In brief
The MV Odyssey, carrying 203 passengers, exited the Sihanoukville Autonomous Port at 12:25 a.m. on Wednesday after refueling, despite a crew that was already reduced by air departures.A Florida‑based operator, Villa Vie Residences, cited soaring fuel prices and a broader financial crisis that began in early 2026 as the reason for suspending the ship’s long‑planned around‑the‑world voyage. The ship’s next destination remains unknown, with passengers receiving visas for each of their 15 nationalities while awaiting travel arrangements.
The MV Odyssey, a residential cruise ship that had stranded 203 passengers in Cambodia, left the Sihanoukville Autonomous Port at 12:25 a.m. on Wednesday after refueling, according to local officials.
Tang Sochetkresna, director of the Preah Sihanouk Provincial Department of Tourism, confirmed the departure by phone, noting that the vessel sailed with a partial crew as the rest had already flown home.
The Florida‑based company Villa Vie Residences had forced all passengers to disembark on Oct. 27, citing a lack of money for fuel. It later announced the suspension of the voyage, saying monthly fuel expenses had surged from an average of $1,800 per cabin to between $6,000 and $8,000 in parts of Asia, citing a financial crisis that began in early 2026.
"The cruise initially set off in October 2024 on a planned three‑and‑a‑half‑year global voyage from Belfast, Northern Ireland, following extensive repairs,"
Inside Cambodia, Interior Minister Sar Sokha reported that the General Department of Immigration had issued tourist visas to the stranded passengers, who represented 15 nationalities, following their disembarkation.
While the ship has re‑fueled and departed, the MV Odyssey’s next destination remains unknown.Unconfirmed, the vessel’s forthcoming route and the full extent of the financial issues are still not publicly disclosed by the operator.
Local media reported that the ship left with a reduced crew, and independent social media posts from “The Traveler” confirming that the monthly fuel cost per cabin had risen sharply, matching Villa Vie’s figures. However, a detailed breakdown of the company’s broader economic challenges has not yet been released. The cruise’s abrupt halt has left passengers dispersed across Cambodia and awaiting their next travel arrangements while the ship sails away empty apart from a handful of crew members.
