Cruise Ship Halts in Cambodia: Fuel Costs Force End of Global Voyage
MV Odyssey docks at Sihanoukville with 203 passengers, citing a threefold jump in fuel expenses linked to the Iran conflict.
By Matthew Qureshi ·
Two hundred and three passengers, primarily U.S. citizens, were forced to leave the MV Odyssey in Cambodia on Tuesday. The ship, which had been operating as a floating residence for nearly two years, stopped its around-the-world itinerary due to rising fuel costs. The vessel is currently docked at the port of Sihanoukville on the Gulf of Thailand.
The operator, Villa Vie Residences, stated that monthly fuel expenses per cabin have surged from a historical average of $1,800 to an estimated $6,000 to $8,000 in parts of Asia. The company attributed this increase to the war in Iran, which has curtailed traffic in the Strait of Hormuz and squeezed petroleum supplies in Southeast Asia. Villa Vie Residences said it attempted to offset these costs by slowing the itinerary and extending port stops, but the measures were insufficient.
Villa Vie Residences issued a statement on Tuesday explaining that the company could no longer continue carrying the operating losses. The operator noted that passing the full cost increase to residents was not a realistic solution. The company said its focus is now on supporting residents, crew, and employees while it works to restructure. It added that it is coordinating with residents to arrange disembarkation and identify temporary living situations.
Passenger experiences regarding the disembarkation process have varied. Randy Cassingham, a blogger who traveled on the ship, wrote online that the company provided limited assistance. He stated that shuttle buses dropped passengers in the middle of town in Sihanoukville without providing a list of hotels or payment help. Cassingham noted that the company could not immediately be contacted for comment regarding his account.
The MV Odyssey set sail in October 2024 from Belfast, Northern Ireland, where it underwent refitting. The voyage was originally planned to last three and a half years, with a second cruise tentatively scheduled to end in August 2030. The ship, built in 1993, was purchased by Villa Vie Residences in 2023. It was marketed as a permanent home at sea, with suite prices starting around $230,000 for the lifetime of the vessel.
According to Cambodian officials, the ship carries 203 passengers and 156 crew members. It has a total capacity of 650 passengers. Long Dimanche, the deputy governor of Preah Sihanouk province, said the ship arrived last Friday and was originally scheduled to depart on Wednesday. He reported that the vessel is now expected to refuel and leave Cambodia on Saturday, though the operator has not yet publicly confirmed that date.
The MV Odyssey is not the first cruise ship to find refuge in Sihanoukville during a crisis. In February 2020, the MS Westerdam docked in the port after being turned away at five other locations due to fears of the emerging coronavirus outbreak. That vessel carried 1,455 passengers, more than 600 of whom were American citizens. Cambodia's then-Prime Minister Hun Sen allowed the ship to dock for humanitarian reasons, facilitating the return of passengers to their home countries.
