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They Sold Everything to Go on a 3-Year Cruise. How It All Unraveled.

The Life at Sea cruise was supposed to be the ultimate bucket-list experience: 382 port calls worldwide over 1,095 days. The only thing missing was a trip-worthy ship.

By Ceylan Yeginsu

Kara and Joe Youssef sold their two apartments, withdrew their life savings, gave up most of their belongings and, in late October, set out for Istanbul for the trip of a lifetime: a three-year cruise around the world, scheduled to depart Nov. 1.

But in late November, after months of behind-the-scenes chaos, the Youssefs were stuck in Istanbul, with the cruise company canceling the trip. It did not have a ship that could handle the journey.

The Turkish company, Miray Cruises, had announced the cruise, called Life at Sea , in March. It claimed it would be the longest cruise ever — 382 port calls over 1,095 days — and a community at sea, with opportunities to explore the globe. Starlink internet and a business center would allow passengers to work remotely.

The cruise seemed ideal for a post-pandemic era, targeting people longing for an escape. With fares starting at $90,000 for an inside cabin and going up to $975,000 for a suite, the trip even seemed like a bargain to some prospective passengers, cheaper than living three years in many cities.

Within the first month of sales, more than half of the ship’s 400 cabins had been reserved. But putting together a cruise of this magnitude is a monumental task, requiring a ship large enough to carry hundreds of people, docking rights around the world and secure funding.

Like a high-seas version of the Fyre Festival, which promised a luxury music concert in the Bahamas and delivered cold sandwiches and makeshift tents, the cruise imploded. It has left people, like the Youssefs, frustrated and confused. Despite promised refunds, only a small portion of the money has been returned so far.

In an interview in December, Vedat Ugurlu, the owner of Miray, blamed a lack of financing and interest for the cruise’s cancellation.

“We tried everything to find a solution, but at the end of the day we couldn’t get the investors and we couldn’t sell enough cabins,” he said.

That has left Ms. Youssef, 36, a former humanitarian worker from Ohio, and her husband sitting in Istanbul with three suitcases and a carry-on, waiting for a refund of $80,000.

“They kept leading us on, making us hold out hope until the very last minute, just days before we were supposed to depart,” she said. “We sold everything we have to make this dream happen. We feel completely defeated.”

A big dream, but no ship to sail on

In June 2022, as the cruise industry was recovering from its pandemic shutdown, Mikael Petterson, an entrepreneur based in Miami, had an idea for a three-year cruise. Long-term cruises are not unheard-of, but they usually last a year at most, because of the logistics involved.

Mr. Petterson had plans to hit destinations all over the world. What he did not have was a ship. Through a broker, he was introduced to Miray International, which had been offering voyages and cruise-operation services since 1996.

Mr. Ugurlu, the owner of Miray, suggested the MV Gemini. He had acquired the 400-cabin, 1,074-passenger vessel in 2019, and had mainly used it for excursions between Turkey and the Greek islands.

Mr. Petterson couldn’t afford to buy the ship, so instead the two groups joined forces. He would do the marketing while Miray took care of operations.

In November 2022, Mr. Petterson signed a three-month contract to develop their new brand: Life at Sea Cruises. He had not seen the Gemini, but said that he trusted Miray’s nearly 30 years of experience.

Kendra Holmes, then vice president for business development strategy at Miray, said the company had not only the vessel but a budget of about $10 million to refurbish it for such a long cruise. It also had the experience and staff required, she said.

Mr. Petterson visited Turkey in December 2022 and saw the Gemini, but said his focus was on design and creating renderings for marketing. He planned to carry out a technical inspection later, he said.

“The cabin configuration was perfect for the pricings and affordability we were marketing,” he said.

On March 1, 2023, Life at Sea began selling space on the cruise, drawing millions of clicks to a newly created website. “It just blew up, and we could barely keep up,” Mr. Petterson recalled.

Many of the prospective passengers had never been on a cruise. Keri Witman, 56, a marketing executive from Cincinnati, was looking for a change, a new community and adventure.

She liked the ability to travel while continuing to work. “This seemed like the perfect opportunity,” she said.

Ms. Witman was one of the first to book in April. She asked a lawyer to look into the company and, after finding no red flags, placed a $5,000 deposit for her $185,120 cabin and put her house up for sale.

Refueling concerns: Is this the right ship?

When Mr. Petterson returned to the Gemini in April, questions were raised about the ship and its itinerary. Could it even hold enough fuel to sail between some of the more distant ports? In an audio note sent to his team, Robert Dixon, the itinerary planner, said he was denied access to the engine room and was told by an engineer that the vessel could not hold enough fuel to cross the Atlantic Ocean on schedule. He also raised concerns about a planned crossing in the South Pacific.

“Even if you spend another $10 million on that ship, I don’t think it is enough to do what we want to do,” Mr. Dixon said in the recording. He declined to be interviewed.

Beyond that, there were questions about Gemini’s size. If the cruise sold out its 1,074 capacity, would there be enough space for people to lounge or work, as many of them planned to do, for three years?

A pizza shop in Orlando

Amid questions about the Gemini, tensions started to build. Mr. Petterson’s team complained that it could not process credit card transactions and lacked an escrow account to secure deposits, as is common in the United States.

Miray had expected the sales team to collect the full fare upfront, but asking for hundreds of thousands of dollars at once was prohibitive. Mr. Petterson introduced an installment plan, which helped boost sales, but caught Miray unprepared. And there was no account in the United States for the sales team to use as it secured reservations.

The head of Miray, Mr. Ugurlu, owned a pizza parlor in Orlando, Fla., and Mr. Petterson said the company asked him to deposit the initial payments into the shop’s account. According to Ms. Holmes, that was suggested as a temporary solution.

Miray pursued other ways to accept payments, including the use of Square, the online payment platform, but after Miray had a dispute with Square, Mr. Petterson, concerned at the lack of secure ways to hold deposits, asked the company to refund all the clients’ deposits. Worried that the cruise was in jeopardy, passengers canceled reservations for at least 25 cabins.

‘We felt very nervous’

In May, amid the turmoil, the Youssefs attended a webinar for prospective passengers, but heard nothing about payment issues. The couple was assured, even on another ship, that the cruise would depart on Nov. 1. On May 6, they put down a $5,000 deposit and were told that a 25 percent payment was due on June 7.

By then, Mr. Petterson had left the company. The internal corporate squabbling became public on the app and Facebook page created for the cruise. Mr. Petterson told passengers that Life at Sea was dismantled, and that Miray was refusing to answer critical questions. He urged passengers to complain to U.S. maritime authorities.

Ms. Holmes, of Miray, portrays Mr. Petterson as the loser in a power struggle. “It got to the point where somebody can’t be the captain, so they try to sink the whole ship,” she said. She became chief executive of Life at Sea and began working to reassure passengers.

Confusion and panic set in among the passengers, many of whom had already started uprooting their lives. “We felt very nervous, first sitting through one webinar with the team that left, then with Kendra Holmes,” Ms. Youssef recalled.

But in the weeks that followed, Ms. Youssef said she felt more comfortable as Ms. Holmes and her team hosted daily webinars focusing on getting a new ship.

“Kendra was very convincing and dedicated,” Ms. Youssef said, noting that “she was very realistic, whereas Mikael had promised us the sun and the moon.”

In a webinar on May 31, Ms. Holmes said that the company had decided not to set up an escrow account. She said that it would use another method of protecting passenger deposits, a bond filed with the Federal Maritime Commission, a U.S. agency that helps to regulate ocean transportation. But the bond was never filed.

A new ship and the scramble for investors

In early July, Life at Sea announced that “due to unprecedented demand,” it had acquired a larger 627-cabin ship — to be named the MV Lara. In actuality, the company had put down a deposit and was negotiating to buy the Lara with the help of investors, at a cost Mr. Ugurlu later put at between $40 million and $50 million.

At that time, Mary Rader, 68, a retired social worker from Westchester County, N.Y., asked a travel agency to look into Miray Cruises and was told it was reputable. When a couple offered to transfer their cabin to her at a discounted rate, she took the opportunity, withdrawing $80,000 from her retirement savings.

Ms. Rader made two payments, $50,000 and $35,000, but said she never received a receipt and the couple never received a refund. She eventually got a boarding pass, but on the cruise app, she and the couple were listed in the same cabin.

“This is when I started to see all the red flags, but I was trapped because I had already made the payments,” she said.

In September, the Youssefs sold their apartment to keep up with their cruise payments; others started applying for visas, shipping belongings to Istanbul and making arrangements for their pets.

At that point, although only 111 of the ship’s 627 cabins had been sold, passengers who had signed up were assured that the ship would sail, even with as few as two passengers.

On Sept. 26, the day the payment was due to secure the Lara, Ms. Holmes received a call from Miray’s owner, Mr. Ugurlu, saying the lead investor had dropped out, but that he was working on other candidates. After receiving some cancellation requests, Ms. Holmes posted in the cruise app that, according to the contract’s terms, passengers who canceled now would only receive a 10 percent refund.

By Oct. 27, only days before the cruise’s scheduled departure — and with 30 passengers in Istanbul, ready to board — the company announced the trip had been delayed to Nov. 11 and would depart from Amsterdam. Days later, the departure was postponed again, to Nov. 30.

On Nov. 16, Ms. Youssef learned from a newspaper that the Lara had been acquired by another company. “We were frustrated and felt stuck in limbo, with no information to go on but what we discovered on our own,” she said. Ms. Holmes resigned from Miray the same day.

On Nov. 19, Mr. Ugurlu issued a statement saying that investors had pulled out because of the unrest in the Middle East; the next day Miray confirmed that the cruise was canceled.

Waiting for refunds

A day later, passengers were asked to sign an agreement with Miray, which would spread refund repayments over three months, from December to February. The first deadline passed on Dec. 22, with only some passengers getting any money. Miray said that the delay was caused by banks’ requesting extra documentation.

The Youssefs said on Dec. 28 that they had still not received their refund. For the past month they have been living in a hotel in Istanbul paid for by the cruise company.

“We could soon be homeless,” Ms. Youssef said.

Miray, Ms. Holmes and Mr. Petterson are now separately working on other three-year cruises, to launch next year.

Ms. Rader, the retired social worker, is not hopeful. “I have received nothing yet, but I did not expect to,” she said. “My guess is that the company will be shut down or restructured, and anything I put in cash will never get paid out.”

Follow New York Times Travel on Instagram and sign up for our weekly Travel Dispatch newsletter to get expert tips on traveling smarter and inspiration for your next vacation. Dreaming up a future getaway or just armchair traveling? Check out our 52 Places to Go in 2023 .

Ceylan Yeginsu is a travel reporter. She was previously a correspondent for the International desk in Britain and Turkey, covering politics; social justice; the migrant crisis; the Kurdish conflict, and the rise of Islamic State extremism in Syria and the region. More about Ceylan Yeginsu

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Riesen-Chaos um längste Kreuzfahrt der Welt – wird sie doch nicht starten?

30.05.2023, 15:01 Uhr | Lesezeit: 5 Minuten

Drei Jahre an Bord eines Schiffs: Das könnte die längste Kreuzfahrt der Welt werden. Ab November dieses Jahres sollte es auf der „MV Gemini“ losgehen, Stopps in 135 Länder waren geplant. Doch nun gibt es großes Drama um die außergewöhnliche Kreuzfahrt. Das Kreuzfahrtschiff ist angeblich nicht seetauglich, die ehemaligen Veranstalter sind zurückgetreten und jetzt viele potenzielle Kunden besorgt, dass die Reise gar nicht stattfinden wird. Was aktuell bekannt ist.

375 Häfen in 135 Ländern auf allen Kontinente bereisen, diverse Traumreiseziele wie paradiesische Inseln sehen, sowie 13 von 14 Weltwundern, all das für etwas mehr als 28.000 Euro pro Jahr: Das verspricht das Unternehmen „ Life at Sea Cruises “. Zwar verbringt man hier nicht, wie etwa auf dem bald in See stechenden Schiff „Mv Narrative“, buchstäblich das ganze Leben an Bord, wäre aber zumindest drei Jahre am Stück auf Kreuzfahrt. Damit würde es sich um die bislang mit deutlichem Abstand längste Kreuzfahrt der Welt handeln. Start der Reise ist eigentlich am 1. November 2023 in Istanbul – doch ob die Kreuzfahrt wirklich losgeht, ist derzeit unklar, denn es gibt mehrere große Probleme.

Ursprünglich hatte man geplant, für die Kreuzfahrt das Schiff „MV Gemini“ zu verwenden. Hier hätte es 400 Kabinen und Platz für bis zu 1074 Passagiere gegeben, auch ein Pool, mehrere Restaurants, ein Fitnessstudio, ein Wellnesscenter, ein Auditorium und ein Business Center mit Besprechungsräumen und 14 Büros war geplant. Doch kürzlich wurde beunruhigendes bekannt: Ehemaligen Crew-Mitgliedern zufolge ist die „MV Gemini“ gar nicht seetauglich für eine solche Reise.

Die aktuellen Probleme der längsten Kreuzfahrt der Welt

Problem 1: Mit welchem Schiff wird „Life at Sea Cruises“ durchgeführt?

So sagte Irina Strembitsky, ehemalige Verkaufs- und Marketingdirektorin von „Life at Sea Cruises“, „ CNN “ zufolge, ein Ingenieur habe das Schiff als „nicht seetüchtig“ eingestuft und zudem Zweifel geäußert, ob es in der Lage wäre, eine dreijährige Reise zu absolvieren. Das bedeutet allerdings nicht, dass die „MV Gemini“ derzeit im Hafen liegt. Tatsächlich sei sie einsatzbereit, wie die ausführende Reederei, Miray Cruises, die zum Konzern Miray International gehört, TRAVELBOOK bestätigte. So sagte Kendra Holmes, Direktorin für Geschäftsentwicklung und Handelsgeschäfte bei Miray International: „Jedes Kreuzfahrtschiff muss über ein Sicherheitszertifikat für Passagierschiffe verfügen, das von der Klassifikationsgesellschaft, der das Schiff angehört, ausgestellt wird und das belegt, dass das Schiff die Anforderungen des SOLAS-Übereinkommens von 1974 erfüllt, damit es Passagiere aufnehmen kann. Die Gemini verfügt über dieses Zertifikat, das Ende Juli 2023 erneuert wird.“ Derzeit plane man weiterhin mit der „MV Gemini“.

Doch es gibt diverse Unklarheiten. Zum einen hieß es im März diesen Jahres noch, man wolle die „MV Gemini“ noch grundlegend überarbeiten, bevor sie zu der dreijährigen Reise aufbreche. Derzeit befindet sich das Schiff einer Trackig-Website zufolge allerdings auf Kreuzfahrt in der Ägäis. Zudem dementierte Kendra Holmes von Miray Cruises nicht, dass man nach einem neuen Schiff suche. Stattdessen hieß es, man könne „aufgrund von Vertraulichkeitsvereinbarungen in neuen Verträgen“ keine weiteren Details wie Name oder Firma eines neuen Schiffs nennen, werde aber, sollte es so weit kommen „aktualisierte Deckpläne, Kabinenabmessungen und Informationen über öffentliche Räume veröffentlichen“. Das hört sich, den Aussagen Holmes zum Trotz, mitnichten so an, als plane man zukünftig wirklich mit der „MV Gemini“.

Auch interessant: 9 Dinge, die man auf einer Kreuzfahrt vermeiden sollte

Problem 2: Kompletter Team-Wechsel bei „Life at Sea Cruises“

Doch nicht nur das ursprünglich geplante Kreuzfahrtschiff hat sich möglicherweise geändert. Auch bei der durchführenden Crew gab es massive Neuerungen – denn das gesamte Team ist zurückgetreten. „CNN“ zufolge habe es Unstimmigkeiten über die Eignung der „MV Gemini“ gegeben. Infolgedessen habe man das gesamte Team von „Life at Sea Cruises“, das eigens für das Projekt gegründet wurde, ausgewechselt. Statt der ursprünglichen Crew ist nun ein Team von Miray International im Einsatz, um die Kreuzfahrt noch zu realisieren. Dabei wurde betont, dass „‚Life at Sea‘ immer ‚Life at Sea by Miray Cruises‘ war“.

Dennoch ist es wenig verwunderlich, dass der komplette Team-Wechsel zu Beunruhigung bei den Kunden führt. Auch, dass bei mehreren E-Mail-Adressen, die als Kontakte auf der Website von „Life at Sea“ angegeben werden, die Fehlermeldung „unzustellbar“ kommt, dürfte für wenig Vertrauen sorgen. Gerade bei denjenigen, die bereits große Summen in das Kreuzfahrt-Abenteuer investiert hatten.

Auch interessant: Welche Dresscodes gelten auf Kreuzfahrtschiffen – und was bedeuten sie?

Warum Reisende aufpassen sollten Nach irrem Chaos! Neuer Anbieter verspricht neue längste Kreuzfahrt der Welt

Das größte kann 9500 passagiere aufnehmen diese kreuzfahrtschiffe stechen 2020 in see.

„Sea Cloud“ Das älteste noch fahrende Kreuzfahrtschiff der Welt

Kunden treten von kreuzfahrt „life at sea cruises“ zurück.

Denn die Summen, die für die Kreuzfahrt erforderlich sind, sind alles andere als gering. Der günstigste Preis für die gesamte Kreuzfahrt beläuft sich auf etwas mehr als 84.000 Euro für eine innen liegende Kabine. Eine Außenkabine kostet bestenfalls 34.000 Euro pro Jahr. Eine Suite mit Balkon liegt bei mindestens 93.000 Euro jährlich. Die erste Anzahlung, die 25 Prozent des Gesamtpreises beträgt, war bereits bis Ende Mai fällig. Die restliche Summe sollte eigentlich bis spätestens 31. August überwiesen werden. Doch statt Geld zu geben, verlangen aktuell immer mehr Kunden ihre Anzahlungen zurück.

So berichtet etwa „ Business Insider “ von einer Rentnerin aus Chicago, die für die Kreuzfahrt Möbel, Fernseher, Kleidung und ihre Wohnung verkauft habe, um die Reise zu finanzieren, und bereits die Anzahlung geleistet hatte. Doch aufgrund des Chaos habe sie nun um eine Rückerstattung gebeten. Die Kreuzfahrt wolle sie zudem nicht mehr antreten.

Laut Kendra Holmes ist die Reise derzeit zu etwas mehr als 50 Prozent ausgebucht. Viele Kunden hätten schon um Rückerstattungen gebeten, 10 Personen seien die Gebühren bereits erstattet worden. Man arbeite zudem aktuell an einem Google-Formular, um diesen Prozess zu vereinfachen. Derzeit dauere es fünf bis sieben Tage, bis die Rückerstattungen bearbeitet würden.

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TravelAwaits

Our mission is to serve the 50+ traveler who's ready to cross a few items off their bucket list.

Epic 3-Year World Cruise Sets Sail This November — What You Need To Know

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Miray Cruises made waves when it announced the 3-year Life at Sea Cruises world voyage on February 27, 2023. In an era of highly sought-after world cruises, this news created a tsunami of excitement and subsequent booking requests. Not only did the cruise have an extraordinary 130,000-mile-plus itinerary, but the entry price of $29,999 per person per year made it alluring to pre-retirees, retirees, remote workers, and adventurous travel lovers wishing to explore the world.

Since that time, some things have changed. These include management turnover, changes in embarkation ports and prices, and the acquisition of a larger ship. Answers to some key questions have been sorted out, but others remain outstanding. 

Here’s what to know about this blockbuster, first-ever Life at Sea 3-year world cruise. 

Newer, Bigger Cruise Ship

Life at Sea Cruises is a new venture launched by Miray Cruises, a subsidiary of Miray International . Headquartered in Turkey, Miray Cruises has owned and operated passenger vessels as a cruise ship hotel management firm. Miray Cruises and U.S.-based Life at Sea Cruises originally planned to operate the history-making, 3-year world cruise with Miray Cruises’ ship, MV Gemini .

According to CNN , some Life at Sea Cruises team members left the company in May as part of a dispute about the ship and other matters, which raised customer concerns. Now, Miray Cruises may have alleviated some of those with the purchase of an alternative ship.

Miray Cruises recently revealed it has obtained a newer, larger ship for its 3-year Life at Sea world cruise. The bigger ship, to be named MV Lara , provides more staterooms and living areas for residents. According to Miray Cruises CEO Kendra Holmes, “The MV Lara was acquired to accommodate the impressive, unprecedented high demand from cruisers who wanted to book the voyage. We wanted to accommodate as many adventurers as possible without compromising on comfort and space on the ship.”

Kendra Holmes told TravelAwaits the MV Lara has 42,289 gross tons, 634 staterooms, and space for 1,268 passengers, although Miray Cruises will only book the ship to 85 percent capacity. She also commented that the vessel is currently sailing in western Europe and will go into dry dock for any needed refurbishments to become the MV Lara by the end of September into the beginning of October. According to the Miray Cruises’ CEO, MV Gemini will remain with Miray Cruises and continue to operate her 3- and 4-day cruises in the Aegean Sea.

Bucket-List Cruise Itinerary

Miray Cruises’ Life at Sea marathon 3-year journey looks impressive. According to Miray Cruises CEO Kendra Holmes, “Life at Sea Cruises is the world’s first and only 3-year cruise and is also the voyage with the most extensive itinerary and the longest port stops.” The planned itinerary created by Robert Dixon includes 382 ports, seven continents, 148 countries, 103 tropical islands, 13 Wonders of the World, and several UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

The world cruise will include 288 overnight port stays, with multiple days spent in numerous ports of call. This will allow additional time for travelers to explore a wide variety of destinations and sites. Guests can participate in shore excursions and take part in volunteer and philanthropic activities. According to the voyage’s brochure, Life at Sea also plans to set up tee times and transportation to golf courses in many ports.

Family members and friends are welcome to join residents during the Life at Sea voyage. Miray Cruises CEO Kendra Holmes said, “Residents can host one visitor for up to 30 days and two visitors for up to 7 days per quarter. There will also be cabins available for friends and family to rent for up to 7 days.”

Miray Cruises will offer welcoming events in Turkey for all guests prior to boarding. These special events will take place at the same time as the 100th-anniversary revelries celebrating the forming of the Turkish Republic.

Highly-Inclusive Experience

Passengers enjoy cruising’s highly-inclusive travel style and fares on Life at Sea’s 3-year voyage cover much of the cruise experience. Cruise prices include meals in all dining venues, alcohol with dinner, high-speed internet, entertainment and performances, enrichment lectures and programming, port fees and taxes, housekeeping and laundry services, and business center access. In addition, the ship will feature an onboard hospital offering free medical visits and a team of medical professionals providing 24-hour, on-call services.

Some aspects of the Life at Sea cruise are not included in the fare, which is the case with many voyages. Prices do not include items such as shore excursions, spa services, alcohol served outside of dinner, permanent office space, medical procedures and medications, and some seasonal onboard premium services.

Cruise Ship Cabins And Public Spaces

Life at Sea Cruises’ floating hotel will feature a variety of stateroom options. Inside cabins are 145 square feet in size, balcony cabins are 210 square feet, and oceanview cabins range from 140–220 square feet. All staterooms have a queen-sized bed, although there are options for two single beds. A limited number of accessible cabins are also offered.

Since residents will be sailing on MV Lara for 3 years, living spaces are an important aspect of life on board . The ship’s public venues are being redesigned for long-term residence so that passengers will feel at home. Very few images of MV Lara ’s cabins and living spaces are currently publicly available.

According to Miray Cruises’ CEO, MV Lara will have two dining venues for sit-down and buffet meals. A specialty restaurant will be on board for special occasions and the common areas will offer snacks and other treats at all hours. The ship will also feature a spa and wellness center, pool and sun deck, bars and lounges, and a business center.

Rising Cruise Fares

Prices have escalated significantly since Miray Cruises first announced the Life at Sea Cruise. However, the current fares are for staterooms on the newer, larger ship.

When the Life at Sea world cruise opened for bookings on March 1, the base price of the 3-year voyage was $29,999 per person per year based on double occupancy in an inside cabin. Those initial prices are no longer available. After the announcement of the bigger ship, cruise fares were listed at $38,513 per person per year based on double occupancy in an inside stateroom.

Miray Cruises has now confirmed a current starting price of $43,860 per person per year based on double occupancy. When asked about the rising cruise fares, CEO Kendra Holmes stated, “As with any voyage, prices increase at a steady rate, and the sooner residents book the voyage with us, the lower the price will be.”

The cruise line is offering a 15 percent discount on the double-occupancy rate for solo travelers.

Changing Embarkation Ports

Miami, Florida, was originally one of the three available embarkation ports for Miray Cruises’ Life at Sea world cruise. That embarkation port has been eliminated. The three available ports are now Istanbul on November 1, Barcelona on November 5, and Freeport, Bahamas, on November 15.

Since there is no U.S. embarkation port, it appears Miray Cruises will no longer be required to post a Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) performance bond. This may cause concern for some travelers. The FMC bond protects the passenger deposits of guests embarking in the U.S. in the case of cruise operator non-performance.

When asked about the elimination of the Miami embarkation port, Kendra Holmes told TravelAwaits , “Most of our residents chose to embark in Europe. They are either joining us for our planned celebrations pre-sailing in Istanbul or at our second embarkation point in Barcelona. Less than 10 (out of hundreds) residents requested embarkation in Miami.”

Holmes added, “Given this low number and the flexibility of these residents, we moved the embarkation to Freeport, Bahamas, to give us even more days in South America for our itinerary. Sailing straight to Freeport from Europe gives us additional time in Peru, so our residents don’t miss the opportunity to explore Machu Picchu.” 

Travel Insurance Availability

Comprehensive travel insurance is important to consider for any upcoming trips. “We are actively searching for a travel insurance partner but have not yet settled on one,” Holmes said. “We estimate to be able to share more information in the fall.”

Travelers generally consider multiple insurance providers and carefully review each policy’s terms. According to Stan Sandberg, co-founder of TravelInsurance.com , several travel insurers can provide coverage for trips up to $100,000 per person in trip costs, including cruises. Sandberg told TravelAwaits , “Most comprehensive travel insurance policies will max out at 364 days in terms of trip duration. There are standalone travel medical insurance policies that can be purchased for 364 days with the option to renew coverage near the expiration date.”

Sandberg also noted, “While some travel insurers will offer cancellation due to financial default of a travel supplier (such as a cruise line) — and note this applies when a company ceases operations as opposed to entering into a bankruptcy process — many travelers will also consider an optional Cancel For Any Reason upgrade, which allows them to cancel for any reason at all.”

Related Reading: 

• 8 Best Cruise Lines According To Our Readers
• I Just Went On My First Solo Cruise — 5 Reasons I Can’t Wait To Do It Again
• 7 Things I Learned On My First Caribbean Cruise, And Still Follow Almost 30 Years Later

Nancy is founder of the Family Travel Network, launched in partnership with America Online. She serves on the Board of the Family Travel Association and is a consultant and frequent presenter at top travel industry conferences and events. Nancy is a member of the North American Travel Journalists Association and the International Food, Wine, and Travel Writers Association. She was honored with the Family Travel Association's Mike Janes Media Member Award in 2022.

This 3-Year Cruise Will Visit 148 Countries on All 7 Continents

The epic journey departs from istanbul in november, with sailings (including accommodations and meals) starting at $38,500 per year..

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Your home at sea: The 1,074-passenger MV Gemini will be where guests “live” throughout the three-year journey.

Courtesy of Life at Sea Cruises

How do you pack a suitcase for a trip that includes ogling emperor penguins in the Falkland Islands, lazing on the beach in Hawai‘i, and spending nights out in major cities like Cape Town and Beijing? It’s a question you’ll have to ask yourself if you sign up for Life at Sea Cruises’ new around-the-world itinerary.

The Florida-based Life at Sea Cruises, a spin-off of ship management company Miray Cruises, recently announced a three-year cruise , during which guests will sail roughly 130,000 miles, stop in 375 ports across 148 countries, and visit every continent.

The vessel will depart from Istanbul, Turkey, on November 1, 2023, before making additional stops (where passengers can also embark) in Barcelona and Miami. In the more than 1,000 days that follow, the ship will explore much of South America, Antarctica, the Caribbean, Central America, the USA (including California, Hawai‘i, Washington, and Alaska), northern Asia, the South Pacific, Australia, countries on the South China Sea and the Indian Ocean, southern and western Africa, and coastal Europe.

The balcony suites feature a queen bed, bathroom, and living room area.

During that time, the sailing will deliver passengers to myriad iconic and UNESCO World Heritage sites, including the pyramids of Giza in Egypt, Machu Picchu in Peru, the Great Wall of China, Rio de Janeiro’s Christ the Redeemer statue, and India’s Taj Mahal.

While other around-the-world cruises typically spend a day or two at each port, the advantage of this much longer sailing is that it will dock for up to seven nights in some larger cities, like Shanghai and Singapore.

The cruise was originally slated to take place on the MV Gemini, which could accommodate up to 1,074 passengers, but due to demand, the company has since switched to the MV Lara , which allows for 1,266 passengers.

Cabin sizes range from 145 square feet for interior staterooms (which include a double bed, a bathroom, and a desk) to 220 square feet for balcony suites (which have an additional living room area).

Pricing, which includes all meals, drinks (both alcoholic and nonalcoholic), laundry, Wi-Fi, gratuities, housekeeping, and port fees, starts at $38,513 and goes up to $98,226 per year based on accommodations. There isn’t the option to do shorter legs; however, it is possible to go in on one room with family and friends and divvy up the costs with who is on the boat at any given time. The company is also offering a matchmaking scheme, where passengers co-own a cabin with another group and split time on board.

For meals, passengers can choose to dine at either of the two main restaurants, visit the café on the pool deck, or order room service. The ship’s amenities include a swimming pool, sun deck, a golf simulator, a fitness center, and a hospital staffed with healthcare providers and a dentist and outfitted with a pharmacy and medical equipment such as X-ray and ultrasound machines and defibrillators. (According to the cruise line, the medical staff “even has the capability to perform certain surgeries.”) For those who want to work from sea, there’s also a large business center (replacing a former casino) with meeting rooms, dedicated office spaces, a library, and a lounge area.

In the past year, as cruisers have returned to the sea with a fervor following the pandemic pause in global sailings, cruise lines have been witnessing incredible demand for around-the-world sailings —one of Oceania Cruises’ 180-day itineraries sold out in 30 minutes last year. Life at Sea Cruises isn’t the only cruise line that has introduced the idea of a multi-year sailing. Another cruise company, Storylines, recently unveiled plans to launch a residential cruise ship, MV Narrative , that will sail indefinitely starting in 2024.

This story was originally published in March 2023 and has since been updated with new information.

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Längste Kreuzfahrt der Welt findet mit anderem Schiff statt

So soll das neue Schiff für die dreijährige Kreuzfahrt aussehen: die „MV Lara“.

Quelle: Life at Sea Cruises

Drei Jahre lang auf einem Schiff leben, arbeiten und dabei die Welt sehen: Das ist das Konzept von Life at Sea Cruises. Das Unternehmen bietet die längste Kreuzfahrt der Welt an – für unter 30.000 Euro pro Jahr. Nun gibt es Probleme mit dem Schiff.

Die einen ziehen ans Ende der Welt, die anderen bauen einen Van aus und reisen damit nonstop durch die Gegend. Willst du aber für längere Zeit auf dem Meer unterwegs sein, bieten sich ein kleines Segelboot, eine teure Jacht oder verschiedene Kreuzfahrten an.

Im November sticht ein Kreuzfahrtschiff mit einem neuen Konzept in See: Drei Jahre soll das Schiff unterwegs sein, dabei sieben Kontinente und 382 Häfen ansteuern sowie über 200.000 Kilometer zurücklegen. Einen riesigen Kreuzer mit Wasserrutschen, vielen Decks und eigenem Freizeitpark darf hier allerdings niemand erwarten.

Geplant war, mit der „MV Gemini“ in See zu stechen. Das Schiff ist bereits über 30 Jahre alt und sollte für das Projekt rundum erneuert werden. Laut dem Onlinemagazin „ Cruise Tricks “ sei die Nachfrage nach der Weltreise jedoch so hoch, dass es laut Reederei ein größeres Schiff brauche. Andere Medien berichten von Gerüchten, die „MV Gemini“ sei nicht mehr seetauglich.

In einer offiziellen Mitteilung verkündet nun das türkische Unternehmen Miray Cruises, das für die jahrelange Kreuzfahrt die Tochtergesellschaft Life at Sea Cruises ins Leben gerufen hat, dass ein anderes Schiff für die Weltreise eingesetzt wird. Begründet wird diese Entscheidung mit einer „überwältigenden Nachfrage“. Die „MV Gemini“ hätte dieser nicht gerecht werden können.

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Nun sollen die Abenteurerinnen und Abenteurer mit der „MV Lara“ in See stechen. Das Schiff sei zwar größer, halte dennoch eine intime Atmosphäre für die Reisenden bereit, schreibt Miray Cruises. Auch bei der „MV Lara“ sollen die Kabinen neu gestaltet werden.

Seit dem 1. März kann die Marathon-Kreuzfahrt gebucht werden. Los geht es am 1. November in Istanbul, zusätzlich können Reisende in Barcelona und Miami eingesammelt werden.

Kosten können monatlich getilgt werden

Insgesamt soll es auf der „MV Lara“ 627 Kabinen mit Platz für bis zu 1266 Reisende geben. Die günstigste Kabine für dieses lange Abenteuer kostet ab rund 28.200 Euro – pro Jahr. Was jetzt erst mal nach viel klingt, ist im Vergleich zu anderen Kreuzfahrten eigentlich recht günstig. Du zahlst beispielsweise für eine Antarktistour mit der Reederei Hurtigruten fast 11.000 Euro für 22 Tage.

So werden die Balkonkabinen aussehen.

Reisende können den Preis für die gesamte Kreuzfahrt (ab 84.600 Euro) auf einen Schlag bezahlen oder 2300 Euro monatlich. Richtig groß ist die Kabine für den Preis allerdings nicht: Gerade mal zwölf Quadratmeter misst sie, innen liegend. Ein virtuelles Fenster soll ein angenehmeres Gefühl vermitteln. Eine Standardkabine mit Fenster kostet knapp 35.000 Euro pro Jahr, die teuerste Suite mit Balkon über 103.000 Euro.

Außerdem sind ein Business Center mit Büros sowie eine Zigarren- und Weinbar geplant. Passagierinnen und Passagiere können rund um die Uhr medizinische Sprechstunden nutzen sowie sich weiterbilden und ehrenamtlich tätig sein. Es soll ein Spa- und Wellnesscenter sowie Sportmöglichkeiten geben.

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Diese 12 Fehler können dir deine Kreuzfahrt ruinieren

Shows, Sport-Events, Themen- und Filmabende sind Teil des Unterhaltungsprogramms. Kochkurse, Fotografie-Workshops und andere Hobby-Kurse werden ebenfalls angeboten, dazu zahlreiche Weiterbildungsmöglichkeiten. Will man all das inklusive Verpflegung genießen, ohne jedes Mal extra zahlen zu müssen, muss ein zusätzliches All-inclusive-Paket dazugebucht werden.

An manchen Orten hast du sieben Tage Zeit zum Erkunden

Südamerika und die Antarktis werden innerhalb von 98 Tagen entdeckt, 35 Destinationen in elf Ländern angesteuert. Die tropischen Paradiese von Mittelamerika und der Karibik werden binnen 67 Tagen durchkreuzt, 29 Destinationen in 23 Ländern stehen auf dem Plan. Genauso lange wie um Südamerika fährt die „MV Lara“ auch um Nordamerika herum, steuert dabei auch Hawaii an. 32 Destinationen sind hier auf acht Länder verteilt.

Die Antarktis ist Teil des Reiseplans.

Quelle: Getty Images/iStockphoto

Der längste Part der dreijährigen Kreuzfahrt findet im Südpazifik und um Australien sowie Neuseeland statt. Hier wird das Schiff 206 Tage unterwegs sein, dabei 26 Länder und 71 Destinationen besuchen, unter anderem Sydney, die Fidschi-Inseln und Papua-Neuguinea. Asien wird unterteilt in den Norden und das Südchinesische Meer. Natürlich ist auch Afrika Teil der Weltreise. In Europa wird die „MV Lara“ 177 Tage verweilen, die Atlantikküste entlangschippern und das Mittelmeer erkunden. Lediglich Grönland, der Nahe Osten und Russland sind nicht Teil der Reise.

Außerdem verspricht der Anbieter mehr Zeit an den einzelnen Destinationen; das Schiff soll oft nicht nur ein bis zwei Nächte anlegen, sondern auch mal eine ganze Woche, so Geschäftsführer Mike Petterson gegenüber „ Business Insider “.

​Wie das Magazin schreibt, können nicht einzelne Teile der Kreuzfahrt gebucht werden, sondern nur drei Jahre oder gar nichts. Es sei jedoch möglich, die Reise mit einem anderen Passagier oder einer anderen Passagierin zu teilen und abwechselnd Zeit auf dem Schiff zu verbringen. Auch Freundinnen, Freunde und Familie seien willkommen, dafür gibt es ausklappbare Betten oder Gästekabinen. So sollen die drei Jahre auf einem Schiff nicht zu einsam werden.

Mehr Inspiration gesucht? Tipps für alle Top-Reiseziele findest du beim reisereporter .

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Mit dieser Kreuzfahrt könnt ihr für drei Jahre auf dem Wasser leben

Mit dieser kreuzfahrt könnt ihr für drei jahre auf dem wasser leben und die welt umrunden – so sieht es auf dem schiff aus.

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Life at Sea Cruises wird ab November eine dreijährige Kreuzfahrt um die Welt anbieten.

Die Preise für eine Kreuzfahrt beginnen bei 30.000 US-Dollar (28.082 Euro) pro Person und Jahr für eine zwölf Quadratmeter große Innenkabine.

Schaut euch an, wie das Leben an Bord der rund 30 Jahre alten MV Gemini aussehen wird.

Reisende, die schon immer davon geträumt haben, auf dem Meer zu leben, können dies ab November endlich tun.

Life at Sea Cruises bietet Reisenden die Möglichkeit, drei Jahre auf einem Kreuzfahrtschiff zu verbringen und die Welt zu umsegeln. Die Preise beginnen bei 90.000 US-Dollar (84.281 Euro) pro Person für die gesamte Reiseroute.

Die Weltreise beginnt am 1. November in Istanbul, aber auch in Barcelona und Miami werden Gäste an Bord aufgenommen.

Das Schiff verfügt über 400 Kabinen, die Platz für bis zu 1074 Reisende bieten. In den drei Jahren, wird die Crew an Bord über 209.214 Kilometer, zu 375 Häfen in 135 Ländern, zurücklegen.

Unterwegs werden Passagiere alle sieben Kontinente sehen. Zudem reisen sie an mehrere Orte wie zum Beispiel zur Half Moon Island, die Antarktikas, Rio de Janeiro, Brasilien , Seoul und Süd-Korea.

Die meisten Kreuzfahrtschiffe, die um die Welt segeln, verbringen mehrere Stunden oder bis zu zwei Nächte an den Häfen.

Aber Branchenveteran und Geschäftsführer von Life at Sea Cruises Mike Petterson, welcher sozusagen der Mann hinter der neuen Marke ist, sagte, dass dies nicht genug Zeit sei, um größere Ziele wie Peking in China zu erkunden.

Stattdessen wird die MV Gemini bis zu sieben Nächte an einem Ort bleiben.

Dazu gehört auch je eine Woche in den Städten Shanghai und Singapur , die ebenfalls Halteorte sein werden. Wenn das Schiff für Reparaturen an Land gebracht werden muss, werden die Life at Sea-Passagiere in einem Hotel untergebracht.

Petterson hatte die Idee zu Life at Sea bereits vor der Corona-Pandemie und ging Ende 2022 eine Partnerschaft mit Miray International’s Miray Cruises ein, um dieses Konzept umzusetzen.

Das neue Unternehmen wird die Mitarbeiter des Kreuzfarhrtschiffes Miray anstellen und die Gemini als Schiff nutzen.

In den drei Jahren auf See wird die Gemini 288 Übernachtungen in verschiedenen Häfen verbringen – im Durchschnitt etwa zwei Nächte pro Zielort.

Eine Reise zu einem dieser Orte könnte Hunderte oder Tausende von Dollar kosten – alleine die Reise und Unterkunft könnten teuer werden.

Die Verwaltung der Gemini von Life at Sea verringert jedoch die Vorlaufkosten für die Reisenden, da sie die Möglichkeit haben, die Zahlungen über einen Zeitraum von drei Jahren zu tilgen.

Erwartet aber kein glitzerndes neues Hotel auf See mit dem ganzen Schnickschnack eines neuen Megaschiffs.

Das 30 Jahre alte Schiff wurde im vergangenen Jahr renoviert. Und jetzt gibt das Team weitere zehn Millionen US-Dollar (etwa 9,4 Millionen Euro) für die Renovierung des Innenraums aus.

Stellt euch die Gemini als eine schwimmende Stadt mit eigenem Sicherheitsdienst, medizinischem Zentrum und Büros mit Wlan vor.

Keine Stadt wäre vollständig ohne ein Gefängnis und eine Leichenhalle. Glücklicherweise (oder auch nicht) hat die Gemini beides.

Kreuzfahrtgesellschaften wie Royal Caribbean verzeichnen eine hohe Nachfrage nach riesigen Kreuzfahrtschiffen, die Tausende von Reisenden beherbergen können.

Life at Sea verfolgt jedoch einen etwas bescheidenen Ansatz für ihr schwimmendes Hotel.

Die Gäste werden Zugang zu den typischen Annehmlichkeiten eines Kreuzfahrtschiffs haben, darunter vier Lounges, ein Golfsimulator und ein Sonnendeck mit Pool.

Für die Mahlzeiten auf See können die Passagiere in einem der beiden Hauptspeisesäle oder im Restaurant auf dem Pooldeck essen. Sie können auch über eine App überall auf dem Schiff Essen bestellen.

Im Gegensatz zu anderen Kreuzfahrtschiffen verfügt die Gemini aber auch über Annehmlichkeiten wie ein Business Center und ein Krankenhaus mit Apotheke und Zahnarzt.

Wie bei jeder All-inclusive-Kreuzfahrt werden diese Extras, einschließlich der Krankenhausbesuche, nicht mit zusätzlichen Kosten verbunden sein.

Diese Weltumsegelungen werden häufig von Rentnern gebucht.

Laut Petterson zielt Life at Sea jedoch auf eine zunehmend jüngere Zielgruppe ab: Vor allem Personen im Alter von 55 bis 65 Jahren, die kurz vor dem Ruhestand sind.

Um einige Angestellte unterzubringen, wird das Kasino des Schiffes ersetzt mit einem Bürobereich, wo es Konferenzräume und eine Bibliothek geben wird.

Tage auf See ohne Land in Sicht sind für transozeanische Reiserouten unvermeidlich: Reisende auf der Gemini haben mindestens 300 dieser Segeltage.

Um Langeweile zu vermeiden, können Reisende ihre Tage in den Lounges des Schiffes verbringen, an Seminaren und Shows teilnehmen oder sich in ihren Kabinen ausruhen.

Die billigste und kleinste Kabine misst zwölf Quadratmeter und beginnt bei 90. 000 US-Dollar (84.347 Euro) pro Person für die dreijährige Reise.

Wie bei jedem Kreuzfahrtschiff können Innenkabinen etwas schäbig wirken.

Um dies zu verhindern, werden diese Kabinen mit Bildschirmen ausgestattet, die einen Live-Blick auf das Meer zeigen und ein virtuelles „Fenster“ schaffen.

Diejenigen, die mehr Geld ausgeben wollen, können die teuerste Kabine, eine Suite mit Balkon, für insgesamt 330.000 US-Dollar (309.282 Euro) buchen.

Diese Kabinen sind etwas kleiner im Vergleich zu den über 93 Quadratmeter großen Suits auf anderen modernen Kreuzfahrtschiffen.

Aber laut Petterson seien sie zumindest erschwinglicher: „Es ist mehr für den Massenmarkt und Rentner gedacht als für Ärzte. „

Reisende können entweder monatlich zahlen oder die gesamten drei Jahre im Voraus bezahlen.

Kürzere Strecken können sie jedoch nicht buchen –nur drei Jahre oder gar nichts.

Für diejenigen, die gerne alleine sind, gibt es auch die Möglichkeit, die Reise mit einem anderen Passagier aufzuteilen und abwechselnd Zeit auf dem Schiff zu verbringen.

Drei Jahre ohne Freunde und Familie kann eine lange Zeit sein. Zum Glück sind sie auch willkommen.

Ihr könnt entweder auf einem aufklappbaren Bett im Kabinenraum eines Bewohners schlafen, in einer Gästekabine bleiben oder in einer Passagierkabine übernachten.

Reservierungen für Life at Sea’s Gemini können ab dem 1. März 2023 gemacht werden.

Petterson sagt, etwa 20 Personen hätten vorab schon buchen wollen.

Den Verkauf von Tickets sieben Monate vor der Reise kann riskant erscheinen für eine Branche, die oft auf Buchungen ein Jahr im Voraus angewiesen ist.

Allerdings erwartet Petterson, der sich selbst als „Optimist“ bezeichnet, dass das Schiff zu jeder Zeit mit einer Auslastung von über 55 Prozent betrieben wird. Der Grund: die Popularität von Kreuzfahrten ist in den letzten zwei Jahren in die Höhe geschossen.

In den letzten Jahren waren Weltumsegelungen gut ausgebucht, obwohl die Kunden eine langfristige Verpflichtung eingehen müssen.

Für Reisende wie Rentner und Remote-Mitarbeitende verspricht dieses langjährige Leben auf See ruhige Nachmittage und die Möglichkeit, mit minimalem Planungsaufwand die Welt zu bereisen.

In den Jahren 2021 und 2022 verkauften sich Kreuzfahrten, die monatelang rund um die Welt reisten, in Rekordzeit.

Aber für Reisende, die lieber Jahre lang auf See Urlaub machen wollen, gibt es auch Storylines, Victoria Cruises Line und jetzt Life at Sea.

Die Victoria Majestic von Victoria Cruises Line, ein ehemaliges Schiff der Holland America Line, wird im Mai auf unbestimmte Zeit um die Welt segeln. . .

. . . während Storylines‘ Wohnkreuzfahrtschiff, die MV Narrative, im Jahr 2025 eine eigene Nonstop-Umrundung aufnimmt.

Einige Wohnungen auf der Narrative sind bereits verkauft. Das ist ein Beleg für den wachsenden Erfolg dieser schwimmenden Eigentumswohnungen.

Dieser Artikel wurde von Zoe Brunner aus dem Englischen übersetzt. Das Original findet ihr hier .

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Get out of paying tax by living on the longest world cruise

A new company, life at sea cruises has opened bookings for the world’s longest cruise where guests can live and work at sea..

Onboard the  MV Gemini , guests will travel around the world for three years in an all-inclusive trip starting from US$29,000 (AUD$44,490) or around AUD$121 per night.

On the company’s website, Life At Sea Cruises has created an international tax haven for those wanting to live at sea for the next three years.

“We have developed a first of its kind Business Center at Sea with 2 Meeting Rooms, 14 Offices, a Business Library, Relaxing Lounge and a Café. Loaded with Screens, Conference Equipment, WIFI, Printers and staff ready to assist. Making money at Sea has never been easier, and with the Tax Benefits of an International Residence, you may keep more of what you earn,” the company’s website says.

The line has opened bookings for the voyage which will leave this November from Istanbul on the MV Gemini . Based on initial interest and experience, Managing Director Mikael Petterson is expecting Australians to make up 5-10% of the ship’s guests.

Based on the ship’s capacity, this means Mr Petterson is expecting between 50 and 100 Australians to snap up the opportunity to spend three years exploring the world via cruise ship.

Of this brand-new product, perhaps the most enticing hook is the extremely reasonable prices, with prices beginning from about $44,490 per year or just $121 per day for an inside 130 square feet cabin.

Also unique to the voyage is the focus on remote workers, with the ship being home to a huge business centre, set up with meeting rooms, StarLink internet, 14 offices, a lounge, a business library, and more for cruisers to connect to their workplaces around the world.

The ship has 400 cabins, with rooms for up to 1074 passengers, who will enjoy a state-of-the-art spa and wellness centre, all-inclusive premium dining and beverages, 24-hour medical service with free visits, gym and fitness facilities, laundry service, onboard entertainment, and all the other big ship amenities you would expect.

The cruise itself will hit all seven continents and a massive 375 destinations, circumnavigating South America before heading to Central America and the Caribbean, exploring North America and Hawaii, journeying through North Asia, coming to the South Pacific and Australia, going through Asia and the South China Sea, crossing the Indian Ocean to Africa and then finishing with a complete exploration of Europe.

With Life at Sea not being a well-known name to Australian cruises,  Cruise Passenger  asked Mr Petterson all the big questions about the first-of-its-kind cruise.

What led to the creation of this three-year world cruise?

“World cruising is a growing segment, and with most operators selling out years in advance we know there is strong demand for world cruises in general. Our product is focused a little different from the big operators in that we have our business center with free WIFI allowing our residents to work from anywhere in the world. We also have other perks like an onboard pharmacy and free medical visits which puts a big stress at ease for the long-term traveler. Combine this with our family and friends program which is a first in the industry where you can invite your friends and family to come and stay with you for free.”

Do you have to sail for the whole three years?

“Currently we only have the three-year cruise for sale but we have a matchmaking program where residents can buy a cabin together for different seasons and periods.”

Are you expecting many passengers to be working while on the ship?

“We have a very positive response on offices and workspace, so we expect the business centre to be one of the busier areas of the ship. That said, we also expect our fair share of semi to completely retired guests as well.”

What level of luxury should be expected on the ship?

“We offer every luxury you can imagine with on-demand services with location services like Room Service or drinks to the observation deck. We also offer significant perks from free WIFI and medical visits to a Pod system for embarkation which is really a first in the industry. It is difficult to exactly compare us to an existing standard because there really aren’t any products like ours, but we do target the upper premium market and have adjusted our onboard product to satisfy their needs.”

Family and friends can visit for free, how does this work?

“Our guests are free to welcome their friends and family any time through our customer service desk. Friends and Family are welcome to stay in our guests’ cabin or stay in a friends & family cabin on a first come first serve basis. Our ship does have limited capacity, so there are limitations. We don’t charge anything for this service, but there may be port taxes and regulatory limitations in certain areas.”

There are 288 overnight stays, will you also be doing multi-night stays?

“Yes, as a rule of thumb, the more there is to see in a port the longer we stay. For example, we stay for 3 days in places like Rio de Janeiro and Lima but stay 6 days in a port like Beijing. Many Islands with less to do we stay 1-2 days.”

What would you say to encourage someone to book this cruise?

“This is more of a way of life than a vacation. We offer the only realistic cruise product where you can live, cruise, work, and explore from your home at sea.”

For more information, click here 

Hi Susanna, Best you contact the company for more details. Cheers!

Hello there, We are a senior couple. We are making enquiries: 1) how long can a friend stay in an additional cabin. 2) Is the price of US$ 29k for a cabin? 3) what is the price for oceanview? 4) What will the port charges for the year? 5)what is the price for a 3 pax in the cabin? Thank you

I would not be betting on the ATO agreeing that a ship is a residence, so I would question the tax free income claims.

How does one get around requirements for pension as in NZ you can only be out of the country for 3 months before having to return for a little ?

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Discover the first ever three-year world cruise, worth at least £24,925

Author: Lucy Abbott

Published on: 27 February 2023

Updated on: 28 February 2023

Life at Sea Cruises, owned by Miray Cruises, has announced they will open reservations for the world's first and only three-year world cruise on 1 March. Find out exactly what to expect from life onboard for a staggering three years

Fancy travelling the world for under £70 a day? Well, Life at Seas Cruises may have the cruise for you.

Covering more than 130,000 miles and 375 ports across 135 countries and seven continents, this three-year world cruise is set to impress.

MV Gemini will sail to 13 of the 14 Wonders of the World as well as provide two to three days in port at a time so you can explore at your own pace.

Life at Sea Cruises is a cruise product offered by Miral International, who provide hospitality services to cruise companies worldwide for almost 30 years.

The ship will start its three-year sailing on 1 November 2023 from Istanbul (with pickups in Barcelona and Miami).

Life at Sea Cruises director of sales & marketing Irina Strembitsky commented: "Life at Sea Cruises offers the ultimate bucket list cruise without having to sacrifice the comforts of home.

"It’s your home at sea with the world as your backyard."

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In a world where most can work from home remotely, this cruise allows you to live, work, cruise and explore all from one base.

Life at Sea Cruises managing director Mikael Petterson said: “Professionals need connectivity, the right amenities, and the functionality to perform their jobs.

"There is no other cruise product that offers this sort of flexibility to their customers."

The line also states that cruisers may enjoy additional tax benefits when working as an international resident onboard the ship.

MV Gemini – what's onboard

With a capacity of up to 1,074 guests across 400 cabins, MV Gemini aims to create a community of professionals living and working at sea.

Onboard, you can enjoy entertainment, dining options, recreational activities as well as workspace facilities with a business centre featuring meeting rooms, 14 offices, a lounge and a business library.

Away from the office, the ship includes a wellness centre, sundeck and swimming pool.

MV Gemini will also include a 24-hour on-call hospital with free medical visits.

What's more, you can expand your mind with learning and enrichment classes as well as volunteering and philanthropic initiatives.

In terms of cabins, sizes range from 130 square feet for virtual inside and oceanview staterooms to 260 square feet for balcony suites.

Plus - if you are missing your loved ones, you can invite family and friends onboard for free.

Where will you visit on a world cruise?

Visiting 135 counties, there are countless places to list on this world cruise - but plenty of highlights including...

South America and Antarctica

Spanning 98 days, you'll explore the vibrant cities of South America as well as the stunning wildlife of Antarctica.

Caribbean and Central America

Relax on a sandy beach, explore a jungle and navigate bustling cities in the 67 days you'll be sailing the Caribbean and Central America

North America and Hawaii

Next up is 98 days of the rich culture of North America and Hawaii – whether you opt for adventure or a relaxing experience you'll create everlasting memories.

From Tokyo to Seoul, spend 70 days sailing to 23 destinations in North America.

A mighty 206 days will be spent cruising to 71 destinations and 26 countries in the South Pacific. Think Sydney, Melbourne, Fiji and Papua New Guinea - a proper adventure.

Asia and the South China Sea

Open your mind to the flavourful cuisine of Asia and explore 12 countries across 169 days.

From the Atlantic to the Mediterranean traverse the glory of Europe and visit 38 countries across 177 days.

Prices start at £24,925 per year with payment options from £2,066 per month for an all-inclusive sailing with Life at Sea Cruises .

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Lucy is a cruise journalist who has sailed on a variety of ships, from expedition to river – with her favourite being expedition cruising.

Lucy is interested in new sustainable ways to cruise as well as how cruising is becoming accessible for all.

She works together with Kaye Holland to keep the World of Cruising website up to date with all the latest cruise news.

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This 3-year cruise around the world is called off, leaving passengers in the lurch

Bill Chappell

When the Life at Sea cruise line failed to purchase the German cruise ship AIDAaura, seen here in 2020, its plans for a worldwide cruise embarking in November began to unravel. Marit Hommedal/NTB Scanpix/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

When the Life at Sea cruise line failed to purchase the German cruise ship AIDAaura, seen here in 2020, its plans for a worldwide cruise embarking in November began to unravel.

They were promised the world. But cruise company Life at Sea recently told customers who bought passage on a three-year voyage that rather than visiting 140 countries, their trip was called off.

Those customers are now scrambling to make new plans for where they will live for the next three years — and to extract refunds from the cruise line. The intense fallout is drawing comparisons to infamous debacles such as the Fyre Festival — the "luxury" music festival that was more like a "disaster relief area."

Here's what to know about the cruise around the world that was called off

What was promised? The world.

The original itinerary mapped 1,095 days of travel, heading from Istanbul to Europe and then to South America and the Caribbean. Passengers would then pass through the Panama Canal before seeing the U.S. West Coast, Hawaii and Alaska and then head west across the Pacific.

"We are going to be following summer the entire time that we go around the world," then-Life at Sea CEO Kendra Holmes told prospective passengers in a Zoom webinar in September.

$73,499-Per-Guest World Cruise Sells Out In Less Than 3 Hours

Voyagers were to see seven continents, visiting 140 countries. They would spend roughly 300 days at sea, 795 days at port and have 413 overnight port stays, Chief Operating Officer Ethem Bayramoglu of Miray Cruises, the Turkish parent company of Life at Sea, said in that online session.

Along the way, they would explore wonders of the world, visit UNESCO World Heritage sites and have plentiful chances to go diving and snorkeling, the company said.

The three-year voyage was to begin on Nov. 1, departing from Istanbul. Some passengers reportedly only learned of the cancellation after arriving in Turkey.

What are customers saying?

"Some people read the headlines and think, 'Oh, that was a scam,' but I really did my homework before I put a deposit down," Keri Witman of Cincinnati told NPR. She had attorneys check the company's background, for instance.

Witman, who owns a marketing agency named Clever Lucy, was planning to work remotely aboard the ship, using its Starlink internet service. And as a single woman, she had been looking forward to exploring the world with a group.

"Having a like-minded community of people that all were interested in travel at the ready was really appealing to me," she said.

When the cruise missed its planned departure date, the company promised to resolve lingering issues. But after further delays, the trip was canceled.

Witman says the company has begun the refund process, accepting her requests for other expenses to be paid, from airfare to the costs of foreign visas. But some of her fellow customers seem more frustrated.

20 years ago, the supersonic passenger jet Concorde flew for the last time

"Still waiting for my refund. And now you've gone belly up?" a woman who identified herself as a Life at Sea customer said recently on the company's Instagram account . The woman, a retired educator, did not respond to NPR's message seeking further comment.

Former flight attendant Meredith Shay was looking forward to the trip as a centerpiece of her retirement.

"How did I feel about it?" Shay said in an interview on ABC's Good Morning America . "Devastated, disappointed, sad. I packed up my belongings, put them in storage, sent four boxes to Miray Cruises."

Witman says she also shipped boxes to have on the cruise, back in early October.

"I'm following them along on my AirTags today," she said. "They're on their way back."

How much did the Life at Sea cruise cost?

The cheapest packages started at $196,000 for a single traveler, and $231,000 for couples, according to the company's website . Costs ranged much higher for guests staying in premium rooms.

In exchange, passengers — or residents, as the company called them — were promised a long list of amenities, including an onboard hospital and doctor. Some cabins could host cats; travelers were also promised high-speed internet, free dining, alcohol and laundry service, and "enrichment seminars."

Terms of the deal help illuminate the would-be passengers' financial and logistical plight. Life at Sea set initial deposits at 30% of the overall cost. Under its 12-month payment plan, the first draw came due one month ahead of the sail date.

And rather than portioning the cruise for sale in smaller stages, the company required customers to commit to the full three years.

"Our residents are changing their lives for this opportunity, and we are honored to be a part of their personal journeys," Holmes said in June .

A wide range of passengers had booked cabins.

"The age group is split pretty much between 35 and 85" years old, and the passengers included a large number of Americans, Holmes said.

The Two-Way

Paradise lost: luxury music festival turns out to be half-built scene of chaos, did the cruise line actually have a ship.

"In two days' time, we own this vessel," Life at Sea itinerary planner Robert Dixon said in late September , speaking in a promotional video from the bridge of a ship he called the "MV Lara."

But the company wasn't able to close that deal, and the ship in question — the 20-year-old AIDAaura — was instead sold in November to Celestyal, which specializes in Mediterranean cruises.

Miray's attempts to purchase the ship dragged on for weeks, and it eventually stalled after investors balked, according to a company message obtained by CNN and other outlets.

Environment

In warmer climate, a luxury cruise sets sail through northwest passage.

"If you're focused on the ship, this is not the journey for you," Holmes said in the September webinar. But two months later, she would leave her leadership post at Life at Sea and Miray, as plans for the ambitious cruise unraveled.

Holmes was trying to allay concerns about the quality of the vessel. But it seems that it was the company's focus, not the public's, that was the problem.

Warning flags went up earlier this year, when the company changed course from its initial plan to refit one of its ships, the MV Gemini. For the lengthy worldwide voyage, it planned to deploy the larger "MV Lara" — a ship that never materialized.

What does the cruise company say now?

It's complicated. On Sunday, Miray Cruises issued a statement in Turkish , denying that the cruise is canceled. Instead, the company said the voyage is postponed — and it blamed a lack of enough passenger bookings, rather than problems finding an appropriate ship.

But responding to a social media comment about that same statement, the company sought to clarify that its other operations are unaffected — and in doing so, it stated , "The cancellation in question is related to our 3-year world tour project."

The company said that anyone requesting a refund will get one, and that it will reimburse travel expenses related to the cruise. Miray also says it plans to mount a similar trip next year.

Witman, for one, says she's still interested in a worldwide cruise.

"There are two other companies that have been working on a similar concept" that have also run into delays, she said.

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"I think one of them will make it happen in 2024," Witman said. "And I'm hopeful that it will, because I'd like to be on it. I still believe in the concept. I think it's a really perfect opportunity for me."

Despite the setback, Witman says she's been able to form connections with other would-be passengers, who have been keeping in touch via apps and group texts. Some of them are even making plans to travel together this winter.

"I don't regret at all going down this path," Witman said. "It moved me forward in a way that I wouldn't have done without this instigation. And I'm really thankful for it. I'm disappointed, but I'm ready to go for whatever opportunity comes up next."

• cruise ship

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Lesezeit: 2 min

Arbeiten und leben auf einem Kreuzfahrtschiff, und das für nur 28 000 Euro im Jahr: Klingt großartig - solange man nicht zu genau hinschaut. Denn dann findet man schlimme Single-Events, ein Gefängnis und gleich mehrere Leichenschauhäuser.

Von Lea Hampel

Die Welt, das darf man ausnahmsweise pauschal sagen, teilt sich in zwei Arten Menschen: Solche, die Kreuzfahrten ablehnen. Über Wochen die gleichen Menschen, das gleiche Essen, die gleichen Wege, Hölle. Und die anderen: gleicher Pool, gleiches Bett, gleiches Personal, Himmel. Letztere sind, wissend grinsend, der Überzeugung, dass Erstere es "nur mal probieren müssten", um bekehrt zu werden. Diesen Graben könnte nun ein Angebot überbrücken, das Skeptiker zumindest in Versuchung führen dürfte. Drei Jahre Kreuzfahrt lautet es, 135 Länder, 375 Häfen, in der günstigsten Variante mit Innenkabine für 28 000 Euro pro Jahr. "Life at Sea Cruises" heißt das türkische Unternehmen, das in einem luftigen Video einen Alltag mit Meer, Pool und Büro bewirbt.

Mit dem Angebot reagiert die Firma nicht nur auf sehr aktuelle Wünsche, Märzgrau und Krankheitsennui, kurz: mitteleuropäischen Winter. Sondern auch auf sehr zeitgeistige Bedürfnisse: in der Welt unterwegs sein und arbeiten, keinen schnöden U-Bahn-Kantine-Supermarkt-Alltag, jeden Abend Instagram-taugliche Sonnenuntergänge. Was könnte das Herz in Zeiten von Krisen, Krieg und Pandemie mehr erfreuen als Schiff gewordener Eskapismus. Fast schon teuflisch mutet die Ausstattung an: Reinigung, Wäsche, Getränke, Internet, Fitnessstudio und Pool sind inklusive. Da scheinen selbst 169 000 Euro für drei Jahre als Paar nicht teuer. Auch weil man, so der Anbieter, Steuervorteile hat, wenn man nicht fest in einem Land lebt. Noch günstiger wirkt es, wenn man bedenkt, dass niemand weiß, wie teuer Butter kommendes Jahr sein wird und in mancher deutschen Stadt die Mieten so hoch sind, dass Studenten von London nach München pendeln . Zumal zum Schiff eine Bibliothek, Tanzkurse und Single-Events gehören, für diejenigen, die auf dem Meer auch den perfekten Partner finden wollen.

Es gibt auch ein Gefängnis an Bord

Doch schon dieses Detail wirft Fragen auf: Was, wenn man sich an Bord verliebt, entliebt und hasst in wenigen Wochen? Die schönsten Fragen aber - und die gruseligsten Antworten - stehen im FAQ-Bereich auf der Website des Anbieters: Gibt es einen Dresscode? Ja, "was auch immer die Gäste für bequem und passend halten für die jeweilige Aktivität". Was Menschen für angemessen halten für Videokonferenzen weiß man nach drei Jahren Pandemie leider zu gut. Gibt es einen Geldautomaten? Nein, nur eine vorab zu ladende Karte. Wie lang dauert die Reise ? "Die Kreuzfahrt dauert drei Jahre." Kein Verweis auf frühere Ausstiegsoptionen oder besondere Umstände, unter denen man früher runter darf. Wem das noch nicht unheimlich ist, der sollte die Frage "Was, wenn ich an Bord sterbe?" anklicken. Man habe bei "Life at Sea" Leichenschauhäuser an Bord, mehrere. Immerhin, "wir werden mit ihrer Verwandtschaft die Erfüllung ihrer letzten Wünsche organisieren", so der Anbieter.

Wer nun Sorge hat, dass er 1095 Tage an Bord doch nicht aushält, kann beruhigt sein. Zum einen gibt es ein medizinisches Team, auch wenn die Behandlung extra kostet. Zum anderen ist für möglicherweise durchdrehende Gäste vorgesorgt. Nachzulesen auf die Frage "Was, wenn jemand an Bord ein Verbrechen begeht?" ist nämlich: "Wir haben unseren eigenen Sicherheitsdienst und sogar ein eigenes Gefängnis." Womit man wieder bei der Hölle wäre.

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In Machu Picchu leben die Menschen vom Tourismus, doch seit das Land in Protesten versinkt, trauen sich kaum mehr Besucher hierher. Stattdessen stehen Polizisten am Bahnhof und die Lamas grasen einsam zwischen Inka-Ruinen. Über den tiefen Fall Perus.

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