Kelly Whitman was planning the next few years of her life. She ended up paying to go on her three-year cruise and doing her job while traveling around the world.
But that cruise never sets sail.
“I went into this knowing that this was a pioneering effort,” Whitman told the Enquirer. “No one has ever done anything like this.”
Whitman has booked a three-year cruise for April 2022. Life at Sea Cruiseis a company that promises travelers a cruise that will take them over three years to visit 148 countries and visit hundreds of ports on all seven continents. She paid her first installment and deposit totaling $32,000.
The trip was canceled earlier this month after the company was unable to secure a vessel for the voyage. USA TODAY reported.
financial investment
Lives in Oakley Marketing agency Clever Lucysaid she sees Life at Sea Cruises as an opportunity to manage her business while fulfilling her love of travel, since most of her work is done remotely. One-off trips are good, but they cost money. She wanted stability during her travels, but also a space where she could work.
Life at Sea Cruise Advertised interior rooms start from $38,500 per person Accommodation, meals, internet access and medical care are also included for double occupancy per year. After doing the math, Whitman believed this was a sound financial investment. In preparation for the trip, Whitman sold her home in Oakley and took a short-term rental in an apartment nearby. She also disposed of many of her possessions.
“I kept calling everyone and hoping someone would say (this was a bad idea), and then I called my financial investment people and they were like, ‘You should do it,'” Witt said. Mr. Mann said. “These are the most conservative financial people. I can’t believe they’re telling me I should do this.”
“It was really disappointing.”
The cruise was originally scheduled to depart from Istanbul, Turkey, on November 1 and visit approximately 400 ports, but was canceled earlier this month after Life at Sea was unable to secure a ship for the cruise passengers. It was done.
The trip was initially He should be on board the MV Gemini.However, the subsequent Life at Sea Reportedly, The larger ship, former AIDA cruise ship AIDAaura. However, Celestial Cruises announced on November 16th: got that ship.
“I’ve been working for the last eight months to juggle everything and organize my life to make it happen,” Wittman said. “I was really disappointed to find out it wasn’t going to work out.”
USA TODAY reports that Life at Sea has postponed cruise departures multiple times in the past, with passengers saying they were recently informed that the sailing date would be Nov. 30. said: CNN At the same time, the departure date and departure location were also not confirmed.
As the project began to unfold, Whitman said she felt “caught in the middle” about whether to continue with her travel plans.
“It was a situation where I didn’t want to plan anything ahead,” she said. “Once I knew that was the question, I thought, ‘Maybe I should make (dinner) reservations for January?'”
According to USA TODAY, Life at Sea has announced that it will offer full refunds in installments to all passengers from December through February. Hotel accommodation in Istanbul will also be covered until December 1st, and other travel expenses will also be covered.
Life at Sea did not immediately respond to the Enquirer’s request for comment.
Despite her disappointment, Whitman has connected with a community of other aspiring cruisers, some of whom are already planning trips around the world with each other.
Although she still lives in Cincinnati on a short-term rental agreement, Whitman is committed to the cruise ship residency concept and hopes that eventually companies will get it right. There is.
“I’m also open to the fact that one of these things might get off the ground in the spring, and I’d love to be on board with that,” Whitman said.