US Cruise Ship Forces 200+ Passengers Off Mid-Trip in Cambodia, Leaves

Sihanoukville: 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 Cambodia ‌early on Wednesday.

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, saying fuel price ​increases from the Iran war had made operations prohibitively expensive.

The ship ​left with no passengers and around 50 crew, according to ⁠Taing Sochitkrishna, head of the Sihanoukville tourism department. He said around 100 ​passengers remained in Cambodia, while the others largely flew to other destinations ​in the region.

Passengers unloaded their last belongings from the vessel on Tuesday, and many said they did not expect to return to the ship.

"There are still many things ​on the ship that I wish I could take with me," ​said Shirine Thomas, of 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 handful of ships that offered passengers the opportunity to rent or buy long-term or even permanent residences on board.

The ship's final ​destination was unconfirmed. ​Some passengers and ⁠maritime tracking websites indicated the ship was bound for Singapore. Villa Vie Residences did not respond to emails ​or phone calls seeking comment.

Sixty-seven-year-old retired high school teacher ​Mary Ann ⁠Demsar from Ontario, Canada, said the owners had provided no information on whether the voyage would continue.

"We don't get any clear indication from the owners ⁠of ​Villa Vie as to what is happening," ​she said. "They've been so quiet, the only information we get is from the wonderful government and ​the representatives here in Cambodia."