'Forever cruise' had failed a health inspection and run out of money long before it dumped pensioners in Cambodia
Passengers aboard the Villa Vie Odyssey, whose founder Mikael Patterson has admitted he is the 'villain' of the story and says he is considering bankruptcy.
Crew members on the stranded Villa Vie Odyssey claim they are being held "hostage" in Cambodia, with passports withheld, wages two months unpaid, and cabin temperatures hitting 43C after air conditioning was shut off. Founder Mikael Petterson, who admitted "I'm the villain", blamed the collapse on fuel costs that rocketed from $1,800 to $8,000 per cabin per month after US strikes on Iran sent oil prices surging.
Passengers including Randy Cassingham, 66, sold their homes and pensions to board — and now have nowhere to go.
Internal documents reveal the scramble began months ago: the ship was temporarily detained in Hong Kong and crew were going unpaid long before Cambodia.
