In a heartbreaking turn of events, the promise of an extraordinary three-year cruise around the world has crumbled for passengers who eagerly anticipated Life at Sea Cruises’ inaugural voyage.
After weeks of uncertainty, the cruise company finally admitted to its passengers that it has no ship and has subsequently canceled the departure, leaving travelers who invested substantial sums, some in the hundreds of thousands of dollars, in a state of disbelief and financial limbo.
Originally scheduled to set sail from Istanbul, Turkey, on November 1, the departure date was subsequently postponed several times. First, to November 11, then relocated to Amsterdam, Netherlands, and finally rescheduled to November 30, all while passengers held their breath. However, on November 17, less than two weeks before the third departure date, the company shattered their dreams with the announcement of the cruise’s cancellation.
The consequences of this devastating decision are dire for passengers, some of whom had already arrived in Istanbul in anticipation of the original departure date. Many had sold or rented out their homes and let go of their possessions to embark on this once-in-a-lifetime journey.
Most have poured tens of thousands of dollars into what was meant to be an unforgettable experience, only to now face months of uncertainty and hardship as they await refunds.
Life at Sea Cruises has pledged to reimburse passengers in monthly installments, commencing in mid-December and concluding by late February.
RELATED: Mystery on the Seafloor Off US Coast Baffles Marine Biologists: ‘I Don’t Know What to Make of This’
Additionally, they have offered to cover accommodation costs until December 1 and provide flights home for those stranded in Istanbul. However, for some, the refund is their only lifeline, as they have nowhere else to turn.
“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,” one passenger, who wished to remain anonymous told CNN.
The ill-fated cruise was planned for the acquisition of the AIDAaura, a ship retired by AIDA Cruises, a subsidiary of Carnival Corp, and rename it MV Lara.
The sale, initially slated to conclude by the end of September, encountered six weeks of uncertainty, during which Life at Sea repeatedly cited delays in the transaction.
Then, on November 16, another company, Celestyal Cruises, unexpectedly announced its acquisition of the AIDAaura, leaving Life at Sea Cruises in a precarious position.
In an unexpected twist, the former CEO of Life at Sea, Kendra Holmes, who had resigned and distanced herself from the parent company, Miray Cruises, delivered a 15-minute video message to passengers, conceding that the cruise was officially canceled.
Just two days after Holmes’s video, Vedat Ugurlu, the owner of Miray Cruises, sent a message to passengers, expressing profound apologies and revealing the grim reason for the cancellation: the company couldn’t afford the ship.
Ugurlu claimed that Miray lacked the financial means to pay the ship’s price tag of 40-50 million dollars, even though they had secured the down payment. He explained that investors, after initially approving the purchase, had withdrawn their support due to unrest in the Middle East, without specifying the nature of this unrest. The cruise company did not respond to inquiries regarding this matter.
Ugurlu also disclosed that the company had attempted to acquire another ship and was exploring options for a third vessel. However, the passengers were promised a larger, newer ship, and the company decided against using its smaller MV Gemini.
While the company has pledged to honor its commitments and explore future options for passengers, the disappointment and financial hardship faced by those who invested their dreams and savings in this venture are immeasurable.
“I’m very sad, angry and lost,” said one passenger. “I had the next three years of my life planned to live an extraordinary life, and now [I have] nothing. I’m having a hard time moving forward.
“I was proud and feeling brave, now I don’t trust anyone or anything. I know it’ll work out and life will go on, but I’m uncertain of the direction.”
Another stated they felt “incredibly sad and incredibly betrayed.”
“The company seems to have no consideration about what they’ve done to our lives,” they said.
“I never imagined I’d be in this position as a senior citizen.”
The devastating fallout from this cruise debacle is genuinely horrible for many passengers, having entrusted their hopes and finances to a voyage that never left port.
TRENDING: Target Making Dramatic Change to Self-Checkout Registers