Fuel Bill Triples to $8,000, Stranding 203 Odyssey Residents in Cambodia

Monthly fuel costs per cabin on the Odyssey reached an estimated $8,000, a sharp jump from the historical average of $1,800. This spike forced the Florida-based operator to suspend the vessel’s world tour in Cambodia. The ship had been at sea for two years of a planned three-year journey covering the seven continents. The company marketed the experience as a blend of long-term residential living and global travel.

The surge in expenses occurred in parts of Asia during the war in Iran. Villa Vie Residences attempted to lower consumption by slowing the itinerary and increasing time spent in port. These measures failed to offset the rising prices. The operator stated that it could not continue carrying the resulting operating losses. It also noted that passing the full cost increase to residents was not a realistic solution.

The company’s current focus is on supporting residents, crew, and employees while it attempts to restructure. The Odyssey docked at Sihanoukville Autonomous Port on Oct. 23 for a scheduled five-day visit. The vessel was originally slated to head to Vietnam but remained in the port as of Wednesday. Sihanoukville Autonomous Port confirmed the arrival in a statement issued last week.

The ship carried 203 passengers from 15 nationalities, mostly Americans. It also had 156 crew members aboard. The vessel had a total capacity for 650 residents. Passengers have been instructed to leave the ship. The status of the crew remains unclear. The confirmed itinerary for the Odyssey extended into November 2027.

The operator had planned for a second residential cruise ship to enter service in early 2029. The statement regarding the suspension of the Odyssey's voyage did not address the fate of that second vessel. The initial marketing for the Odyssey described the voyage as ending in 2030, though a corrected version of the information places the expected end date in 2027.