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PHNOM PENH, Cambodia — A U.S. cruise ship that forced all its passengers to disembark in Cambodia after suspending its operations last week has departed the Southeast Asian nation with only crew aboard, Cambodian officials said Wednesday.

The MV Odyssey, owned by Florida-based Villa Vie Residences, had been on an around-the-world cruise when it suspended its planned three-year voyage due to the sharp rise in fuel costs.

It had been docked for a scheduled stop at the Cambodian port of Sihanoukville on the Gulf of Thailand, when on Oct. 28 its 203 passengers were suddenly told they had to disembark within a few hours.

The ship left Sihanoukville late Tuesday with only crew and other personnel on board, said Tang Sochetkresna, director of the Tourism Department of Preah Sihanouk province. He said he didn’t know the ship’s next destination.

He said that nearly 100 passengers remained in Sihanoukville, while others were visiting other parts of Cambodia or had traveled on to other countries. Most of the ship’s passengers were Americans.

The ship, with its 650-passenger capacity, had 156 crew members on board, but it was not clear how many departed with the ship.

There has been no official announcement of future plans for the cruise ship. Media reports suggested that a creditor had taken over its management and was having it sailed to Singapore, Southeast Asia’s main maritime hub.

The abrupt end to the ship’s voyage has drawn widespread attention because it had touted itself as a floating home, combining long-term living at sea with global travel.

Several passengers said they had paid more than $300,000 for a suite for the lifetime of the vessel.

Villa Vie Residences said monthly fuel expenses per cabin that historically averaged $1,800 have reached an estimated $6,000 to $8,000 in parts of Asia due to the war in Iran.

The company said it sought to reduce fuel consumption by slowing the itinerary and spending more time in port, but was unable to offset the surging costs.

Traffic has been curtailed in the Strait of Hormuz since the war in Iran began, squeezing supplies of all kinds of petroleum-based fuels, especially in Southeast Asia, and sharply increasing prices.

Passengers had said the company had been asking them for several months for contributions to keep the ship operating, and there has been an active debate on social media over whether its operation was ever financially viable.

Built in 1993 and operated under different names by several cruise lines over the years before the COVID-19 pandemic, the Odyssey was bought by Villa Vie Residences in 2023.

Its current cruise began in October 2024 in Belfast, Northern Ireland, where the ship had been refitted. A second cruise, along with the purchase of a second ship to operate in a similar capacity, had already been planned.

Cheang writes for the Associated Press.

A GJ-21 stealthy flying-wing uncrewed combat air vehicle (UCAV) has successfully launched from and recovered aboard the Type 076 amphibious assault ship Sichuan, according to China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA). Visual confirmation of this milestone has yet to emerge, but there have been steady signs of preparations for flight trials from the Sichuan, which features an electromagnetic catapult. GJ-21s have already been spotted flying from airfields on land.

The GJ-21 and the land-based GJ-11 Mysterious Dragon it is based on are prime examples of China’s major investments in UCAVs and other flying-wing-type drones. These developments stand in particular contrast to the U.S. military’s eschewing of such designs, at least publicly. This is despite significant past U.S. achievements in this arena, including in the development of carrier-based UCAVs. The PLA Navy (PLAN) now looks to be on track to be the first country to field an operational capability of this kind.

“China’s first ship-borne stealth reconnaissance and attack drone ‘GJ-21’ recently made its first successful take-off and landing on [the Type] 076 amphibious assault ship, the ‘Sichuan’ (Hull 51),” according to a post today from the China Military Bugle account on X, an official PLA mouthpiece. “This is another significant breakthrough in the development of China’s amphibious assault ship, indicating that the Chinese Navy now has the capability to operate fixed-wing stealth drones from large maritime combat platforms.”

At the time of writing, neither the PLA nor Chinese state media have shared where or when these trials occurred or provided any other additional details, including how many total launches and recoveries were conducted. No official pictures or videos from the testing have been released so far.

Unconfirmed claims that a GJ-21 had been launched from Sichuan had already begun circulating on social media earlier this month. As an aside, the GJ-21 is readily discernible from the land-based GJ-11 by the catapult bar on its nose landing gear strut.

A review of satellite imagery from Planet Labs does show Sichuan was at its usual berth at Hudong-Zhonghua in Shanghai as of October 13, but absent four days later. When exactly it left port is unclear. The one-of-a-kind Type 076 does not appear to have returned until October 26. TWZ has also obtained a satellite image of Hudong-Zhonghua taken just today from Vantor, with the ship still seen sitting at the pier, as seen at the top of this story and below. GJ-21 drones, or more likely mockups thereof, have also been present on the pier for some time.

Even while Sichuan was still under construction, there were growing signs that a navalized version of the GJ-11, as well as other uncrewed platforms, would be major components of its future air wing. With its electromagnetic catapult and notably large overall size, the Type 076 is unlike any other big-deck amphibious warship in service today globally, as TWZ has previously explored in depth.

As mentioned, there have been further signs that the PLA has been preparing Sichuan for real launches and recoveries, especially of GJ-21s, since last year. Pictures emerged online in October 2025 showing a red-colored test ‘truck’ on the ship’s flight deck, indicating the start of catapult testing. Video from those tests has since been released. Weighted trucks like this have long been used to test catapults on aircraft carriers during construction or following maintenance. The Type 076 left port for the first time in November 2025.

Weighted carts catapult test on Type 076 LHD

three lines marked directly under and outside the wheels of the Red cart to ensure it is centered

the parallel alignment markings flanking the catapult slot serve as visual tips for precise positioning https://t.co/KJkC2ZrLgS pic.twitter.com/pZa0Vx56jG

— David Wang (@DavidWangPLA) August 1, 2026

“Two GJ-21 aircraft were displayed at the victory parade in September 2025, reportedly having entered PLAN service in mid-2025,” according to Andreas Rupprecht, an expert on Chinese aviation and contributor to TWZ. “By late 2025, several GJ-21 aircraft were reportedly undergoing simulated EMALS launches and arrested landings at the PLAN’s land-based facility at Huangdicun.”

In February of this year, GJ-21 mockups were spotted on Sichuan’s flight deck and riding on the ship’s port-side elevator to the hangar deck as part of what appeared to be deck-handling trials.

After the first Type 076 LHD/LAH “Sichuan” was seen yesterday with a GJ-21 UCAV mock-up on deck, the GJ-21 was seen for the first time with its wings folded and later lowered to the hangar deck on one of the elevators.

(Images @鼎盛大彪 from Weibo) pic.twitter.com/eMyz2QLHQX

— @Rupprecht_A (@RupprechtDeino) February 1, 2026

More recent satellite imagery had shown that the Type 076’s flight deck had received additional markings in line with progress toward real flight operations. Fittings for three arresting cables also became plainly visible. Those cables are also notably depicted in the graphic that the China Military Bugle shared online today.

The GJ-21 will of course not be the only aircraft in the Type 076’s future air wing. The ship is also expected to carry a variety of other uncrewed aircraft, as well as crewed helicopters. China has shown a range of other combat drone designs in recent years. Navalized versions could well be developed for deployment on Sichuan, as well as PLAN’s growing fleet of traditional carriers and other suitable configured vessels.

Loading the Type 076 with operational UCAVs would only underscore the significance of this particular ship. As we have previously written:

“The potential value to the PLAN of having a fleet of very large deck amphibious assault ships that are highly capable of large-scale drone operations as well as traditional amphibious assaults is clear. These ships could be used to launch and recover UCAVs like the GJ-11 and other types of drones to perform a host of missions from maritime strike to intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR). They could be used to provide additional ‘mass’ in support of the operations of larger carrier strike groups and help to free the air wings of flattops like Fujian up for tasks they might be better suited for. In addition, they could provide a lower tier of naval aviation support that could be employed independently.”

…

“Simply having more naval aviation capacity overall would give the PLAN added flexibility for various operations closer to the mainland, including a potential military intervention against Taiwan or defending its expansive and largely unrecognized territorial claims in places like the South China Sea. Type 076s could also help project naval and air power further from China’s shores, something that has also been a driving factor behind the country’s broader carrier ambitions.”

…

“The Type 076 could help provide support during humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations. Big deck amphibious warfare ships, in general, provide their operators with immensely valuable platforms for projecting both hard and soft power.”

Chinese PLA Navy’s First Type 076 Amphibious Assault Ship “Sichuan” Conducts First Sea Trial

Last year, the PLA separately confirmed that the GJ-11 had entered at least limited operational service. That followed a steady ramp-up in testing of that drone based on what could be seen in satellite imagery and video clips that had emerged online. This included evidence of near-daily flights at Malan Air Base, a major hub for testing uncrewed platforms. GJ-11s had also been spotted at an operational air base in China’s Tibet Autonomous Region.

New video out from the People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) of China shows the new GJ-11 stealth drone (UCAV), and also the J-20 stealth fighter firing a live PL-15 air-to-air missile: pic.twitter.com/wraDqyMOht

— The STRATCOM Bureau (@OSPSF) November 11, 2025

As mentioned earlier, the continued development of the GJ-11 and GJ-21 are reflective of the PLA’s broader pursuit of stealthy flying-wing drones, which is not limited to UCAVs. Several larger designs that look most immediately suited to high-altitude, long-endurance ISR missions have also broken cover in the country in the past few years.

There is something of a trend in this regard globally, with Russia, India, Turkey, and France also pursuing flying-wing drone designs. The U.S. military continues to be markedly absent from this space, at least that we know, despite major investments and real demonstrations of relevant capability, before various programs were abandoned for reasons that still remain largely unclear. In the late 2010s, the U.S. Navy notably looked to be right on the edge of fielding a carrier-based UCAV, before changing course entirely to an uncrewed tanker instead. There are some signs now that the service may be taking another look at the capabilities it passed over.

It is still to be seen how quickly the PLA’s official statement today will be followed by real confirmation of the launching and recovery of a GJ-21 from the Sichuan.

Contact the author: joe@twz.com

SIHANOUKVILLE, Cambodia — A U.S. cruise ship on an around-the-world voyage that touted its cabins as floating homes suspended its three-year voyage in Cambodia due to fuel costs, forcing hundreds of passengers to disembark.

The MV Odyssey set sail two years ago on a voyage to the seven continents marketed as combining long-term living at sea with global travel. Its operator had offered to “make the Odyssey your permanent home,” with the purchase price of a suite for the lifetime of the vessel starting around $230,000.

For now, it is docked at the Cambodian port of Sihanoukville on the Gulf of Thailand, with no certain departure date.

The ship has been carrying 203 passengers, mostly Americans, along with 156 crew members, according to Cambodian officials. It has a 650-passenger capacity.

Its Florida-based operator, Villa Vie Residences, said monthly fuel expenses per cabin that historically averaged $1,800 have reached an estimated $6,000 to $8,000 in parts of Asia due to the war in Iran. The company said it sought to reduce fuel consumption by slowing the itinerary and spending more time in port, but was unable to offset the surging costs.

Traffic has been curtailed in the Strait of Hormuz since the war in Iran began, squeezing supplies of all kinds of petroleum-based fuels, especially in Southeast Asia, and sharply increasing prices.

“We have been unable to continue carrying the resulting operating losses,” Villa Vie Residences said in a statement issued Tuesday. “Passing the full increase on to residents is not a realistic solution. Our focus now is on supporting residents, crew, and employees” while it tries to restructure.

“The company is working with residents to coordinate disembarkation and identify temporary living arrangements,” it said.

Those on the ship had hoped to sail for years to come

Passengers, however, said they received no support and had to make their own arrangements after being given seven hours notice on Tuesday to disembark. Some were devastated and expressed hope a new company could rescue the venture so life at sea can continue.

Paul and Lynn Montoya, a retired couple from Wyoming, said they bought a window cabin and had expected to sail for years. They boarded the ship 17 months ago in Panama.

Paul praised the concept of residential cruising but said the shipowner lacked the expertise to make the business financially sustainable. While rising fuel costs had been cited publicly as the reason for the suspension, he said the company had already been struggling. Changes to itinerary, unreliable internet access and declining food quality had pushed many residents to leave the ship in recent months, he said.

Lynn said residents were repeatedly asked to contribute additional money for fuel and other expenses, including a fresh call to raise funds for fuel to get out of Cambodia. She said the crew members were also not paid.

“We were tired of every two to four weeks being asked for money for fuel, money for everything,” she said. “We had hopes but they just kept sinking further and further into the hole through mismanagement.”

The company could not immediately be contacted for comment.

For some, the venture was a risk worth taking

Yet for some, even the financial and logistical turmoil couldn’t outweigh the extraordinary experience of traveling the world and living at sea.

Carol Larson, 69, and her sister Crystal Lavering, 72, occupied separate cabins aboard the ship for 18 months. The siblings, from California, described the suspension as heartbreaking, and hoped the cruise would be resuscitated.

“I hope there is a movement for the residents to buy the ship and I am hoping that goes through because it’s a dream to live on the ship and I don’t want it to end,” Larson said.

Lavering said her health improved during her time on the ship, and that she didn’t need to use a cane to walk anymore. “You come to this ship to live … it’s just sad that it’s all over.”

Larson bought her cabin for $120,000, paid in installments, in addition to monthly maintenance fees, under a plan that had promised the possibility of living aboard for up to 15 years. She said she blamed U.S. President Donald Trump for the ship’s woes as fuel costs spiked due to the Iran war, in addition to poor management. But she said she didn’t regret her investment.

“Because it was a startup company, I believe that it was a risk. From the very first day, I said to myself that if it lasts a year, I can walk away and feel like I got my money’s worth … I still feel that way. I feel blessed to have been part of the experiment of residential cruising,” she said.

The cruise began in Northern Ireland in 2024

The ship arrived in Sihanoukville last Friday and was scheduled to depart Wednesday, according to a statement from Long Dimanche, the deputy governor of Preah Sihanouk province. He said it was now expected to refuel and depart Cambodia on Saturday, but the ship’s operator has not yet publicly confirmed any date.

Built in 1993 and operated under different names by several cruise lines over the years before being becalmed by the coronavirus pandemic in 2020, the Odyssey was bought by Villa Vie Residences in 2023.

Its current cruise, originally intended to last 3 1/2 years, began in October 2024 in Belfast, Northern Ireland, where the ship had been refitted. A second cruise had been tentatively scheduled to end in August 2030.

The Odyssey is not the first cruise ship Sihanoukville has hosted in crisis.

In February 2020, the MS Westerdam was allowed to dock in Cambodia after being turned away at five ports in other nations because of fears of COVID-19, which just a month earlier had started to spread from China. It carried 1,455 passengers, more than 600 of them American citizens.

After being stranded at sea for two weeks, Cambodia’s then-Prime Minister Hun Sen allowed it to dock for what he said were humanitarian reasons. Cambodia won plaudits as passengers were welcomed ashore and arrangements were made for them to fly home.

Cheang writes for the Associated Press. AP writers Eileen Ng in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and Grant Peck in Bangkok contributed to this report.

Coronation Street star Catherine Tyldesley is reportedly set to leave The Good Ship Murder in the Christmas special after taking time out of her soap role to film her exit scenes

Catherine Tyldesley is reportedly set to leave The Good Ship Murder in the upcoming Christmas special.

The actress, 43, is best known for playing Rovers Return landlady Eva Price on Coronation Street but, since 2023, she has also played the part of First Officer Kate Woods on the hit Channel 5 drama series.

She stars alongside X Factor winner Shayne Ward, who previously played her partner Aidan Connor on Coronation Street and now plays cruise ship singer Jack Grayling on The Good Ship Murder.

A source said: “When Cath decided to leave it was a huge blow to The Good Ship Murder. Bosses had brought Cath and Shayne back together following their time together on Corrie.”

Within the story of The Good Ship Murder, Kate has had an on-off romance with Jack over the course of its three series so far and whilst writers are thought to have considered killing her off, it has now been claimed that she will in fact exit the series alive in case of a potential return.

Speaking to The Sun, the source added: “Initially they thought about killing her off but decided that it would be better to leave the door open for a possible return in the future.

“She filmed the Christmas special back in May and it will see her say a tearful goodbye to Jack ahead of the new series starting next year.”

Channel 5 commissioning editor Greg Barnett previously said: “Audiences have truly embraced the show’s unique combination of mystery, music and escapism, and we are excited to continue Jack’s journey with even more surprises and new faces in store

Executive producer Andy Morgan added: “It’s a bittersweet moment as we bid a fond farewell to a beloved character and friend, but we’re very excited about the next voyage for The Good Ship Murder.”

Shortly before joining Coronation Street as Eva in 2011, Catherine had appeared in Emmerdale and prior to that starred as Iris Moss in the BBC drama Lilies.

She left Coronation Street in 2018 and went on appear on Strictly Come Dancing and in the short-lived BBC sitcom

She was also set to star in a cancelled touring production of Bonnie and Clyde: The Musical and went viral over a social media scandal known as Cakegate in late 2023 before ultimately making her comeback to the cobbles in late 2025.

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Villa Vie Odyssey passengers have been ordered to disembark in Cambodia after the company suspended its continuous round-the-world voyage, blaming soaring fuel costs it says have been driven by conflict in the Middle East

Passengers aboard a cruise ship designed to carry on sailing forever have been told to disembark after the voyage of a lifetime was brought to an abrupt end.

On Monday morning, Villa Vie Odyssey’s journey ground to a halt in Cambodia. Randy Cassingham, one of up to 650 residents living aboard the 195m long, 24,344 gross tonnage vessel, claims that the following message appeared on passengers’ internal messaging board.

“Good morning, everyone. Unfortunately, we were unable to secure the fuel necessary to continue operations. As a result, the Odyssey will enter a temporary layup this afternoon, with crew remaining onboard to maintain the vessel and its essential systems. All residents must disembark by 2.00 PM today. For those who are unable to collect all their belongings before disembarking, please coordinate with guest services to arrange an orderly return using the shuttles, which will remain available until 6.00 PM tomorrow. This is all the information we have available at this time. We will share further updates as they become available.”

Have you sailed on the Villa Vie Odyssey? We’re love to hear from you! Email webtravel@reachplc.com

A spokesperson for Villa Vie Residences told the Express that it has “suspended operations in Cambodia as the company works to address extraordinary increases in fuel costs and evaluate restructuring and recapitalisation alternatives”. The firm has pointed the finger at soaring fuel costs, which have rocketed since Israeli and US forces launched their bombing campaign against Iran, resulting in the closure of the Strait of Hormuz and a significant drop in worldwide oil supplies.

“Fuel costs have risen sharply in the regions where the company has been operating. On an equivalent per-cabin basis, monthly fuel expense that historically averaged approximately $1,800 (£1,350) has recently reached an estimated $6,000 to $8,000 in parts of Asia. The company cannot simply pass increases of that scale on to residents, and the resulting shortfall has placed its current operating model under unsustainable financial pressure,” the spokesperson added.

“The company is working with residents to coordinate disembarkation and identify temporary living arrangements. Villa Vie Residences recognises that this is a difficult and disruptive period for residents, crew members, and employees, and is working to support those affected as plans develop”, reports the Express.

Villa Vie’s website promises that the vessel will call at 147 countries, docking at more than 425 ports on an endless voyage that would circle the globe every 3.5 years. “From the fiordlands of New Zealand to the temples of Southeast Asia, the spice markets of India to the shores of Sri Lanka – discover every destination on the world’s longest continuous residential voyage,” it entices.

Yet since February, the ship has been spending increasingly less time at sea. “Since the conflict began in late February, we have taken significant steps to reduce fuel consumption, including slowing the itinerary and spending more time in port. Those measures have not been enough to offset the extraordinary increase in fuel costs, and we have been unable to continue carrying the resulting operating losses. Passing the full increase on to residents is not a realistic solution. Our focus now is on supporting residents, crew, and employees while we work toward restructuring and recapitalization over the next 60 days. That work is ongoing, and no outcome is assured,” the spokesperson added.

“Villa Vie Residences continues to evaluate potential paths forward, but no financing or transaction has been finalised. The company will provide further updates as material developments occur.”

The announcement is expected to be devastating for passengers, many of whom have invested enormous sums and upended their lives to be aboard the vessel.

Back in 2023, Meredith Shay was getting ready to set sail on the Life at Sea, then heralded as the longest sailing in commercial cruise history, when she received devastating news. The operator informed passengers that it had no functioning ship, so the forthcoming sailing was scrapped.

That left hundreds of customers who had ploughed their life savings into the project and had been ready to abandon their lives on land high and dry. “I did sell my house. I put everything into storage, moved out of my apartment. I was about to sell my car. But I am not a ‘woe is me’ person. There is a song over here, ‘dust yourself off and try again’. That is what I’ve done,” she explained in 2025.

“I had a 12-hour pity party, then said, ‘okay, you’re free. Do something’. No encumbrances at all.”

Undeterred, Meredith chose to press on with her dream, signing up for the Villa Vie Odyssey cruise, which is operated by several of the same individuals behind Life at Sea.

She took the plunge despite the collapse of the Life at Sea cruise and the early setbacks that plagued the Villa Vie Odyssey. The latter was scheduled to set sail from Northern Ireland in May 2024, but problems with its rudder stocks left passengers stranded in the city for over four months.

The vessel remained docked for so long that fellow passengers Angela Harsanyi and Gian Perroni had the opportunity to meet, fall head over heels, and eventually tie the knot on the banks of Belfast’s River Lagan.

Meredith pressed ahead regardless, securing a lavish eighth-floor suite for five years at a cost of $159,000, with monthly homeowner fees of $7,999, bringing the overall total to approximately $630,000.

US military jet strikes stern of commercial cargo ship in the Gulf of Oman ‘without harming the crew’, CENTCOM says.

United States forces have disabled a commercial cargo vessel in the Gulf of Oman after its crew “ignored repeated warnings and attempted to run the ongoing naval blockade against Iran”, according to US Central Command (CENTCOM).

A US military fighter jet struck the stern of the Panama-flagged M/V Ocean Molica, also known as the Arika Sun, with a precision munition on Saturday, “fully disabling the ship’s propulsion without harming the crew”, CENTCOM said in a statement. The vessel was attempting to transit regional waters after “having previously departed an Iranian port”.

CENTCOM said its forces resumed their blockade against all ships “entering or departing Iranian ports on July 14”, disabling four commercial vessels and turning around 135 ships during “three months of strict enforcement”.

US forces also destroyed 10 tankers linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ (IRGC’s) “multibillion-dollar shadow network” over the same period, CENTCOM said.

Meanwhile, Iran’s IRGC said it struck a vessel in the Strait of Hormuz for attempting to take an “illegal route”, as Tehran seeks to enforce its own blockade on the vital waterway.

In a statement carried by official Iranian media, the IRGC claimed Iranian forces “have taken control of the administration of the strait”.

“In carrying out this mission, a few hours ago, a giant LPG carrier named NV Sunshine, owned by NatWit, which was attempting to transit via the illegal route south of the Strait of Hormuz, was struck,” the statement said.

The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) agency said on Sunday that an outbound tanker in the strait was struck on the port side by an unknown projectile, causing a fire on board. The UK agency said crew members were reported safe, while the damage and environmental impact remained unknown at the time of the report.

Tehran has attempted to enforce control over the Strait of Hormuz during the US-Israel war on Iran, insisting that ships obtain permission to cross via its preferred routes. However, vessels have increasingly risked taking an alternative route hugging the strait’s southern coast.

The UKMTO said on Thursday that a vessel sailing 94km (58 miles) north of Madinat ash Shamal, off the north coast of Qatar, was struck by multiple projectiles, resulting in a number of casualties.

The agency did not specify the origin of the ship or the number of people killed or injured, adding that authorities were investigating the incident amid a recent rise in attacks on vessels near the Strait of Hormuz.

Ships in the Gulf attempting to cross the strait, which is the sole maritime route in or out of the oil-rich region, have faced repeated attacks since the US and Israel began the war in late February.

The Strait of Hormuz remains vital to the global economy, with about a fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas passing through the passage before the war began.

Syrian authorities questioned why search and rescue operations were called off before the fate of 10 sailors was known.

Syria has called for an “independent and transparent” investigation into the sinking of a cargo ship in the Black Sea, demanding answers over the fate of the ship’s 10 crew members, including nine Syrians and an Egyptian, who remain unaccounted for.

The Togolese-flagged Alfa Watan, went down in Bulgaria’s exclusive economic zone early on Tuesday, amid a rising number of drone strikes hitting Black Sea shipping during the Russia-Ukraine war.

It is unclear who carried out the attack.

Mazen Aloush, from the Syria’s port authority asked the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and Bulgarian authorities to find out why a search and rescue mission was called off, before the missing sailors were found.

“Their fate is still unknown” said Aloush, adding that “the reasons that led to the suspension of search and rescue operations” had to be established.

The attack on Tuesday also hit the Palau-flagged Able, setting it ablaze. Eighteen Turkish and Indian crew members were rescued from the burning vessel, while the Alfa Watan sank.

Both commercial ships were managed by Turkey-based companies, according to the Equasis merchant shipping database.

The Syrian sailors’ union said contact with the ship’s crew had been lost and no survivors had been found after search operations were halted.

Aloush condemned the targeting of a civilian commercial vessel saying it was a serious breach of maritime security and a threat to sailors.

He said Syrian General Authority for Ports and Customs was closely monitoring the incident.

He urged ⁠authorities to use all available technical means to locate and inspect the wreckage to help establish what caused the ship to sink.

He called for international and maritime bodies to strengthen measures to help commercial shipping as attacks in the Black Sea rise.

DISNEY has revealed what to expect onboard its huge new ship, Disney Believe from new restaurants to one-of-a-kind performances.

Launching in late 2027, it will be the ninth ship, and the fourth in the Wish class alongside Disney Wish, Disney Treasure and Disney Destiny.

Onboard will be 7 swimming pools, splash areas, food outlets and restaurants, character meet-and-greets as well as Disney-first experiences.

Something that guests won’t be able to see anywhere is the Encanto musical which will debut exclusively on Disney Believe – and it’s a world first.

Other performances joining the line-up for onboard entertainment are Broadway-style shows, Tangled: The Musical and Disney Seas the Adventure.

Returning will be the fan-favourite Pirate’s Rockin’ Parlay Party which is a nighttime spectacular with a live rock band and fireworks at sea.

SAIL AWAY

Much-loved Disney cruise to launch from the UK for the first time EVER

FANTASY LIFE

I went on my first Disney cruise with champagne bars and West End-style shows

There will also be a Zootropolis-inspired entertainment hub called Gazelle where during the day it will hold trivia, games, and a family show alongside Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde.

In the evening, Gazelle will be open for adult-only entertainment which includes silent discos and variety acts.

There are some other strictly adult zones including Sea Notes, a piano lounge inspired by Ariel’s grotto.

The relaxed Wishing Well lounge is centered around its own castle courtyard where adults can relax and enjoy mocktails, cocktails, spirits, and coffees while musical performances take place.

Skygazers is a new observatory-themed pub serving up custom-made craft brews, cocktails and snacks.

Returning venues will include the Haunted Mansion Parlour, Arnaud Lallement, Quiet Cove as well as the Senses Spa, Untangled Salon, and Hook’s Barbery.

When it comes to dining, there will be a brand-new restaurant onboard the Disney believe called Oaken’s Table: A Frozen Family Feast.

While guests are eating, characters like Oaken, Anna and Kristoff will perform renditions of songs from the soundtrack.

Another option is 1923 which is onboard the sister ships which celebrates Disney animation and Worlds of Marvel.

Sweet treats can be bought from Inside Out: Joyful Sweets which has nearly 20 flavors of gelato and ice cream.

Two new cafes will be onboard, the first is Big Hero Sips which is inspired by San Fransokyo from Disney Big Hero 6.

Meanwhile, Café Kakamora is focused on Moana – and both will serve up coffee, tea and other specialty drinks.

On the upper deck will be an open-air food court called Mickey and Friends Festival of Dining where guests can choose from barbeque, cantina bowls and salads, pizza, burgers and ice cream.

Pluto’s Pita Platters is one of the new stalls serving up Mediterranean-inspired foods from kebabs to pittas.

Like on Disney’s other ships, there will be clubs for kids, tweens and teens called 2319 with dedicated space for children between 3-17.

At “it’s a Small World” Nursery families can use babysitting services for little ones between six months to three years old.

The ship will have classic staterooms with most having ocean views and 450 are interconnecting which is suitable for larger families.

There will be four royal suites on Believe where guests can step into the world of fairytales – some inspired by The Little Mermaid, and Beauty and the Beast.

The Believe Tower Suite is exclusive to the ship and has been called a ‘one-of-a-kind suite for dreamers’.

It’s two-storeys, nearly 2,000-square-foot and sleeps up to eight people – it has two main bedrooms and four and a half bathrooms.

The views will be unbeatable thanks to its floor-to-ceiling windows.

The Disney Believe will offer four and five-night sailings from south Florida to the Caribbean and The Bahamas.

During its journey it will make stops at one or both of Disney Cruise Line’s island destinations, Disney Castaway Cay and Disney Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point.

The very first sailing will be on December 18, 2027 – in the meantime, you can book Disney Wish holidays that sail from Southampton – so no long flights.

And the new Disney Believe is just one of many new additions coming to the Disney attractions.

Disneyland Paris is getting a new Lion King log flume as well as the Up-themed Wilderness Explores Sky Swings.

An entire Villains Land will open at Magic Kingdom at Disney World, with a Maleficent rollercoaster and Magic Mirror dark ride.

Two new Cars rides, as well as an Indiana Jones and Encanto ride will be part of the expansion too.

Rescuers halt operation off the coast with no survivors found, following a Black Sea attack that also damaged a second vessel.

Bulgarian authorities have ended search operations after confirming no survivors were found following a drone strike that sank a ship off the country’s coast.

Drones hit two commercial vessels early on Tuesday as attacks on Black Sea shipping increase amid an intensifying Russia-Ukraine war. One caught fire, and the other sank.

“There is no trace of the sailors,” Rumen Nikolov, the head of the country’s Maritime Search and Rescue Coordination Centre, told reporters on Wednesday.

The search stopped late on Tuesday and would not continue, he added.

Eighteen Turkish and Indian crew members were rescued from the ship that caught fire, but the crew members from the vessel that sank remain missing.

Authorities have not said how many people are missing, but according to the Maritime.bg specialised website, 10 people were on board the ship.

Nikolov said the ⁠incident occurred in a so-called “responsible search and rescue zone” and not in the country’s territorial waters, which extend to 12 nautical miles off the coast.

“What was found from the sunken ship was one overturned boat, three life rafts and debris from the ship’s equipment that was floating on the surface of the sea,” he said.

Asked whether any debris from the drones had been recovered, Nikolov said: “I have no information about drone debris.”

Prime Minister Rumen Radev has described the attack as “absolutely unacceptable”.

European Union chief Ursula von der Leyen has also condemned the incident.

Bulgarian authorities have said they are not yet able to determine the origin of the drones.

A distress beacon signal from the ship that sank was received at 2:54am on Tuesday (23:54 GMT on Monday), while the distress signal from the other ship was received at 3:23am (00:23 GMT), Nikolov said.

Both commercial ships were managed by Turkiye-based companies, according to the Equasis merchant shipping database.

They were hit about 80 nautical miles (150km) east of the Bulgarian coastal town of Byala.

The strikes came a day after another ship caught fire and sank off the Romanian coast on Monday, killing two people. Ukraine blamed Russia for the drone attack.

NO signal, no all-you-can-eat buffet and your bed is next to hundreds of shipping containers – it’s certainly not your average cruise.

Yet this didn’t stop passenger Pieter Stroop Van Renen from shelling out £850 to travel for a week on board the shipping boat.

Pieter, 59,said he was stunned to realise you could pay to travel onboard the ships that are usually for cargo rather than leisure.

Talking to The Sun, he said he jumped at the chance to go on one and loved the idea of being the “only passenger onboard.”

Paying around €1,000 (£848) to travel aboard the Elbcarrier, the 140m-long vessel sailing was from Rotterdam to Dublin and back again.

It’s safe to say that the ship is the opposite of a luxury liner – there’s no infinity pool, no cocktail-fuelled small talk with fellow tourists and no breakfast buffet.

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The first major difference from a commercial cruise was before the journey even began – as nobody could tell Pieter exactly when the ship would leave.

Even in the week before his holiday, he did not know whether he would depart on the Friday, Saturday or Sunday.

Pieter eventually boarded the Elbcarrier at 4pm on Saturday – but the ship did not set sail until 12 hours later, at four in the morning.

As he waited, confined to his cabin while loading was completed, the reality of spending several days aboard a working cargo ship began to sink in.

Peter said: “I thought, will I get bored, or will I get seasick, or what happens there? Where can I walk? Who are these guys, and do they know I’m coming?”

But that wasn’t a problem for Pieter, who instead spent hours on the bridge watching the captain and officers navigate, studying the ship’s radar screens, chatting to the crew and touring the engine room.

Pieter continued: “The bridge was beautiful at night. They keep the lights off, so it’s pitch black outside and all you can see are the navigation lights and the equipment glowing in the darkness. It was magical.”

At the invitation of the captain, Pieter had one of the best seats in the house as the vessel headed out towards the North Sea.

The journey to Dublin usually takes at least 48 hours by sea, but Pieter’s crossing lasted around 52 hours.

Pieter also couldn’t wander about as he pleased on deck – passengers aren’t allowed to walk between the stacks of containers, which can tower four or five containers high.

Pieter explained: “If something happens [and one falls], then you’re crushed and you’re dead.”

Mealtimes gave him another taste of life aboard a working ship.

Pieter’s ticket included three hot meals a day – there were fried eggs for breakfast and hearty dinners of meat and vegetables in the evening.

What Pieter had not prepared for was getting peckish between meals – but luckily the captain sold chocolate bars and cans of beer.

Sleeping was another challenge altogether because while daytime conditions were relatively calm, it’s a different story at night.

Pieter explained: “You’re just rolling in your bed from left to right continuously. I didn’t get seasick. But I didn’t sleep at all at night.”

He warned that anyone particularly prone to seasickness should think carefully before following his lead – especially as there’s no getting off the boat for excursions like on a usual cruise.

Anyone expecting to spend the voyage scrolling TikTok will also be disappointed as on the Irish Sea, there’s no connection whatsoever.

Pieter had to wait until he was back on dry land before posting about his experience on social media – where clips from the trip unexpectedly took off.

While the internet is impressed with his thirst for adventure, his family, however, were less enthusiastic about joining him on board a working ship.

He said: “I couldn’t get them to come. They would never do this. So, time for myself.”

To see more of Pieter’s container ship holiday, head here.