Forever cruise passengers stranded in Cambodia as operator cuts costs
The Villa Vie Odyssey, a ship marketed as a permanent home for people travelling the world, is stranded in Sihanoukville, Cambodia, after its owner said it could no longer afford fuel. Passengers were told to leave with little notice, bringing the long-term cruise to an abrupt end and leaving some who sold their homes unsure where to go.
Cabins cost between about £90,400 and more than £670,000, with monthly fees on top. The company said fuel costs that had averaged about $1,800 per cabin a month had risen to an estimated $6,000 to $8,000 in parts of Asia, partly amid conflict in the Middle East; some passengers also reported weeks without working internet or televisions.
In short
- A fuel shortfall stranded the Odyssey in Cambodia.
- Residents say they had only hours to leave.
- Some passengers sold homes to live aboard.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
The company’s strongest case is that sharply increased fuel costs made continuing the voyage financially unsustainable, so ending it may have been necessary to limit further losses and avoid promising a service it could no longer provide. A permanent global cruise is exposed to volatile operating costs, and the reported rise in fuel expenses could make the original pricing model unworkable.
The case against
Passengers can argue that buying a cabin and paying monthly fees for a voyage marketed as a permanent home created a reasonable expectation of continuity, reliable services and clear contingency plans. Giving little notice and leaving people who had sold their homes unsure where to go shifts the consequences of the company’s financial difficulties onto customers who may have few easy alternatives.
Explained simply
The Villa Vie Odyssey was sold as a way to live aboard a ship while travelling between destinations around the world. Passengers paid a large sum for a cabin, as well as monthly fees, in return for a long-term place on the voyage.
The ship is owned by Villa Vie Residences, which arranged the travel and onboard services. Keeping a cruise ship running depends on costly fuel and other services, so a sharp rise in expenses can affect whether an operator can continue its plans.
For passengers who have made the ship their home, being asked to leave can mean finding somewhere to live at short notice. Some had sold their homes before joining, making the disruption especially significant.
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Originally published by Daily Mail as “What really sank the forever cruise? It was billed as the luxury global tour that never ended. But as hundreds on board are dumped in a Cambodian town infamous for human trafficking, furious passengers reveal a litany of horrors”.