Much-hyped cruise branded new ‘Fyre festival’ disaster for cancelling days before launch… as they couldn’t find a ship
THE WORLD’S longest cruise has scrapped its three-year maiden voyage – just days before it was due to set sail.
Life at Sea was announced last year, with passengers able to buy entire apartments onboard.
The three-year journey would travel 130,000 miles, travelling to 135 countries along the way including across South America, Antarctica, the Caribbean and North Asia.
Along with apartments, there would also be a wellness centre, swimming pool and restaurants onboard.
If you didn’t fancy an entire apartment, you could opt for a suite which started from around £2,000 a month.
The journey was set to depart on November 1 from Istanbul in Turkey, although this was postponed to November 11.
The departure destination was then moved to Amsterdam in the Netherlands on November 30.
However, passengers have since been told the cruise is not taking place at all – as they couldn’t get a ship in time.
Life at Sea Cruises was planning to buy the AIDAaura ship, a former Carnival cruise liner which retired this summer.
The sale had hoped to take place in September, where it would then be renovated in time for the cruise.
Yet the cruise ship was then bought out by Celestyal Cruises on November 16, with investors also withdrawing from Life at Sea.
Ex-CEO Kendra Holmes resigned earlier this month and has since moved to HLC Cruises.
A message from owner Vedat Ugurlu said they were “extremely sorry for the inconvenience”.
Chief Operating Officer Ethem Bayramoglu said in a message: “Although we are all disappointed and frustrated that we didn’t sail this time, it is important to us that you feel positive overall about your experience with us.
“Vedat in particular is still hopeful that Miray will someday soon have an option for you to consider.”
But passengers have been left fuming, with some claiming they had sold their homes and belonging in preparation for the three-year journey.
One person wrote on Facebook: “Sounds like the FYRE Festival to me.”
And a passenger told CNN: “I’m very sad, angry and lost.
“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.”
Others said they felt “sad and betrayed.”
Former flight attendant Meredith Shay sold everything she owned to go on the new Life at Sea cruise back in April.
Passengers have been told they will be refunded in monthly instalments, with anyone who has already arrived having their accommodation covered.
There is still another long cruise ship planning to launch.
MV Narrative is set to launch from Croatia in 2025, travelling around the world.
Passenger Austin Wells from San Diego paid $300,000 (£246,465) for a studio with a 12-year lease onboard the MV Narrative.
