Have you ever considered living on a cruise ship

[SilvertoGold]

I would want to change ships about 3 - 4 times a year. So many itineraries are repeats, (Alaska, Caribbean, Med, Baltic, even Asia) and I find the ships get old after 3 months.

 

Now, where did I put that lottery ticket??

[Caribbean Chris]

Maybe in my next life. (a girl can dream.) <sigh>

 

When I sailed on the Royal Viking Sea I met up with a woman who lived on that ship; her name was Grace. When the line sold the ship, all I could think was that she had lost her home.

 

There was another woman named Rosemary (Roberts?) who lived on RVL for years when I worked for the line. My parents met her on a world cruise segment. She was famous (notorious?) for nudging people who occupied her preferred front row seat with her cane at the evening shows.

[Sir PMP]

While reading the thread about world cruise expenses I began to wonder if any couple on this board had considered living on a cruise ship full time or at least part of the year. Retirement homes can cost (at least in my area) 4-6K a month for a couple. Which HAL dept. would be the contact for such information?

 

Ask Dolly on the Amsterdam....

[cl.klink]

I'd love to do this but I'd miss a sense of fixed community with friends, and I'd miss being with family.

 

There is a ship that is for people who want to do this, though. "The World" is a ship with only condos, and so there is a fixed community, and you sail around the world with them (http://aboardtheworld.com)

 

- Joel

[sail7seas]

Mama Lou used to stay on HAL ships most of the year -- for quite a few years.

Haven't heard anything about her in quite a while.

 

Copper sailed with Mama Lou and posted some photos ofc her withing last 8 months or so.

Edited May 9, 2016 by sail7seas

[Lovely other]

I'd love to as I'm writing a new book based onboard a cruise ship ... Still hoping for funding :p

[Fouremco]

An appealing idea, but our family is such an integral part of our lives that we'd never be able to do it.

[mek]

I love cruising, but only as a get away from my regular life - I really wouldn't want it to become my life. I would miss friends, family, my pets, running to the mall to shop - just living on my own time and schedule. I like to drive my car and take road trips also. I get really tired of cruise food after 14 days, so 2 or 3 weeks at a time is about all I want to do. I used to think I would love a world cruise, but have come to the conclusion, I would rather go where I want and when and not be confined to a schedule for that long.

Edited May 10, 2016 by mek

[innlady1]

Two to three weeks is ideal. By that time, we're tired of cruise food...and miss family and our 2 dogs.

[wander]

In the Conde Nast internet travel briefing out today (published regularly) there is an article about Mr. Mario Saucedo, a 65 yr old man who effectively lives full time on a RC ship. He started this lifestyle when he was 45 according to the article, and for the past 20 years has lived on a RC ship all but about 15 days a year. He started on the Navigator of the Seas and now lives on the Voyager of the Seas. Most of his 15 days off the ship involve flights and brief stays at a condo he owns in Florida.

 

He still works as an investment manager, having a desk on the ship where he still conducts his business via the internet. He he says that his costs on the ship each year are between $60.000 and $70,000 per year for an inside cabin. He says that is all he needs - seldom in his cabin except to sleep.

 

He walks a lot and monitors his food carefully in order to not gain weight. Interesting article.

[RuthC]

Ask Dolly on the Amsterdam....

Dolly doesn't live on a cruise ship. She takes the very long cruises, which could make make it seem like she lives on one, though, if you didn't realize how much she's not on a ship.

[Copper10-8]

Ask Dolly on the Amsterdam....

 

Without a doubt! ;)

[Copper10-8]

Copper sailed with Mama Lou and posted some photos ofc her withing last 8 months or so.

 

That was Dolly ;) Haven't seen Mama Lou in four plus years

[sail7seas]

I can't figure out what is so sppealing t many to live on a ship.. :confused:/]Holds no appeal to me.[/

[iancal]

No. The food all starts to taste the same to us after two weeks. The food tends to be too bland, not enough variety/quality of fruit and cheese.

[sail7seas]

[i agree.[/b]

[SilvertoGold]

Concerning the article about the man who lives on RCL:

 

if you google "Mario Salcedo" you can find a few expansive articles about him. Great reading!

[wander]

Incal,

 

I agree, BUT that is one of the key reasons I love long cruises. On my recent 55 day cruise I actually lost weight. The first week or so most of the food is sooooo appealing. Then is gets somewhat boring after a few weeks. (Sitting here I say to myself, how can so many food options be boring? Well it can get to feel that way.)

 

However, I cruise to see the world, not for the food, although the food can be important. If I did all one-two week cruises I would weigh a lot more than I do!

 

Even when the food seems to get boring I love having some prepare it for me, serve it, set the table and clean up, do the dishes.

 

Now I love just sitting on the deck and watching the sea as we move forward, but it is the ports I love and flying that I dislike (these days anyhow). I am very active in Ports, more laid back on Sea Days.

 

It is good that cruisers go for different reasons as it keeps the cruise lines in business.

[wander]

SilvertoGold,

 

Thanks for the reference.

[TiogaCruiser]

So how does food work on the ship with condos? Is these a MDR? Do the condos have their own kitchens so pax can cook? How would food provisioning work?

[RuthC]

So how does food work on the ship with condos? Is these a MDR? Do the condos have their own kitchens so pax can cook? How would food provisioning work?

From what I have read, and heard from others, this is operates just like a condo on land. The only difference is that the condos as a whole move.

So, you (or your own cook), fix meals in your own home. You buy, cook, eat, and clean up, just as you would in a condo on land. If you want to go out to eat, you can do that by going to the dining room (restaurant), and buying a meal.

This is not a cruise in anything close to what we think of as cruising. It is living in a community that's set on water, not land.

[SilvertoGold]

SilvertoGold,

 

Thanks for the reference.

 

You are most welcome. I hope you found the articles as interesting as I did.

[Krazy Kruizers]

I have read about some people not wanting the same food repeated over and over -- even with different sauces.

And I agree -- we have some restaurants we go to that prepare foods I don't make at home.

So if we were in better health -- wouldn't want to be on a ship for months/years at a time.

[colonialinnkeeper]

Certainly lovely to get away from the cold, snowy New England winters and find sun and warmth elsewhere in a relaxed, interesting setting for a month or two.

[Gail & Marty sailing away]

We think doing about 200 days a year on 3 different ships is fun, for a 2nd home

Edited May 11, 2016 by we're sailing away....