Cruise ship stranded in Cambodia after running out of fuel

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 31 Oct, 01:20 · Archive

The Villa Vie Odyssey, marketed as an endless round-the-world cruise, has been abandoned in Cambodia after the company ran out of money for fuel.

The Villa Vie Odyssey, a 509-cabin vessel marketed as an endless cruise visiting over 400 ports across three-year cycles, has been abandoned in Sihanoukville, Cambodia. The ship's operator, Florida-based Villa Vie Residences, gave its 203 passengers and more than 150 crew fewer than 24 hours' notice to leave. Captain Emanuele Giudice stated the decision was necessary due to critical fuel shortages, explaining that the company had shut down generators and non-essential systems to conserve fuel.

Passengers had paid substantial sums to join the cruise. Cabin prices ranged from £90,400 to over £670,000, with additional monthly fees covering food, housekeeping and internet access. Many passengers, predominantly from America or Canada, sold their homes, cars and possessions, cashing in pensions to fund what they believed would be a permanent lifestyle change. One passenger, Randy Cassingham, 66, said he and his 71-year-old wife had sold their dream home and most of their belongings to move aboard full-time.

The Daily Mail reports that the company is 'under unsustainable financial pressure' and can no longer afford fuel. Metro reports that funding problems earlier saw luxury suite prices slashed and that fuel expenses had escalated significantly during the voyage, which lasted 755 days before the abandonment.

How it is being reported

• What really sank the forever cruise? It was billed as the luxury global tour that never ended. But as hundreds on board are dumped in a Cambodian town infamous for human trafficking, furious passengers reveal a litany of horrorsThe 509-cabin Villa Vie Odyssey is stranded in Sihanoukville, Cambodia, because the company, 'under unsustainable financial pressure', can't afford to buy any more fuel.Daily Mail · 31 Oct, 01:01
• Inside the ‘endless cruise’ disaster as OAPs left homeless in CambodiaSorry, the video was not found What a way to go. Toasting your partner with a never-ending supply of cocktails poolside on top of a cruise around the world. Some sold their homes looking to spend the rest of their lives on a final holiday of a lifetime onboard the Villa Vie Odyssey cruise. Others…Metro · 29 Oct, 18:43

In this story: Villa Vie Odyssey · Villa Vie Residences · Sihanoukville · Cambodia · Emanuele Giudice · Randy Cassingham

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem · Corrections log