Residential cruise halted in Asia

Fuel costs for a single cabin on the residential cruise ship Odyssey recently reached an estimated $6,000 to $8,000 per month in parts of Asia. This sharp increase from a previous average of $1,800 forced the vessel to suspend its operations while docked in Sihanoukville, Cambodia.

The Florida-based operator, Villa Vie Residences, launched the Odyssey two years ago for a three-year voyage across seven continents. The company marketed the ship as a blend of long-term sea living and global travel. It confirmed a schedule through November 2027 before the recent financial strain.

Villa Vie Residences stated it attempted to lower consumption by slowing its itinerary and spending more time in port. The company said it could not offset the sudden rise in fuel prices caused by the war in Iran. It noted that passing the entire cost increase to residents was not a realistic solution.

The Sihanoukville Autonomous Port announced last week that the ship arrived on Oct. 23 for a five-day visit. The vessel was scheduled to head to Vietnam, but it remained in the port as of Wednesday.

The Odyssey carries 203 passengers from 15 nations, mostly Americans, and 156 crew members. The ship has capacity for 650 residents. Passengers have been instructed to leave the vessel, though the status of the crew remains unclear.

The company is now working to restructure. It aims to support the residents, crew, and employees during this transition. A second residential cruise was planned to enter service in early 2029, but the suspension notice did not specify what will happen to that future vessel.