Residential cruise ship Villa Vie Odyssey halts its world voyage in Cambodia, citing fuel costs

The ship was carrying 203 passengers, mostly Americans, and 156 crew, according to Cambodian officials cited by AP. The Florida-based operator said it is helping residents leave the ship and find temporary housing, though one passenger wrote online that the company had not helped them find hotels, AP reported. A provincial official said the ship was expected to refuel and leave Cambodia on Saturday, but the operator has not confirmed a date.

The company said it will work on a restructuring and recapitalization over the next 60 days and that no financing or transaction has been finalized. The voyage began in Belfast in October 2024 and was originally planned to last about three and a half years.

Why it matters: Residents had bought cabins as long-term homes at sea, with lifetime suites starting at around $230,000, AP reported, and the company said it cannot pass the fuel increase on to them.