Worlds First 3-Year Cruise Announces New Ship for November 2023 Departure

Table Of Content

• year-long World Cruise delayed weeks before departure due to AIDAaura's failed sale
• Greek Air Force executes medical airlift from cruise ship Celestyal Discovery
• Celestyal Discovery ship related cruise news
• Miray Cruises buys AIDAaura ship (MV Lara)
• Experience the World, One Country at a Time
• Related Offers

The Cyprus-based cruise line allowed guests to book as many months as they wished, as long as they met the minimum of six months. The voyage was announced in early 2023, and originally was to be operated by another Miray Cruises’s ship, Gemini. Bookings opened in March, however, in June, the cruise line faced criticism after a former employee claimed Gemini was found to be unseaworthy by an engineer. Life at Sea’s announcement does not indicate the cost of participating in the dive option, but says that the ship provides rental scuba gear.

year-long World Cruise delayed weeks before departure due to AIDAaura's failed sale

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. 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.

Greek Air Force executes medical airlift from cruise ship Celestyal Discovery

Fares for the full voyage, which will cover 130,000 miles and concludes at the end of 2026, start at about $2,500 per month, depending on cabin. Staterooms were recently updated, and the ship will have a 24-hour on-call hospital with medical visits included in the cruise fare. The world’s first three-year cruise showcases an extraordinary itinerary created by Robert Dixon that encompasses 13 of the Wonders of the World, UNESCO World Heritage sites, as well as other mesmerizing locations. At each port of call, travelers will have the luxury of multiple days for unhurried exploration and the freedom to embark on their own unique adventures. MV Gemini, the former cruise ship that successfully launched Life at Sea Cruises, is slated to continue her Aegean Sea voyages and will now be gracefully succeeded by MV Lara.

Celestyal Discovery ship related cruise news

Life at Sea Cruises, the Miray Cruises’ brand that will soon begin a 3-year cruise ship residency voyage, announced it has partnered with professional scuba diving groups that will offer dive instruction to guests. 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. The FMC bond protects the passenger deposits of guests embarking in the U.S. in the case of cruise operator non-performance. 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.

The three-year journey will span 130,000 miles and visit 382 ports across 148 countries, including the continent of Antarctica. The itinerary also includes a visit to the thirteen Wonders of the World, as well as many UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Many of the destinations include overnights and multiple days in-port to allow for greater exploration.

With everything taken care of, you have time to explore in every port for more immersive experiences. Explore and learn about different cultures, cuisines, and landmarks through our curated excursions and educational opportunities, each tailored to enhance your overall travel experience. On March 1, 2023, Miray International announced its new travel brand "Life at Sea Cruises" and opened for booking the "Ultimate Adventure" voyage. The vessel (Nordic Yards Wismar hull number A325282/Aker MTW yard hull number 004) has volume GT-tons, DWT-deadweight 4157, max width 35,5 m (including the Bridge wings), max draught 6,3 m. The propulsion is diesel-electric and the powerplant is based on Wartsila diesel generators powering two ABB electric motors (model AMZ 1600YX-14) with combined output 18,8 MW (25210 hp). The Pool Deck houses 1x swimming pool, 3x whirlpools, Pool Shop (for towels) a deck games area (Shuffleboard, Giant Chess, Table Tennis, Backgammon), sunbathing areas, a stage for live performances.

Pool deck's activities also include bingo evenings, nightly pool parties, laser shows. AIDAaura entertainment facilities included Das Theater - the ship's largest venue, and the huge AIDA Bar & Anytime Disco. The ship has five bars and lounges, including Star Bar (Deck 8), Ocean Bar (Deck 7), AFTer Bar & Club (Deck 10) and Cafe Nation (Deck 9). Cafe Nation is an Italian coffee bar & lounge via an exclusive partnership with illy.

But it seems that it was the company's focus, not the public's, that was the problem. And rather than portioning the cruise for sale in smaller stages, the company required customers to commit to the full three years. The cheapest packages started at $196,000 for a single traveler, and $231,000 for couples, according to the company's website. 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."

About Life at Sea

Cafe Nation offers illy brand's classic and decaf coffee blends, in addition to Guatemala, Costa Rica, Ethiopia, and Brazil. The coffee bar's menu lists 90+ beverages in addition to customized drinks (including barista-made coffees, teas, hot chocolates, various iced drinks). Celestyal Discovery's largest staterooms are the two SG-Grand Dream Suites (bow-facing, sized 32 m2/deck 7, triple cabin).

Instead, the company said the voyage is postponed — and it blamed a lack of enough passenger bookings, rather than problems finding an appropriate ship. 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. Terms of the deal help illuminate the would-be passengers' financial and logistical plight.

"Having a like-minded community of people that all were interested in travel at the ready was really appealing to me," she said. "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. The ship will set off on its inaugural departure from Istanbul on November 1, 2023. 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.

The sundeck's pool area is beach-like designed, with many palm trees, artificial rock formations, and volleyball and basketball courts. The wellness complex comprises the Sozo Spa, Glow Beauty Bar, Fitness Center (a fully equipped gym), and an expansive sundeck with a swimming pool and three large hot tubs. "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." "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." Witman says she also shipped boxes to have on the cruise, back in early October. 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.

This 3-year sea cruise around the world seems back on track — after controversy and a price hike - CNBC

This 3-year sea cruise around the world seems back on track — after controversy and a price hike.

Posted: Mon, 17 Jul 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]

Scheduled to depart from Istanbul, Turkey, on November 1, 2023, Lara, a 42,289-gross-ton ship built in 1988, will sail for three years, visiting 135 countries and calling at 382 ports. These celebrations will set the stage for the journey of a lifetime, creating unforgettable memories from the very beginning. Another perk is the mindfully curated sailing route (which is especially impressive on this interactive Google Earth map).

"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." 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. But bookings remain high, according to Holmes, with nearly 40 percent of rooms sold so far. The company is hoping remote workers will sign on; the ship will offer high-speed internet, a business center and the option to rent private office space. The Lara wasn’t always the planned vessel for this journey—which led to some of the thorniest issues of the planning process.

Guests can avail themselves of learning and enrichment lectures onboard, and can join volunteer and philanthropic initiatives during the cruise, which will travel some 130,000 miles and call at 382 ports. Like all AIDA ships, Aura carried its own fleet of complimentary bicycles for passengers to use in call ports during the voyage. The onboard language was German as most AIDA customers are German-speaking Europeans (Germans, Austrians, Swiss), the majority of whom are young and active; since older Germans gravitate to more traditional brands on the German-speaking market. AIDAaura itinerary program was based on South Africa roundtrips (from homeport Cape Town) and Iceland-Greenland and Northern European voyages from Germany (homeports Hamburg and Bremerhaven). The inaugural program was based on the "Iconic Aegean" itineraries which are in length days. Roundtrip departures are offered from two homeports - Piraeus-Athens (Greece) and Kusadasi-Ephesus (Turkey).

Miami, Florida, was originally one of the three available embarkation ports for Miray Cruises’ Life at Sea world cruise. The three available ports are now Istanbul on November 1, Barcelona on November 5, and Freeport, Bahamas, on November 15. MV Gemini, the ship that introduced "Life at Sea Cruises", will continue her voyages in the Aegean Sea, gracefully passing the torch to MV Lara.