Luxury cruise passengers stranded in Cambodia due to soaring fuel costs

A luxury cruise ship on a years-long voyage around the world said it suspended operations due to extraordinarily high fuel costs, leaving passengers stranded in Cambodia.

The US-based operator of Villa Vie Odyssey said it was working with passengers on disembarkation plans and "temporary living arrangements".

Global fuel prices have soared since the Iran war started earlier this year. The ship's operator said the monthly fuel cost per cabin in parts of Asia has risen to as much as $8,000 (£6,000) from $1,800.

The company said it had taken "significant steps to reduce fuel consumption, including slowing the itinerary and spending more time in port". But those measures turned out to be insufficient to "offset the extraordinary increase in fuel costs".

"Passing the full increase on to residents is not a realistic solution," it said.

The company would spend the next 60 days on "restructuring and recapitalisation", though "no outcome is assured", it said.

There were reportedly around 200 passengers on board when they were ordered to disembark in the Cambodian port city of Sihanoukville, a once sleepy beach town that has gained global notoriety in recent years as a hub for scam centres.

The Villa Vie Odyssey's voyage was expected to span 3.5 years and cover nearly 150 countries, according to its website.

Kaynak: BBC News World RSS (Açık Basın / Haber Servisi)