For Paul and Lynn Montoya, the MV Odyssey was meant to be a permanent home at sea. The US couple sold their house and car and paid the equivalent of 160,000 euros for a cabin, joining around 200 other passengers who had either bought cabins or rented them for a limited period.
Their journey ended in Sihanoukville, Cambodia, where the ship was forced to dock. The captain and the US-based operator said operating costs, particularly fuel prices, had risen too far to allow the voyage to continue. Monthly cabin costs reportedly increased from 1,600 euros to as much as 7,000 euros. The operators attributed the increase to the war in Iran.
Montoya said he had seen the problems developing for months. According to him, the company repeatedly asked passengers for additional money and first requested a fuel loan in April. Several passengers contributed, apparently expecting to receive the money back with interest.
Passengers also described a gradual deterioration in conditions on board. Barbara Figiel said the internet service worsened before the food did. The ship had been her home for a year and a half, and she said some passengers bought additional cabins to help keep the operation going. Eventually, however, she questioned how much money could be spent trying to save what she described as a “sinking ship.”
The passengers were told suddenly that they had to leave the vessel with all their belongings within seven hours. Figiel said she spent much of the day crying and that passengers shared the same sense of shock as they said goodbye to one another.
Some passengers still hope a new investor will be found. Retiree Laurie Poss said some were even considering operating the ship themselves. She doubted that fuel costs were the only problem and said financial difficulties had existed beforehand. For now, many passengers are waiting at the port to see what happens next, while others have already left. Five German nationals are among those affected.
Sources: Tagesschau.