‘More numb than anything’: Aussies stranded in Cambodia as ‘forever’ cruise shut down

Two Australians’ dreams of a life at sea have been thrown into uncertainty after a residential cruise ship abruptly suspended operations .

Brisbane mum Rina Cavazza and Melbourne retiree Frances Paroissien were living aboard the Villa Vie Odyssey, operated by US-based company Villa Vie Residences, when passengers were told to leave the vessel in Cambodia.

WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Aussies stranded on luxury cruise ship in Cambodia

The ship set sail from Belfast in October 2024 on a planned three-and-a-half-year round-the-world voyage, promising residents visits to more than 425 destinations across 147 countries.

There were 203 passengers and 156 crew members aboard when it was tied up in Cambodia on Tuesday. Most passengers were American or Canadian, with five Australians among them.

Cavazza, who paid $170,000 for a berth, had been aboard since the vessel departed Belfast about 25 months ago.

She still had 18 months left on her plan when passengers were told they had to leave the ship in Sihanoukville, with just seven hours’ notice.

“I’m more numb than anything,” she told 7NEWS.

“There’s always been issues for the last couple of months, but we always thought there was a light at the end of the tunnel.”

Cavazza said the fuel crisis was the final trigger, but not the underlying problem.

“They don’t have ... the cruising history, but they don’t have accounting history,” she said, criticising the company’s handling of its finances.

She also said residents had been asked to contribute more money to keep the business going.

“They’ve been doing cash calls out to the residents and stuff, which I couldn’t do and wouldn’t do, but many have.”

In a statement, the Florida-based operator pointed to the war in Iran as a key factor behind its decision to suspend operations..

“Extraordinary increases in fuel costs have placed our current operating moderl under unsustainable financial pressure,” Villa Vie Residences said.

Monthly fuel expenses per cabin that had averaged about $US1800 were estimated to have reached $US6000 to $US8000 in parts of Asia.

Passengers were told to disembark by 2pm on Tuesday, leaving many scrambling to find accommodation and make new travel arrangements.

Paroissien, 78, had already lost $85,000 on the cancelled Life at Sea venture before buying a cabin for over $200,000 on the Odyssey under a 15-year lease. She had spent just 25 months aboard.

“I am angry,” she said. “I am cheesed off that action didn’t happen earlier so that this could be avoided.”

Paroissien said residents had been told in August the company owed millions to a bank and other creditors.

She said passengers contributed more than $US2 million to help the ship leave Singapore, but later refused another request for money because they did not know where it would go.

“We were worried that the money that we had contributed to fuel and to stabilise the business was going in this fairyland of becoming multiple ship owners,” she said.

With no home to return to in Melbourne, Paroissien has leased an apartment in Thailand for six months.

“I’m not going home because I don’t have a home to go to,” she said.

Despite the upheaval, she has no intention of giving up on travel.

“Whereas if I’m in Thailand, I can catch buses and trains and whatever to various other places around Asia that I haven’t seen yet,” she said.

For Cavazza, too, the voyage may not be over.

“It’s not the end of the story for me, but it’s just a roadblock,” she said.

The future of the Odyssey, however, remains uncertain, with the ship docked in Cambodia and no confirmed departure date.