorated, leading to its closure in 1990.
In 1994, the film "The Shawshank Redemption" was filmed on the property.
Once filming wrapped, the Mansfield Reformatory Preservation Society, a nonprofit organization, purchased the property for $1 and opened its doors to the public for ghost tours. The home now attracts more than 120,000 visitors each year, and ticket sales help fund property restoration.
Visitors can tour the facilities during regular times or visit during the seasonal "Blood Prison" offerings, which include themed tours and escape rooms.
OKLAHOMA: Skirvin Hotel
Aerial view of the Skirvin Hilton, Oklahoma City.
Aaron Yoder/Getty Images/iStockphoto
While Oklahoma has its fair share of haunted homes, the Skirvin Hotel is one of its most famous.
Over the years, many of the hotel's guests, including several NBA players, have claimed to see a ghost named Effie, who is said to have died at the hotel, The New York Times reported.
Legend has it that Bush's youngest daughter, Eugenia, still haunts the home. Visitors have claimed they've heard female voices and described random cold spots when visiting the mansion, per the Oregonian.
PENNSYLVANIA: The Farnsworth House
George Sheldon/Shutterstock
This bed-and-breakfast is said to be haunted by the ghosts of Confederate soldiers, a nurse named Mary, several other women and children, and even some cats, as reported by Fox 43.
These days, the privately owned home is popular for its group dining experiences and ghost tours.
RHODE ISLAND: The Breakers
AlexandreFagundes/Getty Images
The Breakers in Newport is the second Vanderbilt property on this list. The estate, which served as a summer home for Cornelius Vanderbilt II in the late 19th century, is said to be haunted by his wife, Alice, per Visit Rhode Island.
Today, the historic mansion is a museum open to the public.
SOUTH CAROLINA: Magnolia Plantation and Gardens
Thomas J Crawford/Getty Images
Originally acquired by Stephen Fox in the early 17th century and passed down to his son-in-law Thomas Drayton, the Magnolia Plantation encompassed more than 1,700 acres of land cultivated by enslaved people prior to the Civil War.
The property still has four preserved slave cabins on its grounds.
Various reports of creepy voices, growls, and the sound of music have shrouded this Charleston plantation in mystery over the years, per CBS News.
Today, the plantation is a museum and is open to the public.
SOUTH DAKOTA: Bullock Hotel
GummyBone/Getty Images
Some believe this building is haunted by its original owner, Seth Bullock, per Legends of America.
Guests have reported feeling a "ghostly presence" on the second and third floors of the hotel, while others have said they've smelled a cigar burning, heard boots and ragtime music, or seen floating glasses.
TENNESSEE: Carnton Mansion
Carnton is a historic home and museum in Franklin, Williamson County.
Mariusz S. Jurgielewicz/Shutterstock
This plantation served as a field hospital on November 30, 1864, during one of the bloodiest battles of the Civil War. The site is said to be haunted by the ghosts of fallen Confederate soldiers, per a town website.
TEXAS: Menger Hotel
Gerald Zaffuts/Getty Images
The Menger Hotel, which opened its doors in 1859, is among the oldest hotels in San Antonio.
Its founder, William Menger, a brewer from Germany, began by opening a tavern, only to realize that those who came to drink there often needed a place to sleep afterward. That's when he and his wife, Mary Menger, launched a small inn next to the tavern.
Soon after, the place became successful and was revamped into a bar similar to the House of Lords Pub in London, according to local news outlet KSAT. It was frequented by famous figures, most notably Theodore Roosevelt.
Legend has it that this historic hotel is haunted by several spirits, from a murdered maid named Sallie White to famed riverboat captain Richard King, per Texas Monthly.
UTAH: McCune Mansion
todamo/Getty Images
The construction of this Victorian mansion began in 1898 and was completed in 1901.
In 1999, the McCarthey family purchased it and helped restore it to its original architectural style. Since then, many people have booked the place for private events such as weddings.
However, according to local reports, this popular wedding venue is said to be haunted by two spirits: a man believed to be Alfred McCune and a young girl, per Only In Utah.
VERMONT: Hartness House
Google Maps
James Hartness, a politician, inventor, and astronomer, built the Hartness House in the early 1900s. During that time, several underground tunnels were built on the estate to support the former owner's work and create private office space for him.
In the 2000s, the small hotel underwent renovation and reopened as a boutique inn.
Since then, many locals have reported several paranormal activities, suggesting that the underground tunnels are home to several ghosts, per NewEngland.com.
VIRGINIA: Ferry Plantation House
Bill Chizek/Getty Images
Built in the 1640s, this plantation is reportedly home to 11 spirits, including that of Henry, an enslaved man who was likely born on the plantation, per WHRO, Norfolk, Virginia's public radio.
Today, the historic house is owned by the City of Virginia Beach and run by The Friends of the Ferry Plantation House. The house offers a variety of paranormal tours.
WASHINGTON: Thornewood Castle
National Park Service
Local legends claim that this estate, located in the town of Lakewood, is haunted by the ghosts of several former residents.
Interestingly, in 2002, the castle was featured as a haunted mansion in Stephen King's miniseries, "Rose Red."
WEST VIRGINIA: West Virginia State Penitentiary
Library of Congress
This creepy site operated as a prison for the state of West Virginia from 1876 to 1995.
The Gothic-style building is said to be haunted by numerous spirits, and visitors have reported feeling their hair being pulled and hearing voices telling them to leave, local news station WTRF reported.
The building, owned by the state, operates today as a tourist facility, offering a variety of tours.
WISCONSIN: Brumder Mansion
Google Maps
This charming bed-and-breakfast is also a popular destination for ghost hunters and paranormal investigators.
The property is said to be home to at least three known spirits, and visitors have reported seeing shadowy figures and moving chairs, per Paranormal Milwaukee.
Today, the 1910 privately owned building serves as a bed-and-breakfast and event venue.
WYOMING: Occidental Hotel
Maisna/Getty Images
Over the years, this historic 1880 hotel has been home to gold miners and criminals, and it even served as a brothel.
The passengers aboard Villa Vie Odyssey now have to decide their next moves.
Suy Se / AFP via Getty Images
Joel Greiff, 57, was new to the Villa Vie Odyssey. He had boarded the residential cruise ship on October 1 and kept his belongings to a minimum.
Traveling light came in handy when all passengers were abruptly told to leave the ship on Tuesday in Sihanoukville, Cambodia, amid what management has described as an oil-price crisis.
"I unpacked in an hour and I packed back up in an hour," Greiff told Business Insider.
Villa Vie Residences, which operates the cruise, said it had to shut the ship down because of the spiking price of fuel amid the Iran War. On Wednesday, founder Mikael Petterson told Business Insider the prices were part of a "cascading effect" that brought the ship to a standstill.
"I'm the villain in the story, but I'm doing everything I can to support the residents on a solution," he said.
Greiff is among the many Odyssey passengers who have to figure out what to do next, now that their floating mobile home is suddenly no longer so mobile. In interviews with Business Insider in the days since residents were told to disembark, they shared reactions that range from heartbreak and despondence to gratitude for the good times on board — and a buoyant hopefulness that the ship will sail again.
Villa Vie Residences marketed the Odyssey as a "home at sea." It offered five-year residency packages starting at $59,999, permanent residency packages starting at $119,999, and a multi-cabin "Home Suite Home" option starting at $229,999.
Passengers were promised a lifestyle of continuous travel around the world, stopping at more than 400 ports in over 140 countries.
Jim and Chris Guld have no plans to head back to the US anytime soon.
Geeks on Tour
Jim and Chris Guldare no strangers to a life in motion. Theyspent 14 years living in an RV and traveling around the US before settling in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. They run Geeks on Tour, a small company that offers tech training for travelers.
When they sold their townhouse to move aboard theOdyssey in April 2025, they kept a small camper van with a friend near Gainesville.
"It was going to be our lifeboat in case, early on, the Odyssey didn't pan out," Jim Guld, 72, told Business Insider.
That "lifeboat" is still waiting in Florida. The couple is in Cambodia.
In a notice on its website, Villa Vie Residences said it was helping coordinate residents' disembarkation and temporary accommodation. But the Gulds said that was not how their departure unfolded.
"We found our own hotel," Guld said. The company provided a shuttle, but he said it dropped them at "a park in the middle of town."
At least the couple had a long-planned trip to Chiang Mai, Thailand, to look forward to. They expect to continue traveling afterward, visiting places that should have been next on the Odyssey's itinerary, such as South Asia and Africa.
"We don't plan on going back to the States anytime soon," he said.
One of the guestrooms in the Villa Vie Odyssey.
Villa Vie Residences
Claude Sadovsky paid about $100,000in December 2023for his cabin on the Odyssey. He told Business Insider he had left the ship about three weeks before the shutdown.
The retired doctor, 69, said he had started to feel the cruise was no longer delivering the round-the-world experience he had signed up for.
"It started out great," Sadovsky said. "Early on, I remember eating dinner with a group, and I looked at them and said, 'I really think this is worth twice what I'm paying.' As time went on, that feeling kind of dissipated," he said.
As more ports were dropped and the ship revisited places he had already seen, Sadovsky left in early October and returned to his apartment in Maui, Hawaii.
"I was amazed we made it as far as we did. And I was always prepared for it to end," he said. "I'm kind of surprised we made it two years, to be honest."
For now, he's happy to spend some time back home, though he said he'll consider returning if the cruise operators find a way forward, "especially if they could get it back anywhere close to when it first started."
"I really enjoyed that portion of it," he said.
Some residents told Business Insider they are looking into whether they can raise enough money to buy the ship.
Provided by Angela Nuran Gokturk
The news has left others trying to stitch their dream life back together.
That includes a group of residents trying to raise enough money to buy the ship, said a 68-year-old resident named Paul Montoya: "If there is any option for us to move ahead, we kind of think that would be the only way."
"It's a Hail Mary," he added. For now, he and his wife plan to head to Malaysia for some medical check-ups, and then to Singapore. After that, their plans are vague, but he said they'll stay in the region "with the hope that things could change with the ship."
Angela Nuran Gokturk said cruising on Villa Vie Odyssey felt like a dream come true.
Provided by Angela Nuran Gokturk.
"It breaks my heart to think that this may be over," said Angela Nuran Gokturk.
She said she, her husband, and other passengers "are willing to do whatever we can that makes financial sense, of course, because we want to make this continue."
"This was our retirement," she said. "This is what we wanted to do for the rest of our lives, and it really was a dream lifestyle."
'I would do it again'
Dwight and Sheila Greene of Fort Worth, Texas, weren't on the ship when it halted operations. They spent the past month traveling around Cambodia and Thailand on their own schedule.
Dwight and Sheila Greene say they enjoy hopping on and off the ship to travel in their own time.
All Over The World with Dwight and Sheila
The Greenes, who run a Facebook page called "All Over the World with Dwight and Sheila," said they hadmade a habit of hopping on and off the ship to spend more time in places they wanted to explore.
"We use it like an aircraft carrier," saidDwight, 64.
On Wednesday, the couple flew to Singapore, where they'll be boarding a different, preplanned, 11-day cruise on Friday.
Dwight said their Royal Princess cruise was due to end in Singapore on November 10, around the time when the Villa Vie Odyssey's original itinerary was expected to return to Singapore.
"I thought, 'Oh, this is perfect. They'll arrive, we'll arrive, and we'll just change ships,'" Greene said.
That still is the plan, he added. Most of their belongings are still in their cabin. The Odyssey's recent travails have left them undaunted.
Dwight and Sheila Greene say they are optimistic about the cruise ship's future.
All Over The World with Dwight and Sheila
"If you told me this was going to happen, I would do it again," Greene said. "I would spend the same money. I would do it again in a heartbeat, because that's how rewarding it has been for Sheila and myself."
As for Greiff, the Odyssey newcomer, he's staying in a hotel near the ship while helping other residents collect their belongings. His next step will be to take a train to Kampot, Cambodia. He's already found a place to rent there and expects to spend a few weeks settling in, checking on the status of his Cambodian visa and getting a local SIM card. Longer term, he's considering Chiang Mai, Thailand, as a potentialbase.
One thing is clear: He doesn't plan to return to Florida. He used to own a condo and a car there, but he's sold both.
"I can live in Asia for $2,000 a month and live very well," he said. "It would be very hard in the United States."
Italy’s third largest city has struggled for decades to overcome its association to the mafia and petty crime — now its finally reaping the rewards, writes Lydia Spencer-Elliott
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