More than 200 residents of the Villa Vie Odyssey were told to leave the ship within hours while it was docked in Cambodia, after the operator halted operations because of rising fuel costs.
The vessel arrived in Sihanoukville on Oct. 23, intending to continue to Vietnam. But on Oct. 27, residents received a notice saying the company could not secure enough fuel to keep sailing. They were instructed to disembark by 2 p.m., roughly seven hours after the notice was posted. Those unable to take all their belongings could return by shuttle the following day.
The Odyssey had 203 passengers and 156 crew members aboard, according to local officials. Some residents were left scrambling for temporary accommodation, and one passenger told AFP that the company offered little help arranging somewhere to stay. Villa Vie said it was coordinating disembarkation and seeking temporary housing for those affected.
The ship had offered a continuous world voyage since 2024, with cabins available for purchase or rent. One resident, California-based Carol Larson, told AFP she had paid $120,000 for a cabin, not including monthly maintenance fees. Despite the sudden disruption, she said she felt the experience had been worthwhile.
Villa Vie said fuel expenses had climbed sharply: average historical costs were about $1,800 per cabin each month, compared with an estimated $6,000 to $8,000 in parts of Asia. Slowing the ship and spending more time in port had not made up for the increase.
The company plans to pursue restructuring and new financing over the next 60 days, but no deal has been finalized. Some residents had flown out of Cambodia by Oct. 28, while others remained in Sihanoukville. The ship’s future is uncertain, and the operator has acknowledged that its efforts to secure financing could fail.
Villa Vie’s statement on suspending operations | AFP report
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