The Newshound

Residents who sold their homes for an 'endless' cruise are ordered off the ship in Cambodia over soaring fuel costs

From the Newshound archive · first published 27 October 2026.

A container ship on fire in the Strait of Hormuz on 14 October 2026, the closure of which Villa Vie says drove monthly fuel costs per cabin from around $1,800 to as much as $8,000.
A container ship on fire in the Strait of Hormuz on 14 October 2026, the closure of which Villa Vie says drove monthly fuel costs per cabin from around $1,800 to as much as $8,000.
Villa Vie Residences, the cruise company whose 509-cabin Odyssey vessel has stranded residents in Cambodia, saying it cannot pass soaring fuel costs onto passengers who paid up to $439,999 for permanent cabins.
Villa Vie Residences, the cruise company whose 509-cabin Odyssey vessel has stranded residents in Cambodia, saying it cannot pass soaring fuel costs onto passengers who paid up to $439,999 for permanent cabins.

Villa Vie Residences has suspended operations of its Villa Vie Odyssey ship, stranding passengers in Cambodia after monthly fuel costs per cabin rocketed from a historical average of around $1,800 to an estimated $6,000-$8,000 — a rise of up to 344%. CEO Kathy Villalba told residents in a letter that the company was unable to secure enough fuel to continue and ordered everyone off the ship by 2pm, with crew remaining aboard to maintain the vessel. The company blamed the Iran conflict and closure of the Strait of Hormuz for sending energy prices soaring since late February.

Permanent cabins on the 509-cabin Odyssey had been sold for between $119,999 and $439,999, with some residents having given up their homes to live aboard.

Villa Vie says it cannot pass the full cost increase on to residents, calling that 'not a realistic solution', and is now pursuing restructuring and recapitalisation over the next 60 days.

MoreThe IndependentResidential world cruise suddenly suspends operations, leaving passengers stranded in CambodiaDaily Mail'Endless' cruise grinds to a halt after two years at seaNewsweek'Endless' World Cruise Ends Over Fuel StrugglesBusiness InsiderA 'never-ending' cruise has halted operations and told residents to disembark in Cambodia after fuel costs rose over 300% - Business InsiderTMZVilla Vie Odyssey Residential Cruise Strands Passengers In Cambodia, Cites Fuel Costs - TMZ
Read today's full feed at The Newshound →