Canceled: The Abandoned Three-Year Cruise
Life at Sea Cruises cancels its highly anticipated three-year round-the-world cruise, leaving passengers disappointed Despite the setback, the company remains committed to launching a long-term cruise in the future Refunds are being offered
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They embarked on the adventure of a lifetime: three years of globetrotting from the luxury of a cruise ship, all at costs comparable to everyday living expenses.
Life at Sea Cruises has disappointed passengers who had eagerly signed up for their inaugural three-year voyage. Despite the company's silence for weeks, they have finally admitted to passengers that they do not have a ship and have decided to cancel the departure. They have assured passengers that they will receive a full refund for their costly cruises. The original departure from Istanbul, Turkey on November 1 was postponed to November 11 in Amsterdam, and then again to November 30. Unfortunately, on November 17, less than two weeks before the latest departure date, passengers were informed that the cruise was officially canceled.
Some of the passengers who booked the 111 cabins that were sold are still in Istanbul, having made their way there ahead of the original departure date. Others have expressed being without a place to return to after selling or renting out their homes in anticipation of the round-the-world voyage, as well as parting with their possessions.
These individuals have collectively spent tens of thousands of dollars on what was intended to be a once-in-a-lifetime experience and now face a wait of at least several months to receive their refunds. The company has indicated that repayments will be made in monthly installments, starting from mid-December and completing the process by late February. Furthermore, the company has offered to cover accommodation costs until December 1 and provide flights back for those who are currently stranded in Istanbul. However, several individuals have expressed concerns as they do not have homes to return to.
One passenger, who requested anonymity until receiving a refund, expressed concern about the current situation where many people have no travel plans due to a lack of refunds. They stated "it's not good right now." Additionally, the three-year cruise encountered another setback.
Running aground
Life at Sea Cruises had been in the process of acquiring the AIDAaura, a ship that was recently retired by AIDA Cruises, a German subsidiary of Carnival Corp. The plan was to rename it as the MV Lara. Originally, the company aimed to finalize the purchase by the end of September, proceed with dry dock work in Germany, and then refurbish the ship before setting sail to Istanbul for the start of the cruise.
After six weeks of uncertainty and reassurances from Life at Sea that the sale process was taking longer than expected, another company, Celestyal Cruises, announced on November 16 that it had purchased the AIDAaura. The following day, former CEO Kendra Holmes, who had recently resigned and stated that she wasn't speaking on behalf of the parent company Miray Cruises, recorded a 15-minute video for passengers admitting that the cruise would not be taking place. It remains unclear why Holmes was chosen to make the announcement, and she has declined to comment to CNN.
Two days after Holmes' video, passengers were contacted by Vedat Ugurlu, the owner of Miray Cruises, the company that owns Life at Sea. He apologized for the inconvenience and confirmed that the cruise would be cancelled due to financial constraints. Ugurlu explained that Miray could not afford the cost of the ship, stating that the company is not large enough to cover the 40-50 million expense. However, he mentioned that they had presented the project to investors and had received official approval from some of them to purchase the vessel.
He stated that although the company had already paid the down payment for the ship, the investors "refused to continue supporting us because of the unrest in the Middle East."
Hamas launched an attack on Israel on October 7, just a week after the anticipated conclusion of the ship sale. Life at Sea did not provide an explanation for the previous unrest that the investors mentioned as a reason for not completing the transaction.
Ugurlu informed passengers that the company had attempted to purchase another ship but was unsuccessful, and that they were now working on a third option.
"If we are unable to sail on December 1, we will offer you the opportunity to sail on a different departure date or receive a full refund within a short timeframe," he stated. "We have made every effort to fulfill your dreams and will persist in doing so."
He also mentioned that, theoretically, the company could proceed with the cruise on the MV Gemini, which was initially intended for the voyage but deemed too small. "However, we have opted not to do so because we have committed to providing you with a larger, more modern vessel," he explained. The Gemini is central to a defamation case filed by Miray against former Life at Sea Cruises managing director Mikael Petterson, who was part of a group of employees that left the company in May. According to the lawsuit, Petterson described the ship as "unseaworthy," an allegation that Miray strongly refuted.
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Ups and downs
Miray Cruises had vowed to renovate the AIDAaura ship.
Life At Sea Cruises
The day after Ugurlu's hopeful announcement, Chief Operating Officer Ethem Bayramoglu of Life at Sea messaged passengers to officially confirm the cancellation of the cruise. He provided details on the refund process and explained how passengers can retrieve their pre-shipped belongings in "pods."
However, Bayramoglu emphasized the company's intention to fulfill their commitments.
"We are all disappointed that we were unable to sail this time, but it is crucial to us that you have a positive overall experience with us," the message states. "Vedat remains hopeful that Miray will soon have an option for you to consider."
Bayramoglu subsequently met with stranded passengers in Istanbul to help plan their returns home.
Stormy waters
Anonymous would-be cruisers told CNN that they were shocked and dismayed by the cancellation of their trip, revealing that some had made significant sacrifices such as selling their homes or closing their businesses in order to join the cruise. "I'm very sad, angry, and lost," said one individual, expressing frustration at having to abandon their planned extraordinary life for the next three years and struggling to move forward.
I used to feel proud and brave, but now I have lost trust in everyone and everything. Although I believe things will work out and life will carry on, I am unsure of what lies ahead. Another person expressed feeling "incredibly sad and incredibly betrayed."
"The company seems to have no consideration about what theyve done to our lives," they said.
"I never imagined Id be in this position as a senior citizen."
They were also saddened by the loss of the community that had been established prior to the cruise. "I was excited about forming new friendships - that's what set it apart from a typical cruise. We all shared the same mindset and had the same common starting point."
Another person, speaking just before the cancellation of the cruise was announced, expressed feeling "disappointed, misled, and betrayed."
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Jumping ship
The cruise had promised to whisk passengers around the globe for three years.
Life At Sea Cruises
In the meantime, Life at Seas erstwhile CEO, Kendra Holmes, who resigned last week, claims shes planning to offer a new long-term cruise with a different company.
During her 15-minute video address to passengers of Life at Sea on Friday, former CEO Holmes promoted a long-term, round-the-world cruise being offered by a new company she will be working with, named HLC Cruises. Holmes did not respond to inquiries from CNN, but a spokesperson for HLC Cruises, who claimed to be on the company board, confirmed Holmes as the new CEO and stated that the company has no association with Life at Sea. The spokesperson also mentioned that they are working on a project to assist people who are currently without homes. The company's website currently features "boutique cruise liners" that sell duty free gold bullion, diamonds, and gems onboard.
Holmes informed the stranded Life at Sea passengers that if 60 or 70 of them moved to the new company, they could start something new by the first week of December, having already received approval from the HLC board. The new company would acquire a temporary ship for a three- to four-month sailing period while obtaining a permanent vessel for a longer voyage beginning next year. If the Life at Sea passengers declined the offer, the new company would also plan to launch a long-term cruise in October 2024.
"There are many ships available, so we will likely have something in place early next week and then begin the search for a permanent vessel," she announced on November 17. However, 72 hours later she updated them on social media, stating that the offer of a temporary cruise was off and that HLC was aiming for an official start date in March.
"Once again, people got their hopes up, only to have them dashed a few days later. I'm surprised no one in the group has had a heart attack," said one prospective passenger.
Meanwhile, Villa Vie Residences, founded by former Life at Sea employees Petterson and others, is offering low deposits and guaranteed introductory rates for those interested in joining their new venture. However, the company has not yet acquired a ship or set a launch date.
Life at Sea Cruises and Miray Cruises declined to answer CNN's specific questions, instead providing a statement from Ugurlu addressing "investor withdrawal" as a challenge to the project. This letter, sent to CNN on November 21, mentioned a potential upcoming cruise date despite the cancellation of the cruise.
"We are in discussions to acquire a vessel similar to the one planned for the December 1 sail. If this sail is at risk, we will provide alternative departure dates or expedited refunds," the statement explained, outlining the refund process.
"We are actively working on developing alternative plans for the future to guarantee an exceptional experience for our esteemed community as we address these challenges," it concluded.
"I regret any inconvenience and assure you of our commitment."
One passenger from the failed cruise, however, is feeling more than inconvenienced.
"I can't believe they've done this to us," they said, expressing their shock. They added that the staff had initially been "eager and confident," but their optimism had faded over the past few months.
"Words can't describe how disappointed I am to have lost this opportunity," they said, struggling to come to terms with the situation.
"I dont think they will ever understand how much damage theyve caused us."
