Living onboard information?

[AdoraBelle]

Depends where you are flying too and from and what class you're flying in.

 

 

Agree; it's also important to know how to maximize the points on your travel reward card (and pick the right card for the job). And don't insist on loyalty to one airline.

[RDC1]

Spending $70000 will not pay for flights. It might pay for 2 maybe 3 at the most.

 

I don't know about that. This year I have done 31 days around South America, on my day to do 17 in Northern Europe, Spent 22 days in Europe.

 

Total cost for airfare for my wife and I, $260. A lot of points, but very few dollars. As the post you responded to identified he pays his expenses by airline CC and uses miles for his flight. I do the same thing, run all my expenses through 3 cards and then pick the airline or their partners that have the best international flight for the lowest fees. It works.

 

Do a long cruise coming back to the US, like BA to LA. 31 days, one international flight 60,000 points for 2 people coach to BA. Same for 17 day London to New York, 60,000 point one way for 2 people coach to Europe, 25,000 for two NY back to LA, 120,000 round trip LA to Europe. Total cost 265,000 points and $260 dollars.

 

Also if he spends most of his time on the ship, would not have to do very many flights.

Edited August 31, 2016 by RDC1

[JimmyVWine]

I'm sure it really can be done in some form, hopefully other than simply countless b2b2b2b voyages booked separately.

Why are you so sure, especially after being told the contrary? What incentive would Princess have in providing a perpetual discount on a cabin it could sell at full price on virtually every cruise? And if there was no discount provided over b2b2b2b2b cruises, why not just book the b2b's? Personally, I have never read any stories about long-term Princess "residents" other than those who simply kept booking cruise after cruise. I suppose the Future Cruise representative on your ship becomes your BFF. I've also read about perpetual passengers who change ships from time to time. In Port Everglades, such a swap would be easy.

[Aussie Gal]

I do know that a lovely oldish widow lived on board the 2nd Royal Princess for many years and occasionally spent some time on land. In fact, we met a friend of hers whilst on the QM2 in May this year and he told us all about her. I think her name was Dottie and she was well known to many well travelled Princess cruisers.

 

Also, here is a story about a widow who lives on one of the Crystal ships.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/cruises/2015/01/19/woman-pays-164k-per-year-to-live-on-luxury-cruise-ship/22030011/

 

It can be done but I think at a price.

 

Jennie

Edited August 31, 2016 by Aussie Gal

[bigchid]

We had dinner with a lady on the Ruby who said she was doing this because it is less expensive and a whole lot more fun than a retirement home. She said she did the b2b2b2b's, and that she didn't like to change ships because the crew become your friends and it's hard to start over.

Yes it's hearsay, so take for what it's worth:)

[Cruiser411]

I can answer definitively that there is no "program" that will allow you to live aboard a Princess ship indefinitely. You can only book b2b2b2b's ad infinitum. I spoke with Lorraine Artz (a lovely lady) many years ago and that is what she had to do.

[gottagocit]

Why are you so sure, especially after being told the contrary? What incentive would Princess have in providing a perpetual discount on a cabin it could sell at full price on virtually every cruise? And if there was no discount provided over b2b2b2b2b cruises, why not just book the b2b's? Personally, I have never read any stories about long-term Princess "residents" other than those who simply kept booking cruise after cruise. I suppose the Future Cruise representative on your ship becomes your BFF. I've also read about perpetual passengers who change ships from time to time. In Port Everglades, such a swap would be easy.

 

 

I'm NOT sure but I remain hopeful. In either case I'm trying to determine the facts.

 

As for incentive for Princess to provide a discount vs full fair... Well let's see? How often do they reduce fairs to fill a ship? Practically every sailing. There are sales in place now all the way out into 2018! Right? It seems to be that someone booking a year of voyages at a negotiated rate would be welcomed with open arms.

 

Some I've met here and onboard Princess ships over the years have told me they knew or met someone who was doing this. In at least a case or two I was even told some details such as the annual cost they paid to live onboard for each year. One even said they were required to pay the yearly cost in advance to receive the discounted annual rate and it they cancelled mid year they lost the remainder of their payment. True? I have no idea.

 

It seems to me the b2b2b2b option would be far more complicated and time consuming potentially causing you to deal with things such as dozens and dozens of deposits and final payment deadlines simultaneously, potentially packing and unpacking in order to move around the ship frequently from cabin to cabin, exchanging shipboard account cards frequently and potentially having to disembark and reboard at the end of each voyage even if you don't care to visit a given port. I'm sure there are more issues the method causes and some of these can likely be resolved. But were we to do this I would much rather this be a retirement situation with the fewest possible headaches and most possible r&r.

 

I'm only asking how it can be done with the least complications and hopefully a lower cost than booking all of them individually. I don't know whether there is a program or not but I am attempting to find out.

 

thanks,

Chris

[gottagocit]

I can answer definitively that there is no "program" that will allow you to live aboard a Princess ship indefinitely. You can only book b2b2b2b's ad infinitum. I spoke with Lorraine Artz (a lovely lady) many years ago and that is what she had to do.

 

 

I'm not saying you aren't correct. I'm only trying to find out definitively. I hoped someone with first hand and factual info related to their experience with this. Just maybe from someone actually doing this at the moment.

 

I'll contact Princess again and attempt to do so. In the meanwhile I can say I've been told over the years there was such a program by some who stated there was with just as much confidence as you.

 

Thanks,

Chris

[JimmyVWine]

I'm sure it really can be done in some form,...

 

I'm NOT sure but I remain hopeful.

:confused:

 

As for incentive for Princess to provide a discount vs full fair... Well let's see? How often do they reduce fairs to fill a ship? Practically every sailing. There are sales in place now all the way out into 2018! Right? It seems to be that someone booking a year of voyages at a negotiated rate would be welcomed with open arms.

...at the current sale price, of course. And not all cruises go on sale. Which brings us back to the fact that you would have to book b2b2b2b2b cruises at whatever the going rate is. You seem to be suggesting that there are full price cruises, and then there are sale prices and discounts, but that someone who wants to book for a full year (or longer) should then be able to negotiate an even better deal than that. Why? If a cabin was once offered for $999, and is now on sale for $799, why on earth would they negotiate with someone down to, say, $599? They are going to sell that cabin at the sale price, or they might even sell it at the full price once the sale is over. Your idea of a negotiated discount works only if cruises leave port with empty cabins. But they don't. They sail at 99% capacity or more. A long history of sales statistics and computer spreadsheets provides the cruise line with all the information it needs to know what the optimal price point should be, and even a passenger who wanted to stay on board for 5 straight years would have to pay a rate that fits within that structure.

 

It seems that no matter how many times you are told that you would have to book b2b2b2b2b cruises, you insist that you remain in search of a "definitive answer". So far you have received an answer from the cruise line as well as the anecdotal reports of people who know or who have spoken to perpetual cruisers. Give Jan a call. Perhaps that will provide the definitiveness that you seek.

[partybarbie]

It's true about Lorraine Artz. She did live on the Royal Princess 2 and we had the pleasure of meeting her on that ship. When she passed away, she had over 5,000 days with Princess.

 

She told us that she booked the room for a year at a time, but spent about two months of the year on land to visit family and go the doctor and dentist.

 

I don't know if Princess has a special program or not, but maybe check with a high volume travel agent?

[PescadoAmarillo]

We have talked with a few of the truly MTPs, with 1800 days and over, cruising 6-8 months each year and it does appear that Mrs. Artz was the exception on Princess, and was receiving the logistical benefit of a deal her husband negotiated years earlier. We have no idea if there was a financial benefit to booking a cabin for an entire year, but she was able to move into a cabin of her choosing and stay there.

 

The rest of the MTPs do book B2B2B2B2B. They have accepted, as we have, that some of those cruises may eventually get price reductions, but not all will, and there are some cruises where the per diem cost is twice (or higher) of other cruises, maybe even those just before and after. Especially when one wants to stay in the same cabin for several cruises (as would certainly be the case if living on the ship), it has to be accepted that the cost per day is significantly higher for people doing B2B2B2Bs than for those people in CA or FL who simply jump on a last minute cruise at a phenomenal price.

 

As others have said, why in the world would Princess make exceptions if there is any opportunity to sell the cabin at a higher price? Unless there is an agreement in place (as there was with Mrs. Artz), they have no incentive to. It's not like their marketing costs are going to go down in the slightest, having one cabin "locked in".

 

Furthermore, Princess know that those people who live, albeit temporarily, on a ship do not produce the on board revenue that they are seeking. We are not cheapskates by any means, and I love my wine and DH loves his onboard shopping, but we certainly do not buy the excursions, and the drinks, and the spa treatments and the gold by the inch that one-time cruisers do. I would think Princess would charge a higher fare for a live-aboard passenger to compensate for that.

[JimmyVWine]

We have talked with a few of the truly MTPs, with 1800 days and over, cruising 6-8 months each year and it does appear that Mrs. Artz was the exception on Princess, and was receiving the logistical benefit of a deal her husband negotiated years earlier. We have no idea if there was a financial benefit to booking a cabin for an entire year, but she was able to move into a cabin of her choosing and stay there.

 

The rest of the MTPs do book B2B2B2B2B. They have accepted, as we have, that some of those cruises may eventually get price reductions, but not all will, and there are some cruises where the per diem cost is twice (or higher) of other cruises, maybe even those just before and after. Especially when one wants to stay in the same cabin for several cruises (as would certainly be the case if living on the ship), it has to be accepted that the cost per day is significantly higher for people doing B2B2B2Bs than for those people in CA or FL who simply jump on a last minute cruise at a phenomenal price.

 

As others have said, why in the world would Princess make exceptions if there is any opportunity to sell the cabin at a higher price? Unless there is an agreement in place (as there was with Mrs. Artz), they have no incentive to. It's not like their marketing costs are going to go down in the slightest, having one cabin "locked in".

 

Furthermore, Princess know that those people who live, albeit temporarily, on a ship do not produce the on board revenue that they are seeking. We are not cheapskates by any means, and I love my wine and DH loves his onboard shopping, but we certainly do not buy the excursions, and the drinks, and the spa treatments and the gold by the inch that one-time cruisers do. I would think Princess would charge a higher fare for a live-aboard passenger to compensate for that.

For the record, I would consider this response to be "definitive".:)

[jasmith52]

Have you seen this interview with Mario Salcedo who cruises on Royal Caribbean ?

 

http://www.beyondships.com/Cruise-articles-Super-cruiser.html

 

Evidently he books onboard and has a travel agent keep an eye on prices...

 

He books his cruises when he is onboard in the future cruise office. "You

have the advantage of getting a $100 onboard credit." But he does have a travel

agent. As per Royal's policy, his travel agent gets a commission for the bookings

he makes with the future cruise office. In return, "I make my travel agent

responsible for the post booking support. I expect her to follow all of my 52 open

bookings every week to make sure that if any of them have dropped in price, she

will request the difference. That is the only thing she has to do for me."

Edited August 31, 2016 by jasmith52

[gottagocit]

We have talked with a few of the truly MTPs, with 1800 days and over, cruising 6-8 months each year and it does appear that Mrs. Artz was the exception on Princess, and was receiving the logistical benefit of a deal her husband negotiated years earlier. We have no idea if there was a financial benefit to booking a cabin for an entire year, but she was able to move into a cabin of her choosing and stay there.

 

The rest of the MTPs do book B2B2B2B2B. They have accepted, as we have, that some of those cruises may eventually get price reductions, but not all will, and there are some cruises where the per diem cost is twice (or higher) of other cruises, maybe even those just before and after. Especially when one wants to stay in the same cabin for several cruises (as would certainly be the case if living on the ship), it has to be accepted that the cost per day is significantly higher for people doing B2B2B2Bs than for those people in CA or FL who simply jump on a last minute cruise at a phenomenal price.

 

As others have said, why in the world would Princess make exceptions if there is any opportunity to sell the cabin at a higher price? Unless there is an agreement in place (as there was with Mrs. Artz), they have no incentive to. It's not like their marketing costs are going to go down in the slightest, having one cabin "locked in".

 

Furthermore, Princess know that those people who live, albeit temporarily, on a ship do not produce the on board revenue that they are seeking. We are not cheapskates by any means, and I love my wine and DH loves his onboard shopping, but we certainly do not buy the excursions, and the drinks, and the spa treatments and the gold by the inch that one-time cruisers do. I would think Princess would charge a higher fare for a live-aboard passenger to compensate for that.

 

PescadoAmarillo,

 

Thanks for the thorough and helpful reply as well as the informative blog you maintain. It's good to hear from everyone here but particularly from someone with actual experience in doing something very similar to what I was seeking info about. Your experience is probably the one that in reality others have had as well. It seems like it would be a real pain to track all of the deposits and final payment dates while monitoring for rate changes that may be applicable and available before your locked in. Cudos to you guys for managing that as well as those who do it year round.

 

It's interesting how stories sometimes grow over time. As I've already written here I've met and read post written by various people who knew or once met someone who has done the year around thing and more than one said there was such a program or arrangement available with Princess. I guess it appears that at least one person did manage to make such an arrangement but it's not likely available now. Good for her.

 

It's also interesting how some online expend so much energy trolling others seeking factual information about or help with a subject. Some seem to enthusiastically seek to accuse others of wasting their time for refusing to accept their version of reality even when your own experience tells you they may be mistaken. Another favorite of some is to troll for misspelled words or missed 'auto spell' changes made by others.

 

While reading one reply here an image of the person on the other end jump into my head. Remember the character called 'The Smoking Man' in the series named The X-Files? Lol. "Moulder, let it go. Stop asking questions!"

 

Sorry but I digress. It's just that keyboards seem to make many less tolerant and far more opinionated. I wonder sometimes if people are yelling at their computer as they type. I learned a long time ago that if your are determined to do so you can usually find what your looking for. Someitmes it's not the answer you were hoping for but its never the end of the world if it isn't.

 

 

Take care and smooth sailing,

Chris

[gottagocit]

Have you seen this interview with Mario Salcedo who cruises on Royal Caribbean ?

 

http://www.beyondships.com/Cruise-articles-Super-cruiser.html

 

Evidently he books onboard and has a travel agent keep an eye on prices...

 

He books his cruises when he is onboard in the future cruise office. "You

have the advantage of getting a $100 onboard credit." But he does have a travel

agent. As per Royal's policy, his travel agent gets a commission for the bookings

he makes with the future cruise office. In return, "I make my travel agent

responsible for the post booking support. I expect her to follow all of my 52 open

bookings every week to make sure that if any of them have dropped in price, she

will request the difference. That is the only thing she has to do for me."

 

 

Several good ideas in that one. Thanks

[jasmith52]

If you haven't seen this yet...

 

In another very recent interview with Mario Salcedo, he claims to spend around $60-70k per year to cruise. He says that he books 150 cruises ahead or about two years ahead. And then as stated in the previous post he has a travel agent watching for price drops every week.

 

http://www.beyondships.com/Cruise-articles-Super-cruiser.html

 

I suspect that you could cruise Princess for about the same amount per year.

 

Just maybe I'll sell the house and do it myself. Heck I spend more than $15k now just on property tax, insurance, utilities, and cars. If I throw in my other expenses It's even more. For just a few dollars more I could be sailing the seas all year.

Edited August 31, 2016 by jasmith52

[Kineticoh20]

Well....a basic studio apartments can start out at 2 million dollars and go up to !3 million on The World and yearly fees range from $60,000 to $125,000 a year. There are no casinos, shows, etc.

 

There are only 162 apartments and the average owner spends 3 to 6 months on board.

 

I would find it a very boring way to live and think owning a private yacht would be more fun.

 

Can you imagine how boring the dinner conversations must be with this crowd one-upping each other every nite.....yuk!!:roll eyes:

 

I agree that living on a cruise ship full time and year round is more of an urban myth!!!!

 

My friend bought several years ago and has seen tremendous appreciation. Yes dues are expensive but considering it goes for fuel, port charges and maintenance its not bad. The reason he claims he bought is to be near the movers and shakers! He said the knowledge and connections he has made has made him millions.

[GeeDunk]

We met a couple some years ago on a Princess TA who were actively exploring this possibility with the purser or co. HQ. They had no children, grandchildren, etc. I have no idea what they ended up doing. My main thought was that if one of the 2 people in a couple doing this had a major medical emergency (heart attack, stroke, etc.) they would be disembarked at the next port as we have seen on many of our cruises. Just because there's a doctor onboard doesn't mean they'll be willing to keep you in their limited medical facility should you suffer a major medical problem, nor would they do "cabin calls" to take care of you in your room.

 

Remember the Couple.

 

From what the DH (Can't recall his name) told me:

 

He negotiated a cost of $100.00 pp per day for an Inside Cabin.

 

From what he told me, it made sense for them to do it financially.

 

Sell: house, cars, etc.

No Real Estate Taxes, Insurance (Home/Car), etc.

 

He had all of the data written down.

 

Never heard what they decided.

 

You and I did discuss this.

Edited August 31, 2016 by GeeDunk

[jasmith52]

Remember the Couple.

He negotiated a cost of $100.00 pp per day for an Inside Cabin.

 

That works out to be just over $71k/year which is consistent with Mario Salvedo's situation on RCCL.

[DrivesLikeMario]

Now that is one I haven't seen before. Even though they seem to only spend winters onboard it's still an interesting site. They also simply book many b2b2b2 voyages. Still hoping for a simpler way. Will have to keep searching, reading here and call princess again I guess.

 

Thanks,

Chris

 

Hope it helps a little. If you're really serious, have your TA do the work for you. He/she will know who to contact to get the best pricing.

[gottagocit]

If you haven't seen this yet...

 

In another very recent interview with Mario Salcedo, he claims to spend around $60-70k per year to cruise. He says that he books 150 cruises ahead or about two years ahead. And then as stated in the previous post he has a travel agent watching for price drops every week.

 

http://www.beyondships.com/Cruise-articles-Super-cruiser.html

 

I suspect that you could cruise Princess for about the same amount per year.

 

Just maybe I'll sell the house and do it myself. Heck I spend more than $15k now just on property tax, insurance, utilities, and cars. If I throw in my other expenses It's even more. For just a few dollars more I could be sailing the seas all year.

 

What an interesting story. Thanks for the link. Some very good ideas on how to manage his affairs and enjoy the port stops. Bicycles? Would never have considered that.

 

As you wrote if you eliminate taxes, some insurances, grocery/gas bills, utilities and a few others, then consider obc for booking with future cruise deposits, stock ownership, military service and the other perks like internet service, meals and laundry..... it becomes an easier decision than you might first think.

 

Thanks for the reply,

Chris

[gottagocit]

We have talked with a few of the truly MTPs, with 1800 days and over, cruising 6-8 months each year and it does appear that Mrs. Artz was the exception on Princess, and was receiving the logistical benefit of a deal her husband negotiated years earlier. We have no idea if there was a financial benefit to booking a cabin for an entire year, but she was able to move into a cabin of her choosing and stay there.

 

The rest of the MTPs do book B2B2B2B2B. They have accepted, as we have, that some of those cruises may eventually get price reductions, but not all will, and there are some cruises where the per diem cost is twice (or higher) of other cruises, maybe even those just before and after. Especially when one wants to stay in the same cabin for several cruises (as would certainly be the case if living on the ship), it has to be accepted that the cost per day is significantly higher for people doing B2B2B2Bs than for those people in CA or FL who simply jump on a last minute cruise at a phenomenal price.

 

As others have said, why in the world would Princess make exceptions if there is any opportunity to sell the cabin at a higher price? Unless there is an agreement in place (as there was with Mrs. Artz), they have no incentive to. It's not like their marketing costs are going to go down in the slightest, having one cabin "locked in".

 

Furthermore, Princess know that those people who live, albeit temporarily, on a ship do not produce the on board revenue that they are seeking. We are not cheapskates by any means, and I love my wine and DH loves his onboard shopping, but we certainly do not buy the excursions, and the drinks, and the spa treatments and the gold by the inch that one-time cruisers do. I would think Princess would charge a higher fare for a live-aboard passenger to compensate for that.

 

 

Hi again,

 

I forgot to ask a couple things in my last reply to yours.

 

How does Princess handle your onboard account? Will all the b2b2b2b's does the account have to be settled at the end of each voyage? What about your cabin/onboard id card? Is the free wifi account balance you get under captains circle program reset each voyage, requiring it to be set up again for the next voyage? Are you required to disembark and reboard after each one just as you are for any b2b?

 

Thanks,

Chris

[JimmyVWine]

Hi again,

 

I forgot to ask a couple things in my last reply to yours.

 

How does Princess handle your onboard account? Will all the b2b2b2b's does the account have to be settled at the end of each voyage? What about your cabin/onboard id card? Is the free wifi account balance you get under captains circle program reset each voyage, requiring it to be set up again for the next voyage? Are you required to disembark and reboard after each one just as you are for any b2b?

 

Thanks,

Chris

 

Some good info here, especially Post #17.

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2385690&highlight=b2b

[CruisinChris]

Surprised no one mentioned this. The thing about Lorraine artz was that the reason she sailed all the time was that she and her husband sold Princess the land for their hq. As part of the deal they got cruises for life.

 

So far as I know there is no program per se. You just book b2b2b. I think the info you've been given is accurate. That's not to say that someone making that kind of booking might not be able to negoiate a bit on pricing

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

[Aus Traveller]

If you cruised continuously, what would you do for insurance? We buy an annual policy, but it has a maximum length of 90 days for any one trip. It would be expensive to buy a separate policy for every 7 or 14 day cruise. Maybe it would be worth risking it and just visit the doctor when the ship returns to its home port and then paying the medical costs on board in the event of an urgent need for medical attention. But that would mean taking a chance that you would not need medical evacuation (the big-ticket item).