Cruisegoers stranded as £90,000 luxury three-year cruise is cancelled days before departure
The cruise will not go ahead as planned
LIFE AT SEA CRUISES
The Life at Sea Cruises could be cancelled for good after it was scheduled to set sail earlier this month.
It was first postponed before the company confirmed it would not set sail on the date promised.
The ship was originally scheduled to set off from Istanbul in Turkey on November 1 but the details were changed shortly before.
It was rescheduled to set off on November 11 from Amsterdam before being moved again to November 30.
The cruise was set to travel the world
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However, passengers were informed on November 17 that the cruise was off, according to reports.
This has caused disruptions to customers who had travelled to the departure destinations ahead of time, with some even renting or selling the properties before the three-year voyage.
“There’s a whole lot of people right now with nowhere to go, and some need their refund to even plan a place to go – it’s not good right now,” a passenger who wanted to remain anonymous told CNN.
Life at Sea Cruises confirmed it would make repayments for the pricey voyage in monthly instalments from mid-December.
It also offered to pay for accommodation until December 1 and flights for those who had travelled to the departure destination.
The delay comes as Life at Sea Cruises failed to secure the ship it had expected to buy for the trip.
It had planned to buy the AIDA Cruises retired ship AIDAaura.
However, it was reported the sale was taking "longer than expected" and failed to go ahead.
“Despite our efforts, the Life At Sea project faces challenges due to investor withdrawal,” CEO of Miray Cruises Vedat Ugurlu said.
“While we’re in talks to acquire a similar vessel, if the December 1st sail is jeopardized, we offer alternative departure dates or expedited refunds.
“Although we could use our current vessel, the Gemini, we remain committed to delivering the promised larger, newer vessel.
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Some cruise guests were stranded as they travelled to the departure country
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“For refund requests, per contract terms, Miray covers non-refundable travel expenses. Hotel expenses in Istanbul until December 1st are covered, and subsequent travel expenses to your chosen destination will be reimbursed. Refunds will be processed via bank transfer. Your pods will be sent to your chosen destination.
“As we navigate these challenges, we are actively working on creating alternative plans for the future, ensuring an unforgettable experience for our valued community.”
The cruise cost guests $115,500 (£91,865) per person and was planned to visit 382 ports in 140 countries.
It was set to run for around three years with the option for cruisegoers to extend their journey.
Tickets were primarily bought by American residents and around 40 per cent of cabins were reserved as of August this year.
Cruises that travellers can live on permanently have grown in popularity.
It will set sail for the first time in May 2024 and is set to visit 147 countries.
GB News has contacted Life at Sea Cruises for comment
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