The cruise ship Villa Vie Odyssey, on which hundreds of people had purchased or rented cabins for long-term residence, has left Cambodia without any passengers. The American company Villa Vie Residences has suspended its voyages due to a sharp rise in fuel prices against the backdrop of the war with Iran. More than 200 residents of the ship were forced to disembark, and their future prospects remain uncertain.
- The cruise ship Villa Vie Odyssey left Cambodia without more than 200 passengers.
- People paid tens of thousands of dollars for a long-term stay on the ship.
- The airline has suspended its flights due to rising fuel prices against the backdrop of the war with Iran.
- Around 50 crew members remain on board; the ship’s onward route has not been confirmed.
The liner set sail without the people for whom it had been a home
On Wednesday, 4 November, a cruise ship Villa Vie Odyssey It set sail from the Cambodian port of Sihanoukville, leaving behind more than 200 people who had hoped to spend years, or even the rest of their lives, on board.
According to the head of the tourism department Sihanoukville Tainga Sochitkrishni, the ship set sail without any passengers. There were around 50 crew members on board.
Around a hundred former residents of the cruise ship remained in Cambodia. The rest had mostly flown to other countries in the region. On the eve of their departure, passengers were allowed to collect their remaining personal belongings, although not everyone was able to take their possessions with them.
For many, the Villa Vie Odyssey was not just an ordinary cruise ship, but a permanent home. The American company Villa Vie Residences offered its clients the opportunity to purchase or rent cabins on a long-term basis, combining life on board with continuous travel around the world.
The war with Iran has made the cruise financially unviable
At the end of October, the company announced that it was suspending operations, citing the sharp rise in the cost of marine fuel as the reason for its decision.
According to the operator, monthly fuel costs per cabin previously amounted to approximately $1,800, but in certain parts of Asia they have risen to between $6,000 and $8,000.
The company attributed the price rise to the consequences of the war with Iran and disruptions to energy supplies. Attempts to cut costs by reducing the vessel’s speed and extending its stays in port proved unsuccessful.
The operator stated that it could not pass on such a significant price increase to passengers. As a result, the ship’s passengers had to find accommodation on land at short notice.
Passengers do not know whether they will return to their cabins
Among those affected were some Americans Lynn і Paul Montoya. The couple sold their house and cars in Wyoming to buy a cabin for $179,000. In addition, they paid around $6,000 in monthly instalments. Their journey lasted 17 months before the company suspended its flights.
Another passenger, a 67-year-old Canadian woman Mary Ann Demsar She said that the ship’s owners have not explained whether the cruise programme will resume. According to her, residents receive most of their information from Cambodian officials rather than from the cruise operator.
Villa Vie Odyssey undertook round-the-world voyages as part of a long-term seaside living project. By the time the voyages were suspended, the programme had been running for over two years.
The vessel’s next destination has not been officially confirmed. According to passengers and maritime traffic tracking services, the liner may have been heading for Singapore.
