Fort Worth couple among 200 passengers forced off Florida-owned cruise ship

Villa Vie Odyssey passengers were told to disembark in Cambodia as rising fuel costs forced a temporary pause in operations.

A Fort Worth couple who bought a cabin aboard a luxury residential cruise ship for 15 years is now figuring out what comes next after the vessel ordered more than 200 passengers to disembark in Cambodia.

Dwight and Sheila Greene purchased their cabin aboard Villa Vie Residence’s Odyssey last May, hoping to make the ship their home at sea. The couple, who document their travels as vloggers, said the experience had been amazing.

“We get on and off the ship. We kind of use it as like, I always call it my our own personal aircraft carrier…” Dwight Greene said.

But this week, the couple was among the passengers told to leave the ship as it entered what the company called a "temporary layup period."

The company cited rising fuel costs amid conflict in the Middle East.

In a statement, the company said it had taken steps to reduce fuel consumption since the conflict began in late February, including slowing the itinerary and spending more time in port.

"Since the conflict began in late February, we have taken significant steps to reduce fuel consumption, including slowing the itinerary and spending more time in port. Those measures have not been enough to offset the extraordinary increase in fuel costs, and we have been unable to continue carrying the resulting operating losses.”

The Greenes said they were among passengers who contributed additional money earlier this year in an effort to keep the ship operating.

“I think pretty much everyone who's paid any attention at all knew that there were issues,” Dwight Greene said.

The cruise company had faced challenges before the latest disruption. Records obtained by NBC News showed Villa Vie faced a lawsuit filed last year alleging the company misrepresented its financial stability.

The Greenes said they are not casting blame. As they head out on another cruise they had booked previously, they have left personal belongings aboard the Odyssey — a sign they still believe the ship will return to service.

“We are devastated that folks have lost money or have lost faith or have lost hope. I mean, that crushes us. Because I'm full of hope. And I'm full of faith. And I think that this, we will survive this,” Dwight Greene said.

This story was originally reported for broadcast by NBC DFW. AI tools helped convert the story into a digital article, and an NBC DFW journalist edited it again before publication.