Villa Vie Odyssey cruise ship departs Cambodia after passenger disembarkation
SIHANOUKVILLE, Cambodia — After disembarking more than 200 passengers who had paid tens of thousands of dollars to live on board for years, the Villa Vie Odyssey cruise ship departed from Cambodia early Wednesday, reports BritPanorama.
Last week, the vessel’s owner, Florida-based Villa Vie Residences, suspended operations and forced passengers off the ship at the port town of Sihanoukville, citing fuel price increases due to the conflict in Iran that made operations prohibitively expensive.
The ship left with no passengers and around 50 crew members, according to Tang Sochetkresna, head of the Sihanoukville tourism department. He noted that around 100 passengers remained in Cambodia, while others had largely flown to various destinations in the region.
Passengers unloaded their last belongings from the vessel on Tuesday, many expressing uncertainty about returning to the ship. “There are still many things on the ship that I wish I could take with me,” said Shirine Thomas from Wilmington, North Carolina, shortly after collecting some final items.
The Villa Vie Odyssey had been cruising the world for at least 755 days as one of only a few ships offering long-term or permanent residences on board. The ship’s final destination remains unconfirmed, with some indications suggesting it could be heading for Singapore. Villa Vie Residences did not respond to inquiries for comment.
Mary Ann Demsar, a 67-year-old retired high school teacher from Ontario, Canada, expressed frustration over the lack of communication from the owners regarding the future of the voyage. “We don’t get any clear indication from the owners of Villa Vie as to what is happening,” she noted. “They’ve been so quiet; the only information we get is from the wonderful government and the representatives here in Cambodia.”
As the situation unfolds, those impacted continue to seek clarity on their next steps amid uncertainty about their investments in the cruise ship experience.
