Live Aboard a Luxury Residential Ship & Travel the World

Table Of Content

• It's not a sparkly, state-of-the-art cruise vessel, but the Victoria Majestic has all the classic cruise amenities.
• Table comparing the cost of living on cruise ships for 10 years
• Work While Cruising
• Meet the Retirees Who Live on Cruise Ships
• The vessel will navigate the globe indefinitely, and residences start at $1 million.
• Family Cruise Companion

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

3 Residents share what it's like to live on a cruise ship full-time - Business Insider

3 Residents share what it's like to live on a cruise ship full-time.

Posted: Sat, 09 Dec 2023 08:00:00 GMT [source]

It's not a sparkly, state-of-the-art cruise vessel, but the Victoria Majestic has all the classic cruise amenities.

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.

Table comparing the cost of living on cruise ships for 10 years

Air Force as an Arabic linguist, Sophia now explores the world as a freelance writer. She funds her four-year (and counting!) cruise adventure using points and miles. Sophia’s travel expertise comes from her time as a reporter for The Points Guy, featured in Forbes, Business Insider, and The Balance. When not traveling, she enjoys relaxing in Priority Pass lounges with tea and battling slow Wi-Fi. Join her as she shares cruise insights and explores the world, one voyage at a time.

Work While Cruising

One of the biggest benefits of living on a cruise ship is that you get to explore the world – and we literally mean the world. Cabins on higher decks will provide better views from balconies and suites, and good access to many of the ship’s amenities, but passengers may feel the ship's movement more. You may also hear more noise from outdoor activities on the pool deck. As the most discerning, up-to-the-minute voice in all things travel, Condé Nast Traveler is the global citizen’s bible and muse, offering both inspiration and vital intel. We understand that time is the greatest luxury, which is why Condé Nast Traveler mines its network of experts and influencers so that you never waste a meal, a drink, or a hotel stay wherever you are in the world. Also, take into account the broader list of amenities to determine whether a cruise line offers the features that interest you most.

Meet the Retirees Who Live on Cruise Ships

Ask your travel specialist for recommendations and put the question to your financial planner. 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. 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. For example, fully furnished residences aboard the MV Narrative cost between $1 million and $8 million, and there are a limited number of 12- and 24-year leases available, which start at $400K. In addition, there are the monthly homeowner's association-style fees, which vary according to the size of a residence and cover everything from ship fuel to housekeeping, as well as all standard food and drink.

Musician Jack Nolan traveled around the world full time on a cruise ship with his band

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. Speaking with a financial planner ahead of time will help you maintain your living expenses on land without going overboard at sea. Both of these strategies will make it easier for you to switch to living on the cruise line full time. If you want to take more of a DIY approach to living on a cruise, you can follow in the footsteps of Mario Salcedo and simply book back-to-back cruises. With this plan, you’ll need to be prepared to fly from port to port every now and then.

At the high end, Storylines offers permanent residences starting at $3.2 million for up to 1,690 square feet. The purchase price includes all meals and beverages for residents, laundry service, onboard gratuities and laundry service. The cruise line also offers an onboard fresh foods market for residents who prefer to prepare meals themselves. The outright purchase price for one of the accommodations starts just shy of $1 million and will go up to $8 million.

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. His room is on a mega cruise ship named the MV Narrative, made up of more than 500 private rooms and apartments, which will be home to around 1,000 residents who will live on board more or less permanently. The best option is to choose one of the specialist cruises aimed at residential guests – such as the MV Narrative from Storylines.

Family Cruise Companion

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. We recently priced out the cost of living on a cruise ship for an entire year. It’s a glamorous way to vacation and a unique experience for anyone wanting to explore the world. On the other hand, if you plan to spend most of your time exploring ports and partaking in onboard activities, the type and location of cabin might be of less importance. If you have more flexibility in your budget, consider what’s important to you in accommodation.

Living on a cruise ship eliminates the responsibilities and headaches that come with maintaining a traditional home. From housekeeping and laundry services to regular maintenance and repairs, the cruise ship staff takes care of all your needs. This allows you to focus on enjoying your retirement and exploring new horizons, without the worries of home ownership.

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. 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.

And even with the monthly fees, it’s one of the best-value options for living on a cruise ship full time. Typically a cruise ship that is offering a world cruise will go back to offering more regular sailings for the rest of the year, so you would need to keep booking new cruises every time. Technically you could live on any cruise ship, but it might not be possible. Cruises don’t always sell out, but the most popular staterooms and cabins book up far in advance.

He also hopes to recruit owners from other types of professions such as acupuncturists and physiotherapists. This blog helps over a million people to plan their cruises each month. Salcedo isn’t a retiree – he works on the ship, managing investments for various high-worth individuals. And he isn’t tied to a single ship – at the end of his cruises he will return to his condo in Miami for a few hours, before embarking on his next voyage, often flying to a different port to meet the ship. Of course, if you need to live in a care home, there’s a good chance you need a carer.

And even if you sell, you may have to account for other land-side expenses, such as storage for personal property or vehicles, or debts you may still be paying off. Living on a cruise ship in retirement could be a cost-saving measure for seniors who may be working with a smaller financial nest egg. While there are challenges to consider, such as limited space, lack of privacy, and constant movement, with the right mindset and preparation, you can navigate these obstacles and make the most of your experience. The maintenance-free living provided by the ship’s staff ensures that your needs are taken care of, allowing you to focus on enjoying retirement and leisure. This article will answer these questions and more to give you the complete picture of what it’s like to live on a cruise ship to help you determine whether this is an affordable feat for you.

It’s a hassle-free lifestyle that allows you to fully embrace the freedom and leisure that come with living on a cruise ship. A few cruise ships made for a permanent living have recently popped up. Here are a few of those cruise ships, including The World, MS Utopia, Somnio, and MV Narrative. Currently, the only one of these cruise ships in operation is The World, which launched in 2022. However, a few different cruise ships are specifically meant for people to live on.