SIHANOUKVILLE: The Villa Vie Odyssey, a U.S.-based cruise ship offering long-term residential living at sea, departed Cambodia on November 4 with only crew aboard, Cambodian officials confirmed. The vessel, which had been docked in Sihanoukville since October 28, left without passengers after the company suspended operations and ordered all 203 residents to disembark within hours.
Cambodian authorities reported that about 100 passengers remained in the country, while the rest traveled to other regional destinations, according to Taing Sochitkrishna, head of the Sihanoukville tourism department. The ship’s final destination has not been officially confirmed, though multiple reports indicated it was bound for Singapore, where maritime tracking and creditor sources suggested it may be auctioned.
Immediate Aftermath and Disembarkation
The abrupt termination of the ship’s around-the-world voyage came after Villa Vie Residences, the Florida-based owner, cited surge in fuel prices linked to the Iran war as the primary reason for suspending operations. The company stated that monthly fuel expenses per cabin, which historically averaged $1,800, had risen to an estimated $6,000 to $8,000, making continued voyages financially unviable.
Passengers, many of whom had paid tens of thousands of dollars for long-term or lifetime residences, were given little notice to vacate the vessel. Shirine Thomas, a resident from Wilmington, North Carolina, described the process as abrupt, noting she was still unable to retrieve all her belongings from the ship. "There are still many things on the ship that I wish I could take with me," she said.
Financial and Operational Fallout
The ship’s departure follows a failed attempt by passengers to purchase the vessel through a resident-led initiative called Sagar Capital. A letter addressed to residents stated that the group had negotiated with the ship’s lender for two months but could not reach terms. The lender, in coordination with Columbia Ship Management, has since taken control of the ship and intends to sell it at auction, according to the letter.
Villa Vie Residences has not publicly detailed its next steps but has expressed optimism about restructuring. Mike Petterson, the company’s founder and executive chairman, told CBS News that the process could take 30 to 90 days, during which time the company hopes to secure an operational partner to resume voyages.
Background: The Odyssey’s Unique Model
The Villa Vie Odyssey had been operating as one of the few ships globally offering passengers the opportunity to rent or buy long-term or permanent residences aboard a floating vessel. The ship had been on a continuous voyage for 755 days before its abrupt halt in Sihanoukville. Its capacity was listed at 650 passengers, with 156 crew members on board at the time of departure, though it was unclear how many crew remained with the vessel.
Cambodian officials, including Tang Sochetkresna, director of the Tourism Department of Preah Sihanouk province, confirmed the ship’s departure but did not provide further details on its next destination or operational status. The abrupt end to the voyage has drawn attention due to the ship’s unique residential model and the financial commitments made by its passengers.