Villa Vie Odyssey suspends world voyage in Cambodia, citing fuel costs; about 200 disembark

The Villa Vie Odyssey, a cruise ship that offers long-term residences on a world voyage, has suspended operations in Cambodia. Its operator, US-based Villa Vie Residences, announced the suspension on Tuesday. Passengers living aboard were told to leave the ship.

The ship is in the port city of Sihanoukville. About 200 passengers were aboard. NPR puts the figure at 203. The vessel can carry up to 650 passengers or residents.

The operator said fuel costs had risen and linked the increase to the Iran war. It said it had tried to cut fuel use by slowing the itinerary and spending more time in port, but this did not offset the higher costs. It said it was working on temporary accommodation for passengers.

The voyage began about two years ago. BBC News says the ship left Belfast in October 2024. It had been under way for more than 750 days when the suspension was announced.

According to NPR, passengers were of 15 nationalities, mostly American, and there were 156 crew members, whose status was unclear. NPR cited a Sihanoukville Autonomous Port statement saying the ship docked on 23 October for a five-day visit. It was due to sail to Vietnam but was still in port on Wednesday, NPR reported.

According to BBC News, the company said it would spend the next 60 days on restructuring and recapitalisation, with no outcome assured. BBC News reported that residencies cost $120,000 to $440,000. A local deputy governor said some passengers had left on flights while others were waiting in Sihanoukville, according to the South China Morning Post.

What is disputed

Reports differ on the planned voyage length. BBC News, citing the company's website, said 3.5 years and nearly 150 countries. NPR described a three-year voyage to seven continents. The company's figures for the monthly fuel cost per cabin in parts of Asia also vary: up to $8,000 from $1,800, according to BBC News, or an estimated $6,000 to $8,000, according to NPR. The reports reviewed by Vocemundi do not include independent verification of these figures.

What each side says

NPR quoted the company's statement as saying: "We have been unable to continue carrying the resulting operating losses." According to BBC News, it said: "Passing the full increase on to residents is not a realistic solution."

Passengers Lanette Canen and Johan Bodin told the BBC the chief executive informed them at 6am on Tuesday that they had to leave by 2pm. They said a potential investor came aboard but did not proceed. "Even then, we were still hoping a miracle investor would come through," they said.

Passenger Holly Hennessey told the BBC from Cambodia that passengers had earlier been asked to consider a fuel surcharge. "We're all in different hotels; there are a number of shipmates in the hotel that I'm in. We're just waiting."

The reports do not say whether residents will receive refunds, or who is paying for their accommodation.

Analysis

The suspension raises open questions for residents who paid large sums for long-term cabins, and for the 156 crew members whose status NPR described as unclear. The company's 60-day restructuring could lead to a resumed voyage, a sale, or a wind-down; the company itself says no outcome is assured. The case may also draw attention to how residential cruise models absorb volatile fuel costs. The company attributes its losses to fuel prices it links to the Iran war, but the reports reviewed by Vocemundi do not independently verify those figures or describe its wider finances.

Produced by the Vocemundi newsroom with AI assistance.