Three-Year World Cruise Canceled Due to Lack of Ship

Passengers Left Stranded as Turkish Company Miray Cruises Fails to Secure Vessel Amid Investor Withdrawal

Life at Sea Cruises, a subsidiary of Turkish company Miray Cruises, has canceled its three-year round-the-world cruise due to lack of a ship.
The cruise, which was set to cover 130,000 miles, 375 ports, and 135 countries, was initially scheduled to depart from Istanbul on November 1, 2023, but was postponed twice and the departure location changed to Amsterdam.
Miray Cruises was unable to afford the $40 million to $50 million needed to buy a ship after investors withdrew support due to unrest in the Middle East.
Passengers, who paid between $29,999 to $109,000 per year for the cruise, were informed of the cancellation on November 17, less than two weeks before the final departure date.
Refunds are promised to passengers in monthly installments, leaving many in difficult situations as some had sold homes and possessions in anticipation of the cruise.