In brief
The MV Odyssey, a residential cruise ship that stranded more than 200 passengers in Cambodia, departed the Sihanoukville port early Wednesday after a refueling stop. The vessel left with a partial crew while its remaining crew had already flown out, and its next destination is still unclear. The departure comes after Florida‑based Villa Vie Residences announced the suspension of the ship’s operations amid soaring fuel prices.
In the early hours of Wednesday, the MV Odyssey, a residential cruise ship that had stranded over 200 passengers in Cambodia, left the Sihanoukville Autonomous Port after a refueling stop, a local official confirmed.
According to Xinhua, Tang Sochetkresna, director of the Preah Sihanouk Provincial Department of Tourism, said the ship departed at 12:25 a.m. on the 4th of November with a partial crew, as the remaining crew members had already left the country by air.
The vessel, operated by Florida‑based Villa Vie Residences, had initially arrived in Sihanoukville on Oct. 23 from Thailand with 203 passengers and 156 crew members. Villa Vie forced all passengers to disembark on Oct. 27, citing a lack of money for fuel, and subsequently suspended operations.
Owner‑operator Villa Vie said monthly fuel expenses, which historically averaged around 1,800 U.S. dollars per cabin, had surged to an unsustainable 6,000 to 8,000 dollars in parts of Asia, tracing the financial crisis back to early 2026.
After their disembarkation, Cambodian Interior Minister Sar Sokha said the General Department of Immigration issued tourist visas to the stranded passengers, representing 15 nationalities.
According to a Facebook post by the verified account The Traveler, 203 passengers were forced to abandon their floating homes due to the suspended voyage; the post does not provide verification beyond the posted figure.
The MV Odyssey’s next destination remains unknown as it heads back to the high seas under uncertain circumstances.