Passengers asked for fuel money as Odyssey cruise ship stranded in Cambodia suspends operations

Fuel costs and unpaid crew

Villa Vie Residences, the Florida-based operator, said monthly fuel costs per cabin had risen from an average of about $1,800 to between $6,000 and $8,000 in parts of Asia. It attributed the increase to the war in Iran and disruption to traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, an important route for global oil shipments.

Passengers told to leave

The company said it had tried to reduce fuel use by slowing the itinerary and staying longer in port, but those steps did not offset higher prices. It said passing the entire increase on to residents was not realistic and that it was helping coordinate departures and temporary accommodation.

Residents face uncertain plans

Lanette said she and her partner had sold a business to pay $100,000 for a cabin, in addition to monthly maintenance fees of $3,500. She described leaving the ship and the community built over two years as heartbreaking, and said the company helped with luggage and port transport but not hotel costs.

Lanette said Villa Vie had not provided a date for residents to return, and that they had decided to move on. Sharon, who still owns a cabin, said her contract prevents her from renting it out and that selling it now appeared unlikely; she said owners had lost or stood to lose money.