Cruise ship stranded in Cambodia after operator halts voyage
The US operator Villa Vie Residences has suspended operations of its cruise ship Odyssey in Sihanoukville, Cambodia, citing sharply higher fuel costs linked to the Iran war. About 200 passengers and 156 crew were affected, with passengers given seven hours to leave on 23 Oct, according to Long Dimanche, deputy governor of Preah Sihanouk province. The company said it was working to find temporary accommodation for them. Most passengers are reported to be American. The 200-metre ship had left Belfast in October 2024 for a continuous round-the-world voyage.
Key facts
- Monthly fuel costs per cabin reportedly rose from about $1,800 to $6,000–$8,000 in parts of Asia, per the operator.
- Passengers were told at 6 am Monday they had to disembark by 2 pm that day, per The Independent.
- Passengers were repeatedly asked to contribute money for fuel, while crew members remained unpaid.
- A fuel surcharge in May was paid by only 37 percent of passengers, according to passenger Holly Hennessey.
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What changed
First published from RTÉ News, Bangkok Post, CNA, ABC News (Australia) and NBC News