The ambitious plan for a three year, around the world cruise has collapsed, leaving hundreds of would be passengers who had already paid substantial sums for their cabins stranded and desperately seeking refunds. The company behind the voyage, Life at Sea Cruises, a subsidiary of Miray Cruises, was forced to cancel the long anticipated trip after failing to purchase a ship for the journey, despite repeatedly postponing the embarkation date.
The three year voyage was intended to visit 140 countries across all seven continents, offering passengers a unique lifestyle as 'residents' at sea. Cabin prices ranged from tens of thousands up to nearly a million dollars. Many of the customers who signed up for the trip made life altering decisions based on the cruise's itinerary, including selling their homes, quitting their jobs, and liquidating their assets. The sudden cancellation, which was confirmed in November 2023, left these individuals in a precarious situation, with some having already traveled to the scheduled departure cities of Istanbul and later Amsterdam, only to find the dream voyage would never set sail.
The logistical and financial fallout for the passengers has been immense. Many had committed to the full three year fare, with deposits and payments amounting to tens of thousands of dollars each. The company's inability to finalize the purchase of a suitable vessel, the AIDAaura, was the primary cause of the cancellation, with the ship ultimately being sold to another operator. Company executives cited a last minute withdrawal of investors, which they partly attributed to instability in the Middle East, as the reason the purchase fell through.
The cruise line promised to issue full refunds, initially stating they would be paid in monthly installments beginning in early 2024. However, reports indicated that many passengers waited for months to receive their money, leading to anxiety and financial distress. This failure to deliver on the promised refunds, along with the lack of an escrow account or bond, has led some passengers to take legal action and call for an investigation into the company's practices, alleging fraud and seeking to recoup their lost funds and significant expenses. The debacle serves as a harsh warning about the risks associated with high cost, long term ventures from new or unproven cruise operators that market residential or perpetual sea living.
