In brief
The MV Odyssey, a U.S.‑run residential cruise ship, departed Sihanoukville after refueling but with only a partial crew. Passengers disembarked a week earlier due to a lack of fuel money, and the operator has suspended the cruise amid a spike in fuel costs. The ship’s next destination is unknown as the voyage, intended to last 3.5 years, began in 2024 from Belfast.
The MV Odyssey, a residential cruise ship, left the Sihanoukville Autonomous Port in Cambodia on Wednesday morning after refueling. The vessel departed at 12:25 a.m. with a reduced crew, as many crew members had already left on planes.
The ship had arrived in Sihanoukville on Oct. 23 from Thailand carrying 203 passengers and 156 crew. Four days later, on Oct. 27, the operator forced all passengers to disembark because it ran out of money to pay for fuel.
Cambodian Interior Minister Sar Sokha said the General Department of Immigration issued tourist visas to the stranded passengers, who come from 15 nationalities.
The remaining crew members had already flown out of the country, leaving a handful aboard the ship.
Fuel cost crisis
Villa Vie Residences, the U.S.‑based company that runs the vessel, announced it has suspended the MV Odyssey’s operations because of soaring fuel costs. Monthly fuel expenses per cabin had jumped from about $1,800 to $6,000‑$8,000 in parts of Asia, and the company traced the financial crisis to early 2026.
The ship’s next destination remains unknown. The MV Odyssey began its three‑and‑a‑half‑year global voyage in October 2024 from Belfast, Northern Ireland, after extensive repairs.
The unaffiliated passengers will now travel home by conventional means, while the ship waits for orders. The incident highlights how rising fuel prices can derail complex cruise operations.