Customers Call for Criminal Probe into Life at Sea Cruises’ Failed 3-Year Voyage

Passengers who invested in what was advertised as the world’s first three-year cruise by Life at Sea Cruises, operated by Turkish cruise line Miray Cruises, are now seeking a criminal investigation. The cruise, which promised a unique home-at-sea experience for three years, covering 140 cities worldwide, was abruptly canceled two weeks before its scheduled departure, leaving customers out of pocket by a total of $16 million.

Individual fares for the cruise began at $38,500 per year, and many customers had made significant life changes in anticipation of the trip, including selling their homes and depleting their life savings. The sudden cancellation has left many of these customers in dire financial and personal situations.

A group of 78 affected customers has sent a letter to Markenzy Lapointe, U.S. attorney for the Southern District of Florida, requesting a criminal fraud investigation into Miray Cruises. As reported by The New York Times, the group alleges that the cruise line misused their payments to fund a ship deposit for a vessel that never materialized, contrary to earlier assurances that these payments were not being used as capital.

The voyage, which had already been postponed three times, was ultimately called off on November 17 due to the company’s inability to secure a suitable ship. Despite promises by Miray Cruises’ CEO Vedat Ugurlu to refund the payments or offer alternative sailing dates, many customers are still awaiting their refunds.

This situation has left many of the would-be cruisers in precarious positions. David Purcell, a 78-year-old retired lawyer, sold his house and car to fund the trip and is now facing financial distress. Another customer, Adam Pers from Bristol, England, who paid a substantial sum upfront for a discount, was later diagnosed with cancer and is struggling to finance his treatment and mortgage in the wake of the cruise’s cancellation.

The plight of these customers has gained attention, with a GoFundMe page set up for Adam Pers highlighting the severe impact of the cruise’s cancellation. Requests for comments from Lapointe’s office, Miray Cruises, and the GoFundMe organizer by Business Insider have not received immediate responses.

This situation underscores the risks involved in such large-scale, long-term travel investments and the need for thorough oversight and accountability in the cruise industry. The call for a criminal investigation into Miray Cruises reflects the seriousness of the allegations and the dire consequences faced by the customers affected by the failed venture.