Villa Vie Odyssey, USA News (Cambodia): Passengers on a years-long expedition around the world have been left stranded in Cambodia after its operator suspended services. The nearly 200-metre-long Villa Vie Odyssey can carry up to 650 passengers.
It departed Belfast in October 2024 for a continuous voyage around the world. But operator Villa Vie announced on Tuesday that despite making significant steps to reduce fuel consumption, including slowing the itinerary and spending more time in port, it was now forced to cease operating.
Its fuel-saving measures were not enough to offset the extraordinary increase in fuel costs, and passing the cost on to the vessel’s residents was not considered a viable solution. Global fuel prices have skyrocketed since the outbreak of the Iran war. Villa Vie said its monthly fuel cost per cabin had risen from around £1,350 to £6,000.
The company will now spend the next 60 days on restructuring and recapitalisation, but no outcome is assured. That will be no relief to the Odyssey’s around 200 passengers, who were ordered to disembark in the Cambodian port city of Sihanoukville.
The so-called residents of the cruise signed up for a three-and-a-half-year journey across the globe, visiting nearly 150 countries. But the start of the trip was delayed as a result of maintenance and later, administrative paperwork, according to its operator. Now, more than 750 days into its voyage, the adventure has ended.
Passengers Lanette Canen and Johan Bodin told the BBC they hoped a miracle investor would come through. Reacting to the announcement, they said they were heartbroken and that it felt like their dream had been crushed, adding there had been a lot of hugs and tears as residents supported one another and processed what happened.
Another passenger, Holly Hennessey, said some passengers had decided to disembark and travel on land, and that former shipmates have now been distributed across several hotels.
Despite the abrupt ending, Ms. Canen and Mr. Bodin said the experience was worth it, noting they loved their two years on the Odyssey. The couple plan to spend a few days in Sihanoukville before travelling in southeast Asia while figuring out their next chapter. Meanwhile, Ms. Hennessey plans to stay in Cambodia until it is confirmed whether the ship will return to sea.
