Woman Who Sold House, Paid KSh 86 Million To Travel For 3 Years Disappointed After Trip Is Cancelled

• Meredith Shay saw her dreams of a three-year world cruise crumble after Life at Sea Cruises cancelled the highly anticipated journey
• Shay had gone to extreme lengths, selling her house to secure a seventh-floor balcony cabin on the MV Gemini ship, only to be met with disappointment
• The ambitious cruise, originally set to depart from Istanbul, Turkey, on November 1, promised an extensive itinerary covering seven continents

A Florida woman's dream of embarking on a three-year world cruise has been shattered after the cruise line abruptly cancelled the voyage.

Meredith Shay, a former flight attendant, had gone to great lengths to join Life at Sea Cruises' headline-making trip, selling her house to fund the $562,000 seventh-floor balcony cabin she had reserved.

Originally scheduled to depart from Istanbul, Turkey, on November 1, the cruise promised an extraordinary journey covering seven continents, 135 countries, and 375 ports.

However, after being postponed twice, passengers, including Shay, received the devastating news on November 17 that the cruise was officially cancelled due to the lack of a ship ready for the journey.

Shay, who was eagerly anticipating visits to Namibia, the Seychelles, and the coast of India, expressed her disappointment and shared the emotional toll the cancellation took on her.

She recalled having a "pity party" and walking around devastated for about 12 hours after learning the news.

Passengers, who had put their lives on hold and made extensive preparations for the voyage, were reportedly in disbelief when they received the cancellation announcement just two weeks before the scheduled departure.

The cruise line's decision to cancel stemmed from complications in purchasing a larger ship, the AIDAaura, which was set to be renamed the MV Lara.

After the sale fell through, Life at Sea's former CEO, Kendra Holmes, announced the cancellation in a 15-minute video shared with passengers.

The subsequent purchase of the ship by Celestyal Cruises further complicated the situation, leaving passengers stranded without a vessel for their highly anticipated adventure.

Vedat Ugurlu, the owner of Miray International, the company that owns Life at Sea, cited financial difficulties, stating that investors had initially approved the purchase but withdrew support due to unrest in the Middle East.

Despite the disappointment and uncertainty faced by passengers, Miray International has pledged to refund those who signed up for the cruise.

However, guests express their frustration and anguish, with some revealing the impact on their future plans and trust in similar ventures.

As the affected passengers grapple with the sudden turn of events, the cruise industry faces scrutiny over the unforeseen challenges that led to the cancellation of this once-in-a-lifetime journey.