Internal documents show failed scramble to save "forever cruise"

The MV Odyssey was billed as a continuous around-the-world cruise when it launched in October 2024. It ended abruptly in Cambodia. When the journey of the MV Odyssey luxury cruise ship came to a sudden end earlier this week in Cambodia, giving residents on the ship just hours to disembark, it marked the culmination of several attempts over a period of about three months to save the unique voyage. According to accounts from multiple sources familiar with the final weeks on board, those included a scramble to find fuel while stuck at a port in Singapore, a rush by the crew to obtain provisions once food shipments had ended, and the temporary detainment of the ship in Hong Kong.

The voyage of the Odyssey, which is operated by Florida-based Villa Vie Residences, was billed as a continuous around-the-world cruise when it launched in October 2024. It allowed passengers to become residents of the ship by purchasing cabins for several hundred thousand dollars. However, more than 200 passengers and dozens of crew members became stranded in Cambodia on Tuesday when Villa Vie suddenly suspended operations because of major financial issues. In early August, the Odyssey was docked in Singapore when Villa Vie warned that the ship was at risk of being detained and the operator said it urgently needed to raise