Fuel crisis strands 200 passengers aboard luxury cruise ship Odyssey
Around 200 passengers are stranded in Cambodia after the luxury cruise ship MV Odyssey suspended operations due to soaring fuel costs. The 200-metre vessel departed Belfast in October 2024 for a continuous voyage around the world. Passengers could buy or rent cabins, with some paying up to $120,000 and even selling possessions to fund life at sea.
The US-based operator, Villa Vie Residences, said rising fuel costs placed its business model under unsustainable financial pressure. Monthly fuel costs per cabin in parts of Asia reached $8,000, up from $1,800, which the company attributed to extraordinary increases following a war involving Iran. The ship is docked in Sihanoukville with no confirmed departure date. The company is working with passengers to arrange temporary accommodation and exploring options to secure its financial future.
