About 200 Cruise Passengers Left Stranded in Cambodia as Ship Halts Service
Roughly 200 passengers on a luxury residential cruise ship have been asked to disembark in Sihanoukville, Cambodia, after the operator suspended its voyages. The company blamed soaring fuel costs tied to the ongoing war involving Iran.
Villa Vie Residences, a US-based company, said the vessel, Villa Vie Odyssey, will be placed in a temporary layup in Sihanoukville. A skeleton crew will stay onboard to maintain the ship and its essential systems.
The company said it is helping passengers arrange their departure and temporary housing while it explores restructuring and recapitalisation options over the next 60 days. It stressed that no particular outcome is guaranteed.
Fuel costs behind the decision
According to the operator, monthly fuel costs per cabin had typically averaged around US$1,800. In some parts of Asia, that figure has climbed to as much as $8,000.
The company said it had tried to cut fuel use by slowing the ship’s route and spending more time in port, but those steps were not enough to offset the rise. “Passing the full increase on to residents is not a realistic solution,” it said.
Support for passengers
Founder Mikael Petterson has said the company is covering accommodation and transport for passengers. However, it has not provided funds to help them travel home from Cambodia.
The exact number of people on board when operations were suspended has not been officially confirmed, though the ship can carry up to 650 people.
About the ship
Villa Vie Odyssey left Belfast, Northern Ireland, in October 2024 on a planned round-the-world voyage lasting about three and a half years, with stops in nearly 150 countries. Unlike a conventional cruise liner, it offers residential cabins to people who buy or rent living space onboard.
According to the company’s website, permanent cabins cost between about $120,000 and $440,000, while rentals start at $3,500 a month.
For residents, the suspension leaves questions about where they will live and how they will continue their travel plans while the company works to secure its finances.