PHNOM PENH, Nov. 4 (Xinhua) -- An around-the-world cruise ship that stranded over 200 passengers in Cambodia after running out of fuel funds departed the country early Wednesday, a local official confirmed.
"The cruise ship left the Sihanoukville Autonomous Port at 12:25 a.m. on Wednesday after refueling," Tang Sochetkresna, director of the Preah Sihanouk Provincial Department of Tourism, told Xinhua via telephone.
He noted that the vessel departed with a partial crew, as the remaining members had already left the country by air, adding that the ship's next destination remains unknown.
The MV Odyssey, operated by Florida-based Villa Vie Residences, arrived in the coastal city of Sihanoukville on Oct. 23 from Thailand, carrying 203 passengers and 156 crew members. The operator forced all passengers to disembark on Oct. 27, citing a lack of money for fuel.
Cambodian Interior Minister Sar Sokha said that soon after their disembarkation, the General Department of Immigration issued tourist visas to the stranded passengers, who represent 15 nationalities.
Villa Vie Residences announced it has suspended the cruise ship's operations due to skyrocketing fuel costs. The company disclosed that monthly fuel expenses, which historically averaged around 1,800 U.S. dollars per cabin, recently surged to an unsustainable 6,000 dollars to 8,000 dollars in parts of Asia. Management traced the root of the financial crisis back to early 2026.
The cruise initially set off in October 2024 on a planned three-and-a-half-year global voyage from Belfast, Northern Ireland, following extensive repairs. ■
