The US-based operator of the cruise ship Villa Vie Odyssey has suspended operations, citing extraordinarily high fuel costs, and passengers have been left stranded in Sihanoukville, Cambodia, according to BBC World. The suspension was announced on Tuesday.
According to BBC World, passengers were reportedly ordered to disembark in Sihanoukville. The report says around 200 people were on board, but it also says the number was unclear, so no confirmed passenger count has been published.
The operator said monthly fuel cost per cabin in parts of Asia has risen to as much as $8,000, up from $1,800, according to BBC World. That figure comes from the operator and has not been independently verified. The company said slowing the itinerary and spending more time in port were not enough to offset the increase.
The company said it would spend the next 60 days on restructuring and recapitalisation, but that no outcome is assured, according to BBC World. The ship left Belfast in October 2024 on a continuous voyage around the world. BBC World reports it was more than 750 days into its circumnavigation when the journey was suspended.
BBC World reports that global fuel prices have soared since the Iran war started earlier this year. It also notes that Sihanoukville has gained global notoriety in recent years as a hub for scam centres. According to BBC World’s report of the company’s website, permanent cabin residencies range from $120,000 to $440,000, and cabins are available for rent from $3,500 a month.
BBC World quotes one passenger, Holly Hennessey, but the wider passenger experience is not established. No response from Cambodian authorities, and no response from the operator beyond its written statement, is reported.
The key facts in this story rely on a single outlet, BBC World. NPR World and Japan Times were available only as headlines and short excerpts, so their details could not be fully checked.
The operator will spend 60 days on restructuring and recapitalisation, with no assured outcome. It is working with passengers on disembarkation plans and temporary living arrangements. Some passengers are waiting in Cambodia, hoping the ship sails again.
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This article was written with AI assistance from the published reporting listed above. It is part of the World Brief daily news podcast.