Residential cruise ship halts world voyage in Cambodia over fuel costs, leaving about 200 residents ashore

As of 9:24 a.m. ET, Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2026

A cruise ship marketed as a floating home on a years-long voyage around the world has stopped in Cambodia, and its residents have been told to move ashore because the operator says it can no longer afford the fuel.

Florida-based Villa Vie Residences said Tuesday that it had "suspended operations in Cambodia" while it pursues restructuring and recapitalization. The Villa Vie Odyssey carried 203 passengers of 15 nationalities, mostly Americans, and 156 crew members, The Associated Press reported. Passengers have been told to leave the ship. The crew's status was unclear, according to AP.

The fuel math

On a per-cabin basis, monthly fuel costs that historically averaged about $1,800 have recently reached an estimated $6,000 to $8,000 in parts of Asia, the company said. AP and the BBC tied the rise to the war with Iran.

"Since the conflict began in late February, we have taken significant steps to reduce fuel consumption, including slowing the itinerary and spending more time in port," the company said. "Those measures have not been enough to offset the extraordinary increase in fuel costs, and we have been unable to continue carrying the resulting operating losses. Passing the full increase on to residents is not a realistic solution."

The company said it would work toward restructuring over the next 60 days, but "no outcome is assured," and no financing or deal has been finalized. It said it is helping residents arrange disembarkation and temporary housing.

Eight hours' notice

Passengers Lanette Canen and Johan Bodin told the BBC the company's chief executive informed them at 6 a.m. Tuesday that they had to leave by 2 p.m. "We were heartbroken. It felt like our dream had been crushed," they said. Another passenger, Holly Hennessey, told the BBC that residents had earlier been asked to consider paying a fuel surcharge and that the itinerary had been "severely curtailed."

"It was not on my bingo card of places where I'd be spending a lot of time," said Hennessey, who is in Cambodia with her cat, Captain. She said she hopes the ship will sail again: "Cambodia's not the worst place to hang out."

The ship docked at Sihanoukville on Oct. 23 for what the port authority said would be a five-day visit before heading to Vietnam, AP reported. It was still in port Wednesday.

A troubled voyage

The Odyssey left Belfast in October 2024 after repair delays left passengers waiting there for months, the BBC reported. The voyage was billed as lasting about three and a half years and covering nearly 150 countries, and the ship was more than 750 days in when it stopped, according to the BBC. AP said the ship had a confirmed itinerary into November 2027.

Permanent cabin residencies sold for $120,000 to $440,000, and rentals started at $3,500 a month, the BBC reported. The company had planned a second residential ship for early 2029, but its statement did not mention it, AP said.