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JiafengWu
Distressing Experience with a Memorial Ash Scattering
Vida Mia的点评
点评：I don’t write this review lightly. Our booking with Vida Mia was not a casual charter, but a memorial ash-scattering for my late mother, planned months in advance and coordinated around family traveling from across the country. I urge anyone reading this to consider the below experience carefully before entrusting this company with an irreplaceable occasion.
We made the booking with Vida Mia in September for a December 20, 2025 ash scattering and paid in full (over $6,000). Communication with the owner, Brynn, was smooth and responsive leading up to her taking payment. After full payment was received, that communication deteriorated significantly.
We were never connected to the musicians as promised, allergy details regarding the menu were not confirmed, and there was no outreach at all in the months, weeks, or days leading up to the memorial sail.
On December 12, eight days before the scheduled ceremony, I emailed the owner to confirm details. After receiving no response, I followed up again on December 15. Only then did she respond by email to state that Vida Mia was undergoing “necessary repair work” and might not be operational by December 20, with reference made to the United States Coast Guard needing to approve said repairs.
While I understand that USCG-certified vessels are subject to inspection requirements and approvals, that reality makes proactive, transparent communication even more critical. When a vessel is regulated at this level, operators should anticipate potential delays and communicate risks well in advance, particularly for memorials and other non-flexible events.
The owner proposed an alternate vessel and later inquired about other sail dates. I explained the significance of December 20, as it would have been my mother’s birthday, yet still remained accommodating and open to alternate arrangements given concerns about rain and USCG approval, despite there having been no prior indication that delays were even a possibility. However, once I approved the alternate vessel, that option—along with other suggested alternatives—also became uncertain and in flux.
Over the following days, promised updates repeatedly failed to materialize, timelines shifted, and basic questions remained unanswered. The owner did not answer calls, and her voicemail inbox was full. With less than 48 hours before the scheduled ceremony, there was still no confirmed vessel or executable alternative plan. After speaking with other vendors, it became apparent that the owner also did not have a clear or accurate understanding of weather projections.
At one point, she wrote, “I wish I had a magic wand in this situation,” which came across as defensive and tone-deaf. I wish I had a magic wand to bring my mother back. Given that this was a memorial and all of us were, and still are grieving, the lack of communication, transparency, and basic human decency was deeply distressing. No family should be left in limbo like this days before honoring their loved one.
I canceled the charter on December 18 due to the ongoing uncertainty and lack of communication. Had I not reached out when I did, I would have had no viable alternatives given the short timeline I was cornered into. The cancellation was acknowledged (the first time the owner called me and left a voicemail), and we were told a full refund would be processed within 5–7 business days.
That refund was not processed within the promised window. A follow-up email went unanswered. A week later, the owner wrote that USCG-required repairs and compliance issues had left her severely short-staffed and that this had also delayed refund processing, with a new projected refund window weeks later—demonstrating a serious lack of professional responsibility during a time that demanded care and accountability.
She also asked that we not initiate a chargeback or leave a negative review, stating that doing so would add significant strain as they worked to resume service. Unfortunately, due to the USCG, I was unable to observe those requests.
I looked more closely at customer feedback and found multiple similar accounts involving last-minute cancellations, radio silence, and significantly delayed refunds—several of which involved milestone events and ash scatterings. This suggests a pattern, not an isolated incident.
I am incredibly grateful to the alternate vendor we used, who communicated promptly, set realistic expectations, and executed the memorial smoothly and respectfully with less than two days’ notice. The difference in professionalism and care was night and day. They even suggested wrapping the ashes in ti leaf and orchids (my mother’s favorite flower) to make the ceremony more peaceful. At no point did Vida Mia offer any guidance or plan around ash scattering in windy conditions.
Based on this experience and the documented pattern reflected in other reviews, I strongly caution against considering this company, particularly for a memorial, large gathering, or other time-sensitive event. Reliability, integrity in practice, and timely refunds are not optional in moments like these, and they were grossly lacking here.
When we spread my mother’s ashes on December 20th, we witnessed a monk seal and a shark fin break the surface, both sacred and meaningful sightings in Hawaiian culture. Small sharks are often regarded as guardians and protectors of families. I take comfort knowing my mother’s spirit now resides in the waters off Waikiki—because she took no crap in life, and she sure won’t in death.
We made the booking with Vida Mia in September for a December 20, 2025 ash scattering and paid in full (over $6,000). Communication with the owner, Brynn, was smooth and responsive leading up to her taking payment. After full payment was received, that communication deteriorated significantly.
We were never connected to the musicians as promised, allergy details regarding the menu were not confirmed, and there was no outreach at all in the months, weeks, or days leading up to the memorial sail.
On December 12, eight days before the scheduled ceremony, I emailed the owner to confirm details. After receiving no response, I followed up again on December 15. Only then did she respond by email to state that Vida Mia was undergoing “necessary repair work” and might not be operational by December 20, with reference made to the United States Coast Guard needing to approve said repairs.
While I understand that USCG-certified vessels are subject to inspection requirements and approvals, that reality makes proactive, transparent communication even more critical. When a vessel is regulated at this level, operators should anticipate potential delays and communicate risks well in advance, particularly for memorials and other non-flexible events.
The owner proposed an alternate vessel and later inquired about other sail dates. I explained the significance of December 20, as it would have been my mother’s birthday, yet still remained accommodating and open to alternate arrangements given concerns about rain and USCG approval, despite there having been no prior indication that delays were even a possibility. However, once I approved the alternate vessel, that option—along with other suggested alternatives—also became uncertain and in flux.
Over the following days, promised updates repeatedly failed to materialize, timelines shifted, and basic questions remained unanswered. The owner did not answer calls, and her voicemail inbox was full. With less than 48 hours before the scheduled ceremony, there was still no confirmed vessel or executable alternative plan. After speaking with other vendors, it became apparent that the owner also did not have a clear or accurate understanding of weather projections.
At one point, she wrote, “I wish I had a magic wand in this situation,” which came across as defensive and tone-deaf. I wish I had a magic wand to bring my mother back. Given that this was a memorial and all of us were, and still are grieving, the lack of communication, transparency, and basic human decency was deeply distressing. No family should be left in limbo like this days before honoring their loved one.
I canceled the charter on December 18 due to the ongoing uncertainty and lack of communication. Had I not reached out when I did, I would have had no viable alternatives given the short timeline I was cornered into. The cancellation was acknowledged (the first time the owner called me and left a voicemail), and we were told a full refund would be processed within 5–7 business days.
That refund was not processed within the promised window. A follow-up email went unanswered. A week later, the owner wrote that USCG-required repairs and compliance issues had left her severely short-staffed and that this had also delayed refund processing, with a new projected refund window weeks later—demonstrating a serious lack of professional responsibility during a time that demanded care and accountability.
She also asked that we not initiate a chargeback or leave a negative review, stating that doing so would add significant strain as they worked to resume service. Unfortunately, due to the USCG, I was unable to observe those requests.
I looked more closely at customer feedback and found multiple similar accounts involving last-minute cancellations, radio silence, and significantly delayed refunds—several of which involved milestone events and ash scatterings. This suggests a pattern, not an isolated incident.
I am incredibly grateful to the alternate vendor we used, who communicated promptly, set realistic expectations, and executed the memorial smoothly and respectfully with less than two days’ notice. The difference in professionalism and care was night and day. They even suggested wrapping the ashes in ti leaf and orchids (my mother’s favorite flower) to make the ceremony more peaceful. At no point did Vida Mia offer any guidance or plan around ash scattering in windy conditions.
Based on this experience and the documented pattern reflected in other reviews, I strongly caution against considering this company, particularly for a memorial, large gathering, or other time-sensitive event. Reliability, integrity in practice, and timely refunds are not optional in moments like these, and they were grossly lacking here.
When we spread my mother’s ashes on December 20th, we witnessed a monk seal and a shark fin break the surface, both sacred and meaningful sightings in Hawaiian culture. Small sharks are often regarded as guardians and protectors of families. I take comfort knowing my mother’s spirit now resides in the waters off Waikiki—because she took no crap in life, and she sure won’t in death.
翻译：我并非轻率地写下这篇评论。我们与Vida Mia的预订并非普通的包船，而是为了纪念我已故的母亲而举办的骨灰撒放仪式，这项仪式提前数月筹划，并协调了来自全国各地的家人。我强烈建议所有看到这篇文章的人，在将如此珍贵的纪念活动委托给这家公司之前，务必仔细考虑以下经历。
我们于9月份预订了Vida Mia的2025年12月20日的骨灰撒放仪式，并支付了全款（超过6000美元）。在付款之前，与老板Brynn的沟通顺畅且及时。然而，在收到全款后，沟通状况急剧恶化。
我们始终未能如约联系到乐手，菜单上的过敏信息也未得到确认，在纪念航行前的几个月、几周甚至几天里，公司都未与我们联系。
12月12日，也就是仪式开始前八天，我给老板发邮件确认细节。由于未收到回复，我于12月15日再次跟进。直到那时，她才通过电子邮件回复，称“Vida Mia”号正在进行“必要的维修工作”，可能无法在12月20日前恢复运营，并提到需要美国海岸警卫队批准这些维修。
我理解获得美国海岸警卫队认证的船舶需要接受检查和审批，但正因如此，积极主动、透明的沟通才显得尤为重要。当船舶受到如此严格的监管时，运营方应预见潜在的延误，并提前沟通风险，尤其是在纪念活动和其他不可更改的活动中。
船东提出了另一艘船的方案，之后又询问了其他航行日期。我解释了12月20日的重要性，因为那天是我母亲的生日，但考虑到可能下雨和需要获得美国海岸警卫队批准，我仍然表示理解并愿意接受其他安排，尽管之前没有任何迹象表明会延误。然而，一旦我批准了另一艘船的方案，这个方案——以及其他建议的替代方案——也变得不确定且变数重重。接下来的几天里，承诺的更新一再落空，时间安排不断更改，基本问题也无人解答。船主不接电话，语音信箱也已爆满。距离预定仪式不到48小时，仍然没有确定船只，也没有可行的替代方案。与其他供应商沟通后，我们发现船主对天气预报也缺乏清晰准确的了解。
她一度写道：“我真希望自己有根魔法棒能解决这个问题。” 这句话听起来像是在辩解，而且完全不顾及他人感受。我真希望自己有根魔法棒能让我的母亲复活。考虑到这是一场追悼会，我们所有人都在悲痛之中，缺乏沟通、透明度和基本的人性关怀，这令人深感痛心。任何家庭都不应该在纪念亲人前夕被置于如此进退两难的境地。
由于持续的不确定性和沟通不畅，我于12月18日取消了包船。如果我没有及时联系对方，鉴于当时时间紧迫，我将别无选择。取消预订后，对方确认了（房东第一次打电话给我并留言），并告知将在 5-7 个工作日内全额退款。
然而，退款并未在承诺的时间内到账。后续邮件也石沉大海。一周后，房东来信称，由于美国海岸警卫队要求的维修和合规问题，她人手严重不足，这也导致退款处理延迟，新的退款时间预计在几周之后——这在需要认真负责的时期，严重缺乏职业操守。
她还要求我们不要发起拒付或留下差评，声称这样做会给他们恢复服务带来巨大压力。遗憾的是，由于美国海岸警卫队的安排，我无法遵守这些要求。
我仔细查看了客户反馈，发现许多类似的案例，包括最后一刻取消、杳无音信以及退款严重延迟——其中一些案例涉及重要的纪念活动和骨灰撒葬仪式。这表明这并非个例，而是一种普遍现象。
我非常感谢我们最终选择的替代供应商，他们沟通及时，设定了合理的预期，并在不到两天的时间内，以平和而庄重的方式完成了追悼会。他们的专业性和细致程度与Vida Mia公司相比简直天壤之别。他们甚至建议用蒂叶和兰花（我母亲最喜欢的花）包裹骨灰，让仪式更加宁静祥和。而Vida Mia公司从未就如何在大风天气下撒葬骨灰提供任何指导或方案。
基于这次经历以及其他评论中反映出的类似情况，我强烈建议大家不要选择这家公司，尤其是在需要举办追悼会或大型聚会的情况下。或其他有时效性的事件。在这样的时刻，可靠性、诚信和及时退款至关重要，而这些在这里都严重缺失。
12月20日，我们撒下母亲的骨灰时，亲眼目睹了一只僧海豹和一只鲨鱼鳍跃出水面，这在夏威夷文化中都是神圣而意义非凡的景象。小型鲨鱼通常被视为家庭的守护者和保护者。我知道母亲的灵魂如今安息在威基基附近的海域，这让我感到欣慰——因为她生前不屈不挠，死后也绝不会如此。
我们于9月份预订了Vida Mia的2025年12月20日的骨灰撒放仪式，并支付了全款（超过6000美元）。在付款之前，与老板Brynn的沟通顺畅且及时。然而，在收到全款后，沟通状况急剧恶化。
我们始终未能如约联系到乐手，菜单上的过敏信息也未得到确认，在纪念航行前的几个月、几周甚至几天里，公司都未与我们联系。
12月12日，也就是仪式开始前八天，我给老板发邮件确认细节。由于未收到回复，我于12月15日再次跟进。直到那时，她才通过电子邮件回复，称“Vida Mia”号正在进行“必要的维修工作”，可能无法在12月20日前恢复运营，并提到需要美国海岸警卫队批准这些维修。
我理解获得美国海岸警卫队认证的船舶需要接受检查和审批，但正因如此，积极主动、透明的沟通才显得尤为重要。当船舶受到如此严格的监管时，运营方应预见潜在的延误，并提前沟通风险，尤其是在纪念活动和其他不可更改的活动中。
船东提出了另一艘船的方案，之后又询问了其他航行日期。我解释了12月20日的重要性，因为那天是我母亲的生日，但考虑到可能下雨和需要获得美国海岸警卫队批准，我仍然表示理解并愿意接受其他安排，尽管之前没有任何迹象表明会延误。然而，一旦我批准了另一艘船的方案，这个方案——以及其他建议的替代方案——也变得不确定且变数重重。接下来的几天里，承诺的更新一再落空，时间安排不断更改，基本问题也无人解答。船主不接电话，语音信箱也已爆满。距离预定仪式不到48小时，仍然没有确定船只，也没有可行的替代方案。与其他供应商沟通后，我们发现船主对天气预报也缺乏清晰准确的了解。
她一度写道：“我真希望自己有根魔法棒能解决这个问题。” 这句话听起来像是在辩解，而且完全不顾及他人感受。我真希望自己有根魔法棒能让我的母亲复活。考虑到这是一场追悼会，我们所有人都在悲痛之中，缺乏沟通、透明度和基本的人性关怀，这令人深感痛心。任何家庭都不应该在纪念亲人前夕被置于如此进退两难的境地。
由于持续的不确定性和沟通不畅，我于12月18日取消了包船。如果我没有及时联系对方，鉴于当时时间紧迫，我将别无选择。取消预订后，对方确认了（房东第一次打电话给我并留言），并告知将在 5-7 个工作日内全额退款。
然而，退款并未在承诺的时间内到账。后续邮件也石沉大海。一周后，房东来信称，由于美国海岸警卫队要求的维修和合规问题，她人手严重不足，这也导致退款处理延迟，新的退款时间预计在几周之后——这在需要认真负责的时期，严重缺乏职业操守。
她还要求我们不要发起拒付或留下差评，声称这样做会给他们恢复服务带来巨大压力。遗憾的是，由于美国海岸警卫队的安排，我无法遵守这些要求。
我仔细查看了客户反馈，发现许多类似的案例，包括最后一刻取消、杳无音信以及退款严重延迟——其中一些案例涉及重要的纪念活动和骨灰撒葬仪式。这表明这并非个例，而是一种普遍现象。
我非常感谢我们最终选择的替代供应商，他们沟通及时，设定了合理的预期，并在不到两天的时间内，以平和而庄重的方式完成了追悼会。他们的专业性和细致程度与Vida Mia公司相比简直天壤之别。他们甚至建议用蒂叶和兰花（我母亲最喜欢的花）包裹骨灰，让仪式更加宁静祥和。而Vida Mia公司从未就如何在大风天气下撒葬骨灰提供任何指导或方案。
基于这次经历以及其他评论中反映出的类似情况，我强烈建议大家不要选择这家公司，尤其是在需要举办追悼会或大型聚会的情况下。或其他有时效性的事件。在这样的时刻，可靠性、诚信和及时退款至关重要，而这些在这里都严重缺失。
12月20日，我们撒下母亲的骨灰时，亲眼目睹了一只僧海豹和一只鲨鱼鳍跃出水面，这在夏威夷文化中都是神圣而意义非凡的景象。小型鲨鱼通常被视为家庭的守护者和保护者。我知道母亲的灵魂如今安息在威基基附近的海域，这让我感到欣慰——因为她生前不屈不挠，死后也绝不会如此。
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