The around-the-world cruise that’s but to set sail

[ad_1] Suranjana Tewari Asia Enterprise Correspondent

<img sizes="(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/dcca/live/fa42b3a0-a018-11f0-b741-177e3e2c2fc7.jpg.webp 240w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/dcca/live/fa42b3a0-a018-11f0-b741-177e3e2c2fc7.jpg.webp 320w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/dcca/live/fa42b3a0-a018-11f0-b741-177e3e2c2fc7.jpg.webp 480w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/640/cpsprodpb/dcca/live/fa42b3a0-a018-11f0-b741-177e3e2c2fc7.jpg.webp 640w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/dcca/live/fa42b3a0-a018-11f0-b741-177e3e2c2fc7.jpg.webp 800w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/dcca/live/fa42b3a0-a018-11f0-b741-177e3e2c2fc7.jpg.webp 1024w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/dcca/live/fa42b3a0-a018-11f0-b741-177e3e2c2fc7.jpg.webp 1536w" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/dcca/live/fa42b3a0-a018-11f0-b741-177e3e2c2fc7.jpg.webp" loading="eager" alt="BBC Treated image of a cruise ship on a blue background imposed on a scene showing a tropical island with orange sky and sea " class="sc-5340b511-0 bGQwLJ"/> BBC "Throw your present way of life overboard!" boasts the advert for Victoria Cruises Line (VCL), which payments itself because the world's first inexpensive residential cruise.

Cabins usually go for US$3,840 (£2,858) a month for a three-year voyage to 115 nations, and travellers from everywhere in the world have the choice of doing the route for so long as they like.

For Australians Dennis and Taryna Wawn from Perth, excited by the prospect of a house at sea, the advert on Fb could not have come at a greater time as they deliberate their retirement.

Three years later, the ship has but to sail. Actually, they and different would-be cruise residents have discovered that VCL doesn't even personal or have a lease on the ship that's being marketed.

The Wawns are simply two of dozens of people that have been ready for VCL to refund their deposits, the BBC has discovered.

Different would-be residents advised the BBC they offered their properties, rehomed cats and put their belongings into storage. One girl mentioned she had put down her sick canine, believing she can be gone for years.

One other couple have now needed to transfer right into a retirement neighborhood due to their superior ages and failing well being. They might now not decide to a residential cruise which may or won't ever sail.

"The those that put down a deposit for this cruise have been offered a dream... and it has was nothing wanting a nightmare," mentioned Adam Glezer, who runs a client advocacy firm. "What VCL has finished is disgusting."

These affected have contacted the corporate, some have launched authorized instances and others have filed client complaints to authorities businesses. One even wrote to the FBI.

VCL advised the BBC that it nonetheless wants extra clients earlier than a vessel might be chartered and so is constant to promote the cruise.

The corporate mentioned clients knew concerning the occupancy situation when reserving, and the corporate denies concentrating on or harming anybody, including that it suggested some purchasers to not promote properties to pay deposits.

A lot of those that signed up have given up hope of the ship ever crusing, or of getting their a reimbursement.

'All above board'

<img sizes="(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/841d/live/9746f3b0-99e7-11f0-92db-77261a15b9d2.jpg.webp 240w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/841d/live/9746f3b0-99e7-11f0-92db-77261a15b9d2.jpg.webp 320w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/841d/live/9746f3b0-99e7-11f0-92db-77261a15b9d2.jpg.webp 480w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/640/cpsprodpb/841d/live/9746f3b0-99e7-11f0-92db-77261a15b9d2.jpg.webp 640w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/841d/live/9746f3b0-99e7-11f0-92db-77261a15b9d2.jpg.webp 800w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/841d/live/9746f3b0-99e7-11f0-92db-77261a15b9d2.jpg.webp 1024w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/841d/live/9746f3b0-99e7-11f0-92db-77261a15b9d2.jpg.webp 1536w" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/841d/live/9746f3b0-99e7-11f0-92db-77261a15b9d2.jpg.webp" loading="lazy" alt="Dennis and Taryna Wawn who signed up for the VCL retirement cruise. They are sitting in their living room, he is wearing an orange polo shirt, and she is wearing a white shirt. A painting of a beach scene hangs on the wall behind them." class="sc-5340b511-0 bGQwLJ"/> Dennis and Taryna Wawn from Perth, Australia mentioned the retirement cruise appeared like a dream

Taryna, 64, mentioned that in Could 2022, she and Dennis have been beginning to consider their future and what it might appear like once they got here throughout the residential cruise. The couple really feel they did their due diligence.

Taryna mentioned the corporate had a well-built and detailed web site, in addition they spoke to a person from the corporate "who answered all of the questions", and so they joined a Fb group made up of different cruise "residents".

"We did some checking, thought it was all above board," she mentioned.

Inside a month, they took the step of paying a deposit of US$10,000 (£7,450). Their financial institution switch has been considered by the BBC.

However weeks earlier than they have been attributable to set sail in Could 2023, VCL postponed the scheduled departure date.

In an electronic mail considered by the BBC, VCL mentioned the cruise hadn't reached a roughly 80% occupancy - one thing the corporate mentioned it wanted as a way to constitution a vessel.

When VCL postponed twice extra, the couple began to assume one thing was up.

Then a fellow would-be resident acquired in contact, saying: "I've dug a little bit bit additional. Get out."

'Our shared dream could be very a lot alive'

<img sizes="(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/cea3/live/86784940-9a95-11f0-88f7-0f8a7eda6f0c.png.webp 240w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/cea3/live/86784940-9a95-11f0-88f7-0f8a7eda6f0c.png.webp 320w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/cea3/live/86784940-9a95-11f0-88f7-0f8a7eda6f0c.png.webp 480w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/640/cpsprodpb/cea3/live/86784940-9a95-11f0-88f7-0f8a7eda6f0c.png.webp 640w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/cea3/live/86784940-9a95-11f0-88f7-0f8a7eda6f0c.png.webp 800w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/cea3/live/86784940-9a95-11f0-88f7-0f8a7eda6f0c.png.webp 1024w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/cea3/live/86784940-9a95-11f0-88f7-0f8a7eda6f0c.png.webp 1536w" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/cea3/live/86784940-9a95-11f0-88f7-0f8a7eda6f0c.png.webp" loading="lazy" alt="Screenshot of the website of Victoria Cruises Line advertising the cruise. It says "Change your life and travel around the world" and shows a couple standing on the deck of a ship.

" class="sc-5340b511-0 bGQwLJ"/> The web site of Victoria Cruises Line continues to be promoting the cruise though the ship has not but sailed

VCL's advertising promised a fully-fledged cruise liner that might home 1,350 visitors, with swimming pools, tennis courts and an Italian restaurant.

"We do have a fantastic, seaworthy ship, the previous Holland American Veendam, now the Majestic," VCL's US consultant wrote on the corporate's Fb web page.

However the BBC has discovered that on being contacted by some would-be residents, the agency that owns the ship denied any affiliation with VCL.

Though it has not but leased a ship, the corporate mentioned it has continued to promote the cruise and accumulate deposits as a way to attain the mandatory occupancy price.

"If we had signed the lease settlement in the beginning of 2024, we might have needed to pay roughly USD 18 million for nothing," VCL mentioned in an electronic mail to the BBC.

It additionally acknowledged that there had been 132 cancellations, and mentioned it investigated 38 complaints, however discovered none justified a refund.

VCL additionally denied there have been any "victims", and mentioned that 38 clients who requested for refunds can't settle for they weren't entitled to at least one.

The corporate added that the refunds have been withheld for administrative causes, lacking or incorrect financial institution particulars, failure to return termination administration agreements inside deadlines, and anti-money laundering checks.

VCL's cruise was final scheduled to depart on 26 July 2025, in line with its web site. However as soon as once more it did not set sail.

"Regardless of the delay, we have been inspired by a shocking inflow of latest curiosity in latest weeks - a powerful sign that our shared dream could be very a lot alive," VCL's web site reads.

'It acquired soiled'

Graham Whittaker, a former journalist based mostly in Australia, estimates that VCL has taken cash that goes into the thousands and thousands.

"It acquired soiled as a result of we began to seek out scores and scores extra individuals who had by no means been refunded, who had requested for his or her a reimbursement, who had been lied to," Whittaker mentioned.

When passengers pushed more durable - asking about refunds, and speaking to the media concerning the case - they have been threatened with authorized motion. The BBC has seen dozens of such emails.

"The threats and the harassments are getting critical for some," Whittaker mentioned.

VCL justified the specter of authorized motion in its electronic mail to the BBC.

"Sure, we are going to take authorized motion towards anybody who tries to settle their grievance on social media," it mentioned.

The paper path

Firm information reviewed by the BBC present an internet of shell companies registered to the identical deal with in Budapest, some now now not buying and selling.

The corporate can be registered in Florence, Italy, however as a specialised wholesaler of meals, drinks and tobacco.

In Hungary, Viktória Takács-Ollram is listed because the founder, whereas her 79-year-old mom is registered because the chief government.

One other firm is registered beneath the identical deal with to Viktória's son, Marcell Herold, who is called because the vice chairman of VCL on its web site.

In Hungary, VCL was registered in 2017 beneath a special title as an accounting and tax advising agency.

That modified to VCL in 2022, with "companies auxiliary to waterborne transport" and "rental of water transport tools" added.

In 2023 new actions have been added: "automotive rental", "lending of different equipment and tools".

As of 1 January 2025, its essential exercise is listed as "passenger transport by sea".

Tax filings point out greater than $253,000 in unpaid taxes.

Taking issues into their very own arms

A pair received a case in Hungary, overturning VCL's contract modifications, however enforcement stalled when VCL shifted its base to Italy.

VCL admitted to the BBC that it modified contracts after clients signed, and that new phrases would apply retroactively.

"When drafting a contract, legal professionals attempt to embrace every thing. However typically life occurs and the contract must be amended. That's what occurred on this case," VCL mentioned.

"These contracts work this manner for all delivery corporations."

<img sizes="(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/16fa/live/9023df40-9a95-11f0-88f7-0f8a7eda6f0c.jpg.webp 240w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/16fa/live/9023df40-9a95-11f0-88f7-0f8a7eda6f0c.jpg.webp 320w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/16fa/live/9023df40-9a95-11f0-88f7-0f8a7eda6f0c.jpg.webp 480w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/640/cpsprodpb/16fa/live/9023df40-9a95-11f0-88f7-0f8a7eda6f0c.jpg.webp 640w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/16fa/live/9023df40-9a95-11f0-88f7-0f8a7eda6f0c.jpg.webp 800w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/16fa/live/9023df40-9a95-11f0-88f7-0f8a7eda6f0c.jpg.webp 1024w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/16fa/live/9023df40-9a95-11f0-88f7-0f8a7eda6f0c.jpg.webp 1536w" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/16fa/live/9023df40-9a95-11f0-88f7-0f8a7eda6f0c.jpg.webp" loading="lazy" alt="Screen shot of the cruises deck plan on the VCL website " class="sc-5340b511-0 bGQwLJ"/> The Utah investigation discovered that VCL had not booked a departure port as marketed on its web site

One other couple filed a grievance within the US state of Utah, with the investigation discovering {that a} berth was not booked on a acknowledged departure date.

It additionally discovered that folks purporting to be employed employees on the web site didn't plan to be on the cruise, nor had they obtained presents of employment.

The investigation ruling mentioned that VCL's US consultant inspired individuals to enroll in the cruise.

The investigation discovered that she in truth believed the residential cruise was going to sail, however she agreed to signal a compliance order barring her from selling such journey companies sooner or later.

'Not a phantom firm'

Regardless of all of this, VCL continues to promote its cruise on Fb and Instagram.

Accounts on the platforms present shiny brochures of the ship's decks, menus and cabins.

<img sizes="(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/a132/live/9978a2b0-9a95-11f0-88f7-0f8a7eda6f0c.jpg.webp 240w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/a132/live/9978a2b0-9a95-11f0-88f7-0f8a7eda6f0c.jpg.webp 320w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/a132/live/9978a2b0-9a95-11f0-88f7-0f8a7eda6f0c.jpg.webp 480w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/640/cpsprodpb/a132/live/9978a2b0-9a95-11f0-88f7-0f8a7eda6f0c.jpg.webp 640w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/a132/live/9978a2b0-9a95-11f0-88f7-0f8a7eda6f0c.jpg.webp 800w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/a132/live/9978a2b0-9a95-11f0-88f7-0f8a7eda6f0c.jpg.webp 1024w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/a132/live/9978a2b0-9a95-11f0-88f7-0f8a7eda6f0c.jpg.webp 1536w" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/a132/live/9978a2b0-9a95-11f0-88f7-0f8a7eda6f0c.jpg.webp" loading="lazy" alt="Screenshot of VCL website saying Officer Crew and showing six videos of people underneath" class="sc-5340b511-0 bGQwLJ"/> Investigators contacted among the individuals presupposed to be crew, who mentioned they'd not obtained employment presents

New "residents" are proven posing on board - a lot of them are literally inventory photographs broadly accessible on the web.

To encourage prolonged stays, the cruise firm has been providing hefty reductions, flash gross sales and cashback schemes.

Alleged victims say they've reported the adverts repeatedly, however Meta – which owns Fb and Instagram - has declined to take them down.

"It's reprehensible that these platforms are permitting promoting for VCL regardless of the numerous quantity of proof. They need to be held accountable for this," mentioned client champion Adam Glezer.

In a press release, Meta advised the BBC that its promoting requirements strictly prohibit misleading or deceptive adverts, together with scams, however it discovered no proof that the web page violates its insurance policies.

VCL denied that it was operating a rip-off, saying these affected have been unable to just accept that they weren't entitled to a refund.

"Our firm has by no means disappeared, we have now responded to each electronic mail, so we're not a phantom firm."

Taryna mentioned the concept of the cruise is not too good to be true - some individuals who signed up for the VCL cruise have been at present travelling the world with different cruise liners.