Has Anyone Found A Way to Do An Extended Cruise (many weeks)?

May seem like a dumb question, I can assure you this is a real question. I'm wondering if anyone has found a way to do an extended cruise (6-8 weeks) without going completely broke. It's for medical purposes. I can't open my door for 6-8 weeks a year without going into anaphalaxis, in the fall (ragweed) nor can I stand up without my heart rate hitting over 200. I've had 2 doctors suggest I try and do an extended cruise every fall, for my health. Ha, wouldn't that be nice?! Right! I have a family, who wouldn't be able to come with me. But my doctors are dead serious. Well, it got me thinking, maybe there is some way to do it, no idea how. I'm guessing they don't give a discount for a single passenger on a back-to-back-to-back-to-back etc? I would even be willing to work for 8 weeks for free passage away from land, but somehow I don't see anyone getting a job on a cruise ship for only 8 weeks, I think they have multi-month contracts. So as dumb as this post may seem, I'm serious. Trying to figure out if it's possible to live on a cruise ship for 6-8 weeks without going broke.

I did a b2b transatlantic/repositioning cruise with construction. It was about $1000 per 2 weeks (for a solo cruiser), and the majority of the passengers on the ship were b2b2b. Imo, the key to not going broke is to find the longer cruises, and unfortunately, you'll be at the mercy of RCCL as to when they do it. They do usually prefer shoulder seasons though.

It also depends a lot on what you define as "going broke." is 10k per year too much?

I don't know if you are aware of this, but the seasons are swapped across the equator. If you want to save money relative to what it would cost to cruise, you might look into renting a small apartment somewhere in the blue mountains(Australia). Lithgow is dirt cheap, and it's just a short train ride away from sydney. ^_)^

Does anyone remember that man, he was single, and he lived in Miami (I think) and took extended cruises for months? He would sometimes post on this board? I am married but always dreamed of being his wife LOL

Does anyone remember that man, he was single, and he lived in Miami (I think) and took extended cruises for months? He would sometimes post on this board? I am married but always dreamed of being his wife LOL

That's Super Mario. He still cruises most of the time[emoji572]️

If you are a shareholder, you can combine that with travel agency incentives and get a total of at least $775 OBC. :cool:

Incredible. Can one explain how a shareholder gets OBC? I thought the shareholder benefit wasn't combine-able.

Incredible. Can one explain how a shareholder gets OBC? I thought the shareholder benefit wasn't combine-able.

The shareholder benefit is not combinable with any other Royal OBC/discount, however it is combinable with most TA perks.

We have been on a few very long cruises, or b2b2b cruises. As previously mentioned Holland America has great itineraries, as does Princess. RCCL has long b2b2b leaving from Vancouver in September after the Alaska season, and going to Hawaii and then Sydney.

To offset the cost, we do this:

- book through the big box discount store's travel agency. If you cruise solo, yes, the cost is higher, but big box store gives obc based on the amount spent. We booked a Princess 28 night cruise, obstructed view cabin, and ended up with $900 in obc. Cash out leftover obc in the casino and put it back in your checking/savings.

- Right now Princess has a 3 For Free promo going that pays your tips. That reduces the cost, also.

- Most cable providers will put your cable on vacation hold for up to 60 days for a minimal charge per month. We have ATT Uverse, and they will do this for $5 per service. So, landline, TV, and internet is $15 a month.

- Get a Sapphire Visa card. Use it to pay for the cruise. You get 40,000 bonus points with the new card. You get DOUBLE points with the cruise purchase (or any travel purchase). Let's say the cruise costs $9,000. You get 18,000 points + 40,000 bonus points = 58,000 points. You can convert that to cash or credit on your credit card. That reduces the cost of the trip by $580.

- So, you get obc to cash out, you get cable reduced, and you get $580 cash. Don't forget that your true out-of-pocket is reduced by the money you WOULD HAVE SPENT on food, utilities, and gas. Add that up, and for 6 weeks you probably save a chunk of extra money.

To continue:

Holland also is having a special that includes tips, and they have a 53 night cruise next September for $6,700 for an inside cabin.

- The total of what I've mentioned above on a 53 day cruise is

tips = $689, daily expenses = $1,400, Sapphire Visa cash = $580; obc = $1,000 miniumum. Total is $3,669. Let's say you spend $669 on miscellaneous on the ship. You are saving an out-of-pocket of $3,000. That "reduces" the price of the cruise to $3,700 plus taxes/fees. I'd say you will save about 40 - 45% of the cost of the cruise.

. I have severe ragweed allergies too.:( My week on the independance was such a nice break from the symptoms so I can understand the thought behind cruising. Vegas helps me a bit. My son lives in Vegas and I find a bit of relief there.

There is a woman that blogs every winter for past couple years. Pescado Amarillo - she's over on the Princess board. I know they did 10 b2b one year and stayed in an inside cabin. But you may want to check w/NCL - I think they have single cabins. I would definitely speak with a TA in your planning to see if there are any specials you can use.

Good luck

S

I was going to mention Mario but see that someone already has

back in the 80's and Premier Cruise out of Canaveral there was a guy that had lived aboard for a couple of years continuously ... he was honorary crew and given a uniform .... written up in the local paper if you like to do research

If you crunch the numbers this sounds interesting, having managed the accounts of mother in a first class senior place the $ works out ..... your problems include limited access to routine medical care. So far as pass' care is concerned the medical center is an emergency room or less (they Do provide routine care to the crew)

What about a dry climate? Vegas or Arizona?

I guarantee you won't be happier in AZ; people moved to the southwest and brought their killer plants with them.

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