Villa Vie Odyssey Departs Cambodia After Government Assistance, Passengers Continue Tours

Phnom Penh, November 4, 2026: The Villa Vie Odyssey left Cambodian waters safely overnight after the Royal Government stepped in to assist its passengers and crew, with some travellers choosing to remain and continue touring the Kingdom.

The Ministry of Tourism said the vessel departed smoothly on the night of Nov. 3 into Nov. 4 following close coordination with the Preah Sihanouk provincial administration, the General Department of Immigration, the Sihanoukville Autonomous Port, the Ministry of Information, the Ministry of Agriculture, local authorities, the armed forces and the private sector.

Under Prime Minister Samdech Thipadei Hun Manet's guidance, authorities provided Type T visas, accommodation, transport, guides and other essential services to the 200 passengers from 15 nationalities and 156 crew from 16 nationalities.

ប្រភព៖ ក្រសួងទេសចរណ៍ Ministry of Tourism និងសារព័ត៌មានអន្តរជាតិ CBS News រូបភាព៖ ទំព័រហ្វេសប៊ុក ក្រសួងទេសចរណ៍ Ministry of Tourism
Passengers and crew expressed deep gratitude for Cambodia's warmth and care, and some are now visiting Preah Sihanouk, Phnom Penh, Kampot and Siem Reap. The ministry said the response reflects Cambodia's reputation as a safe, hospitable destination and echoed the humanitarian spirit shown during the Westerdam episode, when the Kingdom earned the name "a small country with a big heart."

CBS News reported on Nov. 1 that the ship had faced serious financial trouble for at least three months before reaching Cambodia and suspended its world cruise at Sihanoukville due to soaring fuel costs. Its lender has taken control and ordered passengers to retrieve their belongings, with the vessel set to move to Singapore for a possible auction. Founder Mike Petterson told CBS News the company is pursuing a 30- to 90-day restructuring and seeking an operational partner or new capital to recover the ship.

Reported by The Khmer Daily Network