Odyssey halts world cruise in Cambodia as fuel prices spike

The MV Odyssey, a cruise ship that marketed its cabins as permanent floating homes, has paused its multi-year global journey in Sihanoukville, Cambodia. The vessel arrived at the port on the Gulf of Thailand last Friday and remains docked without a confirmed departure date. This halt affects 203 passengers, mostly American, along with a crew of 156 people, according to local officials.

The ship began its current voyage in Belfast, Northern Ireland, in October 2024. The itinerary was originally designed to last three and a half years, with a second phase tentatively scheduled to end in August 2030. Villa Vie Residences, the Florida-based operator, purchased the vessel in 2023 after it spent 2020 sidelined. The company marketed the experience as a combination of long-term living and travel, with suite prices starting near $230,000.

Fuel costs are the primary driver of the suspension. Monthly expenses per cabin that historically averaged $1,800 have climbed to an estimated $6,000 to $8,000 in parts of Asia. The company stated that it attempted to lower consumption by slowing the itinerary and increasing port stays, but these measures did not offset the rising prices. Traffic restrictions in the Strait of Hormuz, following the war in Iran, have tightened petroleum supplies in Southeast Asia.

Diesel prices reflect this strain. The average cost per gallon was $3.76 on February 27, 2026, the day before the conflict began. By late last month, that price had risen to $6.52, an increase of $2.76. Villa Vie Residences said in a statement issued Tuesday that it could not continue absorbing the operating losses. The company noted that passing the full cost increase to residents was not realistic.

The operator is now focused on supporting residents, crew, and employees while it restructures. It stated that it is working with passengers to coordinate their exit and find temporary housing. However, Randy Cassingham, a blogger on the ship, reported that the company provided limited assistance. He said passengers were dropped off in the middle of Sihanoukville by shuttle buses without a list of hotels or financial help for lodging.

Long Dimanche, the deputy governor of Preah Sihanouk province, said the ship was initially scheduled to depart Wednesday. He now expects the vessel to refuel and leave Cambodia on Saturday. The ship's operator has not yet publicly confirmed that date. The vessel, built in 1993, has a capacity of 650 passengers but is currently carrying fewer than a third of that number.

Sihanoukville has previously served as a refuge for cruise ships in crisis. In February 2020, the MS Westerdam docked there after being rejected by five other ports due to COVID-19 fears. That vessel carried 1,455 passengers, including more than 600 Americans. At the time, Prime Minister Hun Sen allowed the ship to dock for humanitarian reasons after it had been stranded at sea for two weeks.