Residential cruise ship The Odyssey suspends operations in Cambodia amid rising fuel costs

Villa Vie Residences, a Florida-based operator, announced on Tuesday that The Odyssey, a 642-foot cruise ship marketed as a residential community, would cease operations while docked in Cambodia due to sharply higher fuel expenses. The company said it is working to arrange "temporary living arrangements" for the passengers and crew while it pursues a restructuring plan over the next 60 days.

The Odyssey, launched from Belfast three years ago, was designed to accommodate up to 650 residents who could purchase or rent cabins. The exact number of people on board at the time of the halt was not disclosed. An executive, Mikael Petterson, declined to provide further details.

The operator noted that despite implementing measures to reduce fuel consumption, the surge in global oil prices—linked to geopolitical tensions earlier in the year—outpaced those efforts. "Passing the full increase on to residents is not a realistic solution," the company said, adding that it aims to support residents, crew, and employees while it seeks recapitalization.

Residents reported learning of the shutdown through a message posted on the ship’s internal board early Monday, which indicated a "temporary lay up" and required all occupants to disembark by 2 p.m. One resident, Randy Cassingham, described the notice as the first indication that the voyage had ended.

Pamela Reckamp, who had rented a cabin with her husband, said she was not surprised by the outcome. She recalled a September meeting where a company official asked cabin owners to raise $1 million to fund the ship’s departure from Ha Long Bay, warning that without the funds the vessel would have only a few days of power left. Reckamp said a later meeting featured a cabin buyer who disclosed having sold her house and car to purchase a cabin, expressing concern for the community.

Villa Vie Residences did not respond to a request for comment later Tuesday night.