Thursday, April 25, 2024

Deciding to Retire on a Cruise Ship

retiring on a cruise ship

Our work has been directly cited by organizations including Entrepreneur, Business Insider, Investopedia, Forbes, CNBC, and many others. We follow strict ethical journalism practices, which includes presenting unbiased information and citing reliable, attributed resources. Cruise lines typically place a hold on the credit card for the full amount of the cruise which can be paid off before or after embarkation.

Snowbirds in Residence

Of course, if you decide to keep your home while living on a cruise ship, it would change those numbers. And even if you sell, you may have to account for other land-side expenses, such as storage for personal property or vehicles, or debts you may still be paying off. Some cruisers make friends with crew members on every cruise they take.

What documents do I need in order to retire on a cruise ship?

It’s aimed at retirees looking to escape the freezing cold without permanently settling in the cruise line’s homebase of Miami. Surely at first you will bask in the filet mignon to your heart’s content, however as the months and years drag on, you will likely begin to gain weight. Staying slimmer may become a challenge, and exercise will have to become a part of your daily routine.

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On a cruise, not only do you get to enjoy yourself on the ship as you travel from port to port, but you also have your food, entertainment, housekeeping and more included making it an ideal lifestyle for retirees. Cruise ships are often fully-booked for charters, therefore you will have to get off the ship and meet your ship at a different port, or you will have to find a different ship with a different cruise liner. Transferring between cruise ships will have to become a matter of course, and last minute stays in random locations will become a standard—however that is what you wanted.

This Australian couple, Jess and Marty Ansen, feel that they made the right choice when they set forth on the high seas after booking 51 consecutive cruises. However, there are some realities about cruise living you should confront before making the choice to leave landlubber life behind. Long-term cruise-dwellers are unlikely to drink as much daily as those who are there short term. Depending on which cruise you’re on, you’ll end up spending between $450 and $2,000 per year on laundry.

retiring on a cruise ship

If not, they may need to consider storage fees for personal belongings/goods. If the above options don't appeal, you can always work with a travel agent or a cruise line to string together back-to-back sailings. If you want to experience different ports during your travels, look to the luxury lines, whose ships will often wander the globe rather than sailing round trip out of a particular homeport.

Grab Your Tour With Cruise Port Advisor Now!!!

Here's what I learned about how to retire on a cruise ship – and whether it's a good idea. Some lines offer discounts if you book multiple cruises at once and most require payment in full within 24 hours of booking. A seven-night cruise in a standard cabin on a mid-sized ship typically costs between $1,000 and $2,000 per person.

Getting Insurance When Living on a Cruise Ship

Victoria Cruises Line is also planning to turn two refurbished vessels into residential ships for long-term living, with a proposed launch in spring 2023. This isn’t about compromising comfort or luxury; it’s about reimagining retirement as a time of exploration and adventure, all within a budget that makes sense. Cruising into the sunset might be the perfect voyage for those curious about making their retirement funds stretch further while still indulging in a life of discovery. Let’s explore how retiring on a cruise ship offers a blend of affordability, adventure, and simplicity, making it an enticing option for those looking to make the most of their retirement years without breaking the bank.

retiring on a cruise ship

From organized events, classes, entertainment, and communal dining experiences, cruise ships provide ample opportunities for seniors to build friendships and create lasting bonds with like-minded individuals. For example, fully furnished residences aboard the MV Narrative cost between $1 million and $8 million, and there are a limited number of 12- and 24-year leases available, which start at $400K. In addition, there are the monthly homeowner's association-style fees, which vary according to the size of a residence and cover everything from ship fuel to housekeeping, as well as all standard food and drink. In essence, it’s a fee similar to the kind of packages that you often pre-pay for on a typical cruise ship. The decision hinges on personal preferences, health considerations, and financial situations. Whether you’re drawn to waking up in a new city every few days or prefer the comfort of a familiar community, retirement is an opportunity to live according to your desires and priorities.

Another option for a residential ship is Storylines, which bills itself as a “luxury residential community at sea,” boasting a garden, 20 restaurants, three pools, a microbrewery, and a 10,000-book library over 18 decks. On the other hand, cruise vacations are one of the few things that have decreased in cost. Given that the average monthly rent of a 900-square-foot apartment in the United States is now $1,702, if you purchase a low-cost cruise instead, it starts to make some financial sense. We’re changing the way people 55 and older are searching for their perfect next place. Whether you’re interested in a low-maintenance single-level residence, an active lifestyle or age-qualified community, an intimate enclave, or anything in between, we can help you make your next move the best one yet. Tennessee has excellent appeal for all kinds of lifestyles and tastes.

Knowing these options is the first step to giving up your life on land and setting sail for the foreseeable future. Outside of seeing new places and getting a taste of adventure, there are also some practical reasons why you should choose to live on a cruise. Life on a cruise can actually save money because you don’t have to worry about purchasing food, paying for gas, or covering other land-based expenses. The line already includes gratuities and select beer, wine and liquor in its fares. If you suffer a serious medical emergency at sea, a cruise ship’s medical facility will be able to treat you. So, the cruise ship’s medical team would most likely have you transferred to an adequate healthcare facility, which may or may not be covered by your medical insurance.

But if you live on a cruise ship, your life might quickly become the vacation you need a vacation from. Many cruise lines charge you extra for wifi access, which is important for a couple reasons. What’s more, depending on your carrier, international roaming charges could be astronomical. The best value cruise from Royal Caribbean is a 13 night foray through Spain and the Canary Islands. A basic cabin on the ship is going to cost you $562 per person, which shakes out to $43 per night.

While the upfront cost might seem all-inclusive for cruise ship living, extras like internet access, laundry services, and specialty medical care can add up. Additionally, long-term health care and emergency repatriation (if necessary) are significant considerations that require additional planning and insurance. An alternative to booking back-to-back cruises or buying a condo is booking long-term cruises. Oceania offers 180-day cruises around the world with fares starting as low as $35,899. That fare includes meals, beverages, and other amenities onboard, as well as airfare to the ship’s port.

Meet the cruise couple who have spent over 450 days at sea so far - ABC News

Meet the cruise couple who have spent over 450 days at sea so far.

Posted: Wed, 04 Oct 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]

If you’re planning to live full-time on a cruise, you’ll need to make good nutrition a priority. You can try asking for sauces on the side or swatching out the fries for a plate of salad. However you choose to do it, it’s important to make your health a priority. You should also note that most standard US insurance plans don’t work at sea. You’ll want to get special insurance policies if you’re planning to live on a cruise ship full time.

According to the Cruise Lines International Association, 28.5 million people took a cruise in 2018, and about a third of them were 60 or older. While there are no statistics from the association on how many full-time retiree cruisers exist, only a few have been verified to have settled into a permanent retirement aboard a cruise ship. If you have any sort of serious health care needs, retiring on a cruise ship might not be a smart choice. For those who find out it's already too late to book a particular voyage, cruise lines do maintain waiting lists in the event of cancellations (often just prior to the final payment date). Sometimes too, third parties (e.g., Road Scholar) purchase cabins in bulk that they make available for resale. While some people prefer the flexibility of only paying for exactly what they want while on board a cruise, this is only really practical for short-term vacations.

Taking an extended cruise is a good first step toward deciding if you want to make cruising a more permanent retirement option. I met a woman last year when I cruised on Royal Caribbean's Grandeur of the Seas who was in the planning stages for the cruise line's 274-night world cruise. This woman was testing out several storage products she hoped would make life easier on her extended cruise. From drawer organizers to under-bed rolling plastic bins, she was traveling with things most weeklong cruisers would never think of.

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