Stranded cruise ship Odyssey leaves Cambodia with no passengers

Phnom Penh, Cambodia (AP) — The U.S. cruise ship MV Odyssey, owned by Florida-based Villa Vie Residences, has departed the Southeast Asian nation with only its crew aboard, according to Cambodian officials. The ship, which had been on an around-the-world cruise, suspended operations last week due to skyrocketing fuel costs. On October 28, 203 passengers disembarked from the MV Odyssey in Sihanoukville, Cambodia, and the ship departed the port with only crew and other personnel on board late Tuesday.

Nearly 100 passengers remained in Sihanoukville, while others were visiting other parts of Cambodia or had traveled to other countries. The MV Odyssey, with a capacity of 650 passengers, had 156 crew members on board at the time of departure. It is unclear the ship's next destination, as Villa Vie Residences has not announced any future plans for the cruise ship.

The cruise ship had been touted as a floating home, combining long-term living at sea with global travel, but the abrupt end to its voyage has drawn widespread attention. Several passengers paid over $300,000 for a suite for the lifetime of the vessel. Villa Vie Residences cited the surge in fuel costs, which increased monthly fuel expenses per cabin in parts of Asia to an estimated $6,000 to $8,000, making the ship's operation unprofitable.

The cruise ship was built in 1993 and had been operated under different names by various cruise lines before the COVID-19 pandemic. It was bought by Villa Vie Residences in 2023 and embarked on its current cruise in October 2024, having been refitted in Belfast, Northern Ireland.