Passengers told to disembark never-ending world cruise after running out of fuel
A luxury residential cruise ship asked passengers to disembark after running out of fuel.
Villa Vie Odyssey promised a life at sea as it continually sailed around the world.
The Villa Vie Odyssey is a residential cruise ship offering a continuous world cruise, but has now run out of fuel. Villa Vie
But sailors have now been ditched in Cambodia in south-east Asia after being told there’s no more fuel.
The Villa Vie Odyssey is a residential vessel, so passengers buy cabins and live on the ship full-time.
Fuel for ships, just like aircraft has become expensive due to the Middle East war and it says it’s now too pricey to continue.
A five-year cabin ownership starts at around $87K, and full ownership prices start at $145K.
Kit and Randy Cassingham say they were told to get off their cruise ship. Randy Cassingham
Blogger Randy Cassingham who shared life aboard with his wife Kit on Residential Cruising.com said they were told just after 7am to get off by 2pm that day.
“Unfortunately, we were unable to secure the fuel necessary to continue operations,” a notice he posted told passengers.
“As a result, the Odyssey will enter a temporary layup this afternoon, with crew remaining onboard to maintain the vessel and its essential systems,” it said.
Randy said passengers had been “well aware of problems.”
But he said CEO Kathy Villalba who wrote the update didn’t even say she was “sorry.”
He said passengers were “exhausted both physically and emotionally,” after the ordeal.
An Interior cabin on board cruise ship Villa Vie Odyssey Villa Vie
However, he told commenters they had had a “good two years” on board.
The company told The Express it has “suspended operations in Cambodia as the company works to address extraordinary increases in fuel costs and evaluate restructuring and recapitalisation alternatives”.
“Fuel costs have risen sharply in the regions where the company has been operating,” it said.
“On an equivalent per-cabin basis, monthly fuel expense that historically averaged approximately $1,800 ($AUD2500) has recently reached an estimated $6,000 ($8500) to $8,000 ($1150) in parts of Asia.
“The company cannot simply pass increases of that scale on to residents, and the resulting shortfall has placed its current operating model under unsustainable financial pressure,”
Sharon Lane has given up life on land to live on the cruise ship. Sharon Lane
Sharon Lane, a retired school teacher, moved into her new home aboard the Villa Vie Odyssey last year and said it was “heaven”.
Residents also pay roughly $3000 in monthly fees, and Sharon said she did the calculations and found it cheaper than living back in California.
She told CNN she feels “removed from the real world” – and that was the way she likes it.
The ship welcomed guests in 2024, but was stuck in Belfast in Northern Ireland for months due to technical issues.
It finally set out on a loop around the world, and planned to visit 425 ports in 147 countries over the next three-and-a-half years, before starting the voyage again.
A second ship Legacy, is planned for 2029.
It’s not the only residential cruise ship. Others include The World, which launched in 2022 and has suites owned by some of the world’s richest people.
