We show you our most important and recent visitors news details Luxury ship passengers stranded in Cambodia due to soaring fuel costs in the following article
Hind Al Soulia - Riyadh - BANGKOK — Passengers on a luxury ship on a years-long voyage around the world were unexpectedly stranded in Cambodia after the cruise company suspended operations, citing “extraordinary increases” in fuel costs.
Villa Vie Residences, the US-based operator of Villa Vie Odyssey, is now “working with residents to coordinate disembarkation and identify temporary living arrangements,” it said in a statement on Tuesday.
It is unclear how many were on board, but the nearly 200m (656ft) vessel can carry up to 650 passengers. It departed Belfast in October 2024 for a "continuous voyage around the world".
Many passengers sold their homes to live on Villa Vie Odyssey when it embarked on the perpetual cruise.
A note to residents aboard, posted by a passenger on his Residential Cruising blog, said:
“Unfortunately, we were unable to secure the fuel necessary to continue operations. As a result, the Odyssey will enter a temporary layup this afternoon, with crew remaining onboard to maintain the vessel and its essential systems."
Global fuel prices have soared since the Iran war started earlier this year. The ship's operator said the monthly fuel cost per cabin in parts of Asia has risen to as much as $8,000 (£6,000) from $1,800.
The company said it had taken "significant steps to reduce fuel consumption, including slowing the itinerary and spending more time in port". But those measures turned out to be insufficient to "offset the extraordinary increase in fuel costs".
"Passing the full increase on to residents is not a realistic solution," it said.
The company would spend the next 60 days on "restructuring and recapitalisation", though "no outcome is assured", it said.
The Villa Vie Odyssey's voyage was expected to span 3.5 years and cover nearly 150 countries, according to its website.
Its departure had faced delays as the ship underwent repairs, leaving passengers stranded in Belfast for months and costing the company millions of pounds.
The ship was more than 750 days into its circumnavigation before announcing its suspension of its journey on Tuesday, which means its passengers would now be stranded in Cambodia.
There were around 200 passengers on board when they were ordered to disembark in Cambodia, Bloomberg reported, citing the cruise operator's founder.
The Villa Vie Odyssey is equipped with several bars and restaurants, a pool deck and a pickleball court, according to its website.
Permanent residencies in its cabins range from $120,000 to $440,000. These cabins are also available for rent from $3,500 a month.
It is unclear what, if any, help passengers have received with accommodation, whether the cruise will continue, and whether there will be any refunds.
Last year, the company launched a lifetime residence program for people to spend their retirement years at sea.
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