Living on a ship when retired

[hat776]

I think when all is said and done , most folk wouldn't want to cut their ties completely and live on a cruise ship 365 days a year.

In my case it would remove the fun I have researching a cruise and thrill I feel when the departure day is near and the final excitement when we leave home to drive to the Port (in our case a 15 min drive) and see our ship waiting for us.

I even enjoy the packing !!!! When we board from Malta, check in only takes about 15 min as there will only be about 100 passengers. But when we boarded from Barcelona and spent about 40 min , I still didn't mind as everyone was in holiday mode and my excitement grew and grew.

However, the idea of cruising a few months instead of having a holiday home is brilliant. Definately the choice for us.

[scruffts2007]

now heres another example of someone who stayed at a motel

 

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article2426292.ece

[terrymtex01]

We have actually met three people who do this, basically live on a cruise ship after retirement. One was this very sweet lady and I believe we met her either on Carnival or RCCL. She books a cruise for three months solid, and then the forth month goes and lives with one of her children for a month, getting to spend a whole month with her grandchildren. Then, she is off on another cruise for three months. She did say she was given a break on the price for booking for three months at a time. My memory was that she did not have to play the single supplement. She would get off in certain ports and knew where to go and do her laundry, she would see her regular doctor at some american port, and she was as happy as could be. She actually had a stateroom with a porthole window. She told us that it cost her 1/2 the cost to do this rather than what she would spend at any kind of assisted living near her children.

 

The other two we met were a retired couple and I want to say we met them on the Sun, our first NCL cruise. They too lived on some cruise ship year round and they too got a break on the cost of the cruise. How they got the break on the cruise fare was they taught a few NCL U classes. They told me what they taught and honestly I don't remember what it was, but something like basic Microsoft office stuff or something like that. Both had been teachers and were now retired. They said they were not going to live on a cruise ship forever, however until their health got to where they needed more immedite and more extensive care, their plans were to sail away in the sunset.

 

Just another option Doug and I might consider , and in fact were talking about last night, is some place like Puerto Vallarta. We have a friend who's Aunt and Uncle live there since they retired. Have a beautiful ocean front condo that cost them $900.00 per month, and that includes all of their electricity, a lady who cleans their condo M - F and makes their lunch during those days and includes the association fees. All for $900.00 per month.

[Steamboatin]

OK so you are now retired on a cruise ship.

 

Now comes the day for your heart attack or your stroke. You are presently in the harbor of a 3rd world country.

 

Now how do you like cruising full time as you are put off of the vessel in that 3rd world port with very limited medical help. After you are better (if you live) you are moved into a nursing home in that 3rd world country.

 

Now that is the REAL thing you should be thinking about.

To avoid or minimize my being put off a vessel at a bad port I could hedge my bet on a future health problem by cruising on Eastern Caribbean, Alaskan, or Canada/New England cruises to ports with good medical facilities.

If I wanted to cruise NCL the Hawaii Island cruise would be a good option as well.

 

Otherwise you are just rolling the dice. It is not a question if it will happen it is just a question of when and where it will happen.

Also family will have real fun getting you or your body back home.

Additionally, you would have to prearrange medical appointments at least quarterly so that is a minimum of a week every quarter that you will be on land.

Medication purchase will have to be planned as well.

How are you planning to book and pay for your cruises 6 or more months in advance. This is not a weekly I purchase next week cruise thing. Trip insurance would exclude pre-existing medical conditions which would put you at a very high monetary risk for future cruise payments. Additional the cost of trip insurance would be costly as well.

Just a few things to consider.

[Texrails]

It is not a question if it will happen it is just a question of when and where it will happen.

 

 

Dang Steamboatin, I'm thinking I might have to check with the funeral homes and see if I can rent out a coffin to sleep in every night. Nothing like being prepared for the inevitable.:D:D:D

[sjbdtz]

Steamboatin'...under your scenario, nobody should ever travel anywhere. My uncle died at age 38....2 friends died last year both aged 37. The image you paint isn't restricted to post-retirees....

 

And I'm not letting it stop me from going to exotic places. I enjoy the road less travelled.

[LOWTYD]

OK so you are now retired on a cruise ship.

 

Now comes the day for your heart attack or your stroke. You are presently in the harbor of a 3rd world country.

 

Now how do you like cruising full time as you are put off of the vessel in that 3rd world port with very limited medical help. After you are better (if you live) you are moved into a nursing home in that 3rd world country.

 

Now that is the REAL thing you should be thinking about.

 

To avoid or minimize my being put off a vessel at a bad port I could hedge my bet on a future health problem by cruising on Eastern Caribbean, Alaskan, or Canada/New England cruises to ports with good medical facilities.

 

If I wanted to cruise NCL the Hawaii Island cruise would be a good option as well.

 

Otherwise you are just rolling the dice. It is not a question if it will happen it is just a question of when and where it will happen.

 

Also family will have real fun getting you or your body back home.

 

Additionally, you would have to prearrange medical appointments at least quarterly so that is a minimum of a week every quarter that you will be on land.

 

Medication purchase will have to be planned as well.

 

How are you planning to book and pay for your cruises 6 or more months in advance. This is not a weekly I purchase next week cruise thing. Trip insurance would exclude pre-existing medical conditions which would put you at a very high monetary risk for future cruise payments. Additional the cost of trip insurance would be costly as well.

 

Just a few things to consider.

 

 

Wow, we should call you Debbie Downer! You must a lot of fun at parties! :D Nothing like bursting our retirement plan bubble! :( Hey, when it's my time to go, it' s my time to go. I'll hurl myself off the balcony if I start to die!:)

 

(PS: and you do make some valid points)

[CruisinMaterial]

Hey! I just saw that Residence at Sea is on the Travel Channel tonight at 10 (Eastern) Maybe you all want to check it out if you haven't seen it before.:)

 

Darn it! I don't have cable and I saw this today anyway! :( Thanks for the head's up. Maybe between semesters I can look for it online somewhere. :)

[CruisinMaterial]

Steamboatin - You make valid points on your third world medical assessments. However, I do think that the cruise nurses and doctors are capable of dealing with reviving you and caring for you until you reach the next port. You can die at any point and living in fear of dying in a foreign country shouldn't be any reason to stop traveling. No one would travel ever if that were the case!

 

I think logical conclusions to draw from this would be to have a will drawn up, a good life insurance policy, a DNR order carried around with you (even though international maritime law may not recognize one issued from your home state) and other advanced directives drawn up and in your stateroom and on your person. Heck, you might even want to stop by the medical center upon your embarkation to let the medical staff know of your advanced directives. That way if you do take a major stroke or heart attack you can die peacefully at sea.

 

Talk about a dream killing conversation! :(

~J

[slotaddict]

Well no Santa Claus just about killed me...

 

Seriously, the only thing that would prevent me from living on a cruise ship is my kids and gkids - I would miss them too much - as it turns out we moved to Florida but come back to our roots very often... In fact I am here now for the holidays -

 

I love the sea and think that I would be very happy aboard a ship - the only thing that is a con for me - is that my retirement fund would be gone much to fast - (casino is too close)

[pbxtech]

The World (aka Residensea) is more like a floating apartment complex. You need a (min) net worth of $5M USD for this to even work and you would be bored to death full time living. Different strokes for different folks I suppose. :)

 

Cheers,

 

Norman

 

 

They had this on the travel chanel last nite. It was very interesting, but more than I could afford

[SMSACE6]

If you can afford the 2000.00/ or more likely 3000.00 to 4000.00 a month to live on a cruise ship, I think it would be wonderful! So I suppose you would have to be able to afford the health insurance. That might make it quite a hefty monthly bill! I sure would like to dream about such a retirement though......:)

[terrymtex01]

Wow, we should call you Debbie Downer! You must a lot of fun at parties! :D Nothing like bursting our retirement plan bubble! :( Hey, when it's my time to go, it' s my time to go. I'll hurl myself off the balcony if I start to die!:)

 

(PS: and you do make some valid points)

 

I do agree that some good points were made and if someone were seriously considering this they would need to take those points as part of the entire package, so to speak.

 

However I have told my family for a long time if i pass away on a cruise ship to not be sad, I went the best way I could ask for.

 

I love the sea and think that I would be very happy aboard a ship - the only thing that is a con for me - is that my retirement fund would be gone much to fast - (casino is too close)

 

You have NO IDEA how true that would be for us.. LOL

 

If you can afford the 2000.00/ or more likely 3000.00 to 4000.00 a month to live on a cruise ship, I think it would be wonderful! So I suppose you would have to be able to afford the health insurance. That might make it quite a hefty monthly bill! I sure would like to dream about such a retirement though......:)

 

That is something for sure to think about. I don't know 100% for sure, but I have been told medicare does not cover medical expenses on a cruise ship or any foreign land. Now I do not know that for a fact, just what I have been told.

[biker@sea]

I was thinking " A cruise for life" would be a great Lottery prize.

[CruisinMaterial]

I was thinking " A cruise for life" would be a great Lottery prize.

 

I totally agree that'd be a GREAT prize and if it was a nationwide lottery or scratch ticket I'm sure they'd be able to do that game with one grand prize awarded per YEAR with other smaller cash and prizes including a free one week cruise aboard a major brand. The cruiselines and the state lottery systems could get together and it'd help raise revenues for troubled state economies! :) Brilliant idea!

[beemergal]

Social Security checks would pay a lot of the bill to live onboard in an interior cabin. That should be an option until about 2030 when SS runs out

[rustybolts]

How much does a yearly travel insurance policy cost???

 

Maybe if you factored that in, you could make this work!!!

 

Rusty

[bob brown]

see here

 

http://www.snopes.com/travel/trap/retire.asp

Anyone giving serious thought (myself included), to this idea should definitely click on the link in this post and read especially the bottom analysis. It really opens up things that I didn't think of myself. After this enlightenment, I gave up on the idea of permanent residence on ships, but will still spend a lot of time on cruises, especially to escape the winters here when I retire.

[scruffts2007]

on a different tack (excuse the pun) ..I know someone who was a ships officer on cunard..she often found that when she went on deck there were passengers sitting on deck chairs, next day they were still there..same clothes etc..then it appears that they had been "dumped" aboard by family tired of the responsibility and were completely senile and didn't know where they were or even the time of day!

 

thinking about living the ship, you would have no utility bills etc...here in portugal a lot of people come here for 3 months in winter as it is cheaper to live here in a hotel than pay for their heating

 

my plan would be to buy an ironing board at a port of call, a good iron, wash you linen in the jacuzzi early morning and hang out to dry with a line between 2 deck chairs on the front blowy section of the ship:eek::eek:

[riddle]

As one who spends a lot of time dreaming of retirement and also one who loves to cruise I can say that I would love to spend lots of retirement time on board a cruise ship, just not necessarily all the time. One option is to purchase a multi family building (2-4 units), live in one when you are not at sea and use the others for income. Of course you would need a good property manager to handle things when you were gone.

 

Before the economy crashed we had planned to retire by 60 or 62. We are now looking at 60 and 58 and it is still way off. My husband has travelled a lot in his career and does not love it as much as I do. I am never happier than when I am planning a cruise. When the date actually gets there is sometimes a downer because I know that once the cruise starts it will be over much too quickly. My job prohibits me from cruising more than 7 days at a time (and it can be difficult to even get that many days off at a time) so I guess that is why I look forward so much to the freedom of retirement.

 

To be perfectly honest here, I often go back and forth between travelling now and saving for travel in retirement. I just know too many people who cashed it in just before or just after retirement. I want to enjoy my retirement but who know how long we will be on this earth???

 

Also, does anyone feel a bit guilty about spending on cruises when there are so many people who are struggling just to pay the mortgage and put food on the table. I sometimes do. We are in no way wealthy but I sometimes feel like we do too much for ourselves and are not giving enough back. How do others who cruise regularly feel about this? I guess I am just rambling today because the holidays are nostalgic and thoughts of retirement always take me this way. Our DD is getting married next fall and my husband does not think we can afford to take a vacation till after that since we are paying for a lot of the wedding. I just cannot imagine going this long between trips.

 

 

Riddle

[petesweet]

When we were on the NCL Dream a few years ago, our friends had a conversation with a woman who was doing exactly this. She said that for what she was getting, she was paying much less than she would for the same treatment and amenities on land.

 

My aunt lives in an assisted living apartment here, but really the only 'assistance' she gets is prepared meals and someone who cleans her apartment (likely not every day). Based on the few discussions I've had with her or my mom about it, I'd have to say - even with all the complaints we see - the food on NCL has to be better - and more available, not to mention room service. Add to that the nicer weather most of the year, the pool, and regular stops in port, and I'd have to say the cruising option would get my vote!

 

Yeah - but think what it would cost to surf the web and read Cruise Critic on a regular basis! Ha!

Seriously, I've read a lot about this type of thing. Sounds good to me.

Kathy

[DMH15]

I told my mom about this thread and said it was too bad we didn't live in a port city. She could cruise for two months and then spend a month at one of her four kid's homes. 8 months a year cruising and a month a year at each of our homes. But unfortunately the airfare to get home to Dallas would be a killer.

[petesweet]

Also, does anyone feel a bit guilty about spending on cruises when there are so many people who are struggling just to pay the mortgage and put food on the table. I sometimes do. We are in no way wealthy but I sometimes feel like we do too much for ourselves and are not giving enough back. How do others who cruise regularly feel about this?

 

It's healthy, I think, to have thoughts like that. We are blessed to be able to enjoy good things, but I know I worked HARD for those good things (with TONS of overtime). While others in my office went out for lunch and frittered away their money, I put practically every penny into my retirement account, so now I am enjoying the fruits of my labor.

Here's how I justify my cruising addiction:

We live very simply, and yet we give a lot of money to others who have needs. We live in a single-wide mobile home. We don't have cable TV, cell phones, etc. We probably give over $10,000 a year in gifts to friends and neighbors (people we know personally) who are struggling, in addition to generous gifts to church. When there is a terrible tragedy such as a hurricane or flood or earthquake, we quickly give a generous amount.

I would not normally give these figures to anyone, but I think you honestly wanted an answer, and I think it is important that we keep things in balance.

Enjoy your cruise(s), but be generous with others. Live below your means, and GET OUT OF DEBT.

Kathy

Oh, and we always cruise in an inside cabin, and we usually treat a friend who has very little money so she can enjoy the cruise as well. That in itself would help you not feel "guilty.":)