U.S. cruise ship suspends 3-year around-the-world voyage in Cambodia due to fuel costs

Key Points:

• The MV Odyssey, a U.S. cruise ship on a three-year around-the-world voyage marketed as floating homes, has suspended its journey in Sihanoukville, Cambodia, due to soaring fuel costs, forcing hundreds of passengers to disembark.
• Operated by Florida-based Villa Vie Residences, the ship's monthly fuel expenses per cabin have surged from $1,800 to an estimated $6,000-$8,000 in parts of Asia, driven by fuel supply constraints linked to the war in Iran and disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz.
• The Odyssey, carrying 203 passengers and 156 crew members with a capacity of 650, arrived in Sihanoukville last Friday and remains docked with no confirmed departure date, as the operator seeks to restructure and support residents and crew amid operating losses.
• Passengers have reported inadequate assistance from the operator in arranging accommodations or transportation after disembarkation, highlighting dissatisfaction with the company's response to the crisis.
• The Odyssey began its current voyage in October 2024 from Belfast and was intended to last 3.5 years, with a second cruise planned through 2030; this is not the first time Sihanoukville has served as a port of refuge during maritime crises, having previously hosted the MS Westerdam in 2020 during the early COVID-19 pandemic.