Villa Vie's Odyssey cruise ship seized in Singapore after leaving 200 passengers stranded in Cambodia

Ship placed under arrest in Singapore

The Odyssey, a residential cruise ship run by Villa Vie Residences, was placed under arrest at 10.34am local time on Sunday, 8 November, at Changi General Purpose Anchorage off Singapore's east coast, according to court records. The vessel is now anchored in Singapore port waters. Singapore law firm Helmsman LLC is listed as the arresting solicitor, but it is unclear which party the firm represents, and CBS News reported that it is likely acting for a fuel supplier. An arrest means a court holds the ship until a claim, such as unpaid fuel or port fees, is settled, and the vessel cannot sail until the owner pays or it is sold through a judicial sale.

The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore confirmed the step in a statement:

“The vessel has been placed under arrest pursuant to a court order.”

The authority said the crew was reported to be well and that the ship's creditors were arranging their welfare. No passengers remain on board.

Passengers put ashore in Cambodia

The operator, described by the BBC as US-based, suspended operations at Sihanoukville, Cambodia, on 27 October, and about 200 passengers were forced to leave the ship. Adevarul reported 203 passengers and 156 crew on board when the suspension was announced, while The Independent put the crew at around 50 when the ship sailed out of Sihanoukville on 8 November. Passengers were reportedly given seven hours to pack, though The Independent reported eight hours. The company blamed a sudden rise in fuel costs linked to the conflict in Iran, saying monthly fuel costs per cabin had climbed from about $1,800 to between $6,000 and $8,000 in some parts of Asia. These figures are the company's own, and it said it could not pass an increase of that size on to passengers.

Before increase (approx.)1,800

After increase, low end in some Asian areas6,000

After increase, high end in some Asian areas8,000

Before increase (approx.)

1800 USD

After increase, low end in some Asian areas

6000 USD

After increase, high end in some Asian areas

8000 USD

Data from the article text

A troubled voyage from Belfast

The Odyssey left Belfast in October 2024 on a planned voyage of three and a half years, promising more than 425 ports in 147 destinations. Its departure was delayed by four months because of repairs and paperwork. During a stop in Vietnam, crew members bought food from local shops because the company owed money to a supplier that had refused to deliver. CBS News reported that in August, during an earlier stop in Singapore, the operator warned passengers of its financial difficulties and asked them for contributions to keep sailing, and that the risk of detention was raised at the time. Residency in the cabins was offered at $120,000 to $440,000, while rentals started at $3,500 a month. Founder Mikael Petterson had earlier said:

“For roughly the price of a car, you can own your home on a ship that travels the world.”

Passenger accounts and the company's finances

One passenger told the BBC that guests had been asked to consider paying a fuel surcharge as prices rose, and that the itinerary had been severely curtailed. The Independent noted that the ship had been cruising for at least 755 days before its passengers were given eight hours to disembark. Some passengers had reportedly sold all their belongings to pay for the voyage, according to n-tv. The company said the resulting deficit had put its business model under unsustainable financial pressure.