Cruise Ship Operator Halts Operations, Stranding 200 Passengers in Cambodia

The Odyssey, a floating retirement community that carried 200 passengers, stopped moving on Tuesday. Its operator, Villa Vie Residences, abruptly suspended all operations, leaving residents stranded in the Sihanoukville province of Cambodia. The company cited soaring fuel prices as the reason for the shutdown. Passengers were given seven hours to collect their pets and personal items before leaving the ship.

The financial burden of the venture has become a central issue for the residents. Paul and Lynn Montoya, a couple from Laramie, Wyoming, reported spending $450,000 on their retirement home at sea. They purchased lifetime rights to a cabin for $179,000. After that initial cost, they paid $6,000 a month for ship operations. This fee covered housekeeping, laundry, three meals a day, and access to amenities like a gym, pool, and theater. Their annual cost of living totaled $72,000.

The Montoyas originally planned a four-year circumnavigation of the globe. They considered extending the trip to 15 years if they enjoyed it. They viewed the arrangement as a way to see the world on a middle-class budget. Paul Montoya, 68, said they had little time to travel before their 60s. The couple had been at sea for 17 months when the company issued the suspension notice.

The couple now finds themselves in limbo without a home to return to. They are staying at the Independence Hotel in Cambodia. Paul estimated that half of the passengers chose this lodging. The hotel costs about $60 a night and offers two swimming pools, one of which is an infinity pool. Many residents are concerned about transporting their pets out of the country. The ship allowed cats, and some passengers brought half a dozen or more animals.

Red flags appeared before the final shutdown. The company introduced programs that promised lifetime maintenance fee waivers for large upfront payments. Paul noted that some residents paid as little as $500 in monthly fees. He believed the operation would eventually run out of money because revenue did not match expenses. He estimated the company’s expenses were around $3.2 million a month, while revenue was only about $700,000.

Fuel costs contributed to the financial strain. The company paid about $700 or $800 per metric ton for ship fuel. Due to shortages, that price jumped to $2,000 per metric ton. In Australia and New Zealand, the cost reached $2,200 per metric ton. Lynn Montoya said the company changed ports and canceled stops to manage the increased expenses. The itinerary changes left the ship stuck in Southeast Asia for an extended period.

In April, the company asked 22 residents for a collective loan of $2.2 million. The loan was to be paid back with interest by April 2027. The Montoyas participated in what the company called the presidential fuel-loan program. They have not yet received any promised interest payments. The company later requested an additional $1.5 million and then another $360,000 after the ship arrived in Cambodia.

The couple is currently making plans to continue their travels despite the disruption. They had previously arranged to spend time in Malaysia. Their itinerary now includes two more nights in Cambodia before moving to Phnom Penh. They will fly from there to Kuala Lumpur, where they plan to stay for roughly 10 days. They intend to use this time to finalize a plan for the next step of their journey.

Villa Vie Residences did not reply to phone and email inquiries from Cowboy State Daily. The Montoyas remain optimistic that they can resume their cruise-ship retirement. They are waiting to hear if the company can reorganize or buy enough fuel to move passengers to a city like Bangkok, which is easier for Americans to exit. Paul Montoya said they hope the Odyssey continues to sail.