Cruise Ship Halts Voyage as Fuel Costs Spike
Odyssey passengers in Cambodia were told to leave after fuel prices tripled during the Iran conflict.
By Kwame Barrett ·
A U.S. cruise ship stopped its world tour in Cambodia this week because fuel costs became too high to sustain.
The Odyssey, which launched two years ago for a three-year trip across seven continents, docked at Sihanoukville Autonomous Port on October 23. The vessel was scheduled to visit Vietnam but remained in port on Wednesday. The Florida-based operator said monthly fuel costs per cabin, which usually averaged $1,800, jumped to an estimated $6,000 to $8,000 in parts of Asia due to the war in Iran. Villa Vie Residences attempted to lower expenses by slowing the itinerary and staying longer in port, but the strategy failed to cover the increased spending.
Company officials stated they could not continue absorbing the operating losses. "Passing the full increase on to residents is not a realistic solution," the company said in a statement. The group is now restructuring while it supports the staff and passengers.
The ship carried 203 passengers from 15 countries, mostly Americans, along with 156 crew members. The vessel has a total capacity for 650 residents. Passengers have been instructed to leave the ship, though the status of the crew remains unclear.
The Odyssey had a confirmed schedule running into November 2027. The company also planned to launch a second residential cruise ship in early 2029. The suspension announcement did not mention the status of that second vessel.
Source: KPBS
