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The company’s Gemini is being replaced with a newly acquired ship, Lara, in a move Miray Cruises said was prompted by overwhelming demand for the cruise. Celestyal Discovery is a cruise ship, built in 2003 by the German shipyard Aker MTW in Wismar, and operated by AIDA Cruises for twenty years, as was her sister ship AIDAvita. In November 2023 the ship was sold to the Greek cruise line Celestyal Cruises and entered service in March 2024. AIDAaura staterooms (633 total, in 9 grades) included 2 Suites (Forward-Facing Sundeck Premium Suites on deck 7), 62 Balcony, 357 Oceanviews and 214 Inside cabins. The largest accommodations were the Forward-Facing Premium Suites (sized 355 ft2 / 33 m2) plus a private sundeck terrace (sized 270 ft2 / 25 m2).
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“Seeing such an overwhelming interest in our itinerary and unique ports where we will always be in summer is truly thrilling. This is evidence of the allure of our extended world cruise concept and the exceptional experiences that await our residents aboard MV Lara,” said Ethem Bayramoglu, COO of Miray Cruises. In exchange, passengers — or residents, as the company called them — were promised a long list of amenities, including an onboard hospital and doctor.
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The unique voyage was later rescheduled twice - to November 11th and November 30th. The new carpeting is made from environmentally friendly and recyclable materials. The 3-night "Iconic Aegean” itinerary visited Mykonos, Kusadasi, Patmos Island, and Santorini. Due to the COVID crisis, the AIDA ship Aura was paused for 2+ years (March 2020 thru May 2022) and resumed passenger shipping operations on May 7th (2022). Starting in 2024 (March), Celestyal Discovery took over the schedule of Celestyal Olympia.
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The voyage was attractive to working professionals, as the ship was to provide remote work facilities. Turkish line Miray Cruises has altered its controversial three-year world voyage by replacing the ship that originally was intended to operate the sailing. In recent months, the company had battled public perceptions that the vessel was not deemed seaworthy. There is no charge for additional guests staying in your cabin, however family and friends are responsible for paying the local port taxes and fees($33 Per-day).

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In May, around 22 team members handling the voyage quit Miray Cruises over concerns about the ship. Those who left included Mikael Petterson, the former managing director, as well as the chief technology officer and the director of sales and marketing. But others balked at the idea, and the hurdles that Miray Cruises, which operates Life at Sea Cruises, faced in the months after announcing the trip drove some initial enthusiasts away. Now, after some setbacks, the trip is officially back on schedule, with the company settling on a larger ship that will set sail on November 1. The cruise line has marketed the voyage as ideal for cruisers who can work remotely from the ship, which will feature a business center and Starlink internet service.
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Former flight attendant Meredith Shay was looking forward to the trip as a centerpiece of her retirement. “I sold my home in southern Florida, and I have been steadily selling most of my things. It’s a great feeling to not be encumbered by things, and there’s a certain freedom to it,” passenger Meredith Shay wrote in an opinion piece for the Guardian in April.
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Additionally, there will be a 24-hour on-call hospital with complimentary medical visits, educational lectures, and opportunities for residents to participate in volunteer and philanthropic initiatives. Over the course of the 3-year journey, spanning 130,000 mi, MV Lara will visit 382 ports, 7 continents, and 148 countries. The 42,289-gross-ton Lara, which was built in 1988, will offer redesigned staterooms, a business center with offices, a cigar and wine bar, and other onboard destinations. A 24-hour on-call hospital with medical visits included in the cruise fare also will be available. Passengers enjoy cruising’s highly-inclusive travel style and fares on Life at Sea’s 3-year voyage cover much of the cruise experience. Cruise prices include meals in all dining venues, alcohol with dinner, high-speed internet, entertainment and performances, enrichment lectures and programming, port fees and taxes, housekeeping and laundry services, and business center access.
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The 117-days long itinerary (October 8, 2018, through February 2, 2019) had scheduled a total of 41 ports in 20 different countries on 5 continents. Many of the visited destinations were maiden calls, including South Africa, Namibia, South Pacific (Melbourne Australia, Tasmania, Fiji, Samoa, New Caledonia). After launching their Life at Sea journeys, the company has acquired a newer, larger vessel to accommodate new passengers looking to join in on the lengthy trips after huge demand filled up spaces. While the cruise is, at its core, a three-year getaway, the company realizes the need to stay connected with real life back on land, too.
Headquartered in Turkey, Miray Cruises has owned and operated passenger vessels as a cruise ship hotel management firm. Miray Cruises and U.S.-based Life at Sea Cruises originally planned to operate the history-making, 3-year world cruise with Miray Cruises’ ship, MV Gemini. The ship is equipped with a pool deck, gym, spa, and auditorium that will host everything from movie screenings to live performances. International cuisine is offered at its multiple bars and restaurants, ranging from fine dining to casual eats. Daily activities will include dance lessons, karaoke sessions, and yoga practices, among others. During the three-year journey, the 42,000-ton vessel’s voyage will span over 130,000 miles covering 382 ports, seven continents, and 148 countries.
All public areas (bars, lounges, dining venues) were redesigned to suit long-term residents. Part of the idea behind this, of course, is to take advantage of the notable number of remote workers who learned during the pandemic that they could still do their jobs without having to commute into the office each day. Wi-Fi is included in the cost, as are medical visits and exams, port taxes and service charges. "Seeing such an overwhelming interest in our itinerary and unique ports where we will always be in summer is truly thrilling," says Ethem Bayramoglu, COO of Miray Cruises. "This is evidence of the allure of our extended world cruise concept and the exceptional experiences that await our residents aboard MV Lara."
Travelers will have the luxury of multiple days at each port of call, allowing for leisurely exploration and the freedom to embark on their own unique adventures. Miray Cruises (Turkey) has announced the launch of MV Lara (fka AIDAaura), a remarkable ship designed to revolutionize extended voyages. Due to the overwhelming demand following the initial release of "Life at Sea Cruises", Miray International has acquired a larger and more advanced vessel - MV Lara, to cater to the unprecedented enthusiasm of adventurous individuals worldwide.
While larger than MV Gemini, MV Lara will still maintain an intimate feel and experience for the residents onboard who are looking to create a like-minded community at sea for the three-year voyage. Residents will experience a neighborhood-type feel onboard MV Lara and indulge in a sense of community and belonging. Sailing around the world in 80 days may be legendary, but sailing around the world in 1,001 days is now a reality. This fall, Life at Sea Cruises’ inaugural three-year cruise aboard the MV Lara will hit the high seas, taking passengers to 382 ports in 148 countries on all seven continents, all on one epic itinerary. The new vessel will offer Life at Sea Cruises residents an enchanting fusion of amenities and convenience with redesigned staterooms, a business center with offices, a cigar and wine bar, along with other creative offerings, the company said. This unprecedented 3-year cruise, curated by Robert Dixon, will showcase an extraordinary itinerary that includes 13 of the Wonders of the World, UNESCO sites, and other captivating destinations.
In July 2023, Miray Cruises changed the "world cruise ship" to AIDAaura/MV Lara. But cruise company Life at Sea recently told customers who bought passage on a three-year voyage that rather than visiting 140 countries, their trip was called off. "Our residents are changing their lives for this opportunity, and we are honored to be a part of their personal journeys," Holmes said in June. They would spend roughly 300 days at sea, 795 days at port and have 413 overnight port stays, Chief Operating Officer Ethem Bayramoglu of Miray Cruises, the Turkish parent company of Life at Sea, said in that online session. Passengers will spend the trip aboard the MV Lara, which was built in 2003 and currently operates under a different name for a different cruise line.
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