Cruise ship halts voyage in Cambodia

Villa Vie Residences suspended the voyage of its Odyssey cruise ship on Tuesday, stranding 203 passengers and 156 crew members in Sihanoukville, Cambodia. The company, which is headquartered in Florida, cited soaring fuel expenses as the reason for stopping the trip after two years at sea.

The ship originally departed Belfast, Northern Ireland, in October 2024, with the intention of completing a three-and-a-half-year journey around the globe. For many passengers, the vessel was not just a vacation but a permanent residence. The company had promoted the "Endless Horizons" program as a fixed-cost alternative to traditional retirement, selling lifetime cabin access for $299,999 for single occupancy and $499,999 for double occupancy.

Fuel costs became the primary financial burden in recent months. The company stated that monthly fuel expenses per cabin rose from approximately $1,800 to as much as $8,000 in parts of Asia. In a statement, Villa Vie Residences said it was "unable to continue carrying the resulting operating losses." The company added that passing the full increase on to residents was not realistic.

Passengers received only seven hours' notice to leave the vessel on Tuesday. Although the company claimed it was helping residents find temporary accommodations, many travelers reported they had to make their own arrangements. Most of the 203 passengers were Americans. The company said it was focusing on supporting residents, crew, and employees while coordinating disembarkation.

Lynn Montoya, a retired woman from Wyoming who boarded the ship 17 months ago with her husband Paul, said the couple had repeatedly been asked to contribute more money for fuel. "We were tired of every two to four weeks being asked for money for fuel, money for everything," Montoya told The Associated Press. She described the sinking of their hopes as the company struggled financially.

Carol Larson, 69, a California resident who paid $120,000 for her cabin, said she had spent 18 months aboard the ship. She expressed hope that residents might buy the ship to keep the cruise going. Larson told the AP that she had no regrets about her investment, noting that she viewed it as a risk taken with a startup company. "I still feel that way," she said regarding her decision to board.

The company has not announced a final date for the ship's return to service. Passengers and crew are currently in Sihanoukville, waiting for temporary living arrangements to be finalized. Villa Vie Residences told Fox News Digital it is working to identify these arrangements for those who were aboard the vessel.