A "never-ending cruise" abruptly stops in Cambodia, 200 passengers disembarked

The Odyssey cruise ship, which aimed to provide lifelong voyages, ended operations abruptly on October 27, 2024, due to soaring fuel costs linked to Middle Eastern conflicts. The American operator, Villa Vie Residences, reported that monthly fuel expenses surged from $1,800 to between $6,000 and $8,000 per cabin in some Asian regions. This financial strain made it unsustainable to continue operations, despite efforts to reduce fuel consumption by spending more time in ports. The ship had embarked from Belfast in October 2024, planning a three-and-a-half-year journey with 425 stops in 147 countries, before continuing for its estimated 15-year lifespan.