Cruise Ship Residents Forced to Leave in Cambodia Amid Fuel Crisis

Joel Greiff, 57, was among the recent arrivals to the Villa Vie Odyssey, a residential cruise ship, and had kept his belongings to a minimum. When he was told to leave the ship in Sihanoukville, Cambodia, on Tuesday, he was able to quickly repack his few items.

Villa Vie Residences, which operates the cruise, cited a surge in fuel prices, linked to the Iran War, as the reason for the shutdown. Founder Mikael Petterson described the situation as a 'cascading effect' that halted operations.

Passengers, including Jim and Chris Guld, who had previously lived in an RV, now find themselves stranded in Cambodia. The couple, who had a small camper van as a backup plan, were dropped off at a park by the company's shuttle, without the promised temporary accommodation.

Claude Sadovsky, a retired doctor who paid $100,000 for a cabin, left the ship about three weeks before the shutdown. He expressed disappointment with the cruise's ability to deliver the round-the-world experience he had expected, and returned to his home in Maui, Hawaii.

Some residents, like Paul Montoya, are exploring options to buy the ship in hopes of continuing their dream lifestyle. Others, like Angela Nuran Gokturk, are willing to make financial sacrifices to keep the cruise running, calling it their retirement and dream lifestyle.

Dwight and Sheila Greene, who were not on the ship during the shutdown, are undeterred. They plan to switch to a different cruise in Singapore, where they will meet the Odyssey's expected return. They remain optimistic about the future of the cruise and the experience it provided.