Remember that 3-year-long cruise? It’s been cancelled, 1 week before departure

There were plenty of warning signs that something might be amiss at Life at Sea Cruises.

A three-year, around-the-world cruise that was supposed to set sail next week has been cancelled at the last minute, leaving passengers who sold or rented out their homes and made their way to the starting port stranded and very upset.

Life at Sea Cruises had promised passengers of its inaugural three-year voyage the trip of a lifetime — they were supposed to set sail on Nov. 30, travelling to 382 ports across 140 countries over the span of three years.

But for months now there have been signs that something might be amiss.

CNN reports that passengers faced “weeks of silence” from Life at Sea Cruises and at least two postponements since the beginning of the month. The big ship was originally scheduled to leave port on Nov. 1, which was first postponed to Nov. 11 and then Nov. 30.

The company also informed customers earlier this month that the retired cruise ship they planned to buy and renovate ahead of their departure had been bought by another company.

Life at Sea Cruises, a division of Miray Cruises, wrote to its passengers that it was “facing challenges” because of investor withdrawals, according to a memo to customers written by its parent company’s CEO and obtained by Business Insider earlier this week.

A Nov. 19 statement to customers from Miray’s CEO Vedat Ugurlu apologized, but said the company was “actively working on creating alternative plans for the future, ensuring an unforgettable experience for our valued community.”