U.S. cruise ship departs Cambodia with no passengers after abruptly forcing everyone to disembark

Key Points:

• The U.S.-owned cruise ship MV Odyssey has left Cambodia's Sihanoukville port with only crew aboard after suspending its around-the-world voyage due to soaring fuel costs, forcing all 203 passengers to disembark abruptly on October 28.
• The ship, owned by Florida-based Villa Vie Residences, is now controlled by its lender and is expected to be moved to Singapore, where it may be auctioned off; company leadership hopes to restructure and regain control within 30 to 90 days if an operational partner is found.
• Passengers, mostly Americans, had invested heavily in the ship, with some paying over $300,000 for lifetime suites, but the company faced financial distress for months due to fuel expenses rising from an average of $1,800 to $6,000-$8,000 per cabin monthly amid the Iran war's impact on fuel supply.
• Villa Vie Residences attempted to reduce fuel consumption by slowing the itinerary and increasing port time but ultimately could not offset the sharp fuel cost increases, leading to the voyage's suspension and ongoing debates about the financial viability of the cruise concept.
• The Odyssey, built in 1993 and acquired by Villa Vie in 2023 after a refit in Belfast, had planned a second cruise and the purchase of a second ship before operations were halted.