A U.S. residential cruise ship has suspended its around-the-world voyage in Cambodia, forcing more than 200 passengers to abandon what many considered their permanent floating homes.

The Villa Vie Odyssey, operated by Florida-based Villa Vie Residences, docked at Sihanoukville Autonomous Port on October 23 for a scheduled five-day visit. It was due to continue to Vietnam but remained in port as of Wednesday, October 28.

The ship carried 203 passengers of 15 nationalities, mostly Americans, along with 156 crew members. The vessel has a capacity of 650 residents.

The company cited a dramatic rise in fuel costs as the reason for halting operations. Monthly fuel expenses per cabin, which historically averaged $1,800, have recently reached between $6,000 and $8,000 in parts of Asia, a surge the company attributed to the ongoing war in Iran.

Villa Vie Residences said it had taken steps to reduce consumption, including slowing the itinerary and spending more time in port, but those measures proved insufficient.

"We have been unable to continue carrying the resulting operating losses," the company said. "Passing the full increase on to residents is not a realistic solution. Our focus now is on supporting residents, crew, and employees" while it attempts to restructure.

The company said it would spend the next 60 days on "restructuring and recapitalisation", though "no outcome is assured".

The Odyssey departed Belfast in October 2024 on a voyage expected to span approximately 3.5 years and cover nearly 150 countries. The ship was more than 750 days into its circumnavigation when the suspension was announced. It had a confirmed itinerary running into November 2027.

Passengers were told to disembark. The status of the crew remained unclear. The company said it was working with passengers on disembarkation plans and "temporary living arrangements".

Permanent cabin residencies on the ship range from $120,000 to $440,000. Cabins are also available to rent from $3,500 per month. Last year, the company launched a lifetime residence programme aimed at retirees wishing to spend their later years at sea.

Passenger Holly Hennessey spoke from Cambodia, describing the uncertainty facing those on board.

"We're all in different hotels; there are a number of shipmates in the hotel that I'm in. We're just waiting," she said.

Hennessey said residents had previously been asked to consider paying a fuel surcharge as global prices rose, and that the itinerary had been "severely curtailed". Some passengers chose to disembark earlier and continue travelling by land.

Hennessey said she was staying in Cambodia in the hope the voyage would resume.

"Until they say we are done - done done - I am not giving up. I could never duplicate this lifestyle. The idea of going home? It would be so trite," she said.

"It was not on my bingo card of places where I'd be spending a lot of time," she added.

The company had also planned to launch a second residential cruise ship in early 2029. Its statement on the suspension of the Odyssey's voyage did not address the status of that project.