A voyage promoted as a way to live at sea for years came to an abrupt halt on October 27, when all 203 passengers and 156 crew members aboard The Odyssey disembarked at Cambodia’s port of Sihanoukville. Most of the passengers were American, according to the report.
The ship’s Florida-based operator, Villa Vie Residences, said it had suspended operations because of a surge in fuel prices linked to conflict in the Middle East. The company said monthly fuel costs, previously averaging $1,800 per cabin, had risen to between $6,000 and $8,000 in some parts of Asia. It said it could not pass increases of that scale on to residents and that the resulting shortfall had put its operating model under unsustainable financial pressure.
Villa Vie Residences said it had tried to limit fuel use by spending more time in port. Its business offered customers the option to buy or rent a cabin for a season or longer, allowing them to travel without changing accommodation.
The Odyssey departed Belfast in October 2024. Its initial itinerary was planned to last three and a half years, with 425 stops across 147 countries. The operator had also expected the ship to continue sailing for at least 15 years, based on its estimated lifespan.
Sources: Le Monde Économie.