Round-the-world cruise ship "Odyssey" arrested in Singapore
A Singapore court order has led to the arrest of the cruise ship "Odyssey", which had been promised as a multi-year voyage around the world. In October the operator halted the cruise over financial problems and rising fuel costs, leaving about 200 passengers in Cambodia.
The cruise ship "Odyssey", which was sold to passengers as a multi-year trip around the world, has been arrested in Singapore under a court order. Its operator, "Villa Vie Residences", halted the cruise in October because of financial difficulties and sharply rising fuel costs, leaving about 200 passengers in the Cambodian port city of Sihanoukville, the BBC reports. The vessel is now anchored in Singapore's port waters.
The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore said the crew on board are safe and well, and that the ship's creditors are looking after their welfare. The arrest was carried out by the Singapore law firm "Helmsman LLC", though it is not yet clear which party the firm represents.
Itinerary and prices
The ship left Belfast in October 2024. The planned voyage was to last three and a half years and visit 150 countries. Passengers could buy a cabin outright, purchase five-year residency rights, or rent a cabin for shorter cruises. Permanent-residence cabins cost between 120,000 and 440,000 US dollars (about 106,885 to 391,912 euros), while rentals started at 3,500 dollars (about 3,117 euros) a month.
Problems from the start
Departure was delayed by four months because of repairs and paperwork. According to CBS News, crew members bought food in local shops in Vietnam because the company owed money to a supplier. The operator had already warned passengers of financial trouble in August, when the ship arrived in Singapore, and asked them for financial help; the risk of the ship being detained was mentioned even then. Passenger Holly Hennessy told the BBC that the original route had been significantly shortened.
In a statement dated 27 October, the company said that, because of fuel price rises caused by the war involving Iran, monthly fuel costs per cabin in some parts of Asia had climbed from 1,800 to as much as 8,000 US dollars (about 1,600 to 7,130 euros) this year. The measures it took to cut fuel use proved insufficient. The company also said it was working with local partners to help residents of the ship find temporary accommodation in Cambodia.
