Can You Live on a Cruise Ship? Anchored in Luxury

Table Of Content

• Watch: How 30,000 meals a day are made on the world's largest cruise ship, Royal Caribbean's Symphony of the Seas
• EXPLORE TRAVEL
• All-Inclusive Amenities
• How much will it cost to live on a cruise by Life at Sea cruises for a year?
• You Can Live Permanently On A Cruise Ship! Here’s How Much It Costs
• Health Insurance Concerns
• Residential Cruise Ships

Understandably, the ship is primarily aimed at a mature audience as it’s likely to be retirees who wish to live on a cruise ship. So really, the experience is very comparable to a typical cruise ship – the only difference is that you have your own kitchen area and that you’re able to stay on the ship long term. The World is the largest private residential ship on the planet with 165 residences.

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

Even if you don’t have earned income in retirement, you may be drawing income from your tax-advantaged or taxable investment accounts. Distributions from a traditional 401(k) or IRA would be subject to ordinary income tax, while earnings from investments in a brokerage account would be subject to capital gains tax. Living on a cruise ship wouldn’t change your responsibility to file a tax return. Of course, if you decide to keep your home while living on a cruise ship, it would change those numbers. 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.

EXPLORE TRAVEL

In the UK, the average cost of living is £2,200 per month, equal to around $2,650, and in the US the average cost is $3,200. Instead of booking individual cruises, people purchase one of the residences on the ship and are then free to use it as and when they want. Some people live on the ship full-time while others come and go, using it as a vacation home or an alternative to owning a yacht. It’s better to choose a cruise ship designed for long-term living than one from a mainstream cruise line. Logistically, booking back-to-back cruises with a standard cruise line is often not possible and you may have to change rooms regularly or even switch ships. The average person spends approximately $212 per day on a cruise ship, which includes boarding, food, and entertainment.

All-Inclusive Amenities

For those who don't have hundreds of thousands of dollars to spend, there are other ways to make a cruise ship your home. 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. Storylines, for example, is selling staterooms either for the life of the ship or for quarterly seasonal shared ownership. 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. 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.

The cost to live on a cruise by Life at Sea cruises starts at $29,999 per year. There are payment options available, with the lowest starting at $2,499 per month. The cabin sizes range from 130 square feet to 260 square feet with varying views. A cruise ship provides a sense of community and offers the chance to establish meaningful social connections.

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 that's why, Wells, who is 28 and lives in San Diego, leased a residence on board a luxury boat that he will move into — and work remotely from — for at least three years as it sails around the world.

With fellow passengers and crew members from all walks of life, you’ll have ample opportunities to meet new people, make friends, and engage in social activities. Many cruise ships organize various events, clubs, and gatherings to foster a sense of camaraderie among residents. Whether it’s joining a book club, participating in fitness classes, or attending themed parties, there is always an opportunity to connect with like-minded individuals onboard.

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Since there is limited space onboard cruise ships, you won’t be able to bring all your personal items with you. That can mean either downsizing or renting storage space on land where you can store your extra possessions. One of the first downsides is that living on a cruise ship can be fairly expensive. Tips, excursions, medical care, and premium dining options can quickly take a toll on your wallet. One residential cruising company, however, is working toward making a permanent seafaring life a viable option.

Residential Cruise Ships

You should bear in mind how much work would be involved in constantly booking your next cruise, plus the added stress of worrying about whether you’d miss your chance and end up without a cabin. Moving cabins might not be the end of the world – but it would be a lot easier if you didn’t have to pack and unpack at the start of every new itinerary. Morton Jablin has no regrets and offers advice to those who wish to follow in his unique retirement footsteps. Travel agents can also help you look for deals and suggest the best ships for your budget, travel preferences and living style. While you can certainly choose to take a go-with-the-flow approach to cruising, this can often lead to getting into a rut.

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We’ll also assume that you’re going to live on board with one other person, such as your spouse. When you choose to apply (and are approved) for a new credit card through our site, we may receive compensation from our partners, and this may impact how or where these products appear. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information. 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.

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. 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 world’s first affordable cruise ship that you can live on with condo/cabins starting at just $155,000. The average entry price will be less than $355,000 with monthly fees similar to the cost of living in a major city. Named My Home At Sea, this signature ownership and travel experience is offering cabin/condos aboard a cruise ship that travels the world. It’s no mystery that cruise ships are expensive, and if you’re planning to live onboard a ship permanently you need to be prepared for those extra expenses. Meeting with a financial planner can help you determine what you can afford and can offer you budgeting tips for keeping your finances in check while you sail.

She has worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and has taken over 30 cruises. Now, she helps over 1 million people per month to plan their perfect cruise holidays. You’ll need at least $3,000 a month on most cruises, often more, and that’s per person – if you want to live solo then costs may be inflated as well, so bear that in mind. Here are some of the things you’ll need to consider when you’re living on a cruise ship. However, one thing that you’ll certainly need to factor in is travel insurance and medical costs.

That’s $127,750 per year, again not counting taxes, fees, or gratuities, nor other add-ons. But for the sake of comparison, let’s look at the estimated costs of living aboard three residential cruise ships, three traditional cruise lines and the new three-year world cruise. Living permanently at sea can present challenges when trying to stay in touch with family and friends. Different times zones and the expense of calling from sea or a foreign port might prevent you from staying current with family and friends. While cruise ships offer Wi-Fi, the ship's internet connectivity is not always as reliable or as fast as internet speeds on land.

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. 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).