Fuel costs force US cruise ship to end voyage, stranding 200 passengers in Cambodia

Two hundred and three passengers on the Odyssey are leaving their cabins in Sihanoukville, Cambodia, after the U.S. cruise line halted its global voyage on October 23.

The ship, which set sail two years ago for a three-year residential trip to seven continents, docked for a planned five-day visit. It was scheduled to head to Vietnam but remained in port as of Wednesday. The operator, Villa Vie Residences, cited a sharp rise in fuel expenses as the reason for the suspension.

The company stated that monthly fuel costs per cabin, which historically averaged $1,800, recently reached an estimated $6,000 to $8,000 in parts of Asia during the war in Iran. Villa Vie Residences said it attempted to lower consumption by slowing the itinerary and increasing port stays, but these measures failed to offset the price surge.

“We have been unable to continue carrying the resulting operating losses,” the company said. “Passing the full increase on to residents is not a realistic solution. Our focus now is on supporting residents, crew, and employees” while it restructures.

The Odyssey carried 156 crew members and 203 passengers from 15 nationalities, mostly Americans. The vessel had a maximum capacity of 650 residents. While passengers have been instructed to disembark, the status of the crew remained unclear. The ship had a confirmed itinerary through November 2027, and the company had planned a second residential cruise ship for early 2029, though the suspension statement did not address that project.