MV Odyssey halts global voyage in Cambodia after fuel costs surge

Around-the-world cruise ship MV Odyssey has paused its voyage in Cambodia. The vessel is docked in Sihanoukville on the Gulf of Thailand with no confirmed departure date. The suspension forces 203 passengers, mostly American residents, to leave the ship while operators address rising expenses.

The Florida-based operator, Villa Vie Residences, cited fuel costs as the primary reason for the halt. Monthly fuel expenses per cabin, which historically averaged $1,800, have jumped to an estimated $6,000 to $8,000 in parts of Asia. The company attributed the spike to the war in Iran, which has curbed traffic through the Strait of Hormuz and squeezed petroleum supplies in Southeast Asia.

Villa Vie Residences stated that it attempted to lower costs by slowing the itinerary and spending more time in port. These measures failed to offset the price increases. In a statement issued Tuesday, the company said it could not continue absorbing the operating losses. The operator noted that passing the full increase onto residents was not realistic.

The company is now working to restructure its business. It is coordinating with residents to arrange temporary living situations as they disembark. The ship arrived in Sihanoukville last Friday and was originally scheduled to depart Wednesday. Local officials now expect the vessel to refuel and leave on Saturday, though the operator has not publicly confirmed that timeline.

Passengers reported receiving seven hours' notice to leave on Tuesday. Many said they lacked support from the company during the transition. Paul Montoya, a retired resident from Wyoming, said the shipowner lacked the expertise to keep the business sustainable. He noted that the company had struggled before the fuel crisis, citing itinerary changes and unreliable internet that led to earlier departures.

Lynn Montoya, Paul's wife, said residents were frequently asked to contribute additional funds for fuel and other expenses. She described a recent call for funds to help the ship exit Cambodia. She stated that crew members had also gone unpaid during the recent period of financial strain.

The Odyssey launched its current voyage in Belfast, Northern Ireland, in October 2024. The journey was designed to last three and a half years, with a second cruise tentatively planned to end in August 2030. The ship, built in 1993, was purchased by Villa Vie Residences in 2023 after sitting idle during the pandemic.

Carol Larson, 69, and her sister Crystal Lavering, 72, lived aboard for 18 months. They expressed hope that a new group of investors might buy the ship to continue the residential model. Larson, who purchased her cabin for $120,000, blamed the Iran war and poor management for the current state but said she did not regret the investment. The ship previously hosted the MS Westerdam in February 2020 when it sought refuge in Cambodia during the early stages of the coronavirus pandemic.