MV Odyssey leaves Cambodia with only crew after passengers forced off

The MV Odyssey, owned by Florida-based Villa Vie Residences, left the Cambodian port of Sihanoukville on Tuesday with only its crew aboard after 203 passengers were told to disembark within hours. Tang Sochetkresna, director of the Tourism Department of Preah Sihanouk province, said the ship’s next destination was unclear, though sources indicated it may be taken to Singapore for possible auction.

The vessel had suspended its three-year around-the-world cruise in late October, attributing the decision to a steep rise in fuel expenses. Villa Vie Residences said monthly fuel costs per cabin, which historically averaged $1,800, had climbed to $6,000-$8,000 in parts of Asia because of the war in Iran. The company said it tried to curb consumption by slowing the itinerary and extending port stays, but the measures were insufficient.

Mike Petterson, founder and executive chairman of Villa Vie Residences, told CBS News that the ship is now under lender control and that a 30- to 90-day restructuring process is underway. > "This is a 30- to 90-day process, and, during that process, we have time to get a restructure done," he said.

Nearly 100 passengers remained in Sihanoukville, while others were elsewhere in Cambodia or had traveled onward; most were Americans. The ship, built in 1993 and previously operated under other names, has a capacity of 650 passengers and was staffed by 156 crew members, though the exact number who stayed on board was not confirmed.

Internal documents reviewed by CBS News indicated the company had been in financial distress for at least three months before the Cambodia stop and had sought additional contributions from passengers to keep operations afloat. The abrupt termination of the voyage has sparked discussion on social media about the viability of the floating-home concept.