The Villa Vie Odyssey sailed out of the Cambodian port town of Sihanoukville early on Wednesday, carrying only about 50 crew members after its operators suspended services, citing soaring fuel costs linked to the Iran war.
The ship's Florida-based owner, Villa Vie Residences, last week announced the suspension of operations, forcing passengers to disembark and make alternative travel arrangements after rising fuel prices made it increasingly expensive to maintain the voyage.
According to Taing Sochitkrishna, head of the Sihanoukville tourism department, the vessel departed without any passengers. He said approximately 100 passengers remained in Cambodia, while the others had largely travelled to other destinations across the region.
Passengers spent Tuesday removing their remaining belongings from the ship, with many expressing disappointment and little expectation that they would return to continue their residential cruise experience.
Among them was Shirine Thomas, from Wilmington, North Carolina, who said she still had personal belongings on board that she wished she could retrieve.
"There are still many things on the ship that I wish I could take with me," Thomas said shortly after collecting some of her final possessions.
The Villa Vie Odyssey had spent at least 755 days sailing around the world, offering an unusual residential cruising arrangement that allowed customers to rent or purchase long-term, and in some cases permanent, accommodation on board.
The concept attracted passengers seeking an alternative lifestyle, allowing them to travel across international destinations while maintaining their living arrangements on the vessel.
However, the sudden suspension of operations has left many customers uncertain about the future of the cruise programme, particularly as the owners have yet to provide clear information about whether the voyage will resume.
Although the ship's next destination had not been officially confirmed, some passengers and maritime tracking websites indicated that it was heading towards Singapore.
Villa Vie Residences did not respond to emails or telephone calls seeking clarification about the vessel's departure, its destination or plans for affected passengers.
For some of those who had invested heavily in the residential cruise experience, the lack of communication has added to the disappointment.
Mary Ann Demsar, a 67-year-old retired high school teacher from Ontario, Canada, said passengers had received little information from the company about the future of the voyage.
"We don't get any clear indication from the owners of Villa Vie as to what is happening," she said.
"They've been so quiet, the only information we get is from the wonderful government and the representatives here in Cambodia."
The ship's departure without its passengers marks a major setback for the residential cruise operation, leaving hundreds of people to reconsider their travel and accommodation plans while awaiting further communication from the company.