Would you live on a cruise ship year round?
 

An 86 year old widow lives on the Crystal Serenity year round for nearly 7 years already. She estimated that she paid $164,000 for the privileges in 2014 alone.

Would you do it, even if you can afford it?

http://www.app.com/story/life/home-g...ship/21869211/

There is one liner where you can buy an apartment to live on the ship permanently - I think it's called 'The World'.

The idea seems fun, but I need my cat, garden and family and long term friends. I need my little studio for painting, my sewing and piano, and once in awhile, cooking. Maybe when I am 86, it would be OK.

I agree with Sassafrass. Initially I would be ecstatic to
see all the sights I've missed on previous cruises.
After a while though, I think ennui would set in.

I was sort of surprised it cost so much. No discount? No repeat customer deal? I can't imagine laundry and specialty dining cost that much. Oh well, good for her.

"No Discount"???? The woman has lived on the boat for 7 years and paid $164,000. That comes to about $64 a day or about $1,920 per month including meals and entertainment plus there's staff to clean your room, make your bed, etc. Quite a bargain in my book! Certainly less expensive then living alone in a small rental apartment or condo.

Oops, my mistake - That's $164,000 a year (not for the whole 7 years as I originally thought) which comes to about $450/day- about the price of staying in a nice hotel. Not quite the bargain I originally thought.

Before the 7 years, she was on HAL for 3 years. SO she's been at sea for 10 years!

For $450 a day, maybe she is in a suite? Mind you, she could be in an inside cabin. The $146,000 covers everything, food, drinks (alcohol), gratuity, shore excursions, port charges, spa, flowers, odds and ends and who knows what. Crystal is a luxury liner so maybe $450 is reasonable?

I met someone in LA a few years ago and she was on back to back to back cruises all the time. All cruises were from her home port of LA. She used her daughter's place as home address. She's on the ship most time, she figured she spent $3000 a month for 4 weeks of cruising and the fifth week she stay at her daughter's place and go see doctor, get meds, banking, shopping what have you. The $3000 a month is cheaper and better than seniors home.

Thats not a bad idea economically.
I could not live on a ship however. I saw that thing on the Travel Channel about the Residensea which tours the world with most passengers permanent residents and I just could not do that. I like cruising but thats just not for me.

Larry, did you ask Sue for her opinion?

Nope but I already know as she
Is not the shy type ��

Larry, I won't be living on any cruise ship any time soon. As much as DW likes cruising, she also likes to be home.

Since I can't even convince her to go on a 28 day cruise, so a longer world cruise is out, and living on a ship is definitely out of the question.

I can live off a suitcase so the smallish cabin/closet/storage space is not an issue for me. For some, the smaller cabin space would be challenging. Where are you going to store or "display" all your collectibles and souvenirs?

If I live closer to a port (as in same day driving distance), I may consider a 3 weeks on 1 week off scheme.

For us two weeks would be max. Even if we could afford it being so confined would be a problem and if the seas got rough Sue get ill so it would be like a trap in that regard.

BTW spontaneously we decided today to book the NCL Getaway for early May. We have never cruised NCL before but their reviews are much better that say 7-8 yrs. ago and I must say they have seemed to turn their product around. In a recent issue of CN Traveler a readers poll rates them second to Disney in the large ship category. I am excited to check them out.

Would have love to join you in May but duty calls. I have work related meetings in DC in late May and I need time to prepare so I am usually stuck April/May slaving away except maybe for a weekend getaway.

I have not been on any NCL ships for quite a few years (8 or 9 years?) now so it is good that you (someone I can trust on the review) are giving them a try. Hope you have a great experience and it will open up more choices for us. We shied away from them after a couple of less than good experience years ago.

Surprising, we have no cruising plan for 2015 yet. Planning to visit my sister in Richmond after the DC meeting in June is about the only vacation plan we have.

Return to Alaska in late June is out at this point. Maybe looking at mid August, late October early November which is usually when I managed to getaway. Depending on weather, maybe a late March escape? Still wanted to try the new Regal Princess among other new ships.

Eschew - We actually met a couple who live on a cruise ship (ships actually) They were a young couple - early 40's maybe. The keep a small apartment in Ft Lauderdale as home base but are there long enough to attend to any personal business that is was necessary and then back on the ship - never being home for longer than a week every few months.

The young man was physically handicapped so being on a cruise ship for him was ideal. They usually booked a suite and they did get deals from the cruise lines. They book long cruises and back to back as well. Living in Ft Lauderdale provides great opportunity for bargain cruises which is why they use it for home base. They didn't use the dining room at all - the wife would fix trays from the Lido. Not something I would enjoy but it suited them.

I agree with you on the $3000 being better than senior's homes. My condominium is next to an "upscale" retirement home. They have their own suites but go to the dining room for dinner. An elderly couple from my complex just moved into a one bedroom suite there and are paying $6500/mo.

Larry and Eschew - if you ever do an Alaska cruise that stops in Victoria let me know and I would be happy to be the "tour director" for your visit.

Well E if not May then what about the Sapphire Princess next yr. out of Singapore? Its Feb. 24th. IIRC. Its 11 days with stops in Brunei, Cambodia, and two stops each in Thai and Vietnam.

DC is a great area to see but I'll bet you have see most of the sites by now.

When we book the Sapphire last summer my TA had a Princess special so if you booked that day only for any cruise after march 2015 you got free gratuities and $100.00 OBC so it was a great deal. We got $200.00 OBC for the NCL cruise and our TA had a spin the wheel event so that got us another $25.00 OBC and some free luggage too. Not bad.

T69: If we ever go to Victoria again you have a deal. :).

Take care, Larry :).

I'd think about it. It depends what my other options are. Look at it this way-You have doctors on the ship if you get sick, Holland America has priests and ministers, three meals a day, interesting friends, etc. Our last Holland America cruise we met a lovely elderly couple who spend the summers in Greece and the winters in Florida. They do not fly they just find repositioning cruise. All the staff knew them and they were loved by staff and guests alike. There is a nice compromise.

They do have MD's but OTOH don't have much in the way of medical facilities and probably have a limited supply of meds as well. They are not set up for emergencies so even appendicitis could be life threatening if immediate surgery was needed. They you would have to be close enough to a land based hospital or at least w/i reach of an emergency evacuation helicopter.

Its a risk you must be willing to assume, especially if you choose to live at sea.

JM2C.

I would if I could.

I would if I could have pets.

Sass, Cats or Dogs?

Cats. I like dogs and have had several, but have come to enjoy cats more. I also just can't get used to a doggie smell, but I had a Basenji. They clean themselves like a cat, sleek like a cat too.

Hi Es,

>Would you do it,...

Yes. It can be done for a lot less.

Princess will take you around the world for about $180 pp/day

((I))
A trip around the world isn't necessarily a cruise.

I wonder if they charge extra for leap years.

Ira, of course they will charge extra for leap years!

Read another recent article about retiring on a cruise ship. That's why I dig up this thread again. I wonder if the cruise industry hired the writers and present articles like this.

Other than medical care worries, and being away from the family. It's a no brainer if you are looking strictly at money. The article included interesting comparison as quoted below.

A study published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society found that when considered over a 20-year span, "cruises were comparably priced to assisted living centers and offered a better quality of life, "though land-based assisted living can vary greatly by facility, location and needs."

A reservation on Princess Cruises, for example, averages $135 per day with long-term and senior discounts, not including medical care or excursions. It costs about $229 daily for a private room in a nursing home and $3,293 per month for a one-bedroom in an assisted living facility, according to LongtermCare.Gov.

Independent living or retirement communities range from $1,500 to $3,500 a month, according to HelpGuide.org.

It's possible for long-term guests to persuade a cruise line to let them bring their own furniture or decorate their cabin at their own expense.

http://www.msn.com/en-ca/money/retir...hip/ar-BBuYbsc

I have seen these costs compared to independent living in a CCRC .The cruise begins to look like a good deal.

The issue I have is thwt half the passengers/crew always seem down with cruise cough at any time, but maybe she's built up immunity

Just returned from cruise on Silver Cloud. Quite a few people on ship for extended (20-100+) days. My husband called the ship "assisted living" and in some ways it was. Excellent service day and night, everything done for you, staff that seemed to love being helpful. We participated in the daily excursions and got more exercise than we get at home. Plus swimming pool,hot tub, gym....goood life.I think a smaller, more personal ship really good for extended trips. Especially good for person traveling alone. My husband has some mobility issues...the ship and staff really helped. Note...all dining chairs have arms. Walk in showers with benches, grab bars (but I guess all ships have them).

"assisted living" ... I like that term! That's what typically happens anyway as the crew will do everything for you, well, almost everything anyway.

In recent months, I have decided I would absolutely live on a cruise ship if I could afford it and could have pets. Pets tie me to land. Don't know which ship I would like though. Might have to move from one to another now and then.

Affordability isn't a issue, it is the lost of contact with things that you are accustom to on land: mainly people, the people you see or deal with everyday. The shop keeper,the bank teller, the baker, the butcher, the hair dresser, neighbors, friends, relatives ... and of course pets.

With all that said, with the digital age and doing everything on line, I am not sure if I know any baker, banker, butcher or barbers any more. As to the neighbors, friends and relatives ... well, just say you may not like all of them.

Every time we went on a trip, we have to get someone to take care of the cat, plus cut the grass, mow the lawn etc. I guess if our cat dies (from old age), there would be no more tie to land.

Just came across this ... thought I would share.

https://www.facebook.com/positiveene...8115582879921/

Hi Eschew! Do you remember which cruise line that woman from LA went on? I'd love to look into this!

This thread popped up again, 2 & 1/2 years after the first post. Interesting how my feelings have started to change. Two of my very old cats, ages 19 & 20, passed away this Spring. My other two are now in their teens. If not for them and the fact that I still take care of my Granddaughter every day after school, I am at the point where I would move onto a cruise ship right away. I am kind of done with cooking, cleaning, etc., but absolutely hate senior living places! Just can't ever see myself living in one.

Spalmer, it was on the Princess. Form LA, she can go coastal, Mexico or Hawaii.

Sorry just seeing reply now, Eschew! Do you remember her name? Would love to somehow talk to her more about it!

>Would you live on a cruise ship year round?

If I could afford it, Yes.

One advantage is that 8 good stories to tell at dinner would last you your entire life.

((I))

Funny, Ira.
I am not sure I have even eight good stories.

My friend Lucy lives on the Crystal Line, she goes back and forth with this ship. She would rather do that then to live in a nursing home for them to abuse you. She pays about 100,000 a year to live on one, but Lucy has money from 3 dead husbands.. so she is wealthy. I would do that if I had the money better to see more things and I love to travel and have other people watch over me.