Expert Review of MV Gemini Cruise Ship

Table Of Content

• Epic 3-Year World Cruise Sets Sail This November — What You Need To Know
• Miray's Life at Sea Cruises announces industry's first 3-year World Voyage on MV Gemini
• Explore every Corner of the World
• ALL CRUISE LINES (1543 SHIPS)
• Journey to the Heart of North Asia
• The Ultimate Travel Itinerary with Life at Sea Cruises

According to the voyage’s brochure, Life at Sea also plans to set up tee times and transportation to golf courses in many ports. Life at Sea Cruises isn’t the only cruise line that has introduced the idea of a multi-year sailing. Another cruise company, Storylines, recently unveiled plans to launch a residential cruise ship, MV Narrative, that will sail indefinitely starting in 2024.

Epic 3-Year World Cruise Sets Sail This November — What You Need To Know

Witness the majesty of glaciers and ice formations, explore rugged coastlines, and capture memories of unique animals and ecosystems found nowhere else on Earth. Explore more with our connected cruise journey, where you can discover 13 world wonders and immerse in new cultures all from the comfort of your ship. How do you pack a suitcase for a trip that includes ogling emperor penguins in the Falkland Islands, lazing on the beach in Hawai‘i, and spending nights out in major cities like Cape Town and Beijing?

Miray's Life at Sea Cruises announces industry's first 3-year World Voyage on MV Gemini

According to CNN, some Life at Sea Cruises team members left the company in May as part of a dispute about the ship and other matters, which raised customer concerns. Now, Miray Cruises may have alleviated some of those with the purchase of an alternative ship. During the cruise of the seven continents, the passengers would see the pyramids of Giza in Egypt, Machu Picchu in Peru, the Great Wall of China, Rio de Janeiro’s Christ the Redeemer statue, and India’s Taj Mahal.

Explore every Corner of the World

Despite promised refunds, only a small portion of the money has been returned so far. Yes, Villa Vie Residences, plans to sail the world in three and a half years, after purchasing a 924-passenger ship that is expected to launch in May. The MS Breamer ship will undergo a renovation that will begin early in 2024 and take roughly eight weeks to complete.

Don't miss out on the opportunity to experience the ultimate all-inclusive lifestyle onboard our cruise ship. Book your reservation online now for the fastest and most convenient way to secure your spot. The revitalized ship features modern workspace facilities including a business center with 14 offices, meeting rooms, a lounge and library. The staffed center is fitted with LED screens, audio-video equipment, printers and high speed Internet. Since 2020, it has been owned by Miray International, a long-established Turkish company specializing in ship management, and operated through its cruise arm Miray Cruises. Miray formed the subsidiary travel brand Life at Sea Cruises to run the three-year cruise starting in fall 2023.

Virgin Voyages

Of all Celestyal Nefeli cabins, 10 are Suite-grade accommodations each with a private balcony. The ship has a total of 277 oceanview staterooms (including the 10 suites) and 123 interior cabins. Delivered to Crown Cruise Line in July and inaugurated in September 1992, Crown Jewel operated on roundtrips from the USA (homeport NYC New York) visiting port cities in New England and Canada.

Journey to the Heart of North Asia

With everything taken care of, you have time to explore in every port for more immersive experiences. Visit the Hidden Gems away from the populous and explore off the beaten paths. Embark on a journey of cultural discovery as you experience the art, music, and traditions of destinations around the world. From local festivals and performances to workshops and classes led by experts, our cultural excursions offer a unique and immersive way to explore the world's rich tapestry of cultures. In April 2016 through December 2017, the ship was chartered by Celestyal Cruises and renamed "Celestyal Nefeli".

Experience a wide range of onboard activities and entertainment, from Golf and Fitness to live shows and performances, we've got something for everyone. The ship is 19,093 gross tons and carries 1,074 passengers at full capacity with 340 crew. After that, 15% of each cruiser’s fare will be due semi-annually, with the next payment due on December 31, 2023. To make the three-year trip more affordable, Life at Sea has instituted a pay-as-you-go flexible payment plan. Payments can now be made in semi-annual installments, with the first payment of 25% due on June 30, 2023. This first payment is a combination of a 10% deposit and the initial first payment of 15%.

From exotic beaches to bustling cities, adventure or relaxation, we have it all. She was built in 1992 by Unión Naval de Levante [es], Valencia, Spain for Crown Cruise Line as Crown Jewel. She also operated as SuperStar Gemini for Star Cruises from 1995 to 2008. Traditionally, the schedule included 3-4-day Greek Islands roundtrips from Cesme and Piraeus. In the period February 19-March 18, the ship served as a hotel providing relief housing for homeless families after the Turkey-Syria 2023 earthquake (Feb 6th). In September 2007, Star Cruises announced that SuperStar Gemini had been sold and in December 2008 left the fleet.

Some cabins could host cats; travelers were also promised high-speed internet, free dining, alcohol and laundry service, and "enrichment seminars." The Turkish company, Miray Cruises, had announced the cruise, called Life at Sea, in March. It claimed it would be the longest cruise ever — 382 port calls over 1,095 days — and a community at sea, with opportunities to explore the globe. Starlink internet and a business center would allow passengers to work remotely. Cabins range from 130 square feet for Virtual Inside and Oceanview staterooms to 260 square feet for Balcony suites. Cruisers can enjoy a state-of-the-art wellness center, sundeck, swimming pool, and plenty of dining options.

There isn’t the option to do shorter legs; however, it is possible to go in on one room with family and friends and divvy up the costs with who is on the boat at any given time. The company is also offering a matchmaking scheme, where passengers co-own a cabin with another group and split time on board. Cabin sizes range from 145 square feet for interior staterooms (which include a double bed, a bathroom, and a desk) to 220 square feet for balcony suites (which have an additional living room area). The sailing starts at $29,999 each year, per person based on double occupancy, and includes all meals, drinks, Wi-Fi, service charges and more, according to Life at Sea Cruises' website. For summer 2019 season, Turkey's largest tour agency Etstur chartered Celestyal Nefeli (Gemini) for roundtrips from homeport Izmir (Turkey) to Greece (Syros Island, Mykonos Island, Santorini Island and Piraeus-Athens). The seasonal ship charter offered 3- and 4-day itineraries starting May 31 (with a 2-day mini-cruise) and ending on September 8.

Life at Sea's Fairytale Three-Year Cruise is Cancelled - Cruise Hive

Life at Sea's Fairytale Three-Year Cruise is Cancelled.

Posted: Fri, 24 Nov 2023 08:00:00 GMT [source]

And as a single woman, she had been looking forward to exploring the world with a group. Some passengers reportedly only learned of the cancellation after arriving in Turkey. The cruise line is offering a 15 percent discount on the double-occupancy rate for solo travelers. Like a high-seas version of the Fyre Festival, which promised a luxury music concert in the Bahamas and delivered cold sandwiches and makeshift tents, the cruise imploded.

But putting together a cruise of this magnitude is a monumental task, requiring a ship large enough to carry hundreds of people, docking rights around the world and secure funding. However, less than two weeks before its maiden voyage, Life at Sea has acknowledged to anxious passengers that there is no ship and that the once-in-a-lifetime trip has been canceled or ‘‘postponed’’, according to the company. The  MV Gemini cruise ship was scheduled to set sail on November 30, with the original departure date having been rescheduled several times.

"We are going to be following summer the entire time that we go around the world," then-Life at Sea CEO Kendra Holmes told prospective passengers in a Zoom webinar in September. 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." Miray Cruises will offer welcoming events in Turkey for all guests prior to boarding. These special events will take place at the same time as the 100th-anniversary revelries celebrating the forming of the Turkish Republic.

The cheapest packages started at $196,000 for a single traveler, and $231,000 for couples, according to the company's website. Along the way, they would explore wonders of the world, visit UNESCO World Heritage sites and have plentiful chances to go diving and snorkeling, the company said. The original itinerary mapped 1,095 days of travel, heading from Istanbul to Europe and then to South America and the Caribbean. Passengers would then pass through the Panama Canal before seeing the U.S.