Cruise world trip ends early in Cambodia

For some it was supposed to be a cruise until the end of their lives - but now the journey of the "MV Odyssey" ended prematurely in Cambodia. According to the shipping company, the reason is the sharp increase in fuel prices.

Cruise world trip canceled "Things have been going downhill for months" Status: November 2nd, 2026 • 11:51 a.m

The dream trip is now over. Paul and Lynn Montoya from the USA actually wanted to enjoy their retirement on the high seas. A cabin on the cruise ship “MV Odyssey” should make it possible. They sold their house and car in order to be able to afford one of the cabins on the ship for the equivalent of 160,000 euros - like around 200 other passengers.

Either forever, like the Montoyas, or a temporary cabin that you could rent, says Paul Montoya. Now he sits in front of piled-up suitcases and sums up: "We spent a lot of time running companies and raising our family - the cruise was our opportunity to see the world." But now they have squeezed their belongings back into two suitcases and are sitting at the port of Sihanoukville in Cambodia. The ship was forced to dock there.

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The captain and the operating company from the USA say that the costs are too high, especially the fuel prices. You simply can't afford to continue traveling. Instead of 1,600 euros for a cabin, the costs rose to up to 7,000 euros per month. The reason: the Iran war - or so the operators say.

Passenger Paul Montoya had seen it coming: "Things had been going downhill for months. The ship's shipping company was demanding more and more money to be able to continue the journey. In April they asked for a loan for fuel for the first time." Many passengers took part - also assuming that they would get the money back with interest. It was already clear to many people at the time that there were many problems, says Montoya.

First the internet got worse, then the food, said passenger Barbara Figiel. For them, the ship was their home for a year and a half. Many of the guests didn't want to pay extra money, she says - but for others it would have been worth the onward journey, also to keep their dream alive.

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The shipping company repeatedly asked the passengers for more and more money, says Figiel. "We actually bought another cabin to keep things going and to help the organization. But at some point you ask yourself: How much money can you spend to literally save a sinking ship?"

The sudden announcement that she would have to disembark with all her belongings within just seven hours caught Barbara Figiel unprepared.

Paul and Lynn Montoya leave their hotel in Cambodia.

It's still a bit of a shock for Figiel. She says she cried most of the day: "When we went back to the ship to get some valuables and other things, I couldn't stop crying. I said goodbye to everyone. Everyone felt the same way I did."

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There is great hope that a new investor will be found. Some of the passengers are now even considering continuing to operate the ship on their own, says pensioner Laurie Poss. "I would say I don't think it was just fuel costs. There were financial issues before that," Poss said. She hopes that the cruise will continue in some form and that the ship can be owned by the passengers. "We have an incredibly talented community. Business people, creative minds. That's phenomenal," said the 74-year-old.

Now for many passengers it's time to wait at the port and see what happens next. Others have already left, including five Germans among those affected.

This topic in the program: tagessschau.de | Cruise ship stranded in Cambodia due to high fuel prices | 11/02/2026 | 05:00 am