Cruise ship suspends world voyage as fuel costs leave passengers in Cambodia

Villa Vie Residences has suspended the around-the-world voyage of its cruise ship, leaving passengers in Cambodia as fuel costs surge. The US-based operator says it is arranging disembarkation and temporary accommodation while it tries to restructure its finances.

The Villa Vie Odyssey stopped in the Cambodian port city of Sihanoukville more than 750 days into a journey that was expected to last three and a half years and visit nearly 150 countries. The company has not said how many passengers were on board; the ship can carry up to 650. The BBC reported that about 200 passengers were told to disembark.

The operator said the monthly fuel cost per cabin in parts of Asia had risen to as much as $8,000, from $1,800. It said it had slowed the itinerary and spent more time in port to reduce fuel use, but those steps could not offset the increase. Passing the full rise on to passengers was “not a realistic solution”, the company said.

It plans to spend the next 60 days on “restructuring and recapitalisation”, while warning that no outcome is assured.

Passenger Holly Hennessey told the BBC that residents were staying in different hotels and waiting for news. Some passengers had earlier left the ship to continue travelling on land after the itinerary was curtailed and residents were asked to consider a fuel surcharge, she said. Hennessey said she hoped the ship would sail again.

The voyage had already been delayed by repairs, [leaving passengers in Belfast for months](https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/crl80re72zlo) before the ship eventually departed in October 2024.