In a email sent to customers and supporters who have booked the Asia's first all-gay cruise event, the organisers of Sanctuary Cruise has expressed, with deepest regret, the cancellation of the 6-day cruise set to sail on Mar 27, 2008 from Hong Kong. Sanctuary Cruise Vacations has given assurance of a full refund to all customers.

Sanctuary Cruise was scheduled to take aboard thousands of gay travellers on Royal Caribbean's Rhapsody of the Seas ocean liner on a voyage to Okinawa (Japan), Xiamen (China) before making a return to Hong Kong on April 1, 2008. Cabin rates on the cruise have been available for booking with prices ranging from US$759 to US$7,502 (from US$139 to US$1,399 per night). Renowned international DJ Tony Moran was slated to make his first Asian appearance since Nation VI at the onboard party.

Sanctuary Cruise said in the statement that they were "devastated" when they learnt of the withdrawal of support in financing, which was contractually agreed upon previously.

"Our intention was to give our community in Asia, a Sanctuary of our own. Unfortunately, we are now forced to cancel the event. We apologize for the inconvenience caused," said Sanctuary Cruise Vacations, "we took a risk in bringing a new concept to Asia and you took a risk in supporting our venture. We are eternally grateful for your support".

In the same statement, Sanctuary Cruise has assured all supporters that their deposits are held in trust and will be fully refunded once they finalised records on Feb 1, 2008.