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With multiple refund requests, the departure of the founding team, and ongoing questions about safety onboard, the future of this unprecedented three-year voyage hangs in the balance. MV Gemini will make its way to destinations across the globe, including the Mediterranean, the Caribbean, Australia and Asia. Cabins range from 130 square feet for Virtual Inside and Oceanview rooms, to 260-square-foot Balcony Suites, according to the release. A balcony stateroom on the ship can cost up to $109,999 per person per year.
About Life at Sea
The original itinerary was supposed to last 1,095 days, starting from Istanbul and Europe and then heading to South America and the Caribbean. The voyage would continue through the Panama Canal before visiting the U.S. The MV Gemini cruise ship was scheduled to set sail on November 30, with the original departure date having been rescheduled several times. For 67 days, the ship will explore the Caribbean and Central America with 29 destinations including Old San Juan, Puerto Rico, and the ancient Mayan ruins of Mexico and Belize. Each stop on the world cruise itinerary contained plans for multiple days in port, according to Life at Sea Cruises' original press release. Several companies announced new residency ships in the last year, where guests live onboard instead of ashore.
Experience the World, One Country at a Time
She was built in 1992 by Unión Naval de Levante [es], Valencia, Spain for Crown Cruise Line as Crown Jewel. The vessel was launched (floated-out from drydock) on May 30, 1991, delivered (to the Panama-based Commodore Cruise Line) in May 1992 and immediately chartered (as hotel ship) during the Barcelona 1992 Olympic Games. 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).
Where will the cruise sail?
In addition to the previous renovations, the ship will be "completely revitalized" this fall prior to setting sail on the three-year trip, Petterson said. Miray Cruises, a Turkish cruise operator and hotel services provider for the cruise industry, acquired the vessel in 2019. MV Gemini first sets sail in 1992 as the Crown Jewel for Crown Cruise Line. Since then, the cruise ship has sailed for a long list of owners, including Cunard, Star Cruises, and Celestyal Cruises.
In early 2009, Mediterranean Classic Cruises (formerly Monarch Classic Cruises) was booking cruises in the Aegean Sea aboard Vision Star. However, these cruises were cancelled due to the non-availability of Vision Star from Vision Cruises. Instead, SuperStar Gemini was renamed Gemini, and had a Spanish operator, Quail Travel Group. The three-year Life at Sea Cruises offers a starting price of $29,999 per year. There is also the possibility that travelers can get additional tax benefits when working as international residents aboard the ship.
Replacement Cruise Ship Has Also Been Sold
The 130,000-mile journey begins on November 1st, 2023, from Istanbul, with pickups in Barcelona and Miami. The MV Gemini will visit 375 ports, allowing travelers to spend multiple days in some to explore. The cruise will take place on the MV Gemini ship, which was originally built in 1992 and underwent renovations in October, Mikael Petterson, managing director of Life at Sea Cruises, said in an email.
Cabin options range from 130-square-foot interior rooms to 260-square-foot balcony suites. In addition to amenities like a swimming pool, sun deck and fitness center, the ship will feature a large business center with meeting rooms, 14 offices, a library and a lounge, so guests can work from the sea. While living in the comfort of their staterooms, travelers will see all seven continents and stop at many destinations, including 13 Wonders of the World.
Other Small Cruise Lines cabins
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The itinerary will also cross the equator six times and cover 13 of the modern and ancient Wonders of the World including the Pyramids, Acropolis, Taj Mahal, Petra and Machu Picchu. While passengers have to commit to the entire voyage, they have the option of dividing travel with another passenger and taking it in turns to live on the ship, or leave the ship for periods and return to it. Friends and family are also welcome to visit free of charge and can stay in the same stateroom -- rollaway beds are available -- or in a guest cabin. The three-year voyage departs from Istanbul on Nov. 1, 2023, with additional pick-ups in Barcelona and Miami later in 2023. The company also offers payment options starting from $2,499 per month, which includes food and beverage.
Onboard facilities include 5 bars, 4 lounges, a swimming pool, an outdoor Jacuzzi/spa pool, Oscar's Beauty Center, Casino Bar & Lounge, Business Center. In July 2020, Miray International started its own brand ("Miray Cruises") by a multi-year chartering of MV Gemini (inaugural cruise for Miray was scheduled for August 31st). 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.
Despite the turmoil, Miray Cruises remains committed to pushing forward with its ambitious project, even without Life at Sea. The updated 19,093 gross tons MV Gemini has been sailing around the Mediterranean since March 2023. Of note is that the vessel has not been classified as unseaworthy by the flag state or port state control but rather by an engineer who had stated that the ship was not suitable to sail. It seems unlikely that an entire management team would jump ship over the claims of one engineer. However, a report from CNN International indicates that the cruise could be in jeopardy.
“The MV Gemini is designed to be the embodiment of living where you vacation,” Mike Petterson, managing director of Life at Sea Cruises, tells AD. Over three years, guests would have the unique opportunity to experience 375 ports in 135 different countries across all seven continents. The voyage, tailored towards working professionals, would offer remote work facilities coupled with global exploration. Life at Sea also promised world-class dining, onboard entertainment, recreational activities, and a comprehensive business center. When guests are not traveling out on land, they will be able to enjoy many amenities onboard, such as dining, entertainment and a business center with offices, meeting rooms and a library.
In July 2020, Miray International started its own brand ("Miray Cruises") by a multi-year chartering of MV Gemini (inaugural cruise for Miray on August 31). Miray specialises in short Aegean Sea cruises (3-4-night Greek Isles itineraries) leaving roundtrip from homeports Piraeus and Cesme Turkey. The itineraries visit some of Greece's most popular islands (Mykonos, Santorini, Syros) plus Turkey (Cesme). Since 2012, Miray International has been also involved with the Etstur's cruise shipping operations. The list of other Miray-managed cruise vessels also includes Louis Aura, Aegean Paradise, MS Delphin.
All meals, soft beverages, alcoholic drinks with dinner and Wi-Fi are also included in the fare. Miray Cruises 2022 program (May 15th thru Oct 20th) was based on Eastern Mediterranean voyages. MV Gemini's schedule included 3-day and 4-day itineraries (all roundtrips from Cesme) visiting the Greek islands Mykonos, Santorini, and Rhodes, and also Piraeus-Athens. Celestyal Nefeli/Gemini ship has a total of 400 staterooms (max capacity 1074 passengers) and 8 decks (5 with cabins). Of all Celestyal Nefeli cabins, 10 are Suite-grade accommodations each with a private balcony.
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