Two hundred 'cruise for life' passengers stranded in Cambodia

More than 200 passengers find themselves stranded in Cambodia after the company running their cruise ship suspends operations due to soaring fuel costs, according to an official statement released on October 28. Villa Vie Residences, a US-based operator, announced the suspension of its Cambodia operations on Tuesday, citing the unprecedented surge in fuel prices that has skyrocketed from an average of $1,800 to an estimated $6,000 to $8,000 per cabin per month in parts of Asia.

Around 200 guests and 156 crew members were aboard the Odyssey cruise ship when it departed from Northern Ireland in October 2024 for a continuous voyage where residents could purchase or rent rooms for either a holiday or a life-long stay. However, passengers were given only seven hours to pack and leave during a scheduled stop in Sihanoukville, the Cambodian port city.

Long Dimanche, the deputy governor of Preah Sihanouk province, confirmed that the 203 guests and 156 crew members had arrived on October 23, with the plan to continue to Vietnam. The abrupt disembarkation left many retirees and remote workers without homes, thousands of miles away from their home countries. Some passengers managed to fly out, while others remained in Sihanoukville.

Randy Cassingham, a passenger and blog author, revealed that the company's problems began with a four-month delay in launching the ship in Belfast, and it never reached its full capacity of 650 residents, peaking at around 350. The company faced financial strain as it could not pass on the fuel cost increases to residents without incurring a significant loss.

Villa Vie Residences acknowledged the disruptive situation and is working with affected passengers, crew, and employees to identify temporary living arrangements.