U.S. Cruise Ship Stranded in Cambodia as Fuel Costs Derail Three-Year Global Voyage
The MV Odyssey halts its multi-year world tour in Cambodia as surging fuel prices force hundreds of passengers to disembark. Read the latest updates.
POLICY WIRE — Sihanoukville, Cambodia — A U.S.-operated cruise ship designed to serve as a floating residence for a three-year global expedition has been forced to suspend its journey in Cambodia. The MV Odyssey, which marketed suites as permanent homes for as much as $230,000, is currently docked in the port of Sihanoukville with no confirmed timeline for departure.
The vessel, which began its journey two years ago, is currently carrying 203 passengers—the majority of whom are American—alongside 156 crew members. While the ship has a total capacity of 650 people, the current situation has left those on board facing an uncertain future as the Florida-based operator, Villa Vie Residences, struggles with the financial fallout of rising energy prices.
According to the operator, monthly fuel costs per cabin have skyrocketed from a historical average of $1,800 to between $6,000 and $8,000 in parts of Asia. The company attributed these surging expenses to the ongoing war in Iran, which has disrupted traffic in the Strait of Hormuz and tightened the supply of petroleum-based fuels across Southeast Asia.
Data from AAA highlights the severity of the price hike, noting that the average cost of a gallon of diesel rose from $3.76 on February 27, 2026, to $6.52 by late last month. Villa Vie Residences stated on Tuesday that it could no longer absorb these operating losses, noting that passing the full cost increase to residents was not a realistic solution.
The company indicated it is currently working to coordinate disembarkation and assist with temporary living arrangements. However, passenger Randy Cassingham claimed online that the company has provided no meaningful support, stating that they were dropped in the middle of town without hotel lists or assistance.
Long Dimanche, the deputy governor of Preah Sihanouk province, stated that the ship arrived last Friday and was expected to refuel before departing this Saturday. The vessel, originally built in 1993 and purchased by Villa Vie Residences in 2023, began its current voyage in October 2024 following a refit in Belfast, Northern Ireland.
Sihanoukville has previously served as a refuge for cruise ships in distress, most notably in February 2020 when the MS Westerdam was permitted to dock after being rejected by five other nations due to COVID-19 concerns. At that time, the Cambodian government allowed the ship to land for humanitarian reasons, facilitating the return of its 1,455 passengers.
Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)
