The cruise industry has been hauling in guests through the post-pandemic years. More than 31 million people took to the seas in 2023, with increased demand for longer cruises corresponding with remote work trends.
But a recent incident has provided a glimpse into the inner workings of small cruise lines.
Life at Sea Cruises advertised a three-year cruise at prices starting at $196,000 for solo travelers, while packages for couples started at $231,000. The cruise was to visit 140 countries and all seven continents. While longer cruises of up to 90 days and longer are becoming popular, this was one of the most ambitious attempts, with a lofty promise to follow summer around the world.
One small problem: There was no actual cruise ship.
Life at Sea Cruises, owned by the Turkish company Miray Cruises, booked the cruise while trying to secure a ship, a process they had no reason to think would be difficult. But time and again, the ships were sold or made unavailable.
When Nov. 1 rolled around, the date the ship was supposed to depart from Turkey, Life at Sea had plenty of paid guests — and still no ship. They rescheduled the cruise to start 30 days later from the Netherlands. But once again, they were unable to secure a ship. Finally, they announced that the voyage was cancelled.
This left the cruise guests in a pickle. Some folks planning to partake in the Life at Sea journey actually sold or rented out their homes, figuring that they'd be spend months or years on the high seas. Many people stored their belongings, and most sent belongings to be loaded on the ship before the voyage.
The company says it is processing refunds and all the deposits will be paid back.
