Their once-promising plans for a three-year cruise, for which they sold everything they owned, have crumbled into a devastating disappointment.
The dream they invested in has vanished, leaving them in a desperate and uncertain situation far from home and facing homelessness.
The couple facing homeless after selling their flats to enjoy a three-year cruise
According to recent reports, Kara and Joe Youssef, a couple from Ohio find themselves in a harrowing situation that could potentially render them homeless after selling all their possessions to embark on a three-year cruise called Miray Cruises' Life at Sea trip.
However, their dream was dashed after their voyage was canceled at the last minute.
“They kept leading us on, making us hold out hope until the very last minute, just days before we were supposed to depart,” she said.
.“We sold everything we have to make this dream happen. We feel completely defeated,” she lamented.
Kara claimed that she and her spouse invested a substantial $80,000 into this ill-fated voyage. They now anxiously await a refund and can soon be homeless.
The Life at Sea: The Visionary Three-Year World Cruise Experience
Life at Sea — the brainchild of Miami entrepreneur Mikael Petterson and Vedat Ugurlu, the owner of Miray — promised a three-year “ultimate bucket list world cruise,” with pricing starting at $90,000 for an inside cabin and rocketing up to $975,000 for a suite, according to its website and the Times.
Scheduled to embark on its journey on November 1 and spend a whopping 1,095 days at sea, the cruise was set to stop at 382 ports across the globe, making it any travel fanatic's dream.
Life at Sea emerged as a visionary project, born from the creative minds of Miami entrepreneur Mikael Petterson and Vedat Ugurlu, the owner of Miray.
It was set on November 1, this grand maritime expedition was poised to offer a remarkable 1,095 days for passengers with its extensive voyage across the globe.
The pricing structure mirrored the grandeur and exclusivity of the voyage, with options ranging from inside cabins starting at $90,000 to lavish suites that commanded a princely sum of $975,000.
Kara and Joe were thrilled to learn about Miray Cruises' Life at Sea excursion and decided to leave their previous lives behind without awareness of being homeless someday.
The Life at Sea project quickly fall due to a lack of financial
As news of the three-year cruise spread, the allure of the voyage captured the attention of countless individuals, interest, and a flurry of reservations.
Simultaneously, the business encountered troublesome issues with processing credit card transactions.
This alarming development added a layer of uncertainty and raised suspicions among both potential passengers and industry insiders.
The inability to handle financial transactions raised red flags, casting doubt on the viability and stability of the venture.
In a pivotal moment, Mikael Petterson, the driving force behind the project, decided to sever ties with Miray, the company responsible for the cruise's operations.
This unexpected departure from the partnership further exacerbated the concerns of those who had already invested substantial amounts as deposits.
Despite the nervousness, the couple still enjoyed in series of webinars along with other passengers, which aimed to reassure them that all was going to plan.
"Kendra was very convincing and dedicated. She was very realistic, whereas Mikael had promised us the sun and the moon," Kara said.
The couple stated on December 28 that they had yet to receive their refund and have been lodging at an Istanbul hotel, in Turkey that is being covered by the cruise company.
Kara said, "We might end up homeless soon."
