The U.S. cruise ship MV Odyssey suspended its residential voyage in Cambodia on Wednesday, October 28, 2026, due to rising fuel costs. The vessel, operated by Florida-based Villa Vie Residences, was marketed as a permanent living solution at sea, leading hundreds of passengers to disembark at the Sihanoukville Autonomous Port without certain departure dates.
The MV Odyssey originally departed from Belfast, Northern Ireland, in October 2024 for a global voyage across seven continents. The ship, built in 1993, had previously been sidelined during the 2020 pandemic before being purchased in 2023 and refitted by Villa Vie Residences. The company offered suites for the lifetime of the vessel starting at around $230,000, framing the voyage as a combination of global travel and permanent residency.
Villa Vie Residences reported that monthly fuel expenses per cabin have risen from a historical average of $1,800 to an estimated $6,000 to $8,000 in parts of Asia. The company and reports attributed the increase to restricted traffic in the Strait of Hormuz during the war in Iran, which has limited petroleum supplies and raised prices. In a statement issued Tuesday, October 27, 2026, the company said it could no longer carry operating losses and would seek to restructure while supporting residents and crew.
For the residents involved, the day-to-day change is a transition from maritime living to seeking land-based housing. While the voyage was originally scheduled to last three or 3 1/2 years, it had a confirmed itinerary into November 2027. The 156 crew members also face uncertainty, as their status was not clarified in the operator's suspension announcement.
What happens next depends on the company's restructuring efforts and refueling schedule. Long Dimanche, the deputy governor of Preah Sihanouk province, stated the ship is expected to refuel and depart Cambodia on Saturday, October 31, 2026. However, Villa Vie Residences has not publicly confirmed a departure date or the status of a second residential ship previously planned for 2029. The ship remained at the Sihanoukville port as of Wednesday.