A round-the-world cruise that left around 200 passengers stranded in Cambodia after its operator ran out of funds has been seized in Singapore, court records show. The vessel, named The Odyssey, was placed under arrest on Sunday morning and is currently anchored in Singapore port waters, according to local port authorities.
Sudden Halt in Cambodia
The ship's operator, US-based Villa Vie Residences, abruptly suspended operations last month, citing extraordinary increases in fuel costs. The decision forced guests to disembark in the Cambodian port city of Sihanoukville, leaving many stranded and uncertain about their future travel plans.
The Odyssey had set sail from Belfast in October 2024 on an ambitious three-and-a-half-year voyage intended to cover 150 countries. Passengers had been offered various options, including buying their cabins outright for prices ranging from $120,000 to $440,000, paying for a five-year residency, or renting cabins for shorter periods starting at $3,500 per month.
Financial Struggles and Passenger Impact
The cruise faced difficulties from the outset. Its departure was delayed by four months due to repairs and paperwork. While in Vietnam, crew members reportedly purchased food from local grocery stores because the company owed money to a vendor who refused to deliver supplies. In August, the operator warned passengers of its financial troubles and raised funds from guests to keep the cruise afloat, also mentioning the risk of detention.
Passenger Holly Hennessey told the BBC that guests were asked to consider paying a fuel surcharge as prices soared, and that their itinerary had been severely curtailed. The vessel sailed into Singapore earlier this month, weeks after the cruise came to a sudden end in Cambodia.
Fuel Costs and Company Response
Villa Vie Residences said in a statement on 27 October that monthly fuel costs per cabin in parts of Asia had risen to as much as $8,000 from $1,800, as fuel prices soared earlier this year. The company added that it had taken significant steps to reduce fuel consumption, but those measures were insufficient to offset the extraordinary increase in fuel costs. It also said it was working with residents to identify temporary living arrangements while in Cambodia.
Singapore's port authority reported that the crew onboard are well, and arrangements for their welfare and wellbeing are being managed by the vessel's creditors. No passengers were on board at the time of the arrest. The law firm Helmsman LLC has been named as the arresting solicitor, though it is unclear which party it represents.
The seizure of The Odyssey marks another chapter in the troubled history of a cruise that promised lifelong adventures but ultimately left passengers and crew in limbo, highlighting the financial and operational risks of extended voyages.
