'Cruise for life' ship seized in Singapore, 200 guests left stranded in Cambodia

A round-the-world cruise ship marketed as a 'cruise for life' has been seized in Singapore, after its US-based operator ran out of money and left its passengers stranded in Cambodia.

The Odyssey set off from Belfast in October 2024 and was meant to take guests on a years-long voyage around the world. Local authorities in Singapore say the ship is now anchored in Singapore port waters.

Last month, around 200 guests were forced to leave the ship in the Cambodian port city of Sihanoukville, after its owner, Villa Vie Residences, abruptly suspended operations, citing 'extraordinary increases in fuel costs'.

Singapore's port authority said the crew onboard are reported to be well. 'Arrangements for their welfare and wellbeing are being managed by the vessel's creditors,' the authority said, adding that the vessel had been 'placed under arrest pursuant to a court order'.

Singapore law firm Helmsman LLC has been named the 'arresting solicitor', but it is not clear which party it represents.

The Odyssey was meant to go on a three-and-a-half-year voyage covering 150 countries. Passengers were given the option of buying their cabin outright, which allows them to stay onboard beyond its initial voyage, paying for a five-year residency, or renting a cabin for days-long tours.

Permanent residencies in its cabins ranged from $120,000 (£89,272) to $440,000. Those cabins were also available for rent from $3,500 a month, according to the company's website.

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.'

However, the cruise was beset with problems from the start, with its departure delayed for four months because of repairs and paperwork.

While in Vietnam, crew members reportedly bought food from local grocery stores because the company owed money to a vendor who refused to deliver food, according to CBS News, the BBC's partner in the US.

CBS also reported that the operator warned passengers of its financial troubles in August, when it had sailed on a separate occasion into Singapore, and had to raise money from guests to keep the cruise going. It had also mentioned the risk of being detained then.

Passenger Holly Hennessey had earlier told the BBC that guests were asked to consider paying a fuel surcharge as prices soared, and that their itinerary had been 'severely curtailed'.

The vessel sailed again into Singapore earlier this month, weeks after the cruise came to a sudden end while in Cambodia.

As the Iran war sent fuel prices soaring earlier this year, monthly fuel cost per cabin in parts of Asia had risen to as much as $8,000 from $1,800, Villa Vie Residences said in a statement on 27 October.

The company also said it had taken 'significant steps to reduce fuel consumption', but those measures turned out to be insufficient to offset the 'extraordinary increase in fuel costs'.

The company also said it was working with residents to 'identify temporary living arrangements' while in Cambodia.