Johan Bodin and Lanette Canen have committed to what is expected to be a 15-year journey aboard the Ville Vie Odyssey. This is a residential cruise ship operated by Villa Vie Residences and designed for long-term living rather than short trips.
People who buy a cabin on the ship are given the chance to travel widely, with the itinerary covering 425 destinations across 147 countries over a cycle of about three and a half years. This setup allows residents to keep moving while still having a fixed home base.
The couple, who had previously told WGN News in May 2025 that they truly enjoyed their new way of living, recently spoke to UNILAD about what life has been like since leaving Maui and moving out to sea.
The ship offers a wide range of dining options, including three restaurants, a buffet-style setup, multiple bars, lounges, and even a culinary center. With so many choices, it becomes easy to eat more than planned or try everything on offer.
“Portion control is probably the biggest [side effect]—it’s easy to overdo it when food is always available. But there are also a lot of healthy options,” Bodin and Canen admitted.
The couple explained that they paid around $130,000 upfront to secure their residential cabin. On top of that, they now spend about $4,000 each month to continue living onboard.
Although the amount may seem high at first, it has been reported that the $4,000 monthly cost is about half of what they used to spend when living a more traditional lifestyle on land.
“We no longer have things like car payments, insurance, gas, home maintenance, HOA fees, groceries, or even traditional vacations—it’s all kind of rolled into one lifestyle now.”
“A lot of people think we’re stuck on the ship or that you have to be rich to do this.”
“Others assume it’s crowded and chaotic like a typical cruise. In reality, it’s much quieter, more spacious, and feels more like a small community than a vacation cruise.”
“That said, we’ve made an effort to reconnect along the way—like flying back to surprise our granddaughter for her first birthday.”
Despite this, they said that anyone thinking about making a similar move should seriously consider going for it and not hold back.
“And if you’re not sure, try it first—but don’t wait too long. We’ve learned that time and experiences matter more than things.”
