Passenger ship suspends global cruise because of fuel costs, stranding hundreds

A U.S. passenger ship Tuesday paused its global three-year voyage in Cambodia because of fuel costs, stranding hundreds of passengers.

The MV Odyssey, which began its voyage from Belfast, Northern Ireland, two years ago, has no certain departure date as it remains docked at the port of Sihanoukville on the Gulf of Thailand.

The ship is carrying 203 passengers, mostly Americans, with 156 crew members, Cambodian officials told The Associated Press . The vessel is capable of carrying 650 passengers.

Villa Vie Residences, the ship’s Florida-based parent company, said in a statement that “extraordinary increases in fuel costs have placed our current operating model under unsustainable financial pressure.”

“We are working with residents to coordinate disembarkation and temporary living arrangements, and are supporting residents, crew, and employees as we evaluate restructuring and recapitalization alternatives over the next 60 days,” the company added.

Villa Vie Residences said fuel costs per cabin previously averaged $1,800, but monthly costs have soared to an estimated $6,000 to $8,000 in some parts of Asia.

It added that the price hike was a result of the Iran war, which has caused a global fuel shortage and energy prices to skyrocket.

Long Dimanche, deputy governor of Preah Sihanouk Province, told reporters that the ship is scheduled to refuel before departing on Saturday, NBC News reported .

Pamela Reckamp, who rented a cabin with her husband and disembarked this month, told the outlet that during a meeting in September, a company official asked cabin owners to help raise $1 million to help the ship leave Ha Long Bay, Vietnam. She recalled a woman saying she “sold [her] house” and car to be on the ship.

Oil prices hit their highest point since May last Friday. As of Wednesday, futures for international benchmark Brent crude were trading at $115 per barrel, while U.S benchmark West Texas Intermediate traded at about $102.

The U.S.-Israeli conflict has been at a standstill in recent months, with President Trump pitching to voters on the midterm campaign trail that gas prices will drop. The national average for gas in the U.S. sits at $4.25 per gallon, a more than 20-cent drop from the average last month, according to AAA .

But voters could punish Republicans over the high gas prices when they go to the polls next week, with Democrats making gas prices a main issue, pointing the blame at Trump and GOP lawmakers.