Villa Vie Suspends Cambodia Operations on Monthly Fuel Estimates Up to $8,000 per Cabin

Villa Vie Residences suspended operations in Cambodia for its residential cruise ship Villa Vie Odyssey after estimating monthly fuel costs of $6,000 to $8,000 per cabin in parts of Asia. The operator’s historical monthly average was about $1,800 per cabin. The low end of the current range is about 233% above that average; the high end is about 344% higher.

The figures are the operator’s per-cabin estimates; they do not establish what passengers were charged. Villa Vie said slowing the itinerary and spending more time in port did not offset the increase. The company cited “the conflict,” which it said began in late February, as a factor in the higher costs. “We have been unable to continue carrying the resulting operating losses,” it said.

The Odyssey arrived in Sihanoukville from Thailand on Oct. 23 with 203 passengers and 156 crew. Passengers were given seven hours to disembark on Oct. 27.

Villa Vie said it would pursue restructuring and recapitalization over the next 60 days. No financing or transaction had been finalized, and the company said no outcome was assured. It has not announced a restart date. The ship was expected to refuel and leave Cambodia on Oct. 31, but Villa Vie had not confirmed a departure date as of Oct. 28.