Two sisters from California are among 203 passengers, mostly Americans, stranded in Cambodia after a Florida-based cruise company abruptly suspended its months-long residential cruise, citing “extraordinary” fuel costs, according to an Associated Press report and company statements. The ship Villa Vie Residences, which had promoted a “new model of global living at sea,” offering long-term cruises, “has suspended its operations in Cambodia as the company works to address extraordinary increases in fuel costs and evaluate restructuring and recapitalization alternatives,” according to a company statement earlier this week. The Fort Lauderdale-based company said it was facing “unsustainable financial pressure” as fuel costs had risen to around $5,000 a month per cabin for travel throughout Asia, from around $1,800 a month. up to $8,000 per month in recent weeks, and “passing the entire increase on to residents is not a realistic solution.” Diesel fuel prices in the United States have risen from an average of $3.68 per gallon a year ago to $6.32 on Friday, according to AAA. The cruise company said it was working with customers to coordinate temporary living arrangements, but the Associated Press reported that many disembarked passengers said they had received little or no support after the sudden end of the cruise, one on which many planned to stay for up to 15 years. The MV Odyssey set sail from Belfast two years ago, urging people to “make the Odyssey their permanent home”, and the price of a suite over the life of the ship was around $230,000. Carol Larson and her sister, Crystal Lavering, both from California, were among those forced to abandon ship this week. Larson told the Associated Press that he had paid $120,000 in fees for his cabin, plus monthly maintenance fees. His sister bought her own cabin. Larson said he was promised the chance to live on board for up to 15 years. “Even though we spent a lot of money on this, I’m not at all sad that we did it,” Larson, 69, told the Associated Press. “It was a wonderful opportunity. If things turned out better, if there was no war [with Iran]…and oil prices are through the roof, I think it’s an industry that could really flourish.” Larson said she blamed President Trump for the ship’s financial challenges due to the U.S.-initiated conflict with Iran, which has dramatically restricted oil shipping from the Middle East. Sharon Lane, who now lives in Orange County, told NBC LA that she had been aboard the cruise ship for months, but left in August for health reasons. But before that, she had noticed that the ship was having financial problems, asking last week, he said his friends told him the company isn’t helping them find hotels or temporary flights. “You know the phrase hurry up the bum?” That’s what it feels like to me,” said Lane, 78. “On some level, I’m sad. On another level, I’m angry.” The Associated Press contributed to this report.
