Cruise ship Odiseja halts in Cambodia as fuel costs surge

An American cruise ship named Odiseja paused its world voyage in Cambodia after the operator said a sudden rise in fuel costs made continuing the voyage untenable, forcing 203 passengers to disembark in Sihanoukville.

Operator cites higher fuel bills tied to reduced traffic through the Strait of Hormuz

Vila Vi Residence, the Florida-based company that runs the vessel, said the surge in fuel expenses is linked to reduced maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz since the outbreak of war in Iran, which disrupted supplies of petroleum products to Southeast Asia.

The operator said monthly fuel costs per ship cabin that previously averaged $1,800 have in parts of Asia risen to an estimated $6,000 to $8,000. "We were unable to continue covering the resulting operational losses," the company said, and added that slowing the ship and extending port stays did not sufficiently offset the increased expense.

The company is working with passengers to organise disembarkation and find temporary accommodation. The vessel is currently anchored in Sihanoukville in the Gulf of Thailand; Cambodian authorities say the ship carries 156 crew members in addition to the passengers.

A deputy governor of Preah Sihanouk province said the ship is expected to refuel and leave Cambodia on Saturday, but the operator has not officially confirmed a sailing date. The date for resuming the world cruise remains unannounced.

Odiseja departed from Belfast in October 2024 on a voyage originally planned to last three and a half years. The company advertised the trip as an opportunity for long-term life at sea, with purchase prices for onboard apartments starting at about $230,000.

Photo: press material from the event