Table Of Content
- A retired couple sold their home so they could permanently live on cruise ships for less than $43 a day
- How to Live on a Cruise Ship
- Protect Yourself With Private Health Insurance
- Table comparing the cost of living on cruise ships for 10 years
- Next to the desk, a set of drawers included a cabinet with a minifridge inside.

While living on a cruise ship may offer the opportunity to travel the world and experience new cultures, it also comes with health concerns that must be taken into account. Being on a ship for an extended period of time can increase the risk of illnesses such as norovirus and influenza. Therefore, it’s crucial to have adequate health insurance that covers medical expenses both on and off the ship. But for the sake of comparison, let’s look at the estimated costs of living aboard three residential cruise ships, three traditional cruise lines and the new three-year world cruise. Storylines, for example, is a newer cruise line offering retirees and other travelers the opportunity to purchase onboard condominiums starting at around $352,000 for 172 square feet.
A retired couple sold their home so they could permanently live on cruise ships for less than $43 a day
Considering these figures, a 30-year fixed mortgage with a 20% down payment in Seattle at the average rate of 6.86% comes to about $4,000 per month (or about $129 per day). According to Angelyn Burk, you can—and her cruise advice includes some notable tips. Before fully committing to living on a cruise ship, it’s essential to test out this unique lifestyle.
How to Live on a Cruise Ship
Follow these suggestions to make your transition to your new lifestyle smooth sailing. To make life on a cruise ship a reality, there are several options available to you. Knowing these options is the first step to giving up your life on land and setting sail for the foreseeable future. The world’s first cruise ship that offered cabins you can buy and live in full time. For some, to live on a cruise ship permanently would be a dream come true?
Protect Yourself With Private Health Insurance
The couple has a spending buffer of up to $135 per day if needed, but most days cost much less. As you can see, living on a cruise ship can be a more affordable option compared to living in a nursing home. However, it is important to note that additional costs may be incurred for medical services onboard. Another important consideration is the logistics of living on a cruise ship permanently. While it may seem like a carefree lifestyle, there are practicalities to consider such as packing and unpacking belongings every time the ship docks in a new port, as well as receiving mail and staying healthy. However, for those who are willing to put in the effort, living on a cruise ship can be an affordable and exciting option for long-term residential living at sea.

There’s a ‘worldschooling’ program with onboard teachers offering hands-on learning through field trips, tutoring, classes and clubs. There are three swimming pools, along with a mammoth 20 restaurants to choose from. You can also borrow from the 10,000 books in the library, or enjoy a drink brewed in the ship’s own microbrewery. The cruise is all-inclusive with beer and wine served at meals, complimentary healthcare, free high-speed WiFi, selected free excursions, and free laundry. There are just 39 residential apartments on this exquisite vessel, each of which is customisable to fit the needs of the buyer.
Next to the desk, a set of drawers included a cabinet with a minifridge inside.
Ships are required to maintain medical staff on call 24/7, including at least one physician and two nurses. Similar in model to assisted living facilities, cruise ships are equipped to handle most medical emergencies in the short term. Onboard medical facilities will typically include X-ray machines, defibrillators, basic emergency medical equipment and an array of medication. By planning ahead, you can have your medications filled before you board. Mama Lee Wachstetter, 91, has lived on the luxury cruise ship Crystal Serenity for the past 10 years. Mario Salcedo, aka "Super Mario," has taken 1,000 cruises, spending 50 weeks a year on Royal Caribbean's Freedom of the Seas.
How to start planning for a cruise ship retirement
Punton will move onto the ship with his wife and two children, who are currently two and five. "Revisiting all of Europe, I think, is what I'm particularly keen on … so much of the interesting parts, in my opinion, of Europe are towards the center," he told CNBC. Morton Jablin has no regrets and offers advice to those who wish to follow in his unique retirement footsteps. Morton Jablin, affectionately nicknamed ‘Captain’, is another long-term cruise passenger. As of 2018, when Jablin was 94 years old, he had spent 13 years living on Seven Seas Navigator, enjoying a life of luxury. Wachtstetter remained on Crystal Serenity until 2018 when she apparently had to return to land due to ill health.
Retired Couple Sells Everything To Live on Cruise Ships Forever - My Modern Met
Retired Couple Sells Everything To Live on Cruise Ships Forever.
Posted: Wed, 03 Jan 2024 08:00:00 GMT [source]
The cost of attending these shows and performances is often included in the residency fees, allowing residents to enjoy world-class entertainment without the hassle of purchasing individual tickets. Also consider that every day can bring new ports of call offering fresh experiences as cruise ships like these travel around the globe visiting places such as Rio de Janeiro, Agra or Beijing! The thrill of waking up in a different city every day truly sets living onboard apart from any other conventional lifestyle on land. Aside from health concerns, social life on board is also an important aspect to consider when planning to live on a cruise ship permanently. While some may relish the idea of constantly meeting new people and attending various onboard events, others may find it difficult to maintain meaningful relationships with fellow passengers.
Villa Vie Residences
There are several cruise lines that allow travelers to purchase an apartment or condo onboard, with food and other amenities included. However, this could also be a much more expensive option depending on what type of cabin you’re purchasing. The total costs of living on a cruise ship are going to depend on how you choose to live, just like it would on land. For example, what cruises you book, the food plans you choose, and how much entertainment you buy will all vary by person and could greatly impact your overall costs. To purchase a 237-square-foot inside cabin with a virtual window for the life of the ship costs $1 million on average.
Furthermore, since all meals are included in the cruise package, communal dining is encouraged which allows passengers to engage in conversations and form bonds with fellow travelers. Cabins come in various sizes, ranging from 130 square feet to Balcony Suites, with prices starting at $29,999 per person per year. To join this unique experience, passengers are required to commit to all three years of the voyage. In terms of healthcare, passengers have access to a 24/7 hospital where they can receive free medical visits. Additionally, there may be tax benefits for international residents working onboard. From dining together in cruise ship restaurants to attending onboard activities, opportunities never fall short!

Whichever ship you choose is likely to be filled with people excited to be on board. Being surrounded by young people, not just folks of retirement age, can also make cruise ship life more appealing. Clearly, you can live on a cruise ship — any good travel agent will happily book you on a year's worth of cruises at a time.
You’ll need to look into long-term health insurance, so that you have cover should anything go wrong while you’re sailing, and this is likely to be significantly more expensive than regular travel insurance. The UK average cost for living in a care home is £3,550 per month ($4,250), while the US average is much higher at $7,900 per month. A cruise ship offers a number of perks over regular living, the main one being that you get to see the world. Living on a cruise ship means travelling all across the globe, experiencing new cultures and thrilling experiences. When you’re booking a Carnival cruise, the cheapest fare you can get will be one where you only pay for the cruise itself and the necessary extras – the port fees, taxes and gratuities.
While loyalty programs help make cruise ship living possible, Angelyn Burk also gave some other cruise tips that help her and her husband keep costs down. These include staying in the same geographical area for as long as possible to save on transportation costs and avoiding extraneous purchases and gambling in cruise ship casinos. Imagine living on board a ship full-time, allowing you to travel without a mortgage weighing you down.
Specialty dining options typically require an additional fee beyond the standard residency costs. While these experiences can add to the overall food and beverage expenses, they provide a unique opportunity to explore and savor different flavors and cuisines in a luxurious setting. In addition to health insurance, having travel insurance is highly recommended for those living on a cruise ship permanently. Travel insurance can provide coverage for trip cancellations, lost baggage, and emergency medical expenses.
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