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☆ I quit my job to go on the 3-year Life at Sea cruise that was canceled. I still haven't received a refund.
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-12 | by ( Erin Snodgrass | Brittany Chang | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

He wanted to be identified by first name only for privacy reasons; his full name is known by Business Insider. He and 77 other would-be passengers who have yet to receive refunds are asking the US Attorney in Southern Florida to investigate Life at Sea's parent company, Miray Cruise Lines, LLC, for fraud. When I first heard about Life at Sea Cruises, it sounded too good to be true. But we were very quickly told that while we could cancel and withdraw, our refund would be far reduced. [Bayramoğlu confirmed that Adam is a priority and "will be the first" to receive a refund when it begins the bank wires.]

Persons: —, Adam, Miray, Bayramoğlu, I've, Ethem Bayramoğlu, Vedat Organizations: Service, Business, Miray Cruise Lines, Sea Cruises, Miray Cruises, National Health Service, Miray Locations: British, Southern Florida, Alaska, Antarctica, Istanbul, Miray

☆ I paid $55,000 to go on a 3-year cruise around the world after my wife died. The cruise was abruptly canceled, and I still haven't been refunded.
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-23 | by ( Lauren Steussy | Erin Snodgrass | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Purcell was among the dozens of passengers who signed up for a three-year cruise with Life at Sea — an around-the-world journey that was canceled two weeks before its departure. A representative for Miray Cruises denied the passengers' fraud accusations and said they would refund the passengers by February 15. I thought, "God, this cruise is really something I could do." I've been putting off processing my grief, and I'm going to join a grief group in the next couple of weeks. I'm not on that ship, but I'm taking charge of my life.

Persons: —, David Purcell, Purcell, Beth, We'd, they've, I'm Organizations: Service, Miray Cruises, Business, Navy, Miami Airport, US Department of Justice, FBI, US Locations: Southern Florida, Kansas, Norway, Antarctica, New Zealand, Australia, South America, Asia, Roatán, Honduras, Kirkwood , Missouri

☆ How the three-year cruise fell apart
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-20 | by ( Julia Buckley | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +22 min

CNN —In April 2023, George Fox was gearing up for the adventure of a lifetime: a three-year cruise taking him around the world. The high hopes and eventual failure of the Life at Sea cruise reads a bit like a Greek tragedy. When Miray objected, he resigned, along with much of his team, and told passengers the cruise was off. When the cruise was canceled in November, Bayramoğlu told passengers that only 111 cabins were booked. On October 24, Miray’s PR spokesperson told CNN that the departure date had been moved to November 30.

Persons: CNN —, George Fox, “, ”, ‘, Miray, who’d, Meredith Shay, Shay, she’d, Jenny Phenix, I’d, Mikael Petterson, Petterson, “ I’ve, Ethem, Miray’s, “ Vedat, ’ ”, Vedat, Cruises, hadn’t, Kendra Holmes –, –, Petterson –, they’d, Bayramoğlu, Sharon Lane, she’s, ” Shay, ” Holmes, Marit Hommedal, NTB Scanpix, Noel Hansen, Kendra Holmes, Hansen, ’ ” Hansen, ’ Rebecca Varner, Lorna Bolduc, Rebecca Varner, Holmes, Bonnie Kelter, Kelter, Varner, Ugurlu, Phenix, “ I’m, couldn’t, ’ George Fox, he'd, Bolduc, Miray’s Bayramoğlu, ” Miray, who’s, ” Hansen Organizations: CNN, Fox, Miray Cruises, Cruises, Passengers, Gemini, Carnival, Facebook, Life, Getty, US Foreign Service, ‘, Miray’s, ”, Miray Locations: Istanbul, ’, Turkey, Florida, Germany, Bayramoğlu, Petterson, AFP, Clermont , Florida, Costa Rica, New Jersey, Maine, that’s, Miami, Europe, Ecuador, Southern Florida

☆ Life at Sea passengers call for criminal investigation into cruise company as they try to claw back $16 million in refunds
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-19 | by ( Lloyd Lee | Brittany Chang | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Miray Cruises ultimately did not purchase a vessel that could accommodate more than a thousand passengers for three years. A spokesperson for Lapointe's office and Miray Cruises did not immediately return a request for comment. For many, Life at Sea Cruises initially proposed an alluring offer: Travel around the world for three years for as low as around $38,500 a year. "Miray is not such a big company to afford to pay 40-50 million for a ship," Miray Cruises CEO Vedat Ugurlu said in a memo. AdvertisementManagement issues also plagued the company months before the voyage, culminating with Life at Sea and Miray Cruises severing ties in May.

Persons: —, they're, Markenzy Lapointe, Miray, Lapointe, Keri Whitman, Vedat Ugurlu, Weeks, Ugurlu, Kimberly Arizzi, David Purcell, Adam Pers, Adam Organizations: Service, Sea Cruises, Business, Southern, Southern District of, Miray Cruises, The New York Times, Times, The Times, Miray, Management Locations: Southern District, Southern District of Florida, The, Cincinnati, Bristol

☆ This 3-year cruise around the world was going to cost passengers less than the average rent in NYC—now it's cancelled
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-30 | by ( Celia Fernandez | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

In March, Life at Sea Cruises announced it was accepting reservations for its three-year cruise around the world. When the cruise was first announced, prices were starting at $29,999 a year/The three-year cruise was initially set to depart from Istanbul, Turkey on November 1. The company had been trying to buy AIDAaura, a 20-year-old ship, which was sold in November to another cruise company. In a statement to the news outlet, Miray Cruises owner Vedat Ugurlu said the cruise wasn't canceled but postponed until May 2024. Representatives for Life at Sea Cruises and Miray Cruises did not immediately respond to CNBC Make It's request for comment.

Persons: Vedat Ugurlu Organizations: CNBC, CNN, Sea Cruises, Miray Cruises, ABC News, Miray, Life Locations: Istanbul, Turkey, Amsterdam

☆ The three-year cruise is canceled
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-24 | by ( Julia Buckley | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +12 min

But now the dream is over for passengers who’d signed up for Life at Sea Cruises’ inaugural three-year voyage. But on November 17 – less than two weeks before the third departure date – passengers were informed the cruise was off. “In case we weren’t clear, the Life at Sea cruise trip is canceled,” Bayramoglu wrote, giving instructions on the refund process, and how passengers can retrieve “pods” full of their belongings – which they’d shipped in advance of the cruise. If Life at Sea passengers didn’t take up the offer, she said, they’d also be looking to launch a long-term cruise in October 2024. The letter was sent to CNN November 21 and spoke about a potential upcoming cruise date – despite the cruise having already been canceled.

Persons: CNN —, who’d, “, –, ”, AIDA Cruises, Kendra Holmes –, Holmes, Vedat Ugurlu, Ugurlu, Miray, Mikael Petterson, Petterson, Ugurlu’s, Ethem Bayramoglu, ” Bayramoglu, they’d, Bayramoglu, Kendra Holmes, Holmes didn’t, HLC, – I’m Organizations: CNN, Cruises ’, Sea Cruises, Carnival Corp, Celestyal Cruises, Miray, Miray Cruises, Cruises, HLC Cruises, Petterson Locations: Istanbul, Turkey, Amsterdam, Netherlands, Germany, Israel

☆ A 3-year cruise was called off less than 2 weeks before departure
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-24 | by ( Hayley Cuccinello | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Life at Sea Cruises reportedly canceled its three-year voyage just two weeks before departure. Parent company Miray Cruises could not afford to buy the desired vessel, according to CNN. Miray Cruises planned to have successive three-year cruises and to allow passengers to pay extra to stay on board — potentially indefinitely. Life at Sea Cruises isn't the only residential cruise company navigating choppy waters. There is only one residential cruise ship in operation, The World, where condos sell for up to $15 million.

Persons: Miray, —, Vedat Ugurlu, Ugurlu, – Organizations: Sea Cruises, Miray, CNN, Service, Miray Cruises, Business, U.S . Bureau of Labor Statistics, Cruises Locations: Istanbul, Turkey

☆ Residential cruise ship startups selling condos at sea for over $100,000 are struggling for the same reason
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-18 | by ( Brittany Chang | Kate Taylor | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Throughout 2023, residential cruise ship startups have delayed their launches. AdvertisementBuzzy residential cruise ship startups like Storylines can't seem to stick to their timelines. But even it has faced roadblocks: Launched in 2002, residents had to pool $71 million to buy the $280 million ship themselves in 2003. AdvertisementStorylines is a prime exampleStorylines delayed the construction of its MV Narrative residential ship at least twice. Building a new ship is hard – but so is acquiring an old oneVictoria Cruises Line chartered its residential ship of choice.

Persons: —, Alister Punton, Brodosplit, Punton, Mike Kasperzak, Fares, Mikael Petterson Organizations: Service, Cruises Line, Residences, Brodosplit, Victoria Cruises Line, Victoria Cruises, Holland America Line's, Sea Cruises, Cruises, Miray Cruises, Villa Vie Residences Locations: Croatian

☆ The three-year cruise is running late
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-27 | by ( Julia Buckley | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

Get the latest news in aviation, food and drink, where to stay and other travel developments. CNN —It was billed as the first ‘affordable’ long-term cruise for people who wanted to live onboard while sailing the world. But a week before the original departure date, passengers who’ve signed up with Life at Sea cruises are still waiting to find out when they will hit the high seas. The company says it will arrange new tickets for those with non-refundable fares, “once the new embarkation date and location have been officially determined.”However, the company is adamant that the cruise will still depart – albeit late. Passengers have previously expressed their concerns that the cruise might be indefinitely delayed, or even canceled.

Persons: who’ve, ”, “ Organizations: CNN, Miray Cruises, ”, Sea Cruises, Passengers Locations: Bremerhaven, Germany, Amsterdam, Istanbul –, Istanbul

☆ The three-year cruise has been delayed because it doesn't have a ship
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-20 | by ( Julia Buckley | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Get the latest news in aviation, food and drink, where to stay and other travel developments. CNN —Due to set sail from Istanbul on November 1, the three-year cruise was meant to be a smooth sail across the globe and into nomadic living for its inhabitants. But with less than two weeks to go before the scheduled departure date, Life at Sea cruises is navigating choppy waters – as it still doesn’t have a ship. Two weeks ago, when asked whether the sale – which had been slated for late September – had gone through, it gave the same response. Meanwhile, some passengers are becoming increasingly concerned about the delays – and what they see as a lack of transparency from Life at Sea cruises.

Persons: –, ” Kendra Holmes, ”, “ Organizations: CNN, Miray Cruises, Amsterdam Passengers, Cruises Locations: Istanbul, Amsterdam –, “, Amsterdam, Freeport, Bahamas

☆ A wildly hyped 3-year cruise has been delayed weeks before it was set to sail because there's no ship yet
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-13 | by ( Brittany Chang | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Life at Sea Cruises has delayed its three-year around-the-world cruise. Life at Sea Cruises has faced several shake-ups over the last few months. Buyers were told Life at Sea will help "make changes to [travelers] accommodations and itinerary at Miray's expense." Broken down, this per-day cost is cheaper than Azamara's recently announced 2026 world cruise . And unlike a typical world cruise, the vessel will be sailing for much longer than just a few months.

Persons: —, Lara, Kendra Holmes, Buyers, Holmes Organizations: Sea Cruises, Miray Cruises, Service, Carnival, CNN Locations: Istanbul, Amsterdam, Freeport, Bahamas

☆ Life at Sea's three year cruise hits another obstacle
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-06 | by ( Julia Buckley | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

Life at Sea cruises is due to launch its three-year, round-the-world cruise next month, setting sail from Istanbul on November 1. Choppy watersThe path to freedom on the high seas has not gone smoothly for Life at Sea Cruises. In September, the company announced it would extend the cruise indefinitely, allowing passengers to stay onboard for life if they so wished. It’s a mess.”Some of the residents CNN have spoken with say they will be homeless if the cruise doesn’t go ahead. And although Holmes insists they will make the November 1 launch, the passengers CNN has spoken with are doubtful.

Persons: “ I’ve, – I’m, “, Miray, AIDA Cruises, Heidi Klum, AIDA –, Kendra Holmes, Holmes, ”, it’ll, “ They’ve, I’ve, “ I’m, they’ve, –, aren’t, We’ve, I’ll Organizations: CNN, Cruises Miray Cruises, Carnival, Sea Cruises, Miray, Residents, Cruises, “ Locations: Istanbul, Germany, German

☆ Life at Sea's three-year cruise to become the cruise that never ends
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-02 | by ( Julia Buckley | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —If the idea of spending three years on a cruise ship made you claustrophobic, it’s time to look away now. There will now be seven potential start locations in the first year of the cruise, which departs Istanbul on November 1. Life at Sea CruisesHolmes says the new system shouldn’t affect the company’s policy to sell only 85% capacity. The new policy is the latest change in what has been a baptism of fire for Life at Sea. While they aren’t the first to offer permanent (or semi-permanent) cruises, Life at Sea remains the only (relatively) affordable option for long-term cruising, says Holmes.

Persons: Kendra Holmes, –, Holmes, It’s, ” Holmes, Cruises Holmes, “, ”, ‘, “ We’d, we’d, Lara Organizations: CNN, Miray, Cruises, SDI Locations: Dubai, India, Istanbul, Barcelona, Bahamas, Rio de Janeiro, America

☆ A cruise ship carrying Russian passengers was greeted with jeers and heckles in Georgia and was forced to leave the port early
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-01 | by ( Kai Xiang Teo | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Locals jeered at Russian passengers on a cruise ship in Batumi, Georgia on two separate occasions. A cruise ship with Russian passengers docked in Batumi, Georgia, was met with jeers from the locals protesting over the Ukraine war and over disputed territories currently occupied by Russia. Videos shared by Twitter users on Monday captured chaotic scenes of protestors in Georgia heckling the cruise ship after it arrived for the second time in five days. It will only stop when the Russian cruise ship leaves, hopefully earlier than scheduled." Local media outlet Formula News tweeted a video of protestors on Monday: "Protesters condemn the arrival of Russian cruise ship carrying pop stars and journalists supporting the Russian invasion of Ukraine in the Georgian port city of Batumi."

Persons: jeers, Helen Khoshtaria, Salome Zourabichvili Organizations: Morning, Radio Free, RFE, Twitter, Miray Cruises, RBC, Russia axing, UN, International Republican Institute Locations: Batumi , Georgia, Georgia, Russia, Ukraine, Georgian, Batumi, Russian, Europe, Republic of Georgia, Soviet Union, Abkhazia, South Ossetia

MV Lara Cruise Ship Courtesy: Miray CruisesA unique offer to cruise around the world for three years — which appeared at risk of running aground earlier this year — now is boasting of a bigger ship. Such bonds reimburse U.S.-boarding passengers if cruise operators fail to complete the booked trips. In March, Life at Sea originally offered what it called the "world's first — and only — three-year cruise" aboard the prior ship, MV Gemini. View of a cabin onboard the MV Lara cruise ship. While she almost pulled out of the trip after controversy over the initial plan to use the Gemini for the cruise, Thomas is now committed to the voyage.

Persons: Cruise, Gemini, Mikael Petterson, Petterson, Petterson's, Barbara, Lara, Kendra Holmes, Miray, Holmes, Thomas, Shirene Thomas, They've, people's Organizations: CNBC, Sea Cruises, Miray Cruises, Federal Maritime Commission, U.S, Gemini, Facebook, Victoria Cruises, [, Miray Locations: —, United States, Florida, North Carolina, Wilmington , North Carolina, U.S, Miami, Istanbul

☆ Life at Sea's three-year cruise will get a bigger ship
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-05 | by ( Julia Buckley | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +12 min

Life at Sea Cruises is now owned and operated entirely by Miray Cruises, a company with a 30-year history of operating in the Aegean. Bigger ship, fewer guestsStaterooms on the new ship will have 20 square feet more per cabin, say Miray Cruises. Life at Sea CruisesMeanwhile, Miray says it is launching its first Life at Sea cruise in its new ship as planned in November. MV Lara will be larger than the Gemini, Kendra Holmes, CEO of Miray Cruises, told CNN. And this Miray team is accommodating to everyone – If there are concerns, they fix it, if there are ideas they put them into place.

Persons: Miray, “, Mikael Petterson, Irina Strembitsky, Petterson, Staterooms, Lara, Kendra Holmes, Holmes, ” Holmes, Cruises, Heidi Klum, AIDA Cruises, Sharon Lane, ”, ’ ”, Meredith Shay, Shay, Ingrid Warwick, “ It’ll, “ That’s, Finnbarr Webster Organizations: CNN, Sea Cruises, Cruises, Miray Cruises, Gemini, Carnival, Sea, Petterson, Vie Locations: Europe, German, “, Florida, Germany, Istanbul

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