She would have traveled the world... The repercussions of the Iran war end a cruise ship voyage early

A residential cruise ship, which had been traveling the world continuously for more than two years, was forced to disembark its passengers in Cambodia, after the repercussions of the war on Iran led to fuel prices rising to levels that made it very expensive to continue the journey. The company operating the luxury ship "Villa Vie Odyssey", based in the US state of Florida, announced on Tuesday the suspension of its operations in Cambodia, noting that it is working to find temporary housing arrangements for the passengers staying on board, many of whom have private cabins and consider the ship their permanent home.

“Since the conflict began in late February, we have taken substantial steps to reduce fuel consumption, including slowing down the journey and spending longer periods in port,” Villa V Residences said in a statement. But these measures "were not enough to compensate for the huge rise in fuel costs, and we can no longer bear the resulting operational losses."

Ofuk News has contacted Villa V Residences for comment. The ship "Odyssey" has been sailing non-stop since its departure from the city of Belfast in Northern Ireland more than two years ago, after months of delays.

The ship, which is 195 meters long, is described as having an “intimate” nature, and is distinguished by its ability to reach “destinations around the world that other ships cannot reach.” According to the company's website, the cost of living for five years on board "Odyssey" starts at $59,999, while the cost of owning a permanent cabin reaches $119,999.

Owners also pay a monthly fee, which currently ranges between $3,299 and $9,500 depending on the type of suite, covering food and beverage costs, internet access, medical care, cleaning services, and other expenses. Passengers can also rent cabins at prices starting at $3,499 per month.

The ship was scheduled to visit more than 400 destinations during its ongoing voyage around the world, according to the website. However, the company explained in the statement that the sharp rise in fuel costs, resulting from the war on Iran and the unrest in the Strait of Hormuz, has created “financial pressures that cannot be sustained.”

She pointed out that monthly fuel costs for each cabin increased from about $1,800 to $8,000 in some regions of Asia, which depend heavily on importing energy from the Middle East. The company also stated that “passing residents for the full cost of this increase is not a realistic solution,” and added that it is currently working on “restructuring and recapitalization” within the next two months.

But she noted that "there is no guarantee" that it will succeed. Holly Hennessy, who has been residing on board the Odyssey with her pet cat, Captain, since the launch of the maiden voyage, said that residents were informed of the need to leave the ship less than one day before the date, although indications of this had been clear for a while.

“The situation has been very difficult since the outbreak of the war,” Hennessy explained, noting that residents were asked to pay additional fees for fuel last May. The ship also began reducing the use of cooling systems to save energy, which made staying on board uncomfortable, according to her.

However, Hennessy emphasized that the opportunity to live on board was a "priceless experience." Last June, Sharon Lynn, a retiree from the US state of California who bought a cabin on the ship, told Ofoq News that she was planning to live on board the “Odyssey” as long as the ship remained able to sail.

Last year, the company estimated that the operational life of the ship was 15 years. "This is home to me," confirmed Lynn, who invested her entire life's savings in purchasing her cabin.