Luxury Sea Home Stranded: 200 Passengers Offloaded in Cambodia
Villa Vie Residence ordered the Odyssey to pause operations due to soaring fuel costs, leaving long-term residents like the Grees to find temporary land-based housing.
By Pedro Barnes ·
More than 200 passengers were forced to leave their luxury cruise residence this week.
The vessel, the Odyssey, was ordered into a temporary layup period by its operator, Villa Vie Residence. The ship is currently docked in Cambodia. Owners who purchased cabins for long-term stays now face an uncertain future.
Dwight and Sheila Greene, a couple from Fort Worth, bought their cabin aboard the Odyssey in May. They intended to make the ship their permanent home. The pair, who document their travels as vloggers, described the initial experience as amazing. Dwight Greene referred to the vessel as their personal aircraft carrier, noting that they could easily get on and off.
This week, the couple was among those told to disembark. The company attributed the decision to rising fuel costs driven by conflict in the Middle East. In a statement, Villa Vie Residence explained that measures taken since the conflict began in late February were insufficient to offset the financial impact.
The company stated it had slowed its itinerary and increased port stays to reduce consumption. Despite these efforts, the operator could no longer carry the resulting operating losses. The statement confirmed the extraordinary increase in fuel costs as the primary driver for the pause.
The Greenes had previously contributed additional funds to help keep the ship operating. Dwight Greene noted that most passengers who paid close attention were aware of the underlying issues. Records obtained by NBC News showed the company faced a lawsuit last year alleging it misrepresented its financial stability.
The couple has not cast blame on the operator. They are currently on another cruise they had booked previously. They left personal belongings aboard the Odyssey, a move they say signals their belief that the ship will return to service. Dwight Greene said the situation is devastating for those who have lost money or hope, but he remains full of faith that the group will survive the disruption.
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