Cruise ship seized in Singapore after funds run out
Villa Vie Odyssey halted its global journey in Cambodia when the US operator cited soaring fuel costs, leaving about 200 passengers ashore.
By Lorenzo Patterson ·
Singapore authorities seized the Villa Vie Odyssey, a residential cruise vessel, earlier this month. The ship is currently anchored in Singapore port waters. It arrived following the sudden suspension of its round-the-world voyage.
The vessel’s owner, Villa Vie Residences, is a US-based company. It stopped operations in Sihanoukville, Cambodia, last month. Around 200 passengers had to leave the ship when the halt was announced. The company stated that sharply higher fuel costs forced the decision. Singapore’s port authority confirmed the ship was arrested under a court order. Crew members remaining aboard were reported to be in good health, with creditors overseeing their welfare.
Helmsman LLC, a Singapore law firm, is handling the legal arrest. It is not yet clear which party the firm represents. The seizure follows earlier financial struggles that disrupted the journey. The operator had previously asked passengers for additional money to keep sailing.
The Odyssey left Belfast in October 2024. The original plan called for visiting 150 countries over three and a half years. The business model allowed customers to buy cabins and live aboard after the initial trip. They could also rent space for shorter stays. Permanent cabin residencies were priced between $120,000 and $440,000. Monthly rentals started at $3,500.
Delays occurred before the ship even departed Belfast. Repairs and paperwork pushed the start back by four months. While in Vietnam, crew members reportedly bought food from local grocery stores. A supplier had refused deliveries due to unpaid bills, according to CBS News. During a stop in Singapore in August, passengers were warned about the company’s financial position. The operator raised money from guests to continue and acknowledged the risk of detention.
Passenger Holly Hennessey told the BBC that guests were asked to consider a fuel surcharge as prices rose. The planned itinerary had been reduced. In a statement dated October 27, Villa Vie Residences said monthly fuel costs per cabin in parts of Asia jumped from $1,800 to as much as $8,000. The company linked the spike to the Iran war, which drove up fuel prices earlier in the year. It added that efforts to cut consumption did not offset the increase. The firm said it was helping residents find temporary lodging in Cambodia.
