Cost of Living On A Cruise Ship

Good morning:

Is there information on the annual cost of living aboard a Celebrity ship.

Previously on beloved Connie, Joyce, a fan of Perry Grant, lived aboard for years. A brief conversation revealed that Joyce indicated it was much cheaper than a retirement residence in Vancouver. Another lady lived aboard Connie as well, regularly walking her little dog.

I am planning retirement and am intrigued with this option.

Any information would be appreciated.

Thank you in advance.

ABoatNerd

Slight correction -- no one has ever "lived" aboard a Celebrity ship so far. Several weeks in a row doesn't constitute living aboard a ship. Any comment about it being cheaper than a retirement home are referring to an oft-circulated story you can read about here: http://www.snopes.com/travel/trap/retire.asp

While some have lived on other ships, this has not been true on Celebrity. The lady quoted does not, and has never, lived on a cruise ship, but has spent many continuous weeks on one. Canadian insurance forbids staying on for too many days in a row, for one thing.

As to the lady with the dog -- dogs have been allowed, but only service dogs, and very rarely.

I remember Rosemary from California who was almost a resident of a Royal Viking Line ship. She only got off for dry dock.

I worked for the line in sales and saw her when I would be aboard escorting travel agency groups. She was always in the dining room on changeover day (in those days, no new passengers came aboard until about 2 or 3 pm, so lunch was just customs officials, invited travel agents and health inspectors)...and she rarely got off the ship.

My parents sailed with her on a trans canal segment of a world cruise in the 1980s and chatted with her often. She liked her front row seat in the main lounge for shows and would shoo people away with her cane if she found someone in that chair.

Yep as a Canuck (Which I am) one can only stay out for so long before you loose your health coverage. I believe it varies a bit from province to province. I no longer reside In Canada, so not covered.

While retiring to a cruise ship may seem like the ideal retirement plan, you must think about family and friends. Will you really be able to not see your family and friends for months at a time? Also, as mentioned in the article, what about friendships you would make on the ship? People will only be on the ship for a week or 2 at a time, and crewmembers can become friends, but also, they are crewmembers, and are discouraged from making friendships with passengers. Just something to think about. Maybe a few weeks or a couple months on a ship would be great, but to live on a ship indefinitely would have certain reprocussions to think about.

"Will you really be able to not see your family and friends for months at a time?" - debshomespun

Yeah - Finally a plan to avoid Uncle "lampshade" Robert.:)

I remember Rosemary from California who was almost a resident of a Royal Viking Line ship. She only got off for dry dock.

 

I worked for the line in sales and saw her when I would be aboard escorting travel agency groups. She was always in the dining room on changeover day (in those days, no new passengers came aboard until about 2 or 3 pm, so lunch was just customs officials, invited travel agents and health inspectors)...and she rarely got off the ship.

 

My parents sailed with her on a trans canal segment of a world cruise in the 1980s and chatted with her often. She liked her front row seat in the main lounge for shows and would shoo people away with her cane if she found someone in that chair.

We met her too. It was 1986 aboard the Sun.

This is a very interesting thread. I once met someone who claimed that it was cheaper to live on a cruise ship than in a nursing home. I do not know whether this is true; or, whether someone who needed a nursing home facility could be accommodated on a cruise ship.

This is a very interesting thread. I once met someone who claimed that it was cheaper to live on a cruise ship than in a nursing home. I do not know whether this is true; or, whether someone who needed a nursing home facility could be accommodated on a cruise ship.

I think of someone like my father-in-law, who has low vision (not blind). He had no issues cruising with us for a week, getting around, and if he was alone I'm sure the staff would help him out reading or getting to his chair (the lighting is dimmer in the dining room).

He is getting to the point where he will need assisted living, but not nursing care. Of course, if someone is low enough income Medicaid can help with the care, not with a cruise ship.

Depending on your cabin choice, I can tell you it could absolutely be cheaper to live on a cruise ship than in a nursing home, having recently dealt with this with a relative (the nursing home unfortunately, not the cruise ship residence:)), although if you had to pay a single supplement that would kill the savings. Nursing homes can be upwards of $75,000 annually. Of course if DH and I shared a cabin all year, it's not only the savings that would end up being killed - yikes:eek::eek:) Can't imagine nursing home care onboard, but as a retirement choice, another story......(but definitely not for me!)

Beatrice Muller, lives in cabin 4068 on QE2.

http://rense.com/general11/waytogo.htm

You can also BUY your apartment on board The World.

http://www.marineinsight.com/sports-luxury/cruise-industry/buy-a-house-at-sea-the-world-ship%E2%80%99s-residence-at-sea/

Sure you could buy a cabin on The World but you forgot to tell us the cheapest appertment is 3 million plus 250 thousand a year upkeep.

With that kind off money you can sail on any ship for years and bring a care taker.

Seen The World in Instanbull 2011.

The prices they give for the World are misleading, as I checked on purchasing one of the condos on board back when it was first starting, one that includes the kitchen and everything. The STARTING price back then was $1.2 million dollars and went up from there. And the yearly association fee was $62,000. I'm sure they're a lot more expensive now, probably more like $2.8 to $3 million with the association fee in the 6 figures. The cheap price they quote is for their smallest cabin, just a regular cruise ship cabin with no amenities like a kitchen or larger bathroom and they don't like to sell those as permanent residences as they keep those for cruisers and not full time residences. While you might be able to live on a cruise ship for less than a nursing home, The World isn't that.

I think it would work if you're in relatively good health and purchase your own health insurance (since Medicare doesn't cover you out of the US) you could do this, but if you have health issues, I would think they could deny you the privilege of living on a ship. Plus, after experiencing some of the health care persons on ships, I'm not sure I'd be comfortable living on board full time if I had health issues.

Yep as a Canuck (Which I am) one can only stay out for so long before you loose your health coverage. I believe it varies a bit from province to province. I no longer reside In Canada, so not covered.

You mean that if you stay out too long, I'll lose my heath insurance? Bummer and it doesn't seem fair:D

In the fall of 2006 during a Southern Caribben cruise, we were on the Volendam attending the Mariner's Club reception for repeat guests. HAL hold a short ceremony to award medals on a ribbon to passengers who have attained their 250, 500, and 750 days of travel with HAL. We saw two couples receive their 250 day medal and another hit their 500 one.

The Captain then mentioned that individual sailing with them on that cruise was a woman who was at over 2,800 days of sailing with HAL alone; about 8 1/2 years worth. We saw that she was riding a small scooter to move about.

Without ever having spoken directly to her, we gleened from other passengers who seemed somewhat familiar with her that after her husband died (apparently a US Admiral with a hefty pension), some serious tension developed with her children and she opted to cruise continuously. According to what we had heard, she had a travel agent who ensured that she was able to do so with minimal, if any, time in between cruises.

Although she was a regular guest at the captain's table, not everyone found her to be on the pleasant side.

K

"Will you really be able to not see your family and friends for months at a time?" - debshomespun

 

Yeah - Finally a plan to avoid Uncle "lampshade" Robert.:)

lol !! if i was single, with no family, i would think it would be fantastic.Company when you want it, not when u had to !! new faces, new stories, great food, entertainment, constant change of sceenery, nice bedroom, library, casino, swimming pool, spa and gym, uuuggghh? nobrainer there i think!!

Sure you could buy a cabin on The World but you forgot to tell us the cheapest appertment is 3 million plus 250 thousand a year upkeep.

With that kind off money you can sail on any ship for years and bring a care taker.

Seen The World in Instanbull 2011.

I always wondered the cost, I'm glad to finally know.

Depending on your cabin choice, I can tell you it could absolutely be cheaper to live on a cruise ship than in a nursing home, having recently dealt with this with a relative (the nursing home unfortunately, not the cruise ship residence:)), although if you had to pay a single supplement that would kill the savings. Nursing homes can be upwards of $75,000 annually. Of course if DH and I shared a cabin all year, it's not only the savings that would end up being killed - yikes:eek::eek:) Can't imagine nursing home care onboard, but as a retirement choice, another story......(but definitely not for me!)

My Dad is in a nursing home, and my Mom pays $12,000/month with ancillary charges. So it costs my Mom almost $150,000.00/annually. I only wish they could spend their golden years together on a cruiseship.

Reading all these post got me thinking....if it is so great....why aren't there many more longterm "residents" on cruise ships? A great idea in theory...but in reality....

If I had the funds, I would go for it. If family wanted to visit, they would know where to find me. Wouldn't have to cook, clean, or entertain. Plus since it's not free, no chance of them out staying their welcome!

I thought this article was interesting:

http://ca.finance.yahoo.com/news/lets-sell-house-see-world-203213859.html

As a Canadian, retiring this way would allow me to still spend the needed 6 months plus 1 day in Canada to maintain my health coverage, while providing ample opportunity to travel, both on and off cruise ships.

When we were on the Connie last month and attended the Captains Club event, they gave the award for most cruises to a woman who has been on something like 147! My family and I couldn't believe it. Do you think she is like some of these folks to which you are referring who live much of the year on a Celebrity ship?

I would do it in a heart beat...medical insurance or not...providing I was healthy enough.

Last year there was a thread about a Canadian, Egon, who booked a year's worth of travel on one ship--not Celebrity.

Repeated loops thru Carribean and Mexico, then over to Europe for months, repeating several itineraries.

He posted the whole year he was gone.

No discount from cruise line, over 100K.

He did get hurt and had to spend a month in Mexico? to recuperate and then got back on the ship.

Search for the thread, it was good reading

Depending how bad you got hurt/sick--and where you were, might not be a big deal!! We have a great hospital here in Managua Nicaragua and fairly inexpensive!!!