Cruise ship suspends global voyage in Cambodia over fuel prices, hundreds disembark
Hundreds of people permanently living aboard a touring cruise ship were forced to disembark in Cambodia this week after the vessel’s operator said fuel price increases from the Iran war had made operations prohibitively expensive. The Villa Vie Odyssey had been cruising the world for at least 755 days as one of only a handful of ships that offered passengers the opportunity to rent or buy…
A cruise ship offering long-term or permanent residences to passengers has suspended its global voyage in Cambodia due to soaring fuel prices, resulting in hundreds disembarking. Villa Vie Odyssey, which had been sailing for 755 days, was met with the decision by its operator, Villa Vie Residences. This unexpected move came as monthly fuel expenses for the ship's cabins skyrocketed from around US$1,800 to an estimated US$6,000 to US$8,000 in parts of Asia.
Villa Vie Residences stated that it couldn't pass on these "extraordinary" increases to residents without jeopardizing the financial sustainability of its operating model. The Odyssey, capable of accommodating 650 people, housed 203 passengers and 156 crew members at the time. Some passengers had already left for flights, while others awaited disembarkation in the port city of Sihanoukville.
The ship was expected to refuel before leaving Cambodia on Saturday. Social media posts revealed a mix of uncertainty and disappointment among residents, while others expressed gratitude for the additional time to explore Southeast Asia. The company's CEO, Kathy Villaba, announced the disembarkation via a message on Wednesday morning.
Villa Vie Residences acknowledged that efforts to reduce fuel consumption, such as slowing the itinerary and increasing port time, were insufficient to offset the surge in fuel costs. The company plans to restructure and seek financing over the next 60 days to address the financial strain.
Written by urgent.news from South China Morning Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
