Villa Vie Odyssey Passengers Left Behind as Creditor Seizes Ship, Lawsuits and Failed Inspection Revealed

Phnom Penh, November 3, 2026: The Villa Vie Odyssey, the residential cruise ship that stranded more than 200 passengers in Cambodia last week, is now under the control of its lender and will be moved to Singapore, where it could be auctioned off, according to multiple sources familiar with the matter.

The ship's troubles extend beyond the sudden suspension of operations on Oct. 27. Records reveal that the residential cruise company behind the Odyssey was plagued by lawsuits and a failed health inspection before it abruptly forced passengers to disembark in Cambodia. The ship failed a federal health inspection with a score of 81 in July 2025, with 44 violations listed, including improper refrigeration and low chlorine levels in water systems, according to the CDC's Vessel Sanitation Program.

Passengers had only the weekend to retrieve the last of their belongings before the ship became inaccessible, as the lender took over operational costs. "This is a 30- to 90-day process, and, during that process, we have time to get a restructure done," said Mike Petterson, the company's founder and executive chairman, expressing hope that an operational partner could be found to get the ship back.

However, some passengers expressed frustration with the company's optimistic tone and worried it gave residents a sense of "false hope." A resident attempt to buy the ship failed after a lender denied funding, despite pledges from 169 residents.

It remains unclear what will happen to the passengers or the ship once it reaches Singapore.

Source: NBC News; CBS News



Reported by The Khmer Daily Network