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US cruise ship leaves Cambodia with only crew aboard after forcing off residents who paid over $300,000 for lifetime suites

The Villa Vie Odyssey departs Sihanoukville carrying only around 50 crew members, after roughly 100 former residents were left stranded in Cambodia when Villa Vie Residences blamed fuel costs inflated by the Iran war for making the voyage unviable.
The Villa Vie Odyssey departs Sihanoukville carrying only around 50 crew members, after roughly 100 former residents were left stranded in Cambodia when Villa Vie Residences blamed fuel costs inflated by the Iran war for making the voyage unviable.

The MV Odyssey, a floating residential ship marketed as a permanent home at sea, sailed out of Sihanoukville port late Tuesday bound for Singapore, where a creditor that has taken control of the vessel may auction it off. Villa Vie Residences suspended operations on 28 October after fuel costs per cabin soared from $1,800 to between $6,000 and $8,000 a month due to the Iran war. Around 100 passengers were still stranded in Cambodia as the ship departed, with no clear word from the company on the voyage's future.

The Iran war-driven fuel spike killed the three-year round-the-world voyage after 755 days at sea.

Couple Lanette Canen and Johan Bodin sold their business to fund a $100,000 cabin, plus monthly fees.

Company founder Mike Petterson insists a restructure is possible in 30 to 90 days if an operational partner is found.

MoreThe IndependentStranded cruise ship Odyssey leaves Cambodia with no passengersThe IndependentStranded cruise ship finally leaves Cambodia after forcing hundreds of passengers offCBS NewsU.S. cruise ship leaves Cambodia with no passengers after abruptly forcing everyone to disembarkReutersCruise ship leaves Cambodia after forcing hundreds of passengers off
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