Luxury cruise ship stranded in Cambodia suspends voyages

The operator of Villa Vie Residences has announced that it is suspending the global tour of the luxury residential cruise ship Villa Vie Odyssey due to escalating global fuel costs. As a result of this decision, approximately 200 passengers were left stranded at the port of Sihanoukville in Cambodia.

The world tour of the Villa Vie Odyssey, which features luxury residential cabins, has been halted due to rising fuel expenses. The US-based company Villa Vie Residences stated that global fuel prices have climbed since the outbreak of the war in Iran, with monthly fuel expenses per cabin soaring from $1,800 to as much as $8,000 in certain parts of Asia. Although the company attempted to cut costs by slowing down the route and staying longer in ports, it could not cover the mounting operational losses and announced that it will spend the next 60 days on restructuring and capital raising.

It was reported that there were approximately 200 to 203 passengers—mostly Americans—and 156 crew members on board at the time of the crisis. While passengers were given notices on Tuesday to disembark, the company maintained that it was assisting with accommodation plans. However, some passengers stated that they received only seven hours' notice and had to make their own arrangements without receiving any support. While some passengers hoped for the voyage to continue in the hope of investment, others criticized the ineptitude of the company management and demands for additional fees.