Jump to content
Cruise Critic Community

Would anyone consider retirement on a ship?

Ryan Wahlstrom

By Ryan Wahlstrom,
in 55+ Cruisers

Recommended Posts

  • 2 weeks later...
oliverdr

oliverdr

Posted
Posted

Ryan- I am a PhD researcher who has been gathering data on this very topic- email me at oliverdr@missouri.edu. Warning- we are doing another cruise ship study starting next week and will be out until April! South America here we come! Research question- how accessible are cruise ships for senior cruisers?

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Kroosin

Kroosin

Posted
Posted

We're relatively new to cruising, so far the longest we've been at sea is 12 days but we're going on a 24 day cruise in July and if we enjoy that as much as the others we might seriously consider cruising as retirement. If we could afford it when the time came.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
oliverdr

oliverdr

Posted
Posted

Interesting to note an article in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society analyzed the cost of cruising as compared to living in Assisted Living facility- and they were about the same. The big thing I think they left out were the excursions- for those taking the ship escorted excursions the cost can be quite significant- and of course the more frail you are the more you really need that level of supervision. At any rate I think it would be awesome!

 

Our longest was 12 days and next week we go for 16- cant imagine ever being tired of it!

Link to comment
Share on other sites
  • 2 weeks later...
pixiedustdawn

pixiedustdawn

Posted
Posted
Interesting to note an article in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society analyzed the cost of cruising as compared to living in Assisted Living facility- and they were about the same. The big thing I think they left out were the excursions- for those taking the ship escorted excursions the cost can be quite significant- and of course the more frail you are the more you really need that level of supervision. At any rate I think it would be awesome!

 

Our longest was 12 days and next week we go for 16- cant imagine ever being tired of it!

 

Will my long term care insurance cover this? If so sign me up. lol

 

 

Dawn

Link to comment
Share on other sites
kitty9

kitty9

Posted
Posted

I definitely would not do it on a mass market line as the same ports over and over again would get boring. So that leaves one of the luxury lines or Cunard where they cruise the world. Now that would not get boring. The only problem would be health care. Medicare doesn't pay outside the US and most private insurance doesn't either.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Creeks

Creeks

Posted
Posted

My aunt and uncle lived in Florida and cruised very often. They no longer went on any of the excursions as they had 'been there, done that'.

They just enjoyed the ship, the meals, the shows. My longest so far was last fall's 15 night transatlantic and I would have loved to have had it last longer. I turned 76 on that cruise, and look forward to many more.

 

 

Interesting to note an article in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society analyzed the cost of cruising as compared to living in Assisted Living facility- and they were about the same. The big thing I think they left out were the excursions- for those taking the ship escorted excursions the cost can be quite significant- and of course the more frail you are the more you really need that level of supervision. At any rate I think it would be awesome!

 

Our longest was 12 days and next week we go for 16- cant imagine ever being tired of it!

Link to comment
Share on other sites
  • 2 weeks later...
shanenurse

shanenurse

Posted
Posted

I believe I recently read there is a cruise ship where you buy your cabin. I believe with trouble selling they even went to partial ownership as the cabins were like 1/2 mil or so to start. i also think that the 4Seasons (yes the hotel line) has a continuous world cruising ship also.

 

my 2 cents.

shane

Link to comment
Share on other sites
LkldDave

LkldDave

Posted
Posted
http://www.residensea.com/ the cruise ship "The World" has apartments. I'm pretty sure if you have to ask 'how much', you can't afford it. The Travel Channel occasionally has a show specifically for this ship. Looks like a great life except for missing family.

 

 

The World literally travels the world. Last February it was in Tampa for the week during the Super Bowl. And you are correct. It's expensive. I believe its starts at about 750K.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
GlendaleCruiser

GlendaleCruiser

Posted
Posted

My sister cruised Celebrity to Hawaii two years ago and there was a lady who either lived on that ship or did back to backs and traded off between just a few ships. I think she said her name was Elizabeth and everyone on board knew her and chatted with her. She even sat down in one of the bars one night and played for over 2 hours without repeating a song.

 

Don't know if she is still doing it or there................

Link to comment
Share on other sites
NewJersey222

NewJersey222

Posted
Posted
Well I'm 57 & I just told someone the other day I wish I could just live onboard

 

Hi SardisGrandma and Everyone who loves to cruise,

 

I have thought of living on a ship as well when I retire. Work for my room and board. Maybe then I would have this cruising obsession out of my system, but I doubt it!!!

 

Regards to all,

 

NewJersey222:D

Marie

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Richard in Panama

Richard in Panama

Posted
Posted

There was, is??, a gal who lives on Holland America ships that the crew all calls "Mama Lu" . . . The story she told me was that her kids wanted to put her in an assisted living facility, she disowned her kids, and lives on board ship. Uses ships that frequently return to FL so she can pick up her meds and visit one daughter whom I guess she speaks to know. She claims to save $1000 per month over the assisted living facility the kids wanted to put her in. She has acquired some of the bright deck bar steward shirts, etc., which she wears. Pushes her walker right up to the front row for every show. Is very proud of a vest she wears that is covered with HAL crew nametags . . . her "kids" . . . and every port she buys cheap, Asian flashing light toys that she gives out to bar stewards, etc. Kinda cool really . . . so if you bump into Mama Lu say "Hi!" She's interesting, loves to chat with everyone . . . seems to have a very adventurous life . . . better than watching TV in a "home" I would say.

 

Regards, Richard

 

PS - The ZUIDERDAM was a blast and it was good to meet so many Cruise Critic folks!

Link to comment
Share on other sites
cusyl

cusyl

Posted
Posted

I would love to live on a cruise ship. I love just being on the ship, I wouldn't care what the ports were. I know some people sell their houses and live onboard.

 

I think the lady from the QE2 may be on Queen Victoria. Haven't heard lately.

 

Oliverdr, As far as accessibility of cruise ships it depends on the ship. I just left the Carnival Legend. I had a HC cabin and rented a scooter. The Pride Go Go was great, the only problem being that on some door sills, mainly the ones going out on Promenade deck, would get stuck and had to get off and push it. It is too low to the ground to get over them. Also, I noticed the electric eye to open doors out to the pool did not "see" me unless I put my arm up and waved.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Linda74

Linda74

Posted
Posted

As a recent widow, I wonder if they cut you a deal if you are there permanently....has to beat being in a retirement home.....and if it is less than $52,000 a year as a single a bargain....

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

Go to topic listing
  • Forum Jump
    • Categories
      • Welcome to Cruise Critic
      • ANNOUNCEMENT: Set Sail Beyond the Ordinary with Oceania Cruises
      • ANNOUNCEMENT: The Widest View in the Whole Wide World
      • New Cruisers
      • Cruise Lines “A – O”
      • Cruise Lines “P – Z”
      • River Cruising
      • ROLL CALLS
      • Cruise Critic News & Features
      • Digital Photography & Cruise Technology
      • Special Interest Cruising
      • Cruise Discussion Topics
      • UK Cruising
      • Australia & New Zealand Cruisers
      • Canadian Cruisers
      • North American Homeports
      • Ports of Call
      • Cruise Conversations
×
×
  • Create New...