They paid over 100 thousand euros each to take part in a cruise that was supposed to last 3 years . A dream journey, starting from Istanbul, to then sail the seas around the globe and touch a total of 140 countries and 382 ports of as many cities, including Cagliari.

On board - according to the plans - they would have had everything available: restaurants, swimming pools, spas, places for leisure and socialisation, even medical clinics.

But the dream – CNN reports – is officially over : the maiden voyage of “Life at Sea Cruises” is in fact over before it even began.

After weeks of silence, the company admitted that it did not have a ship due to lack of funds and therefore canceled the sailing, promising to refund those who had signed up.

The cruise was originally supposed to leave. as mentioned, from Istanbul, Turkey, on November 1st, then it was postponed to November 11th from Amsterdam, and then again to November 30th.

But less than two weeks before the third departure date, passengers were informed that the trip had been cancelled.

But that's not the only setback for aspiring globetrotters of the seas.

Some of the passengers who booked the 111 cabins sold are still in Istanbul, having arrived there before their original departure date. Others say they have nowhere to return, having sold or rented their homes in anticipation of the round-the-world trip.

Not only that: those who have booked and paid the exorbitant sum to secure the long trip around the world will also have to wait several months to get their money back, given that the company has explained that it will make the reimbursements divided into monthly instalments.

Life at Sea Cruises had planned to purchase the AIDAaura , a ship retired this summer from Aida Cruises, a German subsidiary of Carnival Corp, but the deal did not go through .