US cruise ship halts world voyage over fuel costs, 200 passengers stranded in Cambodia

A floating villa, complete with bars, restaurants and a swimming pool. But when it ran aground, residents had to deal with the hassles of traditional travel. Who wants to start dealing with airports, packing, unpacking? Oh my God. The MV Odyssey was about 750 days into its three-and-a-half-year voyage when its operator abruptly suspended the trip and asked passengers to disembark at the Cambodian port of Sihanoukville. The company said monthly fuel costs per cabin had gone up from $1,800 to $8,000 in parts of Asia, making it impossible to continue the business. Customers believe that's not the only reason. The fuel situation didn't help, but they were already struggling as a company to make the money they needed to continue to do this. Marketing the cruise ship as a permanent home at sea, the company had offered the purchase of a suite for the lifetime of the ship, starting around $230,000, a dream retirement plan for many. It's a place to go to live and not to die. If there wasn't the war with the U.S. causing it and the gas and oil prices going sky high, I think it is an industry that really could bloom. Some residents are now hoping they could get together to buy the cruise ship themselves to keep it afloat.