Sat, 04 Oct 2025

Sat, 04 Oct 2025 Money paid but no ship: The around-the-world cruise that is yet to set sail

The BBC has been speaking to retirees who want the firm selling the cruise to stop advertising and refund their deposits.
1. Unpaid taxes: Tax filings indicate that VCL has more than $253,000 in unpaid taxes. 2. Shell companies: Company records show a web of shell businesses registered to the same address in Budapest, some now no longer trading. 3. Contract changes: The company admitted to changing contracts after customers signed up, and new terms would apply retroactively. 4. False promises: The article states that VCL promised passengers that they would be able to book a berth on a stated departure date, but this was not the case. 5. Misleading advertising: The company has been running ads on Facebook and Instagram that are allegedly misleading or deceptive, despite being reported repeatedly by alleged victims. 6. Threats of legal action: When passengers pushed for refunds or spoke out about their experiences, VCL threatened them with legal action. The article also reports on several investigations and court cases involving VCL, including: 1. Hungary case: A couple won a case in Hungary, overturning VCL's contract changes, but enforcement stalled when the company shifted its base to Italy. 2. US investigation: An investigation in the US state of Utah found that VCL's US representative had encouraged people to sign up for the cruise and that the company was not booking berths on stated departure dates. Despite these findings and allegations, VCL continues to advertise its cruise on Facebook and Instagram, leading some to accuse Meta, which owns both platforms, of allowing deceptive advertising. The article concludes by highlighting the impact on alleged victims, including Taryna and Dennis, who had their dream of a luxurious adventure turned into a "traumatising" experience. Key points:
* VCL has been accused of running a scam by thousands of people who signed up for its residential cruise.
* The company has been involved in several investigations and court cases, including one in Hungary where a couple won a case overturning contract changes.
* VCL has admitted to changing contracts after customers signed up, and new terms would apply retroactively.
* The company has threatened passengers with legal action when they pushed for refunds or spoke out about their experiences.
* Meta has allowed VCL to continue advertising on Facebook and Instagram despite allegations of deceptive advertising.
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