Cambodian officials confirmed the "endless cruise" ship slipped out of Sihanoukville late Tuesday with only crew aboard. A local tourism official said nearly 100 of its former passengers are still in the city.
The Villa Vie Odyssey has left Cambodia. Many of the people who used to live on it have not.
Cambodian officials confirmed Wednesday, Nov. 4, that the residential cruise ship sailed out of the port of Sihanoukville late Tuesday, Nov. 3, carrying only crew and other personnel, CBS News and the Associated Press reported.
Tang Sochetkresna, a tourism official in Preah Sihanouk province, said nearly 100 passengers are still in Sihanoukville. Others have moved elsewhere in Cambodia or flown to other countries. Most are American.
He didn't know where the ship was going. Multiple sources have told CBS News it's headed to Singapore, where it could eventually be sold at auction. No sale has been scheduled.
That's the new piece since our earlier story, which covered the lender taking control of the ship and the reports that it would move to Singapore. Now Cambodia has confirmed the departure, though officials there haven't said where the ship is headed.
The Odyssey had 156 crew members aboard when the voyage stopped. It's not clear how many sailed with it.
Here's KHOU 11's report on the Odyssey leaving Cambodia:
What happens to the Villa Vie residents now?
For now, they wait. Villa Vie hasn't announced refunds or credits.
Several passengers told CBS News they paid more than $300,000 for a suite meant to last the lifetime of the ship. One resident, Joel Greiff of Naples, Florida, paid $350,000 and lived aboard for 26 days before the shutdown, CBS reported. He's now renting an apartment in Kampot, Cambodia.
Founder and executive chairman Mike Petterson told CBS there's still time to restructure. "This is a 30- to 90-day process," he said. Company leadership says it hopes to get the ship back if it finds an operating partner.
Residents had tried a buyout of their own, with 169 of them pledging support. That effort fell apart Oct. 31, Cruise Radio reported.
Did Villa Vie file for bankruptcy?
Not as of our last check. Petterson told CBS on Oct. 30 that the company would "likely file for Chapter 11 here any day." Cruise Radio said Nov. 3 that it couldn't confirm a filing.
A company message obtained by CBS estimated the first 60 days of Chapter 11 proceedings could cost about $3 million.
Why did the endless cruise stop?
Villa Vie blames fuel. The company said monthly fuel costs per cabin, which averaged about $1,800, hit an estimated $6,000 to $8,000 in parts of Asia. It tied the spike to the war in Iran, which has curtailed traffic through the Strait of Hormuz.
Internal documents reviewed by CBS show money trouble started earlier. The ship was in financial distress for at least three months before Cambodia, and residents were asked again and again to chip in.
One early August presentation even raised how to tell residents' "actual inability to contribute" from an unwillingness to keep paying. Another document projected a $600,000 monthly loss even with every cabin full. In August, 139 of 490 cabins were unsold.
How long was the Villa Vie Odyssey sailing?
About two years. The ship was built in 1993 as Crown Dynasty and sailed for years as Fred. Olsen's Braemar. Florida-based Villa Vie Residences bought it in 2023.
Repairs in Belfast, Northern Ireland, delayed the start by months. The Odyssey finally left Belfast on Oct. 3, 2024, after a false start a few days earlier.
The pitch was simple: buy a cabin, live at sea and see the world. Villa Vie even announced plans for a second ship, the Legacy, in July.
What's next for the Villa Vie Odyssey?
Three things to watch: whether the ship turns up in Singapore, whether Villa Vie files for Chapter 11, and whether residents see any money back. We'll update as they happen.
Article compiled and written by Kambrea Pratt (editor-in-chief), Derek Gibbs (beat editor) and the Pirates & Princesses newsroom. Pirates & Princesses is part of WebReef Media.
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Hat Tips:
CBS News and the Associated Press (Nov. 4, 2026), the departure, the tourism official's comments, crew count, Petterson's quote and fuel figures
CBS News (Oct. 30, 2026), internal documents, the Chapter 11 comment and cabin numbers
CBS News (Nov. 1, 2026), the lender takeover, possible Singapore auction and Joel Greiff
Cruise Radio (Nov. 3, 2026), the failed resident buyout, Chapter 11 status and estimated cost
The Traveler (Nov. 4, 2026), the tip on the empty departure
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