Anyone dreaming about living on a cruise ship?

[Amordobarco]

With the way the world is , who would want to risk their health on a cruise ship.
I believe your on the wrong site.

[Dsalvail]

The World.
My wife and I visited it, and we thought for about a second about owning a suite on it. Then reality struck, financially and logistically.
Looking at it, the average age of suite owners is around 80, and while The World has some of the best medical crews around, time is the enemy. I suspect some of those suites will become available for second owners at a discount. (Prices started around US$ 2M + condo fees then.)
There are suites that you can rent for short periods of time, say 4 weeks. A very good idea when you're not too sure if your pension money should be diverted to something like this.
I don't know about the resale value of the suites either, which would greatly offset the purchase price.
To each their own, my friend. It that's something you'd like to try, go for it!

[oceanluvr]

Originally Posted by sanibel sailor

rather live in a cardboard bx

Amen! It broke my heart to see this monstrosity arrive in Venice this week! These massive condominiums on water are a modern day blight, which have ruined many a once beautiful locale. Oh, yea, I can hear those who say, the locals benefit, but at what cost? As for Venice, studies have been conducted that show the overwhelming number of passengers spend far less than a tourist arriving by land. When you have all your meals provided onboard, why pay to eat on land.....I would rather have a colonoscopy than take a cruise!

[sail1942]

It would probably be cheaper than owning and maintaining a 50' cat. after you pay for maintenance , insurance, etc. and the million dollar initial purchase.

[tweitz]

Many years ago, when our kids were teenagers, we took a Carnival cruise. We hated it, our kids loved it. We had no interest in doing it again, but...

We have now taken a few cruises on small ships, fewer than 200 passengers. No lines or crowds for anything, small ports where big ships could not go, few enough people that we did not change the character of the places we visited, no cruise director making us sit with strangers, good quality food and service, and a very pleasant week.

My mother was living in an assisted living in her 90's and beyond, and regularly mentioned that she was spending more than a cruise ship to see the same 4 walls and cafeteria style food. The choice would not have been hard for her. The problem is that the cruise ship works for most people for a very short time -- the period after you can't live on your own (including sailing your own boat) and before you need more complete assistance than a cruise ship would be able to give. For many people this period is very short. For some it lasts years.'

Cruise ships are wildly different. None compare to sailing our own boat, but the Admiral is getting less able as we are well into our 70's, so cruising time on our boat is slipping away.

[valhalla360]

Originally Posted by SeaStory

In what sense is such a lifestyle ambitious?

A few years ago there were several articles about how efficient this would be. I don't believe the authors were ever able to find anyone who was actually doing it full time.

Other than having the money to fund it...I don't see anything ambitious about it. But really the cost isn't that bad unless you to the really high end ships. Keep in mind, after a pretty short period of time, the frequent cruiser plans (similar to frequent flyer programs) will get you significant upgrades pretty much all the time. Plus, as mentioned, any kind of elder living center is likely to be pretty pricey.

I don't know about efficient but yes, I've read several stories of people actually doing it.

Not my cup-o-tea but nothing wrong with it. My biggest issue is most ships follow a repetitive route. You can switch ships periodically but then you lose the relationships with the staff you know.

As far as getting fat, it's living vs vacation. After a short while, you settle down.

[valhalla360]

Originally Posted by CaptTom

Yes, these mega-ships are set up for lemmings. Everyone rushes to the pool deck first thing in the morning to secure their spot in the sun. After sundown, the rush reverses to the bars and casino. Shore excursions are pure theater. Don't get me started on the spa treatments and art auctions.

But you don't have to follow the crowd. You have the whole deck largely to yourself after dark. Enjoy the stars and the cool breeze. During the day, you have the run of all the indoor spaces. You don't need spa treatments or overpriced souvenirs. You don't have to drink yourself silly or gamble away your retirement fund.

I think the obstacles are more subtle. For one thing, it would be more expensive than you'd think. You can't just take the advertised weekly rate for an inside cabin and multiply it by 52. Those are not always available, and there are fees and add-ons. There may be health or mobility requirements which keep out some who would use this instead of a nursing home. And not many of us could live in a tiny inside cabin very long.

I wouldn't count on good health care aboard. Yes, there's a doctor or medic of some kind, but they're not your family physician. Nor are they specialists in all the various ailments which befall us as we age.

This is one of the advantages. After the 10th time, land in St. Thomas...you probably aren't going to do the snorkel excursion. Instead you hang out on the ship. The crew know you and treat you well. Much nicer than your average old folks home.

Honestly, it seems like most old folks would love it. In an old folks home, you are with the same people day after day who never go out. Excitement is when someone has a visitor. Here, you got staff you get to know and who look out for you and a steady stream of new people who are likely to want to hear about your life on a cruise ship. I'm betting from a mental health standpoint, it would be a huge improvement.

Cost is actually a selling point. Lots of deals for frequent cruisers and free room upgrades. No you aren't going to live on $500/month but compared to the cost of your typical old folks home it should be quite reasonable.

Obviously, you would need to coordinate routine medical care with port visits but if you do have an incident, having a doctor on board and available would be quite a benefit.

[belizesailor]

Originally Posted by oceanluvr

Amen! It broke my heart to see this monstrosity arrive in Venice this week! These massive condominiums on water are a modern day blight, which have ruined many a once beautiful locale. Oh, yea, I can hear those who say, the locals benefit, but at what cost? As for Venice, studies have been conducted that show the overwhelming number of passengers spend far less than a tourist arriving by land. When you have all your meals provided onboard, why pay to eat on land.....I would rather have a colonoscopy than take a cruise!

Yeah, the benefit to the local economy is a common, and invalid, argument. The cruise lines are very effective at keeping money in their own pocket. Cruise ship guests book their excursions thru the cruise line at inflated rates, the cruise ships contract with local operators at aggressively discounted rates....or they cut them out all together by creating their own private venues (they have created several in Belize...no need for their guests to ever leave the "bubble").

Ive seen this evolve in Belize in person, the locals dont get jack and when a cruise ship passenger manages to escape the bubble and actually visit a real local shop they are notoriously cheap and demanding. In the end the locals just end up resenting them. I have friends who have lived/worked in other cruise ship venues and seen similar events unfold.

The only real benefit to the local economy is to the politicians they pay off for permits and some harbor fees. Neither of which directly benefits the locals.

[valhalla360]

Originally Posted by Eder

Sitting around an old folks home waiting to die would no be preferable.

If my spouse has perished it would not be unreasonable to hire a nurse as company, not too expensive.

Exactly, people are trying to compare it to cruising on a 40ft boat.

Well, if your spouse died and you weren't physically able to manage a 40ft boat, would you want the kids to put you in a home or would you rather slip off and spend the inheritance on a cruise ship.

[jemj]

CUNARD and White Cruise Lines used to offer this amenity. I'm not sure they do any more.....if I recall it was about $900K for a lifetime suite (and I mean suite-2400 sq.ft). all amenities, food, doctors, come and go as you please, on and off at any port. World cruises included. I recall reading a story about a woman who did this after her husband died. they were sailors, but age caught up with them. She recalled the great times meeting new people every week or month; and enjoying the total ship's company.

Not a bad alternative to some Assisted Living place when I'm 90.

Jim

[valhalla360]

Originally Posted by CruiseWorld

I wasn't really trolling (I'm sorry if it was like that ) I was considering about retiring on one because I've been on cruises and I thought to myself "Why not retire here" you know? Thanks for your reply tho

Some of it is you are getting a bit of a snobbish attitude because some need to justify their choice to do it on their own in a small boat. Also, a bit of a conflict of interest as tourists increase demand and tend to push up prices and a lot of small boat cruisers try to live on the cheap.

We've done both options and enjoyed both (we also spend time living in our RV and spending a month or so at a time in airbnb apartments). Neither is right or wrong...do what you enjoy.

[Laxlife]

It is not as far fetched as one might think. The University of Virginia has operated a cruise ship for its Semester at Sea program for decades. In one semester students circumnavigate the globe while taking classes taught by visiting professors. They visit ports all over the world and take inland excursions as well. Professors bring their families and to meet the program’s goal of having a diverse community onboard there is a sizable contingent of older passengers in the Life Learners category. They might teach if they have a particular specialized skill but the definitely participate in the 10-20 member “Family” pods that serve as the students core relationship base. A Family consists of all ages and Life Learners are a key component. One Life Learner I know of had been aboard for a couple of years in part because she found it was much cheaper than living ashore. I am certain COVID shut down this program but my guess is that it will start in on 2022 or ‘23

[markiobe]

I'd rather stick pins in my eyes...

[taxwizz]

Originally Posted by jemj

CUNARD and White Cruise Lines used to offer this amenity. I'm not sure they do any more.....if I recall it was about $900K for a lifetime suite (and I mean suite-2400 sq.ft). all amenities, food, doctors, come and go as you please, on and off at any port. World cruises included. I recall reading a story about a woman who did this after her husband died. they were sailors, but age caught up with them. She recalled the great times meeting new people every week or month; and enjoying the total ship's company.
Jim

For the last 30 years I have spent July and August living on my 30' sailboat, and in fall and winter spend about 60 days on cruise ships. My preference is Princess. I have now reached the age when maintaining my own boat has become too difficult, so I consider that living on a cruise ship would be a wonderful transition.

So....If those deals still exist, please give me the link. I am IN.

[belizesailor]

While I dislike the impact of the industry, given the alternative of being sequestered in a care facility, life on a cruise ship could be a better alternative. It just depends on the degree of care you need. If you really need 24x7 skilled care then it probably wont matter much where you are...just hopefully you wont be there for long...and obviously thats not gonna be provided on a cruise ship, but if you are just a little old and feeble then by comparison it might not be a bad option.

Personally if faced w that choice, I would prefer a smaller ship and not a mainstream cruise line loaded with guests I probably had little in common with.

Of course, if the total cost is in the $1M range then I could just buy a comfy trawler and hire pro crew with some medical training.