U.S. Cruise Ship Departs Cambodia Empty After Forced Passenger Evacuation
The MV Odyssey leaves Sihanoukville without passengers after an abrupt disembarkation order triggered by soaring global fuel costs and financial strain.
POLICY WIRE — Sihanoukville, Cambodia — A United States-flagged cruise ship has departed Cambodia with only crew members on board following a sudden order for all passengers to leave the vessel, Cambodian officials announced Wednesday.
The MV Odyssey, operated by Florida’s Villa Vie Residences, was in the middle of a three-year global expedition when it opted to halt operations last week due to a spike in fuel prices.
The vessel was docked at the port of Sihanoukville on the Gulf of Thailand when 203 passengers were informed on Oct. 28 that they had to exit the ship within a few hours.
Sochetkresna noted that nearly 100 passengers stayed behind in Sihanoukville, while others moved to different regions of Cambodia or departed for international destinations. The majority of the travelers were American citizens.
While the ship is capable of holding 650 guests and carried 156 crew members, the exact number of staff who remained on board for its departure is unconfirmed.
No official strategy has been released regarding the future status of the ship, though media reports indicate a creditor has seized management and is directing the vessel to the maritime hub of Singapore.
The sudden termination of the voyage has gained significant attention because the ship was marketed as a floating residence offering long-term living combined with world travel.
Some passengers reportedly invested upwards of $300,000 for suites intended to last for the lifetime of the ship.
Villa Vie Residences explained that monthly fuel costs per cabin, which typically hovered around $1,800, surged between $6,000 and $8,000 in parts of Asia due to the conflict in Iran.
The company stated it attempted to lower expenses by slowing the ship and increasing time spent at ports, but these measures failed to counteract the rising costs.
In an internal PowerPoint presentation from early August, the company noted a need to distinguish between passengers’ actual inability to pay and a refusal to provide further funds.
Maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has been restricted since the war in Iran began, causing a shortage of petroleum-based fuels in Southeast Asia and driving up prices sharply.
Travelers claimed the company had been requesting additional financial contributions for months to keep the ship afloat, leading to social media debates over whether the business model was ever sustainable.
The Odyssey, which was originally built in 1993 and operated under various cruise lines prior to the pandemic pandemic, was acquired by Villa Vie Residences in 2023.
The current journey began in Belfast, Northern Ireland, in October 2024 following a refit. The company had already outlined a second cruise and the acquisition of another vessel for similar use.
Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)
