• 44 minute ago

"Continuous" circumnavigation cut short: cruise ship halts its voyage

The American company Villa Vie Residences has suspended the round-the-world voyage of its cruise ship, *Villa Vie Odyssey*, and disembarked passengers in the Cambodian port city of Sihanoukville, Reuters reports.

The operator attributed the decision to a sharp rise in fuel costs, which it can no longer afford to cover.

On October 27, the company announced a suspension of operations to facilitate a business restructuring. Arrangements are being made to provide temporary shore-based accommodation for the passengers.

According to the operator, fuel costs per cabin in certain Asian regions have surged from $1,800 to $8,000 per month since February 2026. The company attempted to reduce fuel consumption by lowering the vessel’s speed and extending the duration of port calls, but these measures proved insufficient.

"Passing the full burden of these increased costs onto the passengers is not a realistic solution," the company stated.

The *Villa Vie Odyssey* departed from Belfast in October 2024. The itinerary was intended to cover nearly 150 countries, with the voyage slated to last approximately three and a half years. At the time of the suspension, the ship had been at sea for over 750 days.

The vessel has a capacity for 650 passengers. According to Cambodian authorities, there were 203 passengers and 156 crew members on board upon arrival in Sihanoukville. Some passengers have already left the country, while others are waiting to see how the situation develops.

The company intends to carry out a restructuring and raise capital over the next 60 days, though it acknowledges that the success of these efforts is not guaranteed.