Arya News - The US company Villa Vie Residences stated that soaring fuel costs caused by the US-Iran war forced the decision to suspend operations.
PHNOM PENH – Around 200 residents of a Nassau-flagged residential cruise liner have found themselves high and dry in Sihanoukville after the owners of the Villa Vie Odyssey declared that it was suspending operations. The US company Villa Vie Residences stated that soaring fuel costs caused by the US-Iran war forced the decision.
“Since the conflict began in late February, we have taken significant steps to reduce fuel consumption, including slowing the itinerary and spending more time in port. Those measures have not been enough to offset the extraordinary increase in fuel costs, and we have been unable to continue carrying the resulting operating losses,” it announced, in an October 27 press release.
“Passing the full increase on to residents is not a realistic solution. Our focus now is on supporting residents, crew, and employees while we work toward restructuring and recapitalisation over the next 60 days. That work is ongoing, and no outcome is assured,” it added.
The company noted that it was arranging temporary accommodation for residents of the Villa Vie Odyssey, which arrived in Sihanoukville from Thailand on October 23.
The ship carried 203 passengers and 156 crew members, according to Preah Sihanouk provincial deputy governor Long Dimanche.
The passengers had expected to continue their journey to Vietnam but were instead instructed to disembark, ending their nautical dreams of travelling the world while living aboard the vessel.
Dimanche noted that some passengers had already left Cambodia by air, while others remained in Sihanoukville, seeking alternative travel arrangements.
The Villa Vie Odyssey had been sailing the globe for around two years, since departing Belfast, Northern Ireland, in October 2024.
Villa Vie Residences noted that its monthly fuel expenses, which had historically averaged about $1,800 per cabin, had recently surged to an estimated $6,000 to $8,000 in some parts of Asia. The increase followed the conflict in the Middle East, which began in late February, and significantly raised the cost of operating the vessel.
The Ministry of Tourism and Preah Sihanouk provincial authorities said they were standing by to provide any possible assistance, although the issue is between the company and passengers.
In February 2020, Cambodia attracted global attention when it welcomed the MS Westerdam and its more than 2000 passengers and crew, after it was refused by several country at the peak of the Covid-19 pandemic. At the time, the gesture earned the Kingdom the sobriquet “The small country with a big heart”.
The Villa Vie Odyssey is an entirely different case.
According to Dimanche, the company announced a halt to operations just seven hours before passengers were forced to depart the vessel.
Many passengers said that they had sold houses and cars in the US to join what was marketed as a “never-ending residential cruise”.
“Being suddenly ordered to disembark like this has left many retirees and remote workers homeless, thousands of kilometres away from their home countries,” Dimanche said, adding that he had been told that the ship will refuel and depart the Kingdom on October 31.
“This is an internal issue for the company, he explained, adding that none of the passengers had approached authorities for help.”
“Some have already flown out of the country. Others are still in Preah Sihanouk, but they are fine, staying at nice hotels in Sihanoukville. Authorities are providing them with information and are ready to provide any support they may require,” he noted.