---
title: "Cruise Ship Odyssey Stopped in Cambodia: Fuel Price Surge Traps Hundreds of Passengers"
description: "Cruise ship Odyssey suspended its round-the-world voyage and was halted in Cambodia due to a fuel price surge of over 300%. Hundreds of passengers are stranded on board while the company seeks funding."
date: 2026-10-28T12:03:02.341Z
lang: en
url: https://xab.info/en/posts/cruise-ship-odyssey-stopped-cambodia
tags: [cruise-ship, odyssey, fuel-prices, iran-conflict, cambodia, villa-vie-residences]
author: "Darya Fomina"
publisher: "XAB.info"
---

# Cruise Ship Odyssey Stopped in Cambodia: Fuel Price Surge Traps Hundreds of Passengers

![Cruise ship Odyssey in icy waters against the backdrop of majestic mountains and glaciers](https://xab.info/media/2026/10/28/krain-lainner-odyssey-ostanovil-plavanie-v-kambodzhe/krain-lainner-odyssey-ostanovil-plavanie-v-kambodzhe-1.webp)

## Key Points

- The Odyssey suspended its voyage and was halted in Cambodia on October 27, according to operator Villa Vie Residences.
- The company cites a fuel cost increase of over 300% since the conflict with Iran began in February; per-cabin fuel expenses rose from ~$1,800 to $8,000 per month.
- The operator is paying for local accommodation and transport, but not departure flights from Cambodia, and proposes a $500 monthly surcharge which passengers reject.
- The vessel, with a capacity of up to 650 people, has been sailing since October 2024 on a 3.5-year global route; the company is seeking funding and evaluating restructuring within 60 days.

The luxury cruise ship Odyssey, engaged in a continuous around-the-world voyage, unexpectedly suspended its operations and was moored in Cambodia. According to Bloomberg, the American company Villa Vie Residences, which manages the vessel, announced a temporary halt to the journey on October 27, citing a sharp rise in fuel expenses. As a result, Dan Tri reports, hundreds of passengers found themselves stranded on board in Cambodia. The exact number of people on the ship has not been disclosed, though its capacity is known to be up to 650 passengers.

### Reason for Suspension: Fuel Price Spike

The company explained the decision by stating that the cost of fuel for the vessel has surged by more than 300% since the outbreak of the US and Israeli conflict with Iran in February of this year. According to their data, fuel expenses per cabin previously averaged about $1,800 per month and have now reached $8,000. Villa Vie Residences founder Mikael Petterson stated that overall monthly operating expenses have increased by approximately 50% to $3 million. Since the beginning of the Iranian conflict, the ship has attempted to conserve fuel by reducing speed and increasing port stay times, but the company says these measures proved insufficient to offset the price hike.

### Passenger Conditions and Fee Disputes

Villa Vie Residences stated it is coordinating an exit plan and temporary accommodation options with passengers. The company is willing to cover local lodging and transportation expenses, but will not assume the cost of flights for passengers departing Cambodia. At the same time, according to Petterson, the company is proposing an additional fee of $500 per month plus a surcharge for as long as fuel prices remain high. Passengers, in turn, have rejected the demand to pay extra for fuel in order to leave Cambodia.

### How the Odyssey Project Works

The nearly 200-meter-long vessel has been at sea since October 2024 and does not operate on a traditional cruise line model. It departed Belfast in Northern Ireland to embark on a "continuous journey" around the world, planned to last 3.5 years and cover about 150 countries and territories. This year the ship has called at ports ranging from Tonga to Australia and was scheduled to arrive in India by the end of the year. Passengers could rent a cabin, purchase it outright, or utilize a rent-to-own scheme. Permanent residence cabin prices ranged from under $130,000 to $440,000 USD, plus monthly maintenance fees of $2,000 to $10,000.

### Seeking Funding and Reorganization

According to Bloomberg, Villa Vie Residences is seeking sources of financing so the vessel can resume its route "as soon as possible." The company is evaluating restructuring options and capital fundraising over the next 60 days. Thus, the fate of the round-the-world voyage and the conditions for passengers returning to their journey remain open until these negotiations conclude.

## Fact-Check & Sources

- [Всемирно известный круизный лайнер внезапно прекратил плавание, в результате чего многие пассажиры оказались в затруднительном положении.](https://www.vietnam.vn/ru/du-thuyen-noi-tieng-the-gioi-dot-ngot-dung-chay-nhieu-hanh-khach-mac-ket) - Primary source: Villa Vie Residences statement on Oct 27 via Bloomberg, fuel and operating expense figures, passenger conditions, Odyssey project parameters. Number of passengers on board is unspecified.
- [Круизный лайнер, где обнаружен хантавирус, приближается к Тенерифе. Местные жители протестуют](https://www.bbc.com/russian/articles/clyp1kvm8mxo) - Подтверждено по источнику bbc.com

## FAQ

### Why did the Odyssey stop?

Operator Villa Vie Residences cited a sharp spike in fuel costs — over 300% since the conflict with Iran began in February — leading to the suspension and mooring of the ship in Cambodia.

### How many passengers are on board?

The exact number is not disclosed; the ship's capacity is up to 650 passengers.

### What is the company offering passengers?

Villa Vie Residences is paying for local lodging and transport in Cambodia, but not flights out of the country, and is proposing a $500 monthly surcharge plus adjustments while high fuel prices persist.

### What is next for the voyage?

The company is seeking financing to resume the route and is evaluating restructuring and capital-raising options over a 60-day period.