Sihanoukville:An around-the-world cruise ship that had stranded over 200 passengers in Cambodia due to a lack of funds for fuel has departed the country. The vessel left the Sihanoukville Autonomous Port early Wednesday morning after refueling, as confirmed by a local tourism official.

According to Namibia Press Agency, the cruise ship, MV Odyssey, operated by Florida-based Villa Vie Residences, arrived in Sihanoukville from Thailand on October 23, carrying 203 passengers and 156 crew members. Passengers were forced to disembark on October 27 when the company cited an inability to afford fuel.

The ship departed with a partial crew, as some members had already left Cambodia by air. The cruise's next destination remains unknown. Cambodian authorities issued tourist visas to the stranded passengers, who hail from 15 different nationalities.

Villa Vie Residences announced the suspension of the ship's operations due to soaring fuel costs. The company's management revealed that monthly fuel expenses, which historically averaged around $1,800 per cabin, have surged to an unsustainable $6,000 to $8,000 in parts of Asia. The financial difficulties reportedly began in early 2026, affecting the cruise that initially set off from Belfast, Northern Ireland, in October 2024 for a planned three-and-a-half-year global voyage.