The Villa Vie Odyssey was more than 750 days into a voyage that began in Belfast in October 2024 when it came to a stop in Cambodia. The operator said it was working with passengers on disembarkation plans and "temporary living arrangements".
Bloomberg reported that around 200 passengers were on board when they were ordered to disembark, citing the cruise operator's founder. The nearly 200m (656ft) vessel can carry up to 650 passengers.
Villa Vie Residences said global fuel prices had soared since the Iran war began earlier this year. It put the monthly fuel cost per cabin in parts of Asia at as much as $8,000 (£6,000), up 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 were not enough to "offset the extraordinary increase in fuel costs". Passing the full increase on to residents was not a realistic solution, it said.
The company said it would spend the next 60 days on "restructuring and recapitalisation", though "no outcome is assured".
According to the ship's website, the voyage was expected to span 3.5 years and cover nearly 150 countries. Its departure had been delayed while the ship underwent repairs, leaving passengers stranded in Belfast for months. The ship has several bars and restaurants, a pool deck and a pickleball court, according to its website. Permanent residencies in its cabins range from $120,000 to $440,000, and cabins are also available to rent from $3,500 a month.