A U.S. cruise ship that forced all its passengers to disembark in Cambodia after suspending its operations last week has departed the Southeast Asian nation with only crew aboard, Cambodian officials said Wednesday. The MV Odyssey, owned by Florida-based Villa Vie Residences, had been on an around-the-world cruise when it suspended its planned three-year voyage due to the sharp rise in fuel costs. It had been docked for a scheduled stop at the Cambodian port of Sihanoukville on the Gulf of Thailand, when on Oct. 28 its 203 passengers were suddenly told they had to disembark within a few hours.
The ship left Sihanoukville late Tuesday with only crew and other personnel on board, said Tang Sochetkresna, director of the Tourism Department of Preah Sihanouk province. He said he didn't know the ship's next destination, but multiple sources familiar with the matter previously told CBS News the ship will be moved to Singapore, where it could eventually be auctioned off. The cruise ship is now under control of its lender, according to a message sent to residents and obtained by CBS News.
Company leadership, however, said they're optimistic they can get the ship back — if they find an operational partner. "This is a 30- to 90-day process, and, during that process, we have time to get a restructure done," Mike Petterson, the company's founder and executive chairman, told CBS News. Sochetkresna said that nearly 100 passengers remained in Sihanoukville, while others were visiting other parts of Cambodia or had traveled on to other countries.
Most of the ship's passengers were Americans. The ship, with its 650-passenger capacity, had 156 crew members on board, but it was not clear how many departed with the ship. There has been no official announcement of future plans for the cruise ship.
Media reports suggested that a creditor had taken over its management and was having it sailed to Singapore, Southeast Asia's main maritime hub. The abrupt end to the ship's voyage has drawn widespread attention because it had touted itself as a floating home, combining long-term living at sea with global travel. Several passengers said they had paid more than $300,000 for a suite for the lifetime of the vessel.
Villa Vie Residences said monthly fuel expenses per cabin that historically averaged $1,800 have reached an estimated $6,000 to $8,000 in parts of Asia due to the war in Iran. The company said it sought to reduce fuel consumption by slowing the itinerary and spending more time in port, but was unable to offset the surging costs. Internal communications reviewed by CBS News showed the ship was in financial distress for at least three months prior to Cambodia.
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