Cruise Ship Residents: Stranded in Cambodia After Fuel Costs Soar

Villa Vie stopped its residential cruise ship in Cambodia on Tuesday, leaving 200 passengers stranded after the company cited soaring fuel prices. The vessel, known as The Odyssey, has been at anchor in the country since the halt, with residents reporting a lack of immediate assistance from management.

The 642-foot ship, owned by the Florida-based company, promised a long-term life at sea. However, the monthly fuel expense, which historically averaged $1,800, recently reached an estimated $6,000 to $8,000 in parts of Asia. Villa Vie stated it could not pass these increases onto residents and is now working to coordinate disembarkation and temporary living arrangements.

Sharon Lane, a 78-year-old Orange County retiree, left the ship in August after 15 months. She had purchased her room for more than $200,000 for a 15-year term. Lane told NBC Los Angeles that she began noticing fewer meals and more days spent idling at sea before her departure. She recalled the schedule for lunch shifting from noon to nearly 7 p.m., with cookies served as the main offering.

"They went from lunchtime to almost 7 o'clock. They would put cookies out. That's not enough food," Lane said. She noted that the ship was "literally floating out in the ocean, not spending gas to propel ourselves in any one direction or the other."

Lane said operators asked passengers to pay additional fuel fees multiple times over the past few months. She described the financial strain on her friends who remained aboard, noting that many rely on Social Security and sold their belongings to pay for their cabins. "I have friends on that ship that couldn't afford. They sold everything, and they live on Social Security, and they did not have high-end jobs when they were working," she said.

While Villa Vie posted a statement on its website Tuesday, Lane said her friends report receiving no help or hotel coupons despite the company's claims. The company said it is restructuring over the next 60 days, though no financing has been finalized. Lane is currently working with her insurance company to resolve her claim.

The company has not responded to recent phone calls or emails for further comment. Lane said the experience felt like a "bum's rush," mixing sadness and anger. She remains in her sparsely furnished home in Orange County, having sold most of her possessions last year.