World · East Asia & Pacific · 2 hrs ago
Singapore detains residential cruise ship after passengers are left in Cambodia
Villa Vie Residences halted its Odyssey cruise after financial problems and rising fuel costs.
The residential ship had been marketed as a way to live at sea while travelling the world.
About 200 residents were told to leave the vessel at Sihanoukville, Cambodia, in late October.
The Odyssey later sailed to Singapore without them and was detained over an apparent financial claim.
Some residents had paid or invested large sums, and about 98 were still in Cambodia as of November 4.
The ship is under the control of its lender, and it may be auctioned to pay the company’s debts, though its future is not settled.
Villa Vie Residences’ Odyssey was detained at a Singapore port after the company’s residential cruise operations collapsed.
The ship left Cambodia on Nov. 4 without about 200 passengers, who had been told to disembark in Sihanoukville.
Villa Vie said rising fuel costs linked to the Iran war made the voyage financially unsustainable.
Some passengers said poor management and repeated requests for money had put the business in trouble before the fuel price spike.
The ship’s future is uncertain, with reports that it could be auctioned to pay the company’s debts.
- Who
- Florida-based operator Villa Vie Residences and residents of its Odyssey cruise ship.
- What
- The ship was detained in Singapore amid an apparent financial dispute after the company’s cruise operations collapsed.
- When
- The passengers were told to disembark on Oct. 28, and the ship left Cambodia on Nov. 4. The arrest was reported on Nov. 8.
- Where
- The passengers were left in Cambodia, mainly after disembarking in Sihanoukville; the ship was detained at a Singapore port.
- Why
- Villa Vie cited soaring fuel costs linked to the Iran war. A supplier may have initiated the legal action, but the claimant was not confirmed.
Villa Vie Residences
Odyssey passengers
Cause of the shutdown
Villa Vie Residences
The company attributed the decision to suspend operations to soaring fuel costs linked to the Iran war.
Odyssey passengers
Some passengers said poor management and spending decisions had made the company vulnerable before the fuel price spike.
Financial support
Villa Vie Residences
The company sought additional contributions from residents as money became tight.
Odyssey passengers
Some passengers said requests for money became frequent and increasingly concerning.
The Odyssey began its around-the-world voyage in Belfast, Northern Ireland.
Villa Vie announced that it could no longer operate the Odyssey, and passengers were told to disembark in Sihanoukville.
The Odyssey left Cambodia for Singapore without its passengers.
The ship’s arrest in Singapore was reported.
- Ship
- MV Odyssey
- Operator
- Florida-based Villa Vie Residences
- Passengers told to disembark
- About 200
- Passengers remaining in Cambodia on Nov. 4
- Approximately 98
- Reported regional supplier debt
- Approximately US$500,000
- Fuel costs per cabin
- Previously averaged US$1,800 a month; Villa Vie estimated US$6,000 to US$8,000 in parts of Asia
3 sources
What people are saying
we would have been absolutely fine − and we would have seen this through − if there was no Iran war.
It was managed really badly
The cash calls became more frequent and became more outrageous.
I sold my house, gave away my surfboards and bikes and showed up in Belfast with two duffel bags and a backpack.