Cruise ship halts voyage as fuel costs triple, stranding 203 passengers in Cambodia

The Odyssey stopped sailing this week because the cost of fuel became too high to sustain operations. The ship is docked in Sihanoukville, Cambodia, where 203 passengers were told to leave their cabins.

The company, Villa Vie Residences, said monthly fuel expenses per cabin jumped from an average of $1,800 to an estimated $6,000 to $8,000. This spike occurred during the war in Iran and affected routes in parts of Asia. The operator tried to cut costs by slowing the itinerary and staying in port longer, but those measures did not lower the bills enough.

The ship had been on a three-year voyage for two years before the halt. It launched from Florida with a plan to visit seven continents. The company described the service as a combination of long-term living at sea and global travel. The vessel has a capacity for 650 residents, though only 203 passengers and 156 crew members were on board.

Passengers from 15 nationalities, mostly Americans, are now on land in Cambodia. The ship was scheduled to visit Vietnam but remained in the port on Wednesday. The operator said it could not pass the full increase in costs to residents. A statement noted the company is now focused on supporting residents, crew, and employees while it restructures.

The Odyssey had a confirmed itinerary through November 2027. The company had planned to launch a second residential cruise ship in early 2029. The statement regarding the suspension of the current voyage did not mention whether that second ship would still enter service.