Stranded cruise ship leaves Cambodia with only crew

Cambodian officials confirmed that the MV Odyssey, a U.S.-owned cruise ship, departed the country with only its crew and other personnel on board. The ship had been docked at Sihanoukville for a scheduled stop during its around-the-world voyage.

The cruise, operated by Florida-based Villa Vie Residences, had suspended its three-year journey due to a sharp rise in fuel costs. On October 28, passengers were abruptly told to disembark within hours, leaving the ship without its 203 passengers.

According to Tang Sochetkresna, director of the Tourism Department of Preah Sihanouk province, the ship left late Tuesday. He stated that he was unaware of its next destination, and that most of the passengers were Americans.

The MV Odyssey, with a capacity of 650 passengers, had 156 crew members on board. It is unclear how many of them remained with the ship. No official announcement has been made regarding the cruise's future plans.

Media reports suggest a creditor may have taken over the ship's management, with plans to sail it to Singapore. The cruise had previously marketed itself as a floating home, offering long-term living at sea combined with global travel.

Passengers reportedly paid over $300,000 for a suite for the lifetime of the vessel. Villa Vie Residences attributed the cruise's suspension to rising fuel costs, which have reached an estimated $6,000 to $8,000 per cabin in parts of Asia due to the war in Iran.