A cruise ship promising passengers a round-the-world voyage has been seized in Singapore after its US-based operator ran into financial difficulties, leaving more than 200 guests stranded in Cambodia.
The Odyssey, which departed Belfast in October 2024, was supposed to take passengers on a three-and-a-half-year journey covering 150 countries.
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However, the voyage came to an abrupt end last month when the ship's operator, Villa Vie Residences, suspended operations, citing a huge increase in fuel costs.
Around 200 passengers were forced to leave the vessel while it was docked in Sihanoukville, Cambodia, with the company saying it was working to arrange temporary accommodation for those affected.
The ship has since returned to Singapore, where it is now being held following a court order.
Singapore's port authority confirmed that the vessel had been "placed under arrest pursuant to a court order". It also said the crew onboard were safe and that arrangements for their welfare were being managed by the ship's creditors.
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The Odyssey was marketed as a way for passengers to travel the world while living permanently at sea.
Customers could purchase their cabins outright, sign up for a five-year residency or rent a room for shorter stays.
Permanent cabin ownership reportedly ranged from $120,000 to $440,000, while monthly rentals started at around $3,500.
Founder Mikael Petterson previously promoted the concept by saying: "For roughly the price of a car, you can own your home on a ship that travels the world."
However, the ambitious project faced difficulties from the beginning, with the ship's departure delayed by four months due to repairs and paperwork.
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There were also reports of problems with food supplies during the voyage, with crew members in Vietnam reportedly having to purchase groceries themselves after the company failed to pay one of its suppliers.
The operator had also warned passengers about its financial difficulties in August, when the vessel made an earlier stop in Singapore. Guests were reportedly asked to contribute additional money to keep the voyage going, with the possibility of the ship being detained also raised.
Passenger Holly Hennessey previously told the BBC that guests had been asked to consider paying a fuel surcharge as costs increased, while the original itinerary had been "severely curtailed".
In a statement on October 27, Villa Vie Residences said monthly fuel costs per cabin in parts of Asia had increased from around $1,800 to as much as $8,000.
The company said it had taken "significant steps to reduce fuel consumption", but these measures had not been enough to offset the rising costs.
The future of the vessel and the passengers' long-term arrangements remains unclear.
