Fuel costs force US cruise ship to suspend multiyear voyage in Cambodia

What the report says

A Florida-based cruise company has suspended a long-duration, around-the-world voyage after fuel costs rose sharply, leaving hundreds of passengers in Cambodia without a confirmed departure date. According to Al Jazeera, the MV Odyssey arrived at the Cambodian port of Sihanoukville last Friday and then halted operations because its fuel bills had become too expensive to sustain. The ship is operated by Villa Vie Residences, which said the monthly fuel cost per cabin had increased from a historical average of about $1,800 to an estimated $6,000 to $8,000 in parts of Asia.

The company said it tried to lower expenses by slowing the vessel and spending more time in port, but that these steps did not offset the losses. It also said passing the full increase on to residents was not a workable fix. Cambodian officials said the ship carried 203 passengers, mostly Americans, and 156 crew members. Some passengers said they were given only a few hours’ notice to disembark and had to find their own accommodation.

The voyage began in Belfast in October 2024 and was intended to last three and a half years. Al Jazeera reported that the ship was marketed as a residential cruising experiment, with cabins sold for long-term living. The suspension highlights how fuel prices and operational costs can affect niche cruise ventures, especially on extended itineraries in regions where fuel has become more expensive.