“Abandon your everyday routine!” boasts this promotion from VCL, promoting itself as a pioneering affordable residential cruise.
Rooms typically go for nearly $4,000 a month during a 36-month trip to 115 countries, and customers worldwide may taking the cruise for as long as they like.
For Australians, the pair from Perth, drawn to life aboard a ship, the advert on Facebook was ideally timed during their retirement planning.
Now, years on, the vessel remains undeparted. Indeed, the couple and other prospective passengers discovered that the company lacks ownership of or have a lease on the ship that is being advertised.
This couple represent numerous others hoping for VCL to refund their deposits.
Prospective passengers told reporters they got rid of their houses, relocated their animals placing items in storage. A female customer mentioned euthanizing her ill pet, assuming a lengthy absence.
A different pair ended up moving into a retirement community as a result of aging and failing health. They couldn’t undertake on the voyage that might or might not ever sail.
“The people that put down a deposit were promised an ideal... transforming into a terrible situation,” said a consumer advocate, heading a consumer rights firm. “This company’s behavior is reprehensible.”
Impacted individuals have contacted the company, a few initiated court actions and others have filed consumer complaints with authorities. Including an appeal to federal investigators.
Officials explained that it still needs more customers prior to leasing a boat hence ongoing promotions the cruise.
VCL claimed customers knew about the occupancy condition during registration, with denials of targeting or harming anyone, stating they counseled to avoid liquidating assets to pay deposits.
Many of those who signed up have lost faith that the voyage will occur, or of getting their money back.
‘Completely Transparent’
Taryna, 64, said that in May 2022, she and her husband began considering about their future and future possibilities when they came across the voyage concept. The pair thought they did their due diligence.
The woman explained there was a professional-looking site, they also spoke to a man from the company “responding to every query”, and became part of an online community of other interested parties.
“We did some checking, thought it was all above board,” she said.
Within a month, they proceeded with a deposit around $10,000. Their bank transfer was documented.
Just before the planned launch date, the company delayed the voyage.
Through documented communication, VCL said the cruise hadn’t reached a roughly 80% occupancy - a condition they required in order to charter a vessel.
With further postponements, the pair grew suspicious.
Then a fellow would-be resident got in touch, advising: “After more research, exit now.”
‘Our Shared Dream Is Very Much Alive’
VCL’s marketing promised an equipped ship accommodating over a thousand passengers, featuring pools, sports facilities and dining.
“We possess a stunning, ready ship, the former Holland American Veendam, now the Majestic,” a representative stated online.
But investigators learned that on being contacted by some would-be residents, the firm that owns the ship denied any association with VCL.
Although it has not yet leased a ship, VCL continues promoting and accepting customer funds to achieve the required passenger numbers.
“If we had signed the lease agreement at the beginning of 2024, we’d be liable for around $18 million without cause,” VCL said in an email.
The company recognized there had been 132 cancellations, and reviewed several grievances, but none warranted repayment.
VCL also denied there were any “victims”, explaining that several individuals requesting repayments cannot accept they were not entitled to one.
The company added that the refunds were withheld for administrative reasons, wrong account details, unreturned termination forms, and compliance reviews.
The latest scheduled voyage for July 26, 2025, according to its website. But once again it failed to set sail.
“Even with postponement, we’re optimistic by a surprising influx of new interest in recent weeks - a strong signal that the collective vision persists,” states the company’s site.
‘It Got Dirty’
Graham Whittaker, previously a reporter estimates that the company has collected funds totaling millions.
“It got dirty because we started to find numerous additional individuals who never received repayments, who had asked for their money back, who were deceived,” Whittaker said.
As customers insisted more - asking about refunds, and involving the press - the company threatened lawsuits. Numerous threats were documented.
“The threats and the harassments are getting serious for some,” Whittaker said.
VCL explained the lawsuit warnings in its email to journalists.
“Yes, we will take legal action targeting individuals discussing grievances on social media,” it said.
Documentary Evidence
Company records reviewed by investigators show a web of shell businesses using a single Hungarian address, with some no longer operating.
VCL is additionally listed in Florence, but as a specialised wholesaler of food, beverages and tobacco.
In Hungary, Viktória Takács-Ollram appears as the creator, and her mother is listed as CEO.
An additional business is recorded at the identical location {to Viktória’s son, Marcell Herold,|under Marcell
