The three-year cruise is canceled

cnn ^ | 11-24-23 | Julia Buckley

[dynachrome]

They had signed up for the experience of a lifetime: three years traveling the world from the comfort of a cruise ship, at prices that rivaled regular living expenses.

But now the dream is over for passengers who’d signed up for Life at Sea Cruises’ inaugural three-year voyage. After weeks of silence, the company has acknowledged to passengers that it has no ship, and has canceled the departure, vowing to refund those who’d signed up for cruises costing up to hundreds of thousands of dollars.

The cruise was originally due to depart Istanbul, Turkey, on November 1, but shortly before that date, departure was postponed to November 11 and relocated to Amsterdam in the Netherlands, and then to November 30, again from Amsterdam. But on November 17 – less than two weeks before the third departure date – passengers were informed the cruise was off.

Some of the passengers who booked the 111 cabins sold are still in Istanbul, having made their way there ahead of the original departure date. Others say they have nowhere to return to, having sold or rented out their homes in anticipation of the round-the-world voyage, as well as jettisoning their possessions.

Most have spent tens of thousands of dollars on what was meant to be the experience of a lifetime, and now face a wait of at least several months to get their money back. The company has said it will make repayments in monthly installments, starting from mid-December and completing repayments in late February. It has also offered to pay for accommodation until December 1 and flights home for anyone now stranded in Istanbul. But some say they have no homes to return to.

[HartleyMBaldwin]

Should have settled for a three-hour tour.

[StAnDeliver]

I smell Turkish taqiyya bullshit.

Celestyal Cruises bought the ship right out from under Miray Cruises while it was being stylishly retro-fitted for Miray's 3-houryear-tour, but there's no indication Miray put up any kind of a fight.

Celestyal has already announced the ship will replace their Celestyal Olympia next year. "Gilligan!"

The new vessel will offer Life at Sea Cruises residents an enchanting fusion of amenities and convenience with redesigned staterooms, a business center with offices, a cigar and wine bar, along with other creative offerings, the company said.

There will also be a 24-hour on-call hospital with complimentary medical visits, learning and enrichment lectures, and opportunities to engage in volunteer and philanthropic initiatives.

During the three-year journey, the 42,000-ton vessel’s voyage will span over 130,000 miles covering 382 ports, seven continents, and 148 countries.

“Seeing such an overwhelming interest in our itinerary and unique ports where we will always be in summer is truly thrilling,” added Ethem Bayramoglu, COO of Miray Cruises.

“This is evidence of the allure of our extended world cruise concept and the exceptional experiences that await our residents aboard MV Lara.”

Prior to its inaugural departure from Istanbul on November 1, 2023, Miray Cruises will be hosting a series of welcoming events and revelries in Turkey for all booked residents which coincides with the 100th anniversary celebrations of the foundation of the Turkish Republic."

[Chode]

due diligence...

[TangoLimaSierra]

At least they didn't wait till everyone traveled to the docks to tell them.

That would be a real slap in the face on top of the fortune they already spent.

[simpson96]

bookmark

[TangoLimaSierra]

I know you’re a cruise freak. You didn’t book on this one did you?

[Rocco DiPippo]

Thanks for the best laugh I’ve had today!

[dforest]

How is it possible to be so stupid?

[Redcitizen]

The thrill is gone
The thrill is gone away
The thrill is gone, baby
The thrill is gone away
You know you done me wrong, baby
And you’ll be sorry someday

[Nervous Tick]

Never
Again
Volunteer
Yourself

[BradyLS]

Yup. That ship has sailed.

[slouper]

Bunch of old rich folks just got hustled.

Suckers all...

[Jane Long]

Hoping dear entropy didn’t book this cruise.

[Political Junkie Too]

but there's no indication Miray put up any kind of a fight.

This article says that the company couldn't afford to buy the ship.

WPVI ABC6 Philadelphia: Three-year Life at Sea cruise is canceled; company acknowledges it has no ship

Excerpt:

In his message, Ugurlu claimed that "Miray is not such a big company to afford to pay 40-50 million for a ship," but that it had "presented the project to investors, and had official approval from some of them to buy the vessel."

He said that while the company had made the down payment for the ship, the investors "declined to support us further due to unrest in the Middle East."

Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, a week after the ship's sale was originally supposed to have concluded. Life at Sea didn't respond to a query about what prior unrest they were referring to that could have impeded the completion of the transaction.

-PJ

[JoeRender]

The were scammed out of their money. A clear act of fraud. Only a person with no grasp on the facts or just plain wicked would call them fools.

[JoeRender]

Fraud was perpetrated upon them. They were not fools. There seem to be a lot of rotten people calling the defrauded fools.

[JoeRender]

Multi year round the world cruises are a thing. This was an act of fraud. Plain and simple. I priced one once for a year on a cruise line and it was 25 grand. And it was legit.

[A Formerly Proud Canadian]

I seriously considered signing up with the Canadian Armed Forces in 1980, out of HS, but then Rocky Waterhole (Pierre Trudeau) was Prime Minister. I figured, as he had been a member of a Communist organization in his 20s, and how displayed much animosity toward conservative US Presidents, I figured that if there came a war between NATO and the Warsaw Pact, Waterhole would side with the USSR.

At 18, I was not prepared to potentially be fighting against cousins from the US, who were part of the US military. If Canada were attacked by the US, and I were in the CAF, yes, I would have defended my country, but Canada siding with the USSR in a war? Therr was NO WAY that I would fight for Trudeau’s Canada!

Now, at 62 years of age, as an ALBERTAN, I want us to leave Laurentianist Canaduh! As a kid growing up in Ontario, I didn’t realize how much Alberta was treated as a ‘colony’, a ‘milch cow’ by Central Canaduh (Ontario and Quebec). I understand how the American colonists felt about Great Britain, at the time of the Revolution.

[Nervous Tick]

Interesting, thanks for sharing! When I was in the USN in the mid to late 70s we put in briefly at CFB Esquimalt. I enjoyed the experience, as I recall, and the Canadian sailors I met seemed like a great bunch. Glad we didn’t end up at war with you and the USSR. :-)

You were way ahead of me politically... at that age (21) I didn’t give politics much thought and knew nothing of Canadian politics. Only that I knew Carter was a doofus, that’s about as far as I got.

[wgmalabama]

Alberta could declare itself independent of the current Canadian country. Request volunteers from independent like minded citizans of the world. Create a government that has friendly laws to both citizens and companies ….

I see this in the future for many areas, territories, states …