The anticipation and excitement for a three-year world cruise has turned into disappointment and frustration for many passengers after the voyage was abruptly canceled less than two weeks before it was scheduled to set sail.
Life at Sea Cruises’ first three-year sailing, which was set to cover 130,000 miles, 375 ports, and 135 countries, was announced in March. Passengers who were willing to pay a minimum of $29,999 per year for the unique voyage were eager to embark on this once-in-a-lifetime adventure. Some, like Kimberly Arizzi, even sold their apartment, furniture, clothes, and TV to finance their retirement cruise.
However, on November 17, just over a week before the scheduled departure from Amsterdam, passengers were informed that the cruise had been canceled. The cancellation left many passengers stranded in Istanbul, where the ship was initially set to depart on November 1 before the departure location was changed to Amsterdam. Some passengers expressed that they didn’t have a home to return to, as they were expecting to be on the cruise for three years.
The company, which intended to purchase the AIDAaura ship, admitted that it couldn’t afford the ship and cited a lack of support from investors due to unrest in the Middle East as reasons for the cancellation. This news came as a shock to passengers, who felt let down by the decision and lack of notice from the cruise line.
While the company has promised to issue refunds in monthly installments beginning in mid-December until late February and offered to cover flights and accommodations until December 1 for those stranded in Istanbul, passengers are still left feeling uncertain about their future plans.
“I had the next three years of my life planned to live an extraordinary life, and now [I have] nothing,” one passenger said. “I’m having a hard time moving forward… I never imagined I’d be in this position as a senior citizen.”
The cancellation of the three-year world cruise has undoubtedly left a bitter taste in the mouths of disappointed passengers who were eagerly looking forward to the journey of a lifetime. Miray Cruises, the parent company of Life at Sea Cruises, has yet to provide a comment on the situation.