The permanent residence world cruise ship "The Odyssey" was seized by a Singapore court after its American-based operator collapsed financially due to soaring energy prices caused by the Iran war. This left about 200 passengers, some having sold all their assets to live on the ship, stranded and ordered to rapidly move their belongings off the ship in Cambodia.
The cruise ship "The Odyssey," advertised as a continuous world tour for travel or long-term residence, was seized by Singapore authorities under a court order after arriving in Singapore waters from Cambodia.
Singapore's Maritime and Port Authority (MPA) revealed the ship was seized under court order and is currently anchored in Singapore's port waters without passengers onboard. The crew remain onboard in good condition, with creditors managing their welfare.
The Singapore court website stated that the Odyssey was seized on the morning of Sunday, 8 Nov, at a general anchorage near Changi, with law firm Helmsman conducting the seizure, though it has not disclosed which party they represent.
Previously, the ship docked at Sihanoukville, Cambodia, last month for a scheduled stop, but around 200 passengers were ordered off after Villa Vie Residences, a U.S.-headquartered company, abruptly suspended operations.
The company claimed it was impacted by sharply increased fuel costs due to the conflict involving the U.S. and Israel against Iran, with monthly fuel costs per cabin in some Asian regions rising from an average of $1,800 to about $6,000–$8,000.
The Odyssey carried 203 passengers and 156 crew. Some passengers revealed they sold all their assets to afford the trip and were given only seven hours to pack before disembarking.
The Odyssey departed from Belfast, Northern Ireland, in October 2024 on a planned 3.5-year world voyage covering 150 countries. Customers could purchase cabins for $120,000 to $440,000 or rent starting at $3,500 per month, including five-year residence packages.
However, the journey faced problems from the start, including a four-month delayed departure due to repairs and paperwork issues. There were also reports in Vietnam that the crew had to buy food from local stores because the company had unpaid bills to food suppliers.
In August, the company informed passengers of financial difficulties and had to raise funds from them to continue the voyage, warning of the risk that the ship might be detained or seized.
On 27 Oct, Villa Vie Residences stated they had tried to significantly reduce fuel use but could not offset the sharply increased costs. They also said they were coordinating with residents to arrange temporary accommodation in Cambodia.
The seizure of the ship in Singapore marks another problematic chapter in the world cruise voyage, causing hardship to passengers who invested in buying or renting cabins for long-term living aboard.