You Can Live Permanently On A Cruise Ship! Heres How Much It Costs

Table Of Content

• We Priced a Year’s Worth of Cruises to Get a True Cost
• Table comparing the cost of living on cruise ships for 10 years
• Medical considerations
• Cruises
• Bottom Line: It's a Wonderful Life at Sea
• You Can Live Permanently On A Cruise Ship! Here’s How Much It Costs
• Seattle Begins Milestone Alaska Season With Norwegian Cruise Line Ship

It costs a similar amount to live on a cruise ship as it does in a house. In the UK, the average cost of living is £2,200 per month, equal to around $2,650, and in the US the average cost is $3,200. Typically a cruise ship that is offering a world cruise will go back to offering more regular sailings for the rest of the year, so you would need to keep booking new cruises every time. Technically you could live on any cruise ship, but it might not be possible. Cruises don’t always sell out, but the most popular staterooms and cabins book up far in advance. You would have to constantly look at booking cruises to make sure you have somewhere to stay.

We Priced a Year’s Worth of Cruises to Get a True Cost

That summer, in 2021, I booked two four-night cruises on Royal Caribbean's Freedom of the Seas, and went on both in September. Everything worked great, and since then, I've been on a cruise pretty much every week, except for a few weeks due to the holidays. Another plus for extroverts is that you'll interact with a more diverse age group on a cruise ship than you would at a retirement community.

Table comparing the cost of living on cruise ships for 10 years

Here are some of the things you’ll need to consider when you’re living on a cruise ship. Cruise ships do have doctors, but visits to the onboard medical centre can be very costly indeed, and for any serious medical issues, you would need to visit a hospital on land. However, one thing that you’ll certainly need to factor in is travel insurance and medical costs. Travel insurance for such a trip could be very costly indeed, and it is mandatory. The former ms Veendam for Holland America Line, Victoria Majestic has now been turned into a residential ship and will soon set sail with Victoria Cruises.

Medical considerations

It has 106 two- and three-bedroom apartments, 19 one- and two-bedroom studio apartments and 40 studios. Be sure to clear it with your doctor before signing up to live or retire on a cruise ship. Doing so can prevent you from getting sick on a cruise and being stuck at sea without access to the help you need. While cruise ship food is often delicious and varied, the lack of diversity and the same meals being served can become monotonous for long-term residents.

Most cruise lines have strict rules and regulations regarding long-term stays, and the cost can be quite prohibitive for the average person. Additionally, while the idea of endless luxury may seem appealing, the reality of living in a small cabin with limited personal space can be a challenge for many people. The lack of stable friendships and the monotony of the same routine and food can also lead to feelings of isolation and dissatisfaction. Unpack, personalize your cabin, explore the ship, engage in activities, manage your time, try new experiences, stay connected, and respect ship etiquette. These tips will help you settle into the cruise ship lifestyle and make the most of the opportunities it offers. With constant travel, luxurious amenities, and a vibrant community, it’s no wonder that more people are considering this unconventional way of living.

Bottom Line: It's a Wonderful Life at Sea

The total costs of living on a cruise ship are going to depend on how you choose to live, just like it would on land. For example, what cruises you book, the food plans you choose, and how much entertainment you buy will all vary by person and could greatly impact your overall costs. Many find living this way more affordable than paying off a mortgage.

You might need to be careful with your meal choices, and you’ll want to make sure you visit the gym regularly, or find other ways to stay active. Normal travel insurance isn’t going to cover you if you decide to live on a cruise ship. Travel insurance policies count on the fact that medical cover is a rarity when you travel for 2-3 weeks of the year. The average cost of living stats for the UK and for the US include typical rent payments, the cost of food, transport and entertainment, so we’re looking at very comparable rates.

Is Living on a Cruise Ship Really Cheaper Than a Retirement Home? - The Motley Fool

Is Living on a Cruise Ship Really Cheaper Than a Retirement Home?.

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To price what it costs to live aboard the ship, we took a look at sailings aboard a single ship from Carnival, which is known for being affordable. In this case, we priced a year’s worth of sailing for Carnival Horizon in 2024. With all of these expenses in mind, we dove into what it would cost to live on a cruise ship for an entire year. We recently priced out the cost of living on a cruise ship for an entire year. If you intend to eat in the cruise ship restaurants, remember that they are aimed at vacation guests, and so meals will be richer and higher in calories than a regular diet may be.

There are just 39 residential apartments on this exquisite vessel, each of which is customisable to fit the needs of the buyer. Prices are believed to start from around $11 million, with maintenance fees payable on top of that to the tune of around $100,000 or more. Living in a small cabin with limited personal space can be a challenge for many people.

Otherwise, if you prefer the Voyagers Program, it works like any other cruise. Prices start at $89 per person, per night and there are a range of itinerary options from 35 days up to 120 days, with the option to combine any that you like. The ship will sail a leisurely itinerary, cruising the world slowly to allow guests more time to explore in port (and to be more environmentally friendly, burning less fuel at slower speeds). The ship features guest speakers, musicians, and cultural performances to entertain guests, similar to those which would feature on traditional luxury world cruises. The World is the largest private residential ship on the planet with 165 residences.

The lack of privacy and the constant proximity to others can be difficult for some individuals. While you can bring some items to make the room feel more like home, it’s always going to feel in some way like you are in a hotel room or in someone’s guest bedroom. For instance, it’s not like you can hang your own artwork or that you’re going to pack the cozy comforter that you use at home. Plus, we all have our favorite spots that we love to eat, whether it be the pizza joint around the corner or the fine-dining Italian spot downtown. Familiar places that you normally eat on land aren’t going to be part of your diet at sea.

I thought that if they returned, I'd want to try taking my job with me on a short cruise. I wanted to see how the WiFi would work and if I could access some elements of my job with heavy security. Even if you sell your home to live full-time on the ship, renting storage space for any belongings you can't bring on the ship will add up. From drinks to wi-fi to specialty restaurants, there are plenty of extra to spend on the ship. And even if you are a frugal sailor, you won’t go any lengthy time without having a few drinks or signing up for the Internet package to check in back on shore. These fees vary, but in general, expect about $100-$200 per person for a seven-day cruise.