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California sisters among the stranded in Cambodia after cruise halts operations
Los Angeles Times • • business
Key Points:
- Two California sisters are among 203 passengers stranded in Cambodia after a Florida-based cruise company abruptly suspended its long-term residential cruise due to skyrocketing fuel costs.
- The Villa Vie Residences ship, promoting a “new model of global living at sea,” halted operations citing unsustainable financial pressure from fuel costs rising from $1,800 to $8,000 per cabin monthly in Asia.
- Passengers, many of whom planned to live aboard for up to 15 years, reported receiving little support following the sudden suspension, with some forced to disembark without arranged accommodations.
- Diesel prices in the U.S. have surged from $3.68 to $6.32 per gallon in a year, exacerbating the company’s financial strain, which it partly attributes to geopolitical tensions affecting petroleum shipping.
- Some passengers expressed disappointment but also gratitude for the experience, while others criticized the company for poor communication and lack of assistance during the crisis.
