The Villa Vie Odyssey, a cruise ship that promised a never-ending global voyage, has departed Cambodia's Sihanoukville port. The vessel left on November 4 with approximately 50 crew members, having disembarked more than 200 passengers last week. The ship's final destination remains unconfirmed, though maritime tracking sites and passengers suggest it is headed for Singapore.
The cruise, which began with passengers paying tens of thousands of dollars for lifetime residencies, was terminated after roughly 750 days at sea. The company cited a surge in fuel prices, attributed to the conflict in Iran, as the reason for ending the voyage. Many passengers were left scrambling to arrange new travel plans, with about 100 still in Cambodia and others flying to regional destinations.
A resident-led initiative, Sagar Capital, attempted to purchase and operate the Odyssey but announced on November 4 that its efforts had failed. According to a letter shared with residents, the group was unable to reach terms with the ship's lender after two months of negotiations. The statement indicated that the lender, in conjunction with Columbia Ship Management, has taken control of the vessel with the intention of selling it at auction.
The letter also revealed that the group discovered "substantially more debt than we had anticipated," along with concerns about "legal exposure" and "the cost of bankruptcy." Despite 169 passengers pledging support, the funds were insufficient to cover the accumulated costs. Mike Petterson, the company's founder, told CBS News that the lender now bears responsibility for the crew, fuel, and safekeeping of the vessel, and that negotiations are not entirely closed, suggesting a potential for restructuring if a funded plan is presented within a 30- to 90-day period.