Woman Sold Apartment for a 3-Year Cruise That Got Canceled Weeks Before Departure

In a shocking turn of events, Life at Sea Cruises has canceled its highly anticipated three-year world cruise less than two weeks before its scheduled departure.

The voyage was organized by the Turkish parent company Miray Cruises. The cruise was set to embark on November 30 from Amsterdam and promised a unique journey covering 130,000 miles, 375 ports, and 135 countries.

Some people sold their apartments for the promised three-year journey on the cruise. But, nothing went as planned. Find out below!

Who Sold Their Apartment for the Three-Year Cruise?

The cancelation has left many passengers in a state of distress, particularly those who had made significant life changes to join the voyage. Kimberly Arizzi, one of the passengers, sold her apartment, furniture, clothes, and TV to pay for her retirement cruise.

“I thought I had my life set up for the next few years,” she lamented. “It’s not only the furniture I lost, it was the boat-topia — the idea of being in a like-minded community, all doing something together for the first time ever.”

Sudden Cancelation and Its Aftermath

On November 17, the company informed passengers of the cancelation, just 13 days before the scheduled departure. Originally, the cruise was set to leave from Istanbul on November 1, but the departure location was later changed to Amsterdam.

The abrupt cancelation has stranded some passengers in Istanbul, with nowhere to return. Life at Sea Cruises has offered to cover flights and accommodations until December 1 for those affected, but the company’s promise of refunds in monthly installments starting mid-December provides little immediate relief.

“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 told CNN.

The Financial Struggle Behind the Scenes

The underlying cause of the cancelation was revealed to be financial difficulties.

Life at Sea Cruises had planned to purchase the AIDAaura ship, retired by AIDA Cruises, a subsidiary of Carnival Corp. However, the sale took longer than expected, and ultimately, Celestyal Cruises acquired the vessel instead.

Miray Cruises’ owner, Vedat Ugurlu, admitted that the company couldn’t afford the ship, stating, “Miray is not such a big company to afford to pay 40-50 million dollars for a ship.”

Passenger Reactions and Future Uncertainty

The sudden cancelation has left passengers feeling a mix of emotions. “I’m very sad, angry, and lost,” one passenger said. “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.”

Another passenger echoed this sentiment, stating, “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. I never imagined I’d be in this position as a senior citizen.”

Looking Ahead

As passengers grapple with the unexpected changes and seek ways to move forward, the cruise industry faces scrutiny over such cancelations. The incident highlights the financial vulnerabilities of cruise companies and the impact on passengers who make life-altering decisions based on these promises. Miray Cruises has yet to provide a detailed response to the situation.

In the meantime, passengers like Kimberly Arizzi are left to rebuild their plans and find new paths forward. The cancelation serves as a stark reminder of the uncertainties inherent in large-scale travel ventures. It also highlights the profound effects on those who invest their lives in these journeys.

Would you sell everything to go on a three-year journey around the world on a cruise? Share your thoughts and feelings in the comments below.

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