A luxury cruise ship interrupted its journey due to fuel prices, passengers are stranded in Cambodia

Passengers aboard the luxury cruise ship Odyssey, operated by Villa Vie Residences, are stranded in Cambodia after the voyage was halted due to rising fuel costs. The ship, which embarked from Belfast in October 2024, was intended to visit nearly 150 countries over 3.5 years. With around 200 passengers on board, they were ordered to disembark after more than 750 days at sea. Fuel prices have surged significantly since the outbreak of the Iranian war, with costs per cabin rising from $1,800 to as much as $8,000 monthly. Despite attempts to cut expenses by slowing down and altering routes, the operator is now focusing on stabilizing its finances over the next 60 days, though the outcome remains uncertain. The company has faced previous operational challenges, including delays due to technical repairs.