Cruise Ship Leaves Cambodia With Only Crew

Cambodian officials confirmed that the U.S. cruise ship MV Odyssey departed the country with only crew members aboard following the abrupt suspension of its operations. The ship had been docked in Sihanoukville for a scheduled stop on its around-the-world voyage.

The Odyssey, owned by Florida-based Villa Vie Residences, had been on a three-year cruise when it halted its journey due to rising fuel costs. Passengers were ordered to disembark within hours on October 28, leaving the ship without any passengers.

According to Tang Sochetkresna, director of the Tourism Department of Preah Sihanouk province, the ship left late Tuesday with only its crew and other personnel. He noted that most of the passengers were Americans, with nearly 100 remaining in Sihanoukville or elsewhere in Cambodia.

Villa Vie Residences attributed the suspension to a sharp increase in fuel costs, which have risen to between $6,000 and $8,000 per cabin in parts of Asia due to the war in Iran. The company had attempted to reduce expenses by slowing the itinerary and spending more time in port, but these measures were insufficient.

The ship, with a capacity of 650 passengers, had 156 crew members on board, though it is unclear how many departed with the vessel. There has been no official announcement regarding the ship’s future plans, though media reports suggest a creditor may have taken over its management and is planning to sail it to Singapore.

The Odyssey, built in 1993 and previously operated by several cruise lines before the pandemic, was purchased by Villa Vie Residences in 2023. Passengers had reportedly been asked for financial contributions for months to keep the ship operational, sparking debate over its financial viability.