Residential cruise company cancels voyage after failing to acquire a ship
Life at Sea Cruises, a company selling cabins on residential voyages, canceled its first three-year cruise, saying it couldn’t afford a ship.
After postponing the sailing twice, the company announced that a deal to buy a ship fell through and the sailing was canceled, reported CNN. The company said it would refund customers in monthly installments.
On Nov. 17, CEO Kendra Holmes recorded a video for customers saying the sailing was not going to happen. Holmes had departed the company a few days earlier, CNN said. Two days later, Life at Seas Cruises’ parent, Miray Cruises, confirmed that the sailing would not happen. A day later, the COO messaged passengers to confirm the cruise was canceled.
Life at Seas Cruises had planned to buy the retired AidaAura by the end of September, put the ship in drydock for renovations, and begin cruising Nov. 1 from Istanbul, according to CNN. The line postponed the sailing to Nov. 11 and moved the departure to Amsterdam, then delayed again to Nov. 30.
On Nov. 16, Athens-based Celestyal Cruises announced it had acquired the AidaAura. The next day, Holmes recorded her customer video.
CNN reported that Vedat Ugurlu, the owner of Miray Cruises, said the company couldn’t afford a $40 million to $50 million ship on its own but some investors had given the company approval to acquire the vessel. After the company made the down payment, he said investors “declined to support us further due to unrest in the Middle East.” He added that the company attempted to buy another ship but failed and was seeking another option.
The ship’s sale was supposed to have been finalized a week before Hamas attacked Israel on Oct. 7.
Attempts to reach Life at Sea for comment were unsuccessful.
The line had planned to sail to 135 countries and seven continents. An interior cabin on the fourth deck is listed on the company’s website at around $250,000 for double occupancy for a three-year period.
Other companies have launched residential cruise products, including The World — Residences at Sea, which was first floated as an idea in the mid-2000s. In recent years, other companies have emerged, including Blue World Voyages, Somnio and Storylines.
Travel advisors, who usually do not make commissions on residential cruises, tend to steer clear of these products.
“It’s one of those pipe dreams. It sounds wonderful, but with luxury clients, that’s not going to be their cup of tea. That’s risky,” said Jeannie Cartier Sauleau, president of Sixth Star Travel, based in Fort Lauderdale. She said she expects luxury travelers will stick to world cruises on cruise lines.
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