Round-the-world cruise for life ship run by US firm seized in Singapore
Round-the-world cruise for life ship run by US firm seized in Singapore
Fernando Alba Tue, November 10, 2026 at 7:14 PM UTC
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The Odyssey's voyage was originally scheduled for three-and-a-half years, spanning 150 countries (Image: Getty)
A cruise that stranded guests in Cambodia in the middle of a round-the-world voyage after its U.S.-based operator ran out of money has been seized by authorities in Singapore.
The Odyssey set off from Belfast in October 2024 and was meant to take guests on a years-long voyage around the globe. About 200 guests were forced off the ship last month in Sihanoukville, a port city of Cambodia, after owner Villa Vie Residences abruptly suspended operations due to "extraordinary increases in fuel costs."
The cruise ship is now anchored in Singapore, local authorities said. The Odyssey was originally meant to embark on a three-and-a-half-years voyage that covered 150 countries.
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The crew onboard are reported to be doing well well, according to Singapore's port authority.
"Arrangements for their welfare and wellbeing are being managed by the vessel's creditors," the authority said, adding that the shhip had been "placed under arrest pursuant to a court order."
Guests could pay for longterm residencies or rent them monthly, each option costing thousands (Image: Getty)Founder promised guests they could travel the world for "rougly the price of a car"
Passengers were initially given the options of buying their cabin, which allows them to stay onboard beyond the initial voyage, paying for a five-year residency, or renting a cabin for days-long tours.
Permanent residencies in the cabins ranged from $120,000 to $440,000. Those cabins were also available for rent from $3,500 a month, according to the cruise line's website.
"For roughly the price of a car, you can own your home on a ship that travels the world," founder Mikael Petterson had promised
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But the voyage was hit with promblems from the start when the cruise's departure was delayed for four months due to repairs and paperwork problems.
In Vietnam, crew members reportedly had to buy food from local grocery stores because the company owed money to a vendor who refused to deliver food.
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Fuel costs surged in the aftermath of the Iran war (Image: Getty)Fuel costs soar to $8,000 per cabin
Worse trouble came in August, when the operator warned guests of its financial troubles and had to raise money from passengers to keep the cruise going. The company also warned it could be detained.
Holly Hennessey, a passenger, told the BBC that guests were asked to consider paying a fuel surcharge as prices, and that their itinerary had been "severely curtailed."
The war in Iran sent fuel prices soaring earlier this year, with monthly fuel prices per cabin in parts of Asia shooting up to as much as $8,000, up from $1,800, Villa Vie Residences said in a statement.
It added that it had taken "significant steps to reduce fuel consumption" but those measures turned out to be not enought 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.
Source: “AOL Breaking”
