Cruise Ship MV Odyssey Leaves Cambodia With Only Crew After Passengers Forced Off
Photo: CBS NewsThe MV Odyssey, a U.S. cruise ship owned by Florida-based Villa Vie Residences, has left Cambodia with only crew aboard, Cambodian officials said Wednesday. The ship departed the port of Sihanoukville late Tuesday, said Tang Sochetkresna, director of the Tourism Department of Preah Sihanouk province. He said he did not know its next destination. The vessel had suspended its planned three-year around-the-world voyage because of a sharp rise in fuel costs. On Oct. 28, while docked at Sihanoukville, its 203 passengers were told they had to disembark within a few hours. Sochetkresna said nearly 100 passengers remained in Sihanoukville.
Multiple sources told CBS News the ship will go to Singapore, where it could eventually be auctioned. A message to residents said the ship is now under its lender's control. Company founder and executive chairman Mike Petterson said the firm is optimistic it can get the ship back if it finds an operational partner, calling it a 30- to 90-day process in which a restructuring could be completed.
Left-leaning CBS News gives the fullest account. It repeats the Cambodian officials' departure details and adds the Singapore and possible auction reports, the lender's control, the passenger numbers and Petterson's quote about a restructuring. Its framing centers on the ship's financial fate and the company's hopes of recovering it. Right-leaning Newsmax, in the portion available, runs the same wire-style opening under a nearly identical headline, with the Cambodian officials as its source. The available text does not show the lender, auction or company comments. The two sides agree on the core facts: the ship left with only crew, passengers were forced off, and operations were suspended. The difference is depth, with CBS offering financial and company context. The alternative side is distinct in one case: The Times of India headline says the company promised a never-ending voyage, took tens of thousands of dollars from passengers and then abandoned them, a more critical framing than the others.
How the sides differ Left sources add lender control, Singapore auction reports and company comments; right sources run the basic wire report; alternative sources split between an AP wire report and a critical Times of India headline.
Headline, comparison and summary written by AI from the articles below. AI can make mistakes, so check the original articles before relying on a detail.
CBS News reports the departure with Cambodian officials as sources, then adds the lender's control, a possible Singapore auction, passenger numbers and the company chairman's hopes of a restructuring.
AP reports the departure in neutral wire style, while The Times of India headline stresses passengers paying tens of thousands of dollars and then being abandoned, citing fuel costs.
Newsmax carries the wire-style report, leading with the ship leaving Cambodia with only crew and citing Cambodian officials; the available text shows no further company or lender detail.