(Updated 3:55 p.m. EST) -- The world's longest cruise is a no-go after months of missteps and sold ships have left the startup company with no vessel and nowhere to sail to.
Life at Sea Cruises, a subsidiary of Turkish ship management company Miray International, opened sales in March for the world's first and only three-year-long cruise. The marathon voyage was set to take place aboard the 19,000-gross-ton ship, MV Gemini. However, CNN reported in May 2023 that the record-breaking voyage had run into difficulties after negotations between Life at Sea Cruise and Miray broke down, resulting in the founding executive team at Life at Sea parting ways with the company.
A former maritime engineer had also raised doubts about MV Gemini, stating the ship could be unsuited for such a voyage, while Miray refuses to name a replacement vessel for those passengers already booked.
The ship was to depart Istanbul on Nov. 1st, with additional pickups in Barcelona and Miami. During the 36-month trek, MV Gemini was expected to cover 130,000 miles, and visit 375 ports across 135 countries and seven continents, including stops in Antarctica's South Shetland Islands. The voyage was later pushed back to December.
Each stop on the world cruise itinerary contained plans for multiple days in port, according to Life at Sea Cruises' original press release.
“Life at Sea Cruises offers the ultimate bucket list cruise without having to sacrifice the comforts of home,” says Irina Strembitsky, Director of Sales & Marketing of Life at Sea Cruises. “It’s your home at sea with the world as your backyard.”
Life at Sea cruises confirmed over the summer that it would no longer operate its World Cruise aboard the MV Gemini, referencing a vessel to be acquired and renamed "Laura".
That ship -- actually the 2003-built AIDAaura -- was just sold to Celestyal Cruises, leaving Life at Sea Cruises once again without a suitable vessel.
Though the Life at Sea website remains active, the company reportedly confirmed it would cancel its round-the-world-journey.
Other reputable cruise lines still offer World Cruises that will actually set sail.
The world's longest world cruise was offered by Royal Caribbean. The 274-night Ultimate World Cruise is set to sail from Dec. 10, 2023 to Sep. 10, 2024 aboard Serenade of the Seas.
Cruise Critic will update this story as more information becomes available.