Fuel costs force Villa Vie Odyssey cruise to end in Cambodia, stranding hundreds

Villa Vie Residences suspended the around-the-world voyage of the MV Odyssey in Cambodia because of soaring fuel costs, forcing hundreds of passengers to leave the ship. The Florida-based operator said monthly fuel expenses per cabin had risen from a historical average of $1,800 to an estimated $6,000 to $8,000 in parts of Asia. The company cited the war in Iran and curbed traffic in the Strait of Hormuz as factors squeezing petroleum fuel supplies and sharply increasing prices.

The Odyssey had set sail two years earlier on a three-year journey marketed to the seven continents as a floating home for long-term living at sea. Suite prices for the lifetime of the vessel started around $230,000. The ship has a capacity of 650 passengers.

“Unfortunately, they were unable to secure the fuel necessary to continue operations.”

According to Cambodian officials, the ship was carrying 203 passengers, mostly Americans, and 156 crew members when it docked at Sihanoukville on the Gulf of Thailand. No certain departure date has been set.

Villa Vie Residences told travelers at 6 a.m. on Tuesday that they had to disembark by 2 p.m. that day. Residents Lanette Canen and John Bodin said they received notice around 6 a.m. on October 27, 2026, and were given eight hours to leave. The company said it was working with residents to coordinate disembarkation and identify temporary living arrangements.

Passengers said they received no support and had to make their own arrangements after the short notice. Some expressed hope that a new company could rescue the venture so life at sea could continue. Canen and Bodin, who have been on the Odyssey since it first set sail, said they knew leaving was a possibility but the eight-hour notice still surprised them.

A notice on the Villa Vie Residences website says the company is evaluating restructuring options over the next 60 days. CEO Kathy Villalba and executive chairman Mikael Petterson did not immediately respond to requests for comment.