Permanent cruise ship Villa Vie Odyssey suspends operations in Cambodia

Summarised from 3 outlets · Updated 28 Oct, 02:51 · Archive

The Villa Vie Odyssey, a residential cruise ship, has suspended operations and ordered passengers to disembark in Cambodia due to soaring fuel costs.

The Villa Vie Odyssey, a 195-metre residential cruise ship, suspended operations on Monday morning in Cambodia, ordering all residents to disembark by 2pm. Up to 650 passengers who had purchased or rented cabins for three-year 'never-ending' cruises or shorter stays were given just hours to pack and leave the vessel.

In an announcement on the ship's internal messaging system, the company said it was 'unable to secure the fuel necessary to continue operations'. The Odyssey was to enter temporary layup with skeleton crew remaining onboard. Passengers unable to collect all belongings were told they could arrange orderly return trips using shuttles available until 6pm the next day.

Villa Vie Residences attributed the suspension to soaring fuel costs driven by the conflict in the Middle East. The company stated that monthly fuel expenses, which historically averaged approximately $1,800 per cabin, had recently reached $6,000 to $8,000 in parts of Asia. The company said it could not pass increases of that scale on to residents and the resulting shortfall had placed its operating model under 'unsustainable financial pressure'.

According to the company, since the conflict began in late February, it had taken steps to reduce fuel consumption, including slowing the itinerary and spending more time in port. Despite these measures, it said it had been unable to continue carrying the operating losses.

Passengers had paid around $120,000 to purchase suites for three-year voyages or rented cabins at approximately £70 per day, which included utilities and food. Some residents had planned to spend years or even the rest of their lives aboard the ship.

How it is being reported

• ‘Never-ending’ cruise ends journey in Cambodia due to fuel shortagesTo view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Up Next Previous Page Next Page A cruise ship which allowed passengers to purchase suites to remain onboard for years has ended operations early due to fuel shortages. The Villa Vie…Metro · 27 Oct, 19:53
• 'Endless' cruise grinds to a halt after two years at sea with passengers told to disembark as fuel supplies run dry off the coast of CambodiaGuests on residential ship Villa Vie Odyssey off the coast of Cambodia have been informed they must leave the ship, as it has suspended operations.Daily Mail · 27 Oct, 17:00
• Permanent round-the-world cruise residents told to disembark as ship stopsVilla Vie Odyssey passengers have been ordered to disembark in Cambodia after the company suspended its continuous round-the-world voyage, blaming soaring fuel costs it says have been driven by conflict in the Middle EastThe Mirror · 27 Oct, 15:42

In this story: Villa Vie Odyssey · Cambodia · Villa Vie Residences · Kathy Villalba · Randy Cassingham · Melody Hennessee · John Hennessee

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