Fuel Costs Force Cruise Ship to Halt Three-Year Voyage in Cambodia
Villa Vie Residences cited a tripling of monthly fuel expenses in Asia, leaving 203 passengers on the MV Odyssey to find their own temporary housing.
By Layla Fontaine ·
Monthly fuel costs for the MV Odyssey surged to an estimated $6,000 to $8,000 per cabin, a figure that is three to four times the historical average of $1,800. This spike forced the U.S.-based cruise line to suspend a three-year around-the-world voyage in Sihanoukville, Cambodia, stranding 203 passengers who had purchased the ship's suites as permanent residences.
The vessel departed Belfast, Northern Ireland, in October 2024 after a refit. The operator, Villa Vie Residences, had marketed the journey as a blend of long-term living and global travel, with suite prices starting around $230,000. The original itinerary was designed to last three and a half years, with a second cruise tentatively planned to conclude in August 2030.
The current financial strain is linked to the war in Iran, which has restricted traffic through the Strait of Hormuz. These restrictions have tightened petroleum supply chains, particularly in Southeast Asia, and driven prices upward. Villa Vie Residences attempted to lower consumption by slowing the ship's speed and extending port stays, but these measures did not offset the increased expenses.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the company declared that it could no longer sustain the operating losses. "Passing the full increase on to residents is not a realistic solution," the statement read. The operator said it is now restructuring and working with passengers to coordinate disembarkation and identify temporary living arrangements.
Passenger accounts suggest the transition has been abrupt. Randy Cassingham, a blogger aboard the ship, reported that the company provided no list of hotels or financial assistance. He noted that shuttle buses dropped passengers in the middle of Sihanoukville without further guidance. The company has not yet responded to requests for comment regarding these specific complaints.
The ship arrived in Sihanoukville last Friday. Long Dimanche, the deputy governor of Preah Sihanouk province, stated that the vessel was originally scheduled to depart Wednesday. He now expects the ship to refuel and leave Cambodia on Saturday, though Villa Vie Residences has not publicly confirmed this timeline.
The MV Odyssey, built in 1993, was purchased by Villa Vie Residences in 2023. It currently carries 156 crew members and has a maximum capacity of 650 passengers. The vessel is not the first cruise ship to face a crisis in this port; the MS Westerdam docked there in February 2020 after being rejected by five other ports due to early pandemic fears.
