Passengers who had signed up for Life at Sea Cruises' inaugural three-year voyage have had their travel plans abruptly canceled. The company, after weeks of silence, admitted to not having a ship and canceled the departure. The cruise, priced comparably to regular living expenses, was a unique offer that had attracted many.
Originally scheduled to depart from Istanbul, Turkey, on Nov. 1, the departure was first postponed to Nov. 11 and moved to Amsterdam, the Netherlands, and then again to Nov. 30 from Amsterdam. However, on Nov. 17, passengers were informed that the cruise was canceled.
According to a report from CNN, many passengers are currently in Istanbul, having traveled there for the original departure. Others have reported significant personal upheaval, including selling or renting out their homes and disposing of possessions in preparation for the journey.
Life at Sea Cruises had planned to purchase the AIDAaura, a ship retired by AIDA Cruises, a German subsidiary of Carnival Corp. The ship was to be renamed MV Lara. The sale was expected to be finalized by the end of September, followed by refurbishment before the cruise's commencement.
However, Celestyal Cruises announced on Nov. 16 that it had acquired the AIDAaura, causing uncertainty among the passengers of Life at Sea. Kendra Holmes, the former CEO of Life at Sea who had resigned days before, informed passengers via a video that the cruise would not proceed. Vedat Ugurlu, the owner of Miray Cruises, which owns Life at Sea, later confirmed the cancellation, citing financial constraints as the reason.
Ugurlu explained that the company, unable to afford the $40 million to 50 million for the ship, sought investors' support, which was withdrawn due to unrest in the Middle East. He mentioned an attack by Hamas on Israel on Oct. 7 as a potential contributing factor.
Passengers, some of whom are awaiting refunds and have requested anonymity, expressed shock and disappointment at the cancellation. Many had made significant life changes in anticipation of the cruise. Ugurlu assured passengers that the company is exploring alternatives and promised refunds if a new departure date cannot be set.
Earlier this year, Research and Markets reported that the global travel insurance market has grown from $19.14 billion in 2022 to $22.44 billion in 2023 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 17.3%, highlighting a major spike for the sector and the return of travel demand post-pandemic.
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