# Cruise founder apologises after suspending voyage, citing Iran war fuel costs

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/founder-of-endless-cruise-that-dumped-its-passengers-in-cambodia-says-im-the-villain-but-blames-trumps-iran-war/
- Published: 2026-10-30T22:21:56+00:00
- Updated: 2026-10-30T22:32:30+00:00
- Original publisher: Daily Mail (publisher lean: Right)
- Original article: https://www.dailymail.com/news/article-16251827/Founder-cruise-dumped-Cambodia-villain-Trumps-Iran-war.html?ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490&ito=1490
- Topics: Middle East, World

## Key points

- About 200 passengers were left in Cambodia after the cruise suspended operations.
- Villa Vie cited fuel costs rising to as much as $8,000 per cabin monthly.
- Passengers say requested funds have not been repaid.

## Summary

The founder of Villa Vie Residences has apologised after the company suspended its long-running cruise, leaving about 200 passengers to disembark in Cambodia at short notice. Mikael Petterson said he felt like “the villain” and was trying to find a solution for residents, some of whom had sold their possessions or committed substantial savings to live aboard.

The company blamed sharply higher fuel costs linked to the Iran conflict, saying monthly fuel expenses per cabin had risen from an average of $1,800 to an estimated $6,000–$8,000 in parts of Asia. Passengers also say they were repeatedly asked to provide funds, including a collective $2.2 million loan in April and later requests, and that promised repayments have not arrived. Petterson said he had been awaiting investment and argued the voyage might have continued without the war.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.