According to a BBC report on October 27, US cruise operator Villa Vie Residences announced that its Villa Vie Odyssey had suspended operations, interrupting its planned round-the-world voyage in Cambodia. The operator is coordinating passengers’ disembarkation and arranging temporary accommodation.
The ship, nearly 200 metres long, can accommodate up to 650 passengers. It departed Belfast, Northern Ireland, in October 2024 on a planned voyage lasting about three and a half years and visiting nearly 150 countries. After more than 750 days at sea, about 200 passengers were told to disembark in Cambodia.
The operator said sharply rising fuel costs had made it difficult to sustain the voyage. The war in Iran earlier this year pushed up global fuel prices. The company said monthly fuel costs on a per-cabin basis in parts of Asia had risen from around US$1,800 to as much as US$8,000, more than four times the previous level.
The company had previously tried fuel-saving measures, including slowing the ship’s itinerary and extending port stays, but these were insufficient to offset rising costs. The operator said passing all the additional costs on to passengers was not feasible. It plans to explore restructuring and recapitalisation options over the next 60 days, while acknowledging that no outcome is assured.
According to the cruise line’s website, passengers can buy or rent cabins for long-term living aboard, with facilities including restaurants, bars, a swimming pool and a pickleball court. The company is communicating with passengers about the next steps.
