living on a cruise ship year round

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How Much It Costs to Live on a Cruise Ship For a Year

Who hasn’t gone on a cruise and thought, “I could do this forever”?

The idea of retiring from the rat race and living out your days on a cruise has great appeal for some people.

There’s no cleaning, no cooking, and no lawn to mow. You don’t have to worry about doing the dishes or paying an electric bill. There’s always something going on, new people to meet, and every day you wake up to some of the most beautiful views in the world.

Add to that the fact that Internet access allows many to work remotely from anywhere, and wi-fi is widely available on any major cruise ship. That means even if you don’t want to completely retire, but instead work from the cruise ship, it’s technically possible.

Of course, not everyone can run off and live on a cruise ship, but that doesn’t mean you can’t dream.

And the first question that comes to mind when you think about escaping is how much it would cost to live aboard a cruise ship?

So how much would you have to pay? Is the total cost even realistic? We recently priced out the cost of living on a cruise ship for an entire year.

The result? Just know that you’ll definitely need to open your wallet to live full-time in paradise.

Where You’ll Spend Money on Your Cruise

Head to any cruise website and you’ll see plenty of cheap headline prices. Cruises starting at a few hundred dollars for a week are common. At first glance, it seems like living on a cruise ship would be amazingly affordable. ( One cruise line advertises the ability to live aboard for just around $33,000 per person, per year .)

After all, a cruise for $500 a week would cost only $26,000 to sail for a year. For many people, that would be cheaper than living on land! 

But anyone who has been on a cruise knows those headline prices are just the start of what you pay. In fact, in our opinion it’s a bit disingenuous of the cruise lines to advertise those prices. After all, what you’ll actually pay is much, much more.

Double Occupancy Cruise Fare: Apart from a few sailings that offer solo cabins, any headline price you find is actually only half of what you will pay for cruise fare. That’s because cabins are typically sold based on double occupancy, but prices are shown per person.

So for a fare that’s $599, it will actually cost $1,198 based on double occupancy. Even if you are sailing solo (unless in a solo cabin), you will still have to pay this “double” charge.

In other words, whenever you see a cruise price, double it right away for what you’ll really pay in fare.

Port Fees & Taxes: We all expect to pay taxes on things that we buy. It’s no different for a cruise. However, the taxes aren’t included in the headline cruise fare. As well, cruise fares will also have port fees tacked on. These are per-passenger fees paid to ports of call for the privilege of docking.

These fees vary, but in general, expect about $100-$200 per person for a seven-day cruise.

Gratuities: Sure, at the end of the day gratuities aren’t a required cost (you can adjust them as necessary), but in practice they are usually considered a charge that you’ll have to pay. They also add up quickly.

At around $16 per person, per day, a couple traveling on a week cruise will pay about $200 in gratuities. Over the course of a year on a cruise ship, that amount comes out to more than $10,000!

Onboard Spending: Anyone who has taken a cruise knows that what you pay in cruise fare is the start of what you’ll spend during your time on the ship.

From drinks to wi-fi to specialty restaurants, there are plenty of extra to spend on the ship . And even if you are a frugal sailor, you won’t go any lengthy time without having a few drinks or signing up for the Internet package to check in back on shore.

We Priced a Year’s Worth of Cruises to Get a True Cost

With all of these expenses in mind, we dove into what it would cost to live on a cruise ship for an entire year.

Of course, when it comes to cruising for twelve months, you have an amazing number of options. From different cruise lines to routes, departure ports, ships, and even cabin types, there are a number of things that will have a big impact on what you spend.

That’s why we aimed to keep everything simple. To price what it costs to live aboard the ship, we took a look at sailings aboard a single ship from Carnival, which is known for being affordable. In this case, we priced a year’s worth of sailing for Carnival Horizon in 2024.

Carnival Horizon is a newer ship from the cruise line that sails six and eight-day itineraries year-round from Miami in 2024. That means you could sail the entire year without having to change ships and always coming back to a homeport in the United States.

The routes that the Horizon sails would take you all across the Caribbean, from Cozumel to Aruba, from Curacao to Grand Cayman. Because it is a bigger and (relatively) newer ship in the Carnival fleet, you’d also have tons of amenities and activities on board, as well as a many restaurant options — including Guy’s Burger Joint .

As for the cabin, in our search we opted for a balcony cabin. Yes, you would be able to sail for cheaper in an oceanview or interior cabin, however, we assume that if you are aboard the ship for an extended period of time, having your own balcony is a must.

As well, we assume a couple is sailing with two people to the room. 

Summing up, here’s what we searched for our prices used in this estimate:

• Cruise Line: Carnival
• Ship: Carnival Horizon
• Time Period: January-December 2024
• Homeport: Miami
• Room Type: Balcony
• Number of People: 2

Here’s How Much It Costs to Live on a Cruise Ship

So how much does it cost to sail on the Carnival Horizon for a year? We estimate it to cost around $199,000 for two people , although that number can vary from person to person, depending on their spending habits .

Here’s an overview of where you’ll spend, and we breakdown each expense below:

Cruise Fare: The largest expense by far is cruise fare. Pricing a balcony room for each of the dozens of cruises the ship sails in 2024, it totaled $99,766 . Factored out, that's about $1,900 a week or $6,150 per month. Keep in mind this is for two passengers on the ship and includes the bulk of what you'll spend on a cruise, including your cabin, entertainment, and food.

Port Fees & Taxes: There's no escaping taxes, even on a cruise out at sea. Pricing out our cruises, the taxes and port fees for two people totaled up to $15,395 for the year. That comes out to a little less than $1,300 a month.

Gratuities: One of the perks of being on a cruise is that you are waited on hand and foot. But it doesn't come free. Carnival charges $16.00 per person, per day for automatic gratuities. Over the course of a year, that adds up to $11,648 in tips paid to staff.

Onboard Spending: How can you know what you'll spend on the ship over the course of a year? It's impossible to know for sure, and different people will spend different amounts. For example, do you need to have a drink package every day of the year? Or are you fine drinking water or juice? Are you a gambler? How often do you want to eat at specialty restaurants?

While you can't pinpoint exactly what you'll spend, you can get a good estimate. As a public company, Carnival Corporation (the parent of Carnival Cruise Line) publishes detailed numbers about their business. For instance, in 2022 the company took in $7 billion in ticket revenue and $5.1 billion in onboard spending.

So onboard spending across all of its lines was 73% of ticket revenue. For every $1,000 in cruise fare, the average person would spend about $730 on the ship. (Note: Onboard spending has increased since cruises returned, but bundling of offers like drink packages and wi-fi have also changed the amount. Before the pandemic, it was usually around 45% of ticket revenue.)

Using this metric, with a total cruise fare of $99,766, the average couple would spend $72,829 onboard during the course of the year. However, it's likely that the figure would be drastically lower as average spending on the ship will likely be less if staying full-time versus splurging for a short vacation.

Total Cost: Adding up tickets, port fees, taxes, gratuities, and onboard spending, the total estimated cost of living on a cruise ship for a year is $199,638 for a couple -- or about $100,000 per person. Without onboard spending, it comes out to $126,809 or $63,404 per person.

Notably, this figure is about 35-40% higher than the roughly $145,000 we calculated for the same ship when we last ran the numbers in 2023. The main difference between then and now? Cruise fares in 2024 for Carnival Horizon come out about $18,000 higher (for two people) during the course of the year and onboard spending estimates increased sharply based on the latest figures provided in financial reports.

Too Expensive? Here's How to Lower the Cost

There's no doubt that it's expensive to live on a cruise ship, but there are ways that you can trim that amount. If you're interested in cutting down the price, here are a few ideas.

Limit Onboard Spending: In our estimate, we used the average spending Carnival Corporation sees across all its cruise lines, which is 73% of the cruise fare.

You don't have to spend near that much. After all, when people cruise they are on vacation and likely willing to spend more freely than they would normally. By limiting the amount spent on board, you can cut thousands off this estimated total.

It's doubtful you can get by without spending at least some money, but our estimate comes out to about $700 per person, per week. Being able to spend less than that should be relatively easy.

Older Ships: Our estimate is aboard the Carnival Horizon. We chose this ship because it is relatively new (meaning you'll have the most amenities for a long-term stay), but it also runs a regular schedule from Miami.

That said, in general newer ships like the Horizon are more expensive to sail aboard. If you look for older ships, you should be able to cut the price down.

Be Flexible for Cheaper Trips: For this estimate, we priced out a year's worth of cruises on a single ship. This makes it easy if you're sailing long-term; you simply stay on the ship and don't have to worry about changing ships, or ports.

If you want cheaper options, however, you might find them by being more flexible with changing ships and/or cruise lines when you find a deal. That's where sailing from a port like Miami -- which offers a lot of options -- can be beneficial to your pocketbook.

Avoid Expensive Times of Year: In our search, the sailing aboard the ship varied dramatically due to the time of year. For example, the most expensive cruise aboard Horizon during the year was during the Christmas holidays and ran $1,399 per person. The least expensive 8-day cruise ran $869 per person -- or about 60% as much.

If you have the ability to take a few weeks off here and there during the expensive times of year, it can lead to big savings.

What do you think about the cost of living full-time on a cruise ship for a year? Let us know in the comments below.

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What about the VCL Victoria Cruises Majestic ship? Set to sail this fall, it’s a true long term residential ship that will circumnavigate the globe in 27 months from Fort Lauderdale. There is still space available! Price points and discounts vary based on how long you lease your cabin -ranging from 6 month’s minimum up to 37 months and beyond. About 500 cabins have been sold so far- adults only. And it’s all inclusive of internet, most drinks, laundry service, housekeeping of course, room service, etc.. All the standard things you’d find on a cruise ship. See this article that was posted today by one of the future residents! https://www.allwaystraveller.com/continents/worldwide/circumnavigating-the-globe-for-two-years-on-a-residential-cruise-ship

I would love to see the cruise lines cater to single seniors, they would be surprised how many would travel all the time….I personally would like to do three months, but the cost is just too high! Maybe there is a singles travel cruise group that I can join. Any suggestions out there?

Someone young wrote this article. Carnival is not the line most people would choose to cruise for a long period of time. On the Oceania Marina we met a couple cruising for several months and a charming older man who was cruising for 180 days. The couple had sold their house & were having a new house built, so homeless for a period of time. The older man was single &, I think, rather lonely so the ship life provided him nice social opportunities to talk to people. Here’s more info; “After record demand for its 2023 world cruise, Oceania Cruises has unveiled the itinerary for its epic global voyage for 2024. The cruise line’s 180-day journey around the world will set sail on January 14, 2024, and visit more than 96 destinations in 34 different countries.

“Incredibly, last year our 2023 world cruise sold out in just one day, so for 2024 we are providing guests more extended voyage options to deeply and meaningfully rediscover the world,” Howard Sherman, President and CEO of Oceania Cruises, said in a statement shared with Travel + Leisure.

Oceania’s “Around the World in 180 Days” cruise will depart from Los Angeles and cross more than three oceans and 15 seas as it makes its way around the globe to New York. The journey, on the Oceania Insignia, stops at more than 100 UNESCO World Heritage sites with 24 overnight stays.

Passengers will journey across the Pacific, through French Polynesia and Australia before continuing onto destinations like Japan and Vietnam’s Ha Long Bay. The voyage continues along the shores of India and the Arabian Peninsula before sailing across Europe and completing its route across the Atlantic in New York.

The 2024 “Around the World” journey starts at $48,499 per person and includes roundtrip first-class airfare and amenities like prepaid gratuities, laundry, and luggage delivery. During your days at sea, you can keep yourself busy with spa appointments, art workshops, the casino, cabaret, and four open-seating restaurants — not to mention the daily afternoon tea service accompanied by a four-string quartet. There is also a fitness center and sports deck, and of course, a saltwater pool with two hot tubs.

As usual, catering mostly to people who have the means to do this without blinking. It is time for older single seniors on a fixed income to be able to be able to cruise on a non party boat. A tranquil, voyage, letting go and actually hearing the sounds of Mother Nature, not a floating amusement park. That would be amazing.

It would only be me living on the ship, cant i spilt that cost that I would have if i had a spouse? so would that be about 60k ?

I think this is not taking into consideration the rewards systems that most cruise operators have which would reduce the fare, even in a balcony cabin. I could never do it since the state of cruiseline wifi is still pathetic!

Another way to do it vs estimated$175k year is to buy in to a condo cabin on the new state of the art Narrative from Storylines.com. Sails around world in 3 1/2 years starting at $5000 a month 2 people all inclusive , starting 2024!

😂😂😂 with prices starting at $400,000 and rising to $8 million

What about when someone needs care/hospitalisation etc….. Surely you would need a private medical insurance policy, which would get progressively more expensive as you aged?

I’m sure. This article only focuses on the costs of sailing for the year. Other costs aren’t considered.

Good information but why does long term stay/full time cost is so high. you would think there be discount especially for seniors. Also price for solo why double? I think it sounds like fun how about travel for 3 months first to try out. Sea sick is that a common element to consider for most? People with restricted diet such as vegetarians do they get the meals prepared? Are some classes offered for free? classes such as dancing or crafts part of the activities? Thanks

the price for double occupancy is basic international hotel rates. The cruise ship is basically a floating/mobile resort hotel. All cruise lines came onboard with the double occupancy in 2010. before it was fare and half to cruise solo. If you get a good cruise line that you like, most have a loyalty program that after so many cruise points you will be charged fare and a half for solo travel. 3 months would be a good trial to see if you like it, sea sickness is not really a problem as these ship travel well. you can put in for restricted diet before going on a cruise so should not be a problem long term – might be you have to request every week. Main Dinning has a veggie meal every night and the buffet style cafe onboard allows you to select what you want. You can even get Kosher meals. most Classes are free as well as activities. buy the drink package that is suitable to your habits. your excursions will cost you but after a few weeks you may be done with excursions and it is all about enjoying the ship.

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How to retire on a cruise ship

As I approach retirement age, the thought of retiring on a cruise ship has crossed my mind. Okay, who am I kidding? It's a daily obsession.

Retirement living is generally broken into three phases: the active healthy phase where you are fully independent, the phase where you need some assistance with meals and household chores, and the phase where you need a far greater level of care. Cruise retirement life obviously suits the independent phase, but it also closely resembles the assisted living option most people consider on land.

Both cruise ships and retirement communities include food, lodging, utilities, housekeeping and social gatherings, plus enrichment activities like guest lecturers, movies and art, computer or dance classes. Add to that the ability to travel the world without bothering with airplanes and hotels, and it makes sense that many people view living on a cruise ship as an ideal retirement plan.

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But how do you go about it? 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. But there's no "How to Retire on a Cruise Ship" guidebook to help you make informed decisions about the cost and feasibility of living out your golden years at sea.

What is the best way to go about full-time cruise ship travel? What other considerations should be taken into account? I dug in with some good old-fashioned research to see where that led me. Here's what I learned about how to retire on a cruise ship – and whether it's a good idea.

What does it cost to retire on a cruise ship?

When it comes to a retirement budget, commercial independent and assisted living facilities that provide extras like meal plans, housekeeping services, activities and transportation start on average around $60,000 per year per person, or $164 per night. (Obviously, this pricing will vary based on where you live, inclusions and luxury levels.) I set out to determine if retiring onboard a cruise ship could match (or beat) what's available on land, so I compared facilities with amenities and payment structures closest to what you could get on a cruise ship.

Retiring on a traditional cruise ship

While negotiating with cruise lines for a lower fare on a long-term arrangement is possible in many cases, I found that even without any special deals with the cruise line, I could book 52 back-to-back seven-night Caribbean cruises from Miami on Carnival Cruise Line 's newest ship, Carnival Celebration , for around $43,000 per person in an inside cabin. That's around $118 per person per night. (Think carefully whether you can stand to live year-round in a windowless room.)

Shopping for Carnival's cheapest cruises on older ships, I could get the average below $50 per person per night in inside cabins and around $110 in balcony cabins, including port taxes and fees. That means your cruise fare could be as little as $18,250 per person per year. Unfortunately, the fare is not your only cost to consider.

You would need to budget for flights between ports and occasional hotel stays if you decide to return home or swap ships. Plus, there are tips for staff to consider, which can total thousands per person during the course of a year.

All that puts the minimum for a couple or a single traveling alone (which requires single supplement charges in double occupancy cabins) just over the $50,000 per year mark.

Related: Best cruises for seniors who love to travel by sea

Obviously, there's no upper limit to how much you could spend on retirement on either land or sea, but here are some examples of what I found: A year on Cunard 's Queen Elizabeth in a balcony stateroom would run about $64,000 or $175 per night per person. A year onboard P&O Cruises' Britannia in a balcony cabin could be arranged for roughly $53,000 or $145 per night per person. Both options would allow you to see a great deal of the world.

By contrast, a year onboard a luxury cruise line like Silversea, Seabourn or Regent Seven Seas will cost a minimum of $200,000 per person ($548 per person per night). The good news about that price is that cruising on those lines includes things like tours, gratuities, alcoholic beverages and most specialty dining, as well as laundry.

Retiring on a residential ship

An alternative to sailing on a traditional cruise line through your retirement years is to buy or lease a cruise ship cabin on a luxury residence ship. The most well-known of these is The World, but there's been recent buzz about startup company Storylines and its residence ship, MV Narrative, which is set to launch in 2025. 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.

Ownership simplifies a few things logistically, and your only additional costs are likely to be port expenditures and/or travel when you opt to leave the ship. You might also be able to rent out your cabin when you aren't using it, helping offset the cost of your cabin.

Storylines, for example, is selling staterooms either for the life of the ship or for quarterly seasonal shared ownership. Twenty-four-year lease options are also available. In addition to the initial purchase or lease cost, residents will pay an all-inclusive living fee per person per month that covers food and beverages, housekeeping, laundry, Wi-Fi, and, of course, fuel for the ship.

How does this option compare, pricewise? To purchase a 237-square-foot inside cabin with a virtual window for the life of the ship costs $1 million on average. A twenty-four-year lease is around $650K. Storylines also charges an additional all-inclusive living fee to cover onboard services (food, housekeeping, Wi-Fi, etc.); for an interior stateroom, this mandatory charge is $2,586 per person per month, based on double occupancy, or $62,064 annually for two people living together. Purchase prices for a one-bedroom, 1.5-bathroom unit averaged $2.7 million, with $111,000 in living fees.

For purposes of comparing the costs to traditional cruise ships, the living fee in the inside cabin on MV Narrative is $85 per person per night and the one-bedroom suite is $152 per person per night. These figures are in addition to the upfront costs of buying or leasing.

If you can invest in ownership or lease of a stateroom, your cost per night (beyond your purchase or rental price) can be lower than cruising traditionally. However, as MV Narrative is not yet under construction and is not slated to be built at one of the main cruise ship-building yards, you'll definitely want to talk to an advisor about investing your retirement savings in a startup company that has not yet brought a product to market.

What's so desirable about retiring on a cruise ship?

We talked about what's included on the ship and the potential of retiring for the same or even less than what you'd expect to pay for land-based retirement accommodations. That may be enough incentive for some, but what else makes retiring on a cruise ship an attractive choice?

For many, it's travel itself. Changing scenery every day can be an inspiring way to live. Even an option that visits the same ports over and over might be more appealing than staying at home for some people.

Simply not having to worry about grocery shopping, meal preparation or home maintenance tops most people's lists of retirement goals, and all of those would fit into a cruise ship retirement. Avoiding weather extremes is another retirement priority. It's possible to plan your retirement cruise itinerary to ensure you are always headed away from cold and snow.

The atmosphere on board a cruise ship is another plus. It's a whole other vibe from your average senior living facility. Whichever ship you choose is likely to be filled with people excited to be on board. That attitude can be infectious. Being surrounded by young people, not just folks of retirement age, can also make cruise ship life more appealing.

Related: Which cruise brand is right for you? A guide to the most popular lines

Living on a cruise ship presents the opportunity to meet new people. In some cases, it would be a shipload of new faces every week or two. Imagine how many new friends you could make in a year. Some cruisers make friends with crew members on every cruise they take. The opportunity to stay onboard and foster those relationships for long stretches might be irresistible.

Then there are people who enjoy being in the company of others, while maintaining nothing but passing interactions with them. Even an introvert might find the social scene of a cruise ship a better arrangement than a more solitary retirement scenario.

What might make you think twice about living full-time on a cruise ship?

For some, the best part of retirement is spending time with family — especially the grandkids. Cruise retirement doesn't rule that out, but it does make it a bit more complicated. It's hard to be the type of granny who can frequently babysit when you live on a cruise ship, potentially thousands of miles away from where the grands live. If your family wants to visit you, they'd have to pay for cruise fare for everyone.

The same holds true for developing lasting relationships. Passengers and crew come and go on ships, so your relationships will be fleeting. Retired singles may find it difficult to find the next love of their life floating around the Caribbean on a ship full-time. For introverts, it can be exhausting to continually make the effort to meet people.

If you prefer the company of animals to people, you're out of luck. In most cases, you can't take pets with you on a cruise, so that can be a drawback for many retirees.

Related: Are dogs allowed on cruise ships? These are the cruises that allow pets

A feeling of confinement is tops on the list of reasons people I talked to said they couldn't retire on a cruise ship. Even on a large ship, you can only go where it goes, plus the room you call your own is likely to be far smaller than what you are used to. There's a certain loss of freedom, but that's common with many forms of retirement living.

Plus, the cabin you book might not be designed for senior living, the way apartments at a retirement home or senior living community would be. You'll also have fewer options for cable TV plans and phone calls and Wi-Fi costs will be pricier than on land.

Though cruise ships have a medical staff, they aren't equipped to handle serious health issues. You'd have to manage prescription medications from a distance for long periods of time, and schedule time off the ship for routine checkups. Any medical emergencies might require you to be airlifted from the ship, and the distance to the nearest hospital could be quite far.

Related: Do cruise ships have doctors, nurses, medical centers or hospitals?

And in most cases, you won't be able to rely on Medicare for your health coverage while out of the country. For that, you'll need a travel or ex-pat health insurance plan, with costs ranging from around a hundred per month to thousands, depending on your coverage specifics. Plus, your cruise retirement could be cut short at any point by health issues. They won't hesitate to kick you off the ship if you need more appropriate care on land – and then you'd need to quickly find a new place to live while suffering from medical concerns.

Besides the health aspect, you'll always need to have a solid backup plan. Things like mechanical breakdowns, disaster-related shutdowns and cruise line business decisions can drastically affect your plans — more so than in most land-based living situations. You would need annual travel insurance as well as enough available money to cover hotels and transportation from almost anywhere on the globe.

How to start planning for a cruise ship retirement

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.

She was also working on boosting her loyalty status with Royal Caribbean . There are perks available to the highest loyalty levels that would save money when retirement time arrives. Complimentary laundry tops the list of valuable perks at the top levels on the mainstream lines, along with spa treatments and specialty restaurant meals, Wi-Fi discounts and free or discounted cruise nights. Even luxury lines like Silversea and Seabourn offer top loyalty members discounts and free nights.

The higher your status when you retire, the more perks you start out with – though you'll quickly climb through the loyalty ranks if you sail on the same line for an entire year.

The woman I met was using low-cost solo cruises (which earn double points) on Royal Caribbean's smallest ship to boost her status point total. Status is shared with domestic partners or spouses living in the same household, regardless of whether they went on the same number of cruises. Other ways to boost status would include taking advantage of double points offers like the one Celebrity Cruises is running this year on European cruises or by cruising in upper-level suites.

Related: A beginner's guide to cruise line loyalty programs

Initial steps toward cruise ship retirement might also include selling one's home (or preparing it for becoming a rental), disposing of excess possessions and re-homing pets. You will also want to consult with a financial advisor to help with residency laws and money management that might allow you to cruise even longer into retirement.

Bottom line

Retiring on a cruise is an intriguing possibility, whether you book a year's worth of back-to-back cruises on a traditional cruise ship or purchase a floating apartment on a residential ship. Either way, retirement at sea comes with both advantages and disadvantages. While you will have the opportunity to explore the world and meet lots of new people, you may find yourself missing the people you left behind.

The financial aspects, particularly when it comes to health insurance, are likely to be tricky, requiring careful planning with expert advice. And you'll need a backup plan should your health at some point prevent you from remaining on board.

The best plan is to plan well ahead, starting with a few long cruises to make sure it's a good fit. Many of the steps you would take in planning for a world cruise would be the same things you would do to pave the way for a full cruise ship retirement. Once you're convinced you're cut out to cruise year-round for years on end, you can begin to make the arrangements to dismantle your old life on land and build a new one at sea.

Planning a cruise? Start with these stories:

• The 5 most desirable cabin locations on any cruise ship
• A beginners guide to picking a cruise line
• The 8 worst cabin locations on any cruise ship
• The ultimate guide to what to pack for a cruise
• A quick guide to the most popular cruise lines
• 21 tips and tricks that will make your cruise go smoothly
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How To Live On A Cruise Ship For A Year

Published: December 11, 2023

Modified: December 28, 2023

by Brina Porter

• Sustainability
• Travel Tips

Introduction

Imagine waking up to the gentle sway of the ocean, your only responsibility for the day being to explore new destinations and enjoy the luxuries of a floating paradise. Living on a cruise ship for a year may sound like a dream come true, but for those seeking adventure, relaxation, and a unique travel experience, it can become a reality.

Embarking on a long-term cruise offers the opportunity to immerse yourself in a world of endless possibilities. From exploring exotic ports of call to indulging in delicious cuisine, enjoying onboard entertainment, and meeting fascinating people from around the globe, a year-long voyage promises to leave you with unforgettable memories.

Choosing to live on a cruise ship for an extended period requires careful planning and consideration. From selecting the right cruise ship to budgeting, packing, and managing your day-to-day life at sea, there are several important factors to keep in mind. In this guide, we will explore everything you need to know about living on a cruise ship for a year and make your journey a smooth and enjoyable one.

Whether you are a retiree looking to embark on a fulfilling adventure, a digital nomad opting for a unique work-life balance, or simply a travel enthusiast longing for an extraordinary experience, living on a cruise ship can be the answer to your dreams. So prepare to set sail on the ultimate voyage and let’s discover the secrets to living a year on a cruise ship!

In the following sections, we will delve into the different aspects of choosing and booking the right cruise, preparing for life onboard, packing essentials, finding your routine, staying healthy and fit, socializing, exploring ports of call, dealing with homesickness, and managing finances. By the end of our journey, you will have all the information you need to embark on your year-long adventure at sea.

Choosing the Right Cruise Ship

When it comes to living on a cruise ship for a year, selecting the right vessel is crucial. With countless options available, it’s essential to consider your preferences, lifestyle, and budget. Here are some factors to help you make an informed decision:

Booking Your Long-Term Cruise

Once you’ve chosen the right cruise ship for your year-long adventure, it’s time to book your long-term cruise. Here are some tips to make the booking process as smooth as possible:

Preparing for Life on Board

As you prepare to embark on your year-long cruise, it’s essential to make the necessary preparations to ensure a smooth transition into life on board. Here are some key steps to take before setting sail:

Packing Essentials for a Year at Sea

When preparing for a year-long cruise, packing the right essentials is crucial for a comfortable and enjoyable experience. Here are some items to consider when packing for your adventure at sea:

Navigating the Ship’s Amenities

Living on a cruise ship for a year means having access to a wide range of amenities and facilities. Here are some tips to help you navigate and make the most of the ship’s offerings:

Finding Your Routine

Living on a cruise ship for a year offers a unique opportunity to establish a routine that suits your preferences and lifestyle. Here are some tips to help you find your rhythm and make the most of your time on board:

Staying Healthy and Fit

When living on a cruise ship for a year, maintaining your health and fitness is essential for enjoying the journey to the fullest. Here are some tips to help you stay healthy and fit during your time at sea:

Socializing and Making Friends

One of the greatest joys of living on a cruise ship for a year is the opportunity to meet fascinating people from around the world and develop new friendships. Here are some tips to help you socialize and make friends during your time at sea:

Exploring Ports of Call

One of the most exciting aspects of living on a cruise ship for a year is the opportunity to explore a variety of ports of call. Here are some tips to make the most of your time ashore and create memorable experiences:

Dealing with Homesickness

Living on a cruise ship for a year can be an incredible experience, but it’s natural to feel homesick at times. Here are some tips to help you cope with homesickness and make the most of your journey:

Budgeting and Managing Finances

When living on a cruise ship for a year, it’s important to establish a budget and effectively manage your finances. Here are some tips to help you stay on track financially during your journey:

Living on a cruise ship for a year is an extraordinary adventure filled with endless possibilities and memories. By choosing the right cruise ship, booking your long-term voyage, and preparing for life onboard, you are embarking on a journey like no other. Throughout your cruise, you can enjoy the ship’s amenities, explore new ports of call, and engage in social activities while prioritizing your health, managing homesickness, and budgeting your finances.

By following the tips and strategies outlined in this guide, you can make the most of your year-long cruise experience. Embrace the opportunity to meet new people, immerse yourself in different cultures, and create lasting memories that will stay with you for a lifetime. Whether you’re seeking relaxation or adventure, a year on a cruise ship offers a unique blend of both.

From dining on delectable cuisine to indulging in spa treatments, participating in enriching activities, and exploring vibrant destinations, every aspect of your year-long voyage is designed to provide an unforgettable experience. Along the way, you may face challenges such as homesickness, but by staying connected with loved ones and seeking support from fellow passengers and crew members, you can navigate these emotions and find comfort in your incredible journey.

As you set sail on your year-long adventure at sea, remember to stay open-minded, flexible, and embrace the unexpected joys that come with living on a cruise ship. Explore the ship’s amenities, make new friends, try new activities, and immerse yourself in the wonders of each port of call.

So, get ready to embark on an incredible journey of a lifetime. Pack your bags, leave your worries behind, and let the year-long adventure on a cruise ship unfold as you create memories, discover new horizons, and experience the joy of living in the lap of luxury on the open seas!

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How To Live On A Cruise Ship – Top Tips For Life At Sea

By: Author Mona Marks

Posted on Last updated: October 14, 2023

Categories CRUISE PLANNING , LEARN , ONBOARD EXPERIENCE

Most humans never experience what it’s like to live at sea, as 99% of us are land dwellers to the core. A few trendsetters have altered the reality of normal living by packing up their life on land and moving it to a cruise ship on the sea. Cruise ship living is a concept that’s picking up momentum. How to live on a cruise ship starts with proper financial planning, additional health insurance, and awesome deals from cruise liners. Keep reading to learn how your ocean-living dreams can become a reality.

How To Live On A Cruise Ship – Take A Cruise Ship Test Run

Permanently living on a cruise ship might sound glamorous and exciting. And it could be the best decision you’ve ever made but also the wrong one. You should take a trial run at extended cruise ship living before making a decision so that you can confirm if your “living on a cruise ship” dream is for you.

Book long trips (more than 3 months at a time) on different cruise liners, mix them up with different cruise itineraries and immerse yourself in life at sea. 

Rope In The Help Of A Cruise Specialist

When you have decided that you want to spend large amounts of a year cruising the world, it’s time to rope in the experts. A cruise specialist can add some value to your experience regarding the following: 

• One-on-one personal customer service
• Assisting in finding the right accommodation
• Helping to choose the perfect cruise ship
• Access to discounted bookings regarding extended cruise travel
• Added amenities such as onboard credit, free specialty dinners and drinks vouchers, airport transfers, and complimentary shore excursions
• Ensuring that special promotions during your trip are applied to your fare

Cruise companies such as The Cruise Web offer innovative packaged plans (Seniors at Sea) tailor-made for active and independent seniors looking to retire on a cruise ship. After a cruise specialist has assisted you in finding the best cruise liner option with the best price package available, it’s time to draw up your budget with the help of a financial planner.

Brainstorm With A Financial Planner

You will need to get your financial ducks in a row. Brainstorm with a financial planner about what you can afford to spend per day, week, or month, and see how those numbers fit with your cruise specialist’s quotes. If you’re looking to retire on a cruise ship, a full retirement income plan that includes taxes should be implemented.

Cost Of Permanently Living On A Cruise Ship

The most important factor when living on a cruise ship is the cost. The overall cost of living on a cruise ship is determined by many factors, such as the following:

• The cruises you book (Caribbean cruises work out the cheapest, whereas European and Alaskan cruises are the most expensive)
• Which cruise ship line do you choose to live on (Mass, premium, or luxury lines)
• Type of accommodation (Inside cabins are cheap but small, whereas balcony rooms are expensive but come with a view)
• Cruise Line loyalty program and perks
• Taxes, port fees, and gratuities (inescapable expenses)
• Cost of shore excursions

The average person spends approximately $212 per day on a cruise ship, which includes boarding, food, and entertainment. Your available daily budget should be close to this amount if you want to live successfully on a cruise ship. 

Purchase A Permanent Residence On A Cruise Ship

One method of living on a cruise ship is to book multiple cruises on one specific ship or move from ship to ship within a cruise line, using different itineraries. For example, there’s a Royal Caribbean Super Cruiser who has essentially sailed for the past 20 years on various Royal Caribbean ships and spends only about two weeks a year on land!

If your finances allow it, another option is to buy property on a residential ship or an available cabin on a cruise ship.

Storylines is a private residential ship selling 547 at-sea residences (1-bedroom to 4-bedroom residences, 2-story penthouses, and studios) ranging from $400,000 to $8 million, which excludes yearly maintenance fees. Living fees start at $2,152 per month, depending on the residential unit, which is lower than what you would pay in most major cities and comes with a host of all-inclusive living perks.  

The world is a residential cruise ship that offers 165 private residencies with prices ranging from $2 million to $16 million, excluding annual ship fees. This luxurious residential cruise ship offers residents culinary delights prepared by Michelin-star chefs, an enrichment program featuring world-renowned experts, a spa and gym facility , and a host of sporting activities.

Utopia 

Utopia is a luxury cruise ship that sells permanent residencies totaling 190 units, which range from 1,400 to 6,500 square feet. The prices range from $4 million to $36 million per unit. Luxury retail shops, spas and salons, and all sorts of luxury amenities are expected on board.

Work While Cruising

Today, many people have the opportunity to work remotely from their homes. Technology has changed how we work in the last couple of decades. With access to WI-FI aboard cruise ships, nothing stops you from working online, making cruise ship living a reality for most digital nomads.

One of Royal Caribbean International’s most famous long-term cruisers, Mario Salcedo , works from the top deck of all the ships he sails on. Nicknamed “Super Mario,” Salcedo has been living on various Royal Caribbean International cruise ships for over 20 years.  

Mario budgets between $60,000 to $70,000 per year to maintain his life at sea. Booking consecutive yearly tours in advance, staying in cheaper indoor cabins, and not leaving the ship when stopping at a port help him to stay within this budget. Salcedo manages investments for his private clients to fund his stay.

Protect Yourself With Private Health Insurance

Medical facilities found on most cruise ships feature basic medical equipment used for treating basic medical emergencies in the short term, such as defibrillators, x-ray machines, and all sorts of medicine. A medical team consisting of at least one doctor and two nurses is on call 24/7. However, they typically are not set up to provide chronic medical care.

If you’re on chronic medication, you will need to get the prescriptions filled by your doctor before you board the ship. Suppose you have serious health ailments that often require a trip to the hospital for check-ups and treatment. It would be best if you run the scenario of permanently living on a cruise ship by your regular physician.

Full-service hospitals are found at ports only, which can be few and far between when cruising. Retirees using Medicare health insurance are often not adequately covered in a medical emergency and unforeseen medical expenses. Typically, Medicare’s coverage dwindles when members are out at sea or more than 6-hours from the US. 

The smartest option, even if it’s more expensive than standard US insurance plans, is to invest in private health insurance, which includes evacuation insurance. Most cruise line offer insurance that is inclusive of medical coverage. You may also have options through a variety of private insurance carriers.

If you’re paying with a credit card, remember to call your credit card company to inquire about the travel insurance they offer and what it covers in a scenario where you live on a cruise ship. Ask your travel specialist for recommendations and put the question to your financial planner.

Pros And Cons Of Living On A Cruise Ship

All life decisions come with pros and cons. Living on a cruise ship has both, and we need to highlight a few of them before you sell your land home, say emotional goodbyes to the family, and put the pets up for adoption. 

Pros Of Living On A Cruise Ship

Traveling the world

Can be cost-effective compared to other retirement options 

Exciting shore excursions

No utility, gas, or grocery bills

No monthly home or car payments

Constant menu of activities and entertainment steps away

Opportunity to meet new people

Attentive staff available to serve you daily 

Renting out your property to receive passive income

Cons Of Living On A Cruise Ship

Leaving friends & family behind

Additional private health insurance required (including evacuation insurance) or cruise liner insurance that includes emergency medical coverage  

Gaps between cruises lead to additional costs (hotel, flights, transfers)

Cruise liners not equipped for assisted living (you need to be heal

Have to monitor your diet as food on cruise ships often include fine dining and rich foods

Potential loneliness

You will have to store or sell extra possessions 

Shore excursions can be costly

Closing Thoughts

How to live on a cruise ship may seem like a fantasy, but with a little planning, insurance, and guidance from a financial planner and cruise specialist, you can make it your reality!

Keep up with the latest cruise tips and insights! Follow us on Pinterest:

Related articles.

How Expensive Is It To Live On A Cruise Ship Year-Round?

As remote work has become a reality for more and more people, a new trend has taken the travel industry by storm: alternative living. With the newfound flexibility offered by working remotely, many people are curating a full-time travel lifestyle, hopping from timezone to timezone while working their full-time jobs online. And the cruise industry is no exception.

As more and more people are able to work remotely, the desire to live on a cruise has become increasingly popular. And with this desire comes the inevitable question of affordability. Just how expensive is it to live on a cruise ship full-time, year-round? In this blog, we’re going to break down an approximate budget for this enviable new lifestyle.

Cruise Accommodations

By far the most expensive aspect of living on a cruise ship year-round is the accommodations. However, the good news is that aspiring full-time cruisers have a variety of options to choose from, all suitable for different types of travelers with diverse budgets.

Some travelers opt to lease apartments on residential cruises such as Residence At Sea’s The World and Villa Vie Residences . This is by far the most expensive option, as many of these residential cruise apartments have six-figure price tags. However, for those willing and able to rent long-term accommodations, this option comes with a host of luxurious benefits, all the while taking you to hundreds of ports around the globe.

A more affordable option is what’s referred to as a World Cruise. Much like the residential cruise lines mentioned above, these cruises sail all around the world, with voyages such as the World Cruise from Life At Sea guaranteeing a visit to all seven continents. These itineraries typically span three to six months, and many full-time travelers choose to book these longer voyages back to back. 

Life At Sea’s world cruise , however, was specifically designed with full-time cruisers in mind, offering a three-year cruising option. Benefits of this three-year itinerary include all-inclusive dining, laundry service, and diverse entertainment options. The price? For their November 2024 itinerary, prices start at around $80,000 per year, per person, though in previous years prices have been several thousand dollars cheaper. 

For those with a tighter budget hoping to live on a cruise ship, there are still plenty of great alternatives. Some travelers prefer to book traditional, short-term cruises back-to-back, giving them greater control of the itinerary. Prices for these vary from itinerary to itinerary, but an average cabin price of $100/night for an entire year comes out to over $36,000. Talk about a discount. The catch here is that you will be in a near-constant state of booking short cruises, injecting a level of uncertainty into your living situation.

One last thing to note is that many of these long-term cruise options charge passenger fees on top of accommodation fees. If you choose to lease an apartment on a residential cruise, for example, in addition to the price of rent, you will also be expected to pay an annual cruise fare. The prices for these fares vary significantly from cruise line to cruise line, so be sure to do thorough research before deciding which option is the most economical for you.

Food on a Cruise

Another financial factor to consider when deciding to live on a cruise year-round is food. While many cruise lines offer all-inclusive options to their guests, this isn’t always the case. Furthermore, living full-time on a cruise gives you the opportunity to try local foods from around the world. So ask yourself: how much money are you willing (or able) to spend on food while traveling the world?

This is not the easiest question to answer, particularly as every person has different priorities, preferences, and restrictions when it comes to food. If you follow a strict diet at home, it will likely be harder and more expensive to stick to it abroad. Furthermore, while prices in the restaurants, buffets, and grocery stores on your ship will remain stable throughout your journey, food prices in ports can vary tremendously from country to country, from continent to continent.

Another factor to consider is tipping. Tipping culture varies from region to region, so if you plan on visiting restaurants or bars in port, be sure to research how much money (if any) you’ll have to spend on gratuities.

Creating a food budget while living on a cruise full-time can be a challenge. But rest assured that this is one of the aspects of year-round cruise living over which you have a lot of control. By sticking to all-inclusive dining options aboard your ship, you can save a substantial amount of money.

The Unexpected Expenses (Taxes, Insurance, Healthcare)

While living on a cruise guarantees an exciting and adventurous lifestyle, it also comes with certain logistical complications that you may not have considered. For example, in addition to the accommodation fees and cruise fares, you should also expect to pay a considerable amount of taxes while living aboard, with one notable example being the port fee. All passengers must pay this tax when they choose to disembark at any given port, and while living on a cruise full-time, these fees can quickly add up.

Secondly, you will likely have to purchase new insurance policies that cover your medical expenses abroad. Relying on your typical travel insurance plans will not be suitable as these policies are meant for shorter-term trips. Thus, it’s worth contacting your current insurance provider and discussing your options for year-round coverage.

In a similar vein, it’s important to think ahead about health care. While there is a doctor on board open to passengers, their time and resources are limited. If you have any preexisting conditions that require frequent visits to a health care provider, living on a cruise full-time can prove to be a challenge. Thus, it’s best to have a few plans in place as to how you would handle any medical emergencies abroad.

Lastly, you will likely have to purchase a new phone plan to ensure that you don’t lose access to your data while traveling the world. For more information on using your phone and other devices on a cruise ship, be sure to read this article in which we break down everything you need to know. When in doubt, however, contact your at-home provider and research whether they have any international phone plans that will meet your needs.

Living on a Cruise Full-Time Is Possible

As you can see, there are a nearly endless number of factors that contribute to the affordability of full-time cruise ship living. Doing your research and making the most informed decisions for yourself will ensure that this lifestyle is financially feasible for you. In the end, you can expect to pay anywhere from $50,000 to $150,000 to live on a cruise ship full-time, though added amenities can quickly drive this price up.

It’s important to note that this number is approximate, and the actual cost of living on a cruise ship full-time will vary from person to person. But at the end of the day, this alternative lifestyle of travel can be feasible for people with diverse budgets. Armed with the right tools and information, you can curate the year-round cruise experience that is perfect for you and your needs. That feeling of flexibility is just a taste of the freedom you can expect from cruise living.

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Home » A Three Year Adventure! Living Year Round On A Cruise Ship

A Three Year Adventure! Living Year Round On A Cruise Ship

Last updated on October 6th, 2023 at 10:01 am

It may sound too good to be true, but you now have the opportunity to join Life at Sea Cruises on a three-year round-the-world cruise. Just as you looked forward to being on a cruise, you could now be on one every day for 1,095 days!

You Can Check Seeing The World Off Your Bucket List!

Miray Cruises, an Istanbul-based cruise line, announced its departure on the first ever three year cruise which will begin on November 1st, 2023. This three year cruise is aboard the newly renovated MV Lara.

MV Lara weighs in at 42,289 gross tons and has 627 cabins. There is room for 1,266 passengers, but the ship will run at 80% capacity for this voyage.

The public spaces have been redesigned for more of a long term residence feel and the pool has also been renovated.

All Of The Amenities You Would Expect

The ship will have a Spa and Wellness Center that offers massages and facials. If you want to participate in yoga or meditation classes, this is the center where all that happens.

You’ll be able to participate in dancing and karaoke, golf or just sunbathe. There is also a cigar and wine bar on board.

If you feel like learning something new, there will be enrichment lectures onboard and you will be able to join volunteer and philanthropic initiatives during the cruise.

If You Still Need To Make A living, You Can Do It Onboard

If you can’t leave work behind, there is a business center with offices that passengers can use.

You will also have access to free high-speed WiFi via Starlink to be able to keep connected at all times. Just make sure to use a backdrop on Zoom calls so your boss or coworkers don’t see where you REALLY are!

Table of Contents

Never Make A Meal Or Wash A Dish For 1095 days!

How could you go wrong with this? The MV Lara will have gourmet buffet style restaurants with dishes created upon demand. You will be treated to premium artisanal ingredients from around the world.

All restaurants onboard are complimentary and feature open seating.

Maybe There Is Too Much Of A Good Thing

Speaking of gourmet meals that you don’t have to prepare, there might be the tendency to overindulge. Well you can have your cake and eat it too, as long as you visit the onboard gym on a regular basis.

The fitness center has personal trainers that you can use one on one or in a group session. Participate in yoga, aerobics, strength training and physical therapy. Just don’t classify the meditation classes as “having been to the gym today.”

But What If I Really Don’t Feel Good?

If you are under the weather even if the seas are calm, visit the medical facility on board. Staffed by doctors, a dentist, nurses and assistants, they will be able to help you out.

There is even a pharmacy onboard so they will get you back to feeling well quickly.

Join The Cruise When You Can

It is exciting to realize that you will visit 382 ports, 7 continents and 140 countries. While you will need to sign up for three years, you can start at any point on the itinerary making it a rolling three-year cruise.

This year’s start location is Istanbul and in year four, they plan to add destinations such as Easter Island, Dubai and India.

Check out the Life At Sea Brochure , which lists all 382 ports.

I Want To Go But Is It Affordable?

Current pricing starts at $38,00 per person per year. If you are a solo traveler, that will cost you a bit more.

Depending on your circumstances, this may be a bargain. No mortgage, no overhead, no heat, lights or grocery bill. And all of the world to see!

Is It Really All That And A Bag Of Chips?

Living on a cruise ship for three years would be a unique and potentially rewarding experience, but it would also come with its challenges and considerations. Here are some pros and cons of life at sea.

The Pros Of Life At Sea

Travel and Adventure: Living on a cruise ship would provide you with the opportunity to explore various destinations around the world continuously.

You would get to visit numerous countries, experience different cultures, and see breathtaking landscapes. Best of all, you don’t have to plan any of it! It is all laid out for you, which makes it stress-free.

All-Inclusive Lifestyle: Most cruise ships offer all-inclusive amenities, including accommodation, meals, entertainment, and access to recreational facilities like pools, gyms, and spas. This can make it a convenient and cost-effective way to live.

Social Opportunities: Cruise ships are like floating communities, so you’ll have the chance to meet a diverse group of people from different backgrounds. This can lead to lifelong friendships and a strong sense of community.

Stable Environment: Cruise ships provide a stable living environment. Your accommodation and basic needs are taken care of, so you can focus on enjoying your travels and exploring new places.

Cruise Ship Lifestyle: You’ll become accustomed to the cruise ship lifestyle, which includes themed dinners, onboard entertainment, and special events. It can be a fun and exciting way to live.

The Cons Of Life At Sea

Space Constraints: Cruise ship cabins are usually smaller than traditional apartments or homes. Living in a small space for an extended period can be challenging, especially if you have a lot of belongings.

Isolation: While cruise ships have a strong sense of community, you may still feel isolated from the rest of the world, as you’ll spend most of your time at sea or in port. This isolation could potentially lead to feelings of homesickness or loneliness.

Limited Personalization: Cruise ship cabins are not very customizable. You won’t have the freedom to decorate or arrange your living space as you would in a traditional home.

Healthcare Concerns : Access to medical care may be limited on a cruise ship, especially for serious medical issues. You would need to consider your health and plan accordingly, however according to the cruise line, the MV Lara does come equipped with a mini-hospital!

Routine and Repetition: Living on a cruise ship can become repetitive. The ship’s routine and schedule may start to feel monotonous after an extended period, as you’ll follow a similar daily routine.

Weather and Safety: Cruise ships can be affected by adverse weather conditions, and there’s always a risk of emergencies at sea. You should be prepared for weather-related disruptions and familiarize yourself with safety procedures.

Cost: While the all-inclusive nature of cruise living can be cost-effective, it’s essential to consider the long-term financial implications. Cruise ship living isn’t necessarily cheap, and you’ll need to budget for personal expenses, shore excursions , and other activities.

Final Thoughts Before You Sign On The Dotted Line

Overall, living on a cruise ship for three years can be an exciting and adventurous way to see the world, but it’s not without its challenges.

It’s crucial to carefully consider your personal preferences, lifestyle, and financial situation before embarking on such an extended cruise journey.

Additionally, staying well-informed about the cruise line’s policies and understanding the logistics of long-term living on a ship is essential for a successful experience.

This page contains affiliate links for which we may receive financial compensation when a purchase has been made through one of our affiliate partners.

About Jonathon Hyjek

Jonathon is the tech guy behind CruiseportAdvisor.com. When he's not stuck in front of his computer, Jonathon enjoys travel & cruising (even after being on a cruise ship that caught fire - a story for another day!)

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I live on cruise ships for half the year for free. It has drawbacks, but the perks make it all worth it.

• I'm a content creator who lives on a cruise ship for half the year, and I love it.
• I sail for free because my husband is a staff chief engineer on the ship. 
• Our living space is small but we get to travel a lot and I don't ever have to cook.

I live on a cruise ship for half the year with my husband and it's often as glamorous as it sounds. After all, I don't cook, clean, make my bed, do laundry, or pay for food. 

Our cabin on the ship essentially comes with my husband's job — he's a chief engineer who works three months on board and three off and I sail as a "wife on board." When we aren't living on a cruise ship , we're at our home in Vlissingen, Netherlands.

Luckily, living at sea isn't very new to me as I used to be a cruise director . I lost my job early on in the coronavirus pandemic and have since pivoted to full-time content creator. 

Life's pretty good at sea, though it has some ups and downs. 

Our life feels often like an ongoing vacation

For starters, a huge perk of this lifestyle is not having to prepare meals or do dishes. 

I have sit-down meals in the ship's dining room for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. If I don't feel like doing that, I can go to the buffet or get pizza or hamburgers and fries whenever my heart desires. I have to pay for my own drinks, though I get a 50% discount . 

I also love being in a new place every day , which is especially helpful for a content creator always looking to post something new. I have to wait until guests have gotten off at a port before I disembark, but I still get plenty of time at most stops.

Recently, I took my followers with me to Hawaii and the French Polynesian Islands. Now, I'm headed to Alaska. After that, we'll be checking out South America and the Panama Canal. 

Although it can be difficult to visit family and friends, I still get to see my parents. They're retired and sometimes hop on the cruise with us for months at a time — yes, they get a family discount when they book.

Related stories

With my parents growing older it's also nice to know that the ship has some medical care on board in case of an emergency . That said, I do pay for a special traveler's insurance. 

This lifestyle comes with small drawbacks, but none I can't handle 

As a "wife on board," I have access to most amenities for guests, though I'm not allowed to gamble at the ship's casino. 

Sometimes I also encounter difficulties while trying to get work done on the ship. I buy internet on board at a discounted rate since my husband is a staff member but the service isn't always the best.

Recently, while in the French Polynesian Islands, we went eight days with no internet connection on the ship. Unable to share content without a signal, I ended up taking a forced vacation and read books while working on my tan. 

The room we live in is also quite small , but perhaps no tinier than some studio apartments in New York City. Our bathroom is super tight and our space has a weird layout — at night, I have to climb over my husband to get out of bed to use the restroom.

Fortunately, we also have a balcony on the bow of the ship that's perfect for filming sunsets and sunrises from.

Living in a small space also means my husband and I are used to being together all the time. Some couples might not prefer this but we're only going on three years of marriage and we're OK with the constant closeness. 

We can't have pets since we live on a ship, but I'm lucky to be surrounded by nature often. My online friends have jokingly dubbed the creatures I film my pets, from the dolphins outside my window to the bears in Alaska.

I also regularly don't know what day it is since my weekdays are better labeled as which city we're in. Sometimes we miss birthdays because we're switching time zones and "skipping" a day on the calendar. It feels like we're always changing our watches and clocks to keep up. 

And, yes, I still get a bit of sea sickness but I've found remedies that work for me when I need them. Oftentimes, though, I appreciate the motion of the sea, which rocks me to sleep at night.

Living on a cruise ship is not for everyone but it's definitely for me

My husband and I have about 45 years of experience combined working and living at sea, so we're pretty used to it.

We plan to live on the ship for the next five years as he continues working as an engineer and I continue creating content for my followers and brands around the globe. I've loved sharing my adventures on my TikTok (@dutchworld_americangirl) for the past two years and I've already visited over 108 countries. 

As I write this, I've got a view of the Alaskan mountains and I'm waiting for my husband to get off work so we can go upstairs and have dinner someone else will cook for us on dishes someone else will clean. 

It's a pretty sweet life that some might judge, but I know it's truly a privilege to get to enjoy the world in this way . 

Watch: How 30,000 meals a day are made on the world's largest cruise ship, Royal Caribbean's Symphony of the Seas

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A Financial Expert Explains Why Cruise Ship Retirement Isn't Actually Practical

W hile traveling the world during retirement might sound like a fantasy, more and more people are making it their reality. Increasingly, "retirees-at-sea" are choosing to spend extended periods of time aboard cruise ships traveling the world. According to the Cruise Lines International Association , 50% of the 20.4 million people who took a cruise in 2022 were over the age of 50 (while 32% were over 60). This might have you wondering if it could be an option for your own retirement . While, in theory, a cruise ship might seem like a great way to combine all of your living and travel expenses, the actuality of making a cruise ship your full-time home involves a lot more consideration.

Money Digest spoke with Lawrence Sprung, CFP, author of " Financial Planning Made Personal ," and founder of Mitlin Financial, about the growing trend of people retiring at sea. Sprung said the cruise ship retirement trend is actually smaller than you probably realize, saying, "I believe that a small select group of retirees are choosing this lifestyle." This is largely due to the sheer amount of considerations that are required to make this kind of retirement possible (not to mention the personal and financial implications). Sprung also noted, "The lifestyle provided by a cruise ship retirement is not for everyone and really caters to a niche group of people." There can be sacrifices required for this kind of retirement that many might not have considered before. Let's dive into some of the important decisions to consider before retiring at sea.

Read more: The World's Wealthiest People Have These Everyday Habits In Common

Is Cruise Ship Retirement Right For You?

One of the biggest considerations for anyone considering cruise retirement is to decide just how much time you want to spend at sea. Said Sprung, "There is [...] a huge difference between simply taking an extended cruise for a year, let's say, and making a ship your permanent home." For those who might not want to live permanently at sea, but still spend significant time on a cruise ship, there can be important logistical hurdles to consider. Sprung explained that deciding to pursue extended cruise retirement plans (as opposed to permanently living at sea) can often be more complicated than a single relocation. This is largely due to the extra time and expense involved in finding the best cruise ship options every year, as well as travel to and from whatever port might be required. There can also be logistical complications with managing your physical home and/or possessions while you're away. (Check out Money Digest's guide to the cheapest states to retire .)

While the opportunity to see the world without the added hassle of traditional travel can be a major perk of retirement at sea, it's important to factor in how this decision might affect other people in your life. "As an example, this type of lifestyle may inhibit your ability to see and spend quality time with your family without incurring some significant additional expenses," Sprung said. Depending on your location choices, it might not be financially feasible to fly yourself home for holidays or special occasions. Signing up to retire at sea might also mean signing up to miss family milestones.

Cost Of Retiring At Sea

One of the most important things to consider about cruise ship retirement is the expense. Costs can vary depending on the type of cruise you select. Sprung told us that "some ways to sail through your retirement would be to simply book a major cruise line's extended cruise. Royal Caribbean launched a 274-night cruise in December 2023 and that cost between $58,000 and $78,000 per person." If that number has you wincing, it's important to realize that most cruise prices include travel, food, and housekeeping costs. Factoring these things into the total expense can help you do a cost comparison to your everyday life to determine if an extended cruise is in your budget (and won't be a traveling money mistake ). It can also be worth comparing cruise costs to services like assisted living to find what best fits into your budget.

For those looking for a more permanent home at sea during retirement, the financials of buying a space on a cruise ship can be equally daunting. Said Sprung, "There are other cruise lines where you can purchase a condo-like living space on the ship, which could cost in the hundreds of thousands to millions, and in many cases, there are monthly expenses or maintenance too." Much like an HOA, living within a community can come with its own complications, fees, and rules that might not appeal to everyone. Bottom line? Sprung told us, "I think for most, this would not be a financial fit. You would need to be in a great financial situation to consider any of the cruise life options available."

Read the original article on Money Digest