Dream cruise canceled for passengers due to lack of ship
Passengers who had planned their dream trip and paid over $100,000 were informed that their cruise was canceled because the company did not have a ship
No Ship, No Cruise
Passengers who had meticulously planned their trip of a lifetime, spending more than $100,000, have been left disappointed as it was revealed that the company does not have a ship for them to set sail upon.
Life at Sea Cruises, which had planned a three-year cruise, was unable to proceed as the ship they intended to buy, the AIDAaura, had already been purchased by another company, Celestyal Cruises.
It was a crushing blow for the passengers who were eagerly anticipating the cruise, and who had already made arrangements and paid for their cabins.
Misleading Start and Late Cancellation
The cruise was initially scheduled to embark from Istanbul, Turkey on November 1st. However, the departure date was then postponed to November 11th and the starting point was moved to Amsterdam.
Shortly before the voyage was supposed to commence, passengers were informed that the date had been pushed back once again to November 30th, and the departure location was subsequently reverted to Amsterdam.
Unfortunately, on November 17th, the passengers received the devastating news that their trip had been canceled. For some, this information came too late, as they had already traveled to Istanbul, and others had gone as far as selling their homes and disposing of their possessions.
Financial Loss and Accommodation Arrangements
The dream cruise cost each passenger approximately $115,500 per person and was set to visit 382 ports in 240 countries. After the initial three years, the ship would continue on another three-year cruise for those passengers who wished to extend their journey by paying an additional fee.
In addition to losing their long-awaited trip, passengers are also out of pocket for the time being until they receive their refunds. The refunds will be provided in monthly installments from mid-December to late February.
The company has also pledged to cover accommodation costs until December 1st and arrange flights back home for those stranded in Istanbul.
Vedat Ugurlu, the owner of Miray Cruises which owns Life at Sea, expressed his deep regret over the inconvenience caused and explained that the company was unable to afford the ship as investors withdrew their support due to the unrest in the Middle East.
