Hundreds of people who bought or rented cabins to live full time on a round-the-world cruise ship are scrambling for a place to stay after the ship's U.S. operator halted the voyage in Cambodia because of soaring fuel prices.

Florida-based Villa Vie Residences said Tuesday it had suspended operations of The Odyssey, a 642-foot ship that left Belfast, Northern Ireland, three years ago on a never-ending tour of the world. Residents were told to get off the ship in the port city of Sihanoukville with only a few hours' notice.

A Cambodian provincial official said 203 passengers and 156 crew members were on board, most of the passengers American. Some have already flown out while others are waiting in the city. The ship is expected to refuel and leave Cambodia on Saturday.

Fuel costs blamed

The company said it had cut fuel use as much as it could but could not keep up with the jump in prices since the war with Iran began this year. Reports said its monthly fuel bill per cabin climbed from about $1,800 to between $6,000 and $8,000 in parts of Asia.

Villa Vie said passing the full increase on to residents was not realistic. It said it is helping find temporary housing and will spend the next 60 days trying to restructure and raise new money but warned that no outcome is guaranteed.

Owners left in limbo

Cabins on The Odyssey were sold for anywhere from about $119,000 to several hundred thousand dollars. One former renter told NBC News that company officials asked cabin owners in September to help raise $1 million so the ship could leave Vietnam and warned the power could go off without it.

A company that paid $469,000 for a cabin sued Villa Vie last year, accusing it of misrepresenting its finances. The company has denied the claims and that case is still pending.

For residents who sold homes and cars to move aboard, the shutdown leaves big questions about where they will live and whether they will ever see their money again.