'Forever cruise' seized, placed under arrest in Singapore
SINGAPORE: The MV Odyssey, which left around 200 passengers stranded in Cambodia on Oct 27 after its operator said they had run out of money, was seized in Singapore on Sunday (Nov 8).
The vessel, which had launched in October 2024, had been marketed as a “forever cruise” and a “home at sea” where passengers, many of whom are retirees, may opt for permanent residency for hundreds of thousands of dollars.
A few hours before the passengers were told to disembark in the Cambodian port city of Sihanoukville, the United States-based Villa Vie, Odyssey’s operator, announced that it would suspend the cruise as it addressed “extraordinary increases in fuel costs.”
Villa Vie has reportedly been unable to pay some of its suppliers, with a supplier in Southeast Asia being owed as much as US$500,000 (S$640,000).
Singapore’s Maritime and Port Authority (MPA) said in a statement on Nov 9 that the vessel had been placed under arrest pursuant to a court order.
A ship arrest is a legal process allowing a vessel to be detained after a legal claim has been filed.
"The crew onboard are reported to be well, and arrangements for their welfare and wellbeing are being managed by the vessel's creditors. There are no passengers on board,” MPA added.
CBS News reported that Helmsman LLC, a law firm in Singapore, is listed as the solicitor for the Odyssey’s arrest, though who the firm is representing is unclear. However, the report added that it is likely to be a fuel supplier.
An endless cruise at extraordinary prices
When it was offered to passengers, the most expensive booking for permanent residency for the duration of the ship’s lifespan ranged from around S$153,000 to over S$560,000, with additional monthly fees of S$4,500 to S$14,000.
Alternatively, passengers could book five-year berths starting at S$64,000, with additional monthly fees.
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Those who did not want such a long-term commitment could also book berths for shorter periods or avail of more flexible plans.
According to Nov 6 reporting from The New York Times, some of the passengers on the Odyssey who were forced to disembark in Cambodia late last month had sold their homes and were using their retirement savings for their lives aboard the vessel.
At the time of the report, the Odyssey was said to be en route to Singapore, where there was a possibility that it could be auctioned off. /TISG