US cruise ship strands over 200 passengers because it can't afford fuel
An aerial view shows the Villa Vie Residences' cruise ship Odyssey docked at Sihanoukville port in Preah Sihanouk province on October 28, 2026. Around 200 passengers who paid to live on a cruise ship while travelling the world were abruptly left in a
A cruise line that set sail two years ago for a voyage around the world has docked in Cambodia and says it can’t afford fuel, leaving 203 passengers and 156 crew members stranded.
According to Cambodian officials, the U.S. cruise ship involved is the MV Odyssey, which is now sitting in the port of Sihanoukville on the Gulf of Thailand with no planned departure date.
What happened to the Odyssey?
What they're saying:
The Odyssey’s owner, Florida-based Villa Vie Residences, said monthly fuel expenses per cabin have risen from an average of $1,800 to up to $8,000 in parts of Asia since the start of the U.S. and Israel’s war against Iran. The cruise line said it tried to reduce fuel consumption by slowing the itinerary and spending more time in port, but it wasn’t enough to offset the surging costs.
RELATED: Outraged cruise passengers sound off about 'immense disappointment' after abrupt cancellation
"We have been unable to continue carrying the resulting operating losses," Villa Vie Residences said in a statement. "Passing the full increase on to residents is not a realistic solution. Our focus now is on supporting residents, crew, and employees" while it tries to restructure.
"The company is working with residents to coordinate disembarkation and identify temporary living arrangements."
The other side:
Passengers who are now stranded told The Associated Press that they received no support and had to make their own arrangements after being given seven hours notice on Tuesday to leave the ship.
"We were tired of every two to four weeks being asked for money for fuel, money for everything," one passenger said. "We had hopes but they just kept sinking further and further into the hole through mismanagement."
What is the MV Odyssey?
The backstory:
The Odyssey set sail in 2024 from Belfast, Ireland after a four-month delay. It was sold as a voyage to the seven continents, combining long-term living at sea with global travel. The inaugural trip was supposed to last three-and-a-half years, with a second sailing planned in 2030.
By the numbers:
The ship was carrying 203 passengers, mostly Americans, and 156 crew members when it docked in Cambodia. It can carry up to 650 passengers, with the starting price of a suite going for $230,000. The suites were sold for the lifetime of the ship, or at least 15 years.
MORE: Latest Pentagon casualty report for war against Iran shows 21 deaths, 865 injured
Why is fuel so unaffordable?
Dig deeper:
Iran retaliated against U.S.- and Israel-led attacks by cutting off access to the Strait of Hormuz, where a fifth of the world’s oil supply traveled daily. The war has squeezed supplies of all kinds of petroleum-based fuels, especially in Southeast Asia, and sharply increased prices across the world.
The Source: This article includes information from The Associated Press and previous FOX Local reporting.