Cruise Ship Repossessed Before Voyage to Bering Sea

Passengers paid $6,865 to cruise to the Bering Sea's remote islands to see bird rookeries and walrus haulouts. The cruise operator also sells trips to Antarctica and other exotic locations.

Society Expeditions said in a statement, "Our unusually low bookings have led to financial shortages, and we regret to inform you that our mortgage holders have unexpectedly taken possession of the World Discovery."

The ship was heading to Singapore this week to the shipyard of the company that owns the mortgage.