Cruise ship strands hundreds in Cambodia

Hundreds left stranded after a cruise ship suspends operations in Cambodia, citing rising fuel costs. And the ship advertises long-term living at sea. But passengers, including an Arizona woman, say they were given just hours to get off the ship. And the trip of a lifetime is over. Fox News' Jacob Luthy joining us with their story tonight. Jacob. I'm Mark Ellen. For Sherry Cornett, it was a dream come true. seeing the world while While having a place to call home for years, she says she read about the opportunity, booked her spot and set sail. But now that dream trip has come to a halt, leaving her stranded in Cambodia after the company suspended operations. Now, Cornett says residents had just seven hours notice to leave with crew and fellow passengers helping to get their luggage off the ship. It took another 36 hours, Cornett says, for the company to offer hotel information, possible financial help and a potential flight home. If enough passengers, she says, agreed to pay $1,100 each. Now, Cornett admits there were some warning signs along the way, including unexpectedly leaving some ports early and extending stays at others. The company says that soaring fuel costs forced the suspension. Cornett says she wishes the communication from the company was better, saying she says that they were dropped off in town with no clear plan for what came next. The port provided shuttles for us to get into town and we were dropped on a public square and had to find our way from there. So it's been quite the challenge to get everyone situated. Imagine dumping 203 people into a really small little port town and no one having any idea of what comes next. Now earlier today we spoke with a Phoenix travel agent who says this wasn't your typical cruise right Cornett says she was expecting to be there for three years these were people living on the ship for some the long haul but her advice whether you're sailing for two days or two years do not skip travel insurance she says the right policy can help cover trip interruptions emergency medical care evacuation and in some cases getting you back home if a company more to suspend operations, but if you're booking on your own, she says, do your homework, research the insurance provider, know exactly what your policy covers and check out the company you're trusting with your trip. If you buy trip insurance, trip cancellation, trip interruption insurance, it covers you medically outside the U.S., but it also covers you in case the company goes into default, which is exactly what's happening with these poor folks. It always helps to plan ahead and it always helps to plan for every contingency. And you don't want to think about that when you're like, hey, I'm going to go to Barbados and jump on a cruise ship. But it is something that you need to think about. Now in a statement, Villa V Residences says it's working to coordinate disembarkation and find possible living arrangements for passengers. As for Cornette, she says despite the abrupt ending, she's loved her experience and isn't in a rush to get home. She says she still plans to keep traveling. Jacob Luthy, Fox 10 News