What Will It Cost You To Live FULL-TIME On A Cruise Ship?
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 24 ก.ค. 2024
- I explore what it takes and costs to live (or retire) full-time on a cruise ship by looking at the people who have done it, and the options we have for living on a cruise ship permanently!
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00:00 Start
01:12 How Much?
06:27 Cruise Line View?
07:23 The Hurdles and Issues?
09:50 Alternatives?
I live aboard my own boat - a 35 ft sailboat - for less than $16K (USD) per year. That includes my food, port fees, laundry, fuel, entertainment, and additional air travel to quickly visit aging relatives. It's my own private cruise ship, and my front and back yards are the world.
How old are you?
How much did the boat cost and what passport do you have?
amazing! im planing to do the same... looking for people to go with me
Same. These folks are so foolish for spending such insane money.
I'd much prefer living on a sailboat till I can't, then cruiseship since assisted living facilities are 8k to12k per month!
To me it would be a nightmare - much like being stuck in the Groundhog movie. Same ports, same shows, same food etc.
True but it would certainly be more variety than our lives of living in the same house, going to the same job, cooking in the same kitchen, etc. every single day.
@@allent1034 I disagree, because you would have more options long term for traveling to and eating at different restaurants, entertainment of all kinds, and different routes to drive if you get bored...on someone else's boat, you get what every passenger gets...not like you can steer the boat a different way if you get bored of seeing the same view each trip. You can also live elsewhere at a fraction of that price too and still have vacations that are all inclusive to see the world just not as frequently but more options for variety.
I mean it's a great way if you can afford it in my opinion though and are alone and older...why not? every day can be a party if you want it to be one and you aren't just sitting on your own sofa day in and day out alone cause you are old and no one visits much any longer...plus I assume you get a housekeeper, so no cleaning just tidying up....if I had the $ and was alone, 30 years older and didn't always get seasick, I might be tempted....
except worse, cause you don't even get to go ashore without paying a fortune
@@grievingmom who's doing travelling and eating a different restaurants?
And mean, obnoxious people ruining the buffet and taking all the good spots in the pool area and refusing to follow basic rules of courtesy. Nope, I wouldn't live on a cruise liner even if they PAID me.
That’s it. I’m buying a cruise ship and staffing it with caregivers and nurses. 500k a year and get full elder care and live aboard my new retirement ship. Full dr, dental, and all senior activities fully inclusive. ;-)
I'm a CNA, Physical therapy tech and Dialysis TECH when you buy it look me up. Lol !
Im in
Hairstylist here call me
Sign me up!
500k won’t even buy you a fishing boat. 😅
That year long cruise sounds awesome actually. I would never want to live on a ship permanently, but if I'm retired, I would love to see 60 countries in a year, all planned out for me.
I got tired of paying 4K to 5K for a basic winter condo a month or $200 a day for a concrete pad with a plug for a RV. That with dining out most meals and entertainment makes your winter getaway very expensive. This year I booked 10 Caribbean cruises back to back from late Dec to March. This came out way cheaper than anything I tried before. Princess line allows you to combine promotions like Military, Shareholders and Casino deals making this ridiculously affordable. With the introduction of Drinks, Gratuity and Wifi packages and free food making this the best deal possible for me.
Amen Brother! You are living my dream.
@@allent1034 Make it happen as I did buddy and never regret..
@@fcichaingang how much does it cost Craig? I am a shareholder
@@iwillpro
If you hold at lest 100 shares you will get $50 for under 6, 7 days to 13 = $100 and anything over 14 you get $250. If your with-in 90 days from sailing just fill out the shareholders credit form with a copy of verification in holdings and thats all you need.
@@fcichaingang thank you Craig
My solution was the Navy! a little over 10 years active, 3 different warships, and
dozens and dozens of ports spanning 25 countries! Oh, and they paid me too! :)
good one!💜
Mike Tayon I was in the Navy too, and been to many countries, but ships are not made for those over 6 feet tall. I probably would have been better off on shore duty.
Can't join the Navy when you're retired.
@@dawnv4225 ya think? LoL
Good luck doing that as 70+ year old!
The idea of this really fascinates me. It sounds the perfect way to live, but what you said about loneliness and the hidden costs was really insightful. Keeping a small home base and going on multiple cruise holidays a year seems a better life plan. Always something to look forward to. Thanks Gary for an interesting video.
I totally disagree with this. After 26 months living on a cruise ship I made friends all over the world. I still keep in touch with most to this day. You also become very close with the staff and workers on the ship. I was never lonely. I even had relatives and friends that took vacations on my ship and I was tour guide. I loved this life. But I also don't think its for everyone.
Can u imagine how FAT u would be eating 4 buffets a day. Plus snacks. I put on at least 12 pounds going on a week cruise.
Sounds quite horrible actually....
it depends on which cruise ship you aim for, and where in the world you currently live. For example, one couple said that living on a World cruise ship and working from home was cheaper than mortgage or rent in their State they lived in. Unfortunately, I don't have a link and can't remember any more details to make it findable. I think it was a news article about one of the world cruise ships, but don't remember for sure. Sorry!
We took a 14 day Celebrity cruise back in Dec 2021. Met a lively character named Steve who lives on the ship for as much as possible. He hangs his hat in Naples Florida and only goes home for a couple weeks a year for his medical check-ups. He only sails with Celebrity in the Caribbean and will stay on the same ship as long as possible and will jump to another ship in the case of repositioning. He said they feed me and make my bed and it beats the boredom of hanging around at home.
I met one person while cruising who lived most of the year on cruise ships. She was an older woman who was retired and would jumb from cruise to cruise, line to line and had done several of those world cruises. When she got tired of cruising or was in between voyages she would go visit her children to see them and her grandchildren, go to doctors, do any business she had, etc... it sounded like an interesting concept, seeing the world and always being on vacation but being able to take a break to see family... but I could also see it getting tiresome if you did it 100% full time.
Great video, thank you.
I have worked for 9 years with Carnival, Oceania cruises amd some European River Cruises as an Exec Housekeeper and what I have seen on several occasions is that we would have a man or a woman sail with us for 10-12 months after their partner passes away.
They would mourn in such a way if they used to cruise with their partner a lot and after loosing that dear person they stayed onboard for extended periods of time.
Thanks for watching. And for adding this. Interesting to hear and I can see how and why people would don that
μ
Losing, not loosing.
@@judeirwin2222 bet YOUR fun at parties lol.. oh sorry did I for the 're , should I put that in italic or apostrophes.ss.s.
@@justinfantastic4882 lol
Lived on the USS Kitty Hawk for 4 years. Hitting different countries ports, loved it. Living on a cruise ship would be great.
Felt the same way on USS Coral Sea
I lived in Hong Kong when USS Kitty Hawk rocked up for a few days. Fantastic ship, how did it not topple over 😀
I would feel confined.
Pretty cool, I have a yearbook from the USS Kitty Hawk, I think it's around 66, 67 or 68. From a Friend of mine that flew corsairs in World War II was later an F-4 pilot on the Kitty Hawk, then he inspected and documented Aviation accidents.
Also just jogged my memory, another friend was the pilot of the USS United States , and the neighbor was an Entertainer on the same ship
Your points are very valid. Unless you have a permanent residence in a port city where you could stop off a week or two a quarter and get your healthcare taken care of, it would be very difficult. One additional factor in my opinion is that living on a cruise ship is a lot like retiring to Las Vegas. It is NOT a good lifestyle if you have an alcohol, food or gambling addiction.
My dream is living FOREVER on a ship. Absolutely LOVE the sea!
It's also my dream. I don't have children, grandchildren my family live far away so, nothing to lose
Yeep for ever & ever
2024 😊
Oh my, I have the perfect solution for you. I’ve just bought a cabin on one, forever and ever. It’s going to be wonderful and a lovely community. Do you want the details?
I had dinner with a woman aboard a Holland America cruise ship who spent the majority of her time aboard ships, but had a home in Palm Springs. She was quite wealthy, since she stayed in one of the large suites aboard, bringing her housekeeper along. She departed San Diego mainly, and was driven there by her chauffeur. I think she had found the ideal compromise of spending a serious amount of time aboard cruise ships, while still maintaining a viable shore-side life as well. As the saying goes, it's only money...
DAMN!😲😳
@@bambooprincess3495
What I'm thinking is maybe she didn't trust the people on the ship because she had so much valuables, or maybe she likes things a particular way and only her housekeeper knows how she likes things done exactly how she likes it.🙄
@@bambooprincess3495
Maybe she liked her company and didn't like to travel alone. Also they did say traveling alone your still paying the price of two
@@bambooprincess3495 she was her friend and company.
@@Stephanie-vn6ir I can definitely see a wealthy lady having a personal assistant of some sort to deal with the tedious day to day stuff...
On our first cruise on HAL in 2004 we met a lady in her 80s who lived near the medical center onboard and who said it was cheaper then a high-end senior home! She said every six months she had to leave for two weeks while the ship underwent deep cleaning/maintenance. Intrigued us ever since!
...it's so easy after a few cruises to think ... hey I would love to never have to shop and cook food again ...but then reality hit's ya ... no way do I have that amount of coin ...
Shejust had too much money to spend. She was very health. She also enjoyed boring life. Seriously, after couple weeks, don't you get tired. If you have excursions, that is different. I dont know senior cost more than 130k or even 80k. Remember the more pricey ones do take you hospitals n shopping. Yes, there are shopping on ships, aftrr couple weeks. The medical facilities on the ships don't mean anything. Whether you are or old, you need physical annually. Some young people don't fo it. Thats fine. For old people, thats dangerous. She is too old n rich to do the basiv math
What u have to consider is a persons health. Not all elderly people need to be housed in a senior home. Many elderly people have perfectly fine health and continue to lead independent lives in their own homes. Others however may have illnesses associated with age alzheimers for example . No way would living on a cruise ship be a viable option under such circumstances.
I have taken "Super Mario" scuba diving many times. His ship used to call at our island every two weeks and he always signed up for a dive trip with my company. He likes to hum to himself loudly while underwater😁 After a few years the ship was assigned a new route and sadly we lost contact.
I’m curious where he and others went to during the pandemic. Did he have family he could stay with? If you see him again would you mind asking. Just curious. Thanks
My friends and I do a cruise every spring (except for the pandemic years), and about 10 years ago, the MS World was docked in Curacao when we stopped there. We happened to run into a married couple that owned an apartment on the ship, and they offered to give us a quick tour.
Actually, they ran into us...we were sitting at one of the outdoor restaurants/bars for a noontime "beer break," and since there were 8 of us, we pushed two tables together, and they came along and asked if they could sit in the two empty seats. (Apparently, they do that alot....spend their time in a port meeting people) These people lived in the upper Midwest, so they would go "home" around the 1st of May, and stay until sometime between Halloween and Thanksgiving, depending on the ship's itinerary, and when the ship would be in a port where they could catch up with it. They said very few people lived onboard 100% of the time.
My first reaction was, "I could do this. Now all I have to do is come up with the $$$$$."
Mario books all his cruises as soon as they're listed, as the costs are typically lowest. He typically books 60 or so at the future cruise desk on board, and then turns them over to his travel agent who takes care of payments when due, getting rebates when prices fall, and rebooking if his ship is chartered. But he also has a condo in Miami with a housekeeper who does his laundry that he exchanges on changeover days. He can also get prescriptions or medical appointments on those days. He also get a free 1 week cruise occasionally based on accumulated days under the C&A program.
Mario sounds very organized however I would find it a bit boring to do the same because he just mostly goes on cruises to the Caribbean plus besides seeing the staff or the officers he doesn’t see the same people every cruise so therefore he cannot make true friends.
I’m hoping to run into Mario one day
@@enjoyslearningandtravel7957 I don't believe that "super Mario" is interested in any of the places he visits (he's been there countless times) nor on "making true friends"! Even though he has said that "I am a single man. I have not gotten married yet..." this is not quite true! (I KNOW since I'm distant family of his!) He has been married twice and with Rosenda he fathered 2 children: Diana and Alexander.... There is A LOT more to his story....
@@jessicamuroff5765 I literally "ran into Mario in the Liberty transatlantic 2014 by the elevator, and even though we are distant family, he clearly did not want to engage in any conversation...
@@jessicamuroff5765 Why?
I heard of people living on cruises but never realized there are so many struggles in doing it. Your videos feels like great complement to the TV documentaries with TV documentary level narration.
Thanks for watching! And the feedback
LuLuGPT, this video is only one brief and narrow perspective. It is far more inspiring and educational to listen to the documentaries, interviews, etc., with persons who have actually lived, retired, and/or worked on cruise-ships for years to a decade or more. E.g., Mama Lee.....Super Mario....there are so many ways to do this....from very economical to super-luxury.....from multiple short itineraries to very long ones.....from staying within one cruiseline's fleet to exploring more than one fleet......endless variety and possibilities! And getting better and more affordable every year.....
there was a writeup about someone from our area who did this. ALso we were behind a lady at Guest Relations who was paying for her next 3 months.
Years ago when I took my first cruise, I was so captivated by the whole experience that I inquired about living on board for a year. They quoted me somewhere around $115,000 (for a balcony), but my wife was not interested in the idea, so I scrapped it (at least for now).
You are nicer than me. I would go without her!
You must be rich to afford such a thing
I think a year sounds fun but not to live on board.
I'd go!
If we had no kids and no pets I'd consider it...for one year but that's it.
I tried living at a Marriott a few years back when it was cheaper than the sky high cost of an unfurnished apartment… I was a Platinum member. After a few months the hotel staff wouldn’t take my money anymore. I called the reservation 800 number and they had no problem with me staying as long as I wanted, but the manager of the hotel had some kind of personal issue with it. I guess you can’t avoid other peoples problems…
A lot of excellent comments here. Another thing to consider is that when you have nearly everything done for you, it tends to weaken you as a person. Having to fix an electrical outlet, take out the trash, mow the lawn, go grocery shopping, help others, etc. helps to strengthen a person’s being. What are you actually doing to help make other’s lives better…..I wonder….It becomes all about me me me. I’ve been on over 50 cruises and it never fails when I get off the ship, it takes a few days to come back to reality and have to remember how to do things for myself and be responsible again.
This was by far the best comment on this thread. I think I would much prefer to work on a ship rather than live on a ship. Even if I didn't get paid, I would want some challenging responsibilities where you can feel some self-value.
There are literally millions of other things you can do to strengthen yourself as a person and be of service to others.
thats on you bro
@@carinalindberg7377 I guess you can write checks for nonprofits. But you can't volunteer at a food bank, or plant a tree, or baby-sit your grandchildren. You can't take in a package for your neighbor or be part of a congregation that is stable week after week, go to a concert of your favorite music (not the choice of the cruise line) or tend a garden or be part of a literacy program -- or a million other things that might help others. Heck, you can't even talk regularly on the phone to your nearest family or best friend and listen sympathetically to their problems, and you can't be there when they might really need you! If you are close to your family, you will miss birthdays, weddings, hospital visits, celebrations, and alas, possibly funerals.
@@elainechubb971 You can read, you can write, you can paint, you can create music. You can donate money to charities because all charities and causes need money and someone's gotta provide that too. You can study and learn about new things you're interested in our passionate about, you can listen to music, you can get to know new people all the time, you can have conversations with these people that will change their lives, and your own, for the better, you can be in love with life. All things that make the world a better place for others. You can also jump off the ship from time to time and actually do the things you can't do while on the ship, liked going to concerts. Nobody says you can never be on dry land ever again. You can also be very close to your family and not speak to them or see them regularly. I, for instance live in Spain and my family lives in Sweden. I see them perhaps once a year. We're still very close. Closeness is a choice and about the life we feel. We don't talk often, but we do message was other. Perhaps writing letters will be a thing. Ships do have internet for the most part these days so it's possible to speak to those we want to speak to.
The human being isn't cut to fit in one box, to know how to do the exact save this, to be the exact same person as the next. We're all different, with different dreams and different passions and different goals. Just because something doesn't fit into your own personal box doesn't mean it's not a perfectly amazing life lived. In fact, to me the life of the ship sounds like a very interesting and fun way to experience life. Not for always, but who said we have to pick one thing and then stick to that one thing for the rest of our lives? It's certainly not my life. 🥰🙏
My aunt pays a little more than 6K a month living at an assisted living facility... She was still mobile and on top of her game while living there for the first 10 years with the last 5 years she really slowed up... but she could have easily done this before moving into her assisted living and enjoyed life a little more. Something to think about. 20 years from now at least for a year or so. Or maybe just do a month at a time here and there as an option during the colder winter months.
The point of living on a ship is that you ave no permanent residence on land--no rent, no real estate taxes, etc. And you have to make arrangements for a legal address in the U.S. for taxes, bank account, setting up health insurance maybe a Medigap one, that will cover you abroad, and all the complexities of modern life. I believe the lady who lived on the QE2 used the address of a child as her legal address, but what if you are childless or your children aren't able or willing to have you stay while you go to the dentist and get medical tests and so on?
I am new to cruising and I am taking my second cruise next week. I really enjoy your videos and have really learned a lot. Keep it up.
As much as I enjoy cruising and being on the sea, I've never been tempted to do this for all the reasons you mentioned. For me, one of the best things about travel is that it is different than regular life. It provides a change of scenery, something to look forward to, new things to explore.
Well said. Looking forward to the cruise is half the fun!
Totally different angle from what these elderly people are doing. They are trying to avoid living in nursing homes.
Well these people are not in prison; they can take time off the ship whenever they want when the ship ports, as long as they keep paying for their cabin.
I much rather lived on land in a tiny house community ☺️
I can think of nothing worse than being confined to a ship every day of my life. Never being able to be in a green environment with trees and grass and fresh air and all the beauty of nature including wildlife etc. To me that would be the kiss of death. Nor would I even consider a cruise as a form of a vacation. But then everyone has different tastes. Many would not want my idea of an outdoors lifestyle. I say to each, his own. Enjoy.
Can't imagine to live full-time on a cruise ship but people like different lifestyles. I'm retired in SE Asia with about $1,000 to $1,500 a month the most including everything. Thanks for sharing. Greeting from a world traveler and genocide survivor!
Mind giving the city and country???
Me too I’m retired American been in Saigon since 2013 was teaching English plenty of these jobs. Live well for $1000 but need renew 2yr Visa every two years, now due to covid new visa restrictions so not sure how next renewal will be. If not then I’m off to la Paz BC Mexico live well there too for a $1000 a month visas not difficult to get.
Sir if you don’t mind me asking how long have you been in Cambodia and did you find the financial learning curve difficult at 1st?
@@jvs333 I live on about $1kUSD/mo and have been thinking about Mexico or Vietnam. My money will go much further in those places. My buddy just got back from Saigon. He's trying to convince me to go. My only hang up is that I use a wheelchair a lot of the time in public. Those places aren't the most wheelchair friendly.
@@boofert.washington2499 yes Vietnam is not wheelchair friendly. If that’s your I’d give thought to La Paz. It’s not a multi story society as VN. And a $1000 a month can give you a decent stable living. La Paz is a beautiful city community and a easy place to retire. I suggest research La Paz (visa, cost of living, life of wheel chair living. $1000 US a month is a lot in countries outside the US. La Paz is a one/two story society. Healthcare in Mexico is very affordable ( unlike the US) I suggest google living in La Paz. Vietnam is great but difficult for wheelchair conditions as it’s a vertical infrastructure society.
You can also look into San Felipe or any Baja California city. They are single floor communities. Also Baja California (pacific or gulf) are laid back and casual culturally (stay away from Tijuana which is a hustlers culture. You can also look into other Mexican regions further south but as an American I think places like San Felipe and northern Baja California regions would provide a sense of what would make you feel comfortable. Google Baja California places. Baja is a great area either near border or the tip (la paz,
San Jose Del Cabo, todos Santos but they are flight distance from border
I don't know about living on cruise ships indefinitely but I find the idea of spending a few months every year very appealing (especially to escape winter). I think it will become a popular option in the future if cruise lines can guarantee good reliable wifi (for remote workers like me).
The real question I'd have for Mario is "why" he'd want to to live this way. It sounds to me like he's made himself a virtual prisoner, foregoing most of the things that make cruising enjoyable. This also illustrates just how cut throat the cruise industry is as they should reward loyal customers like this beyond their normal programs.
I was just thinking the opposite, that I believe I would be quite content living the way he is. I'm not sure what you're referring to as "most of the things that make cruising enjoyable" but he will already have access to many things that perhaps are good enough for him: scenery, wonderful food, ways to exercise, internet, etc.
This popped up in my feed because google thinks I'm my parents, but they are atm on a cruise(at the time of this post). My father doesn't really enjoy food but has said it's been the best food he's ever eaten. You only ever go to your cabin to sleep. Since you can relax on the deck or wherever. I mean, if he works from a computer, he can sit out on the deck, cool breeze, and work. While 99.9% of other office workers are looking at some bland wall.
However if you hear what he said, the individual kept wanting more service that the crew doesn't offer(not Mario's story). We don't know what that is but it might be related to assistance due to age/illness. It could be other things. They may of welcomed Mario in his time aboard.
All that being said, I would agree that staying longer, even in off times, you would get a discount for being a loyal customer. Since I've seen video's my dad posted and the ship of max capacity of 4,000. Doesn't seem nowhere near that. Much of the ship area's are empty or few ppl. So a customer prepaying a whole year should get all the packages.
@@Yamigata Subjectivity aside, It's a severe stretch to call cruise ship food "wonderful" except perhaps the specialty restaurants which he expressly avoids. Other things most people look forward to when cruising are actually experiencing the ports, another thing he avoids.
There's also shopping onboard, the casinos, etc. Now he's probably had his fill of these things for the most part, so perhaps that makes them passé.
Then there's the cabin. Inside cabins suck, period. I won't even consider a cruise without a balcony anymore. The "common" areas have become way too common [and overcrowded] for my taste.
If it were me I'd find a nice hotel and [maybe] cruise occasionally, but that's just me.
@@Degenerecy With respect to your dad, I've been on at least 20 cruises of varying cost and the food is only decent in the specialty restaurants. The rest is recycled into different concoctions throughout the voyage. It won't kill you but it's not to be confused with a Morton's steak either.
Due to the COVID situation cruise ships probably are relatively empty nowadays but, believe me, that is not the norm and it's also not sustainable. To be profitable the ships must be at capacity which means severely overcrowded common areas. I wouldn't even consider a cruise these days without a private balcony for that reason.
The real question is why they would choose such a retirement when they can choose to retire in south east asia comfortably using less amount of money than that. Thailand is a popular retirement destination or Bali in Indonesia is a good choice as well with that budget. For low budget you can look into Solo or Yogyakarta in Indonesia for less than USD 15/day cost of living. For USD 10,000/ year you can even live in the major city in Indonesia very comfortably.
I worked on cruise ships for about 2 yrs. And all the points that he makes about friendships etc also happens when you work on them. I learned a half dozen films by heart, could quote practically every line and knew when to pop my head into the theatre to see my favorite parts. Of course, this was also 50 years ago :-) We didn't have wifi, tv, but we did have a vcr the size of a suitcase. :-)
I wonder what differences there would be between your time on the cruise ship and now. Do the crew have all the same access to things in their off hours as the guests?
@@White000Crow well we can say it's safer today
@@White000Crow In many cases, yes; in other cases, the employees have their own amenities, lounges, dining areas, et cetera. Some categories have more flexibility to use the facilities for guests (e.g., buffet-deck, fitness-centre) as well as those dedicated to employees. With all the technologies and many added ports and on-shore excursions, cruise-ships today offer far more choices, services, and amenities, both to guest and to employees, than those of 30, 40 or 50+ years ago.....Ships from then would be almost unrecognisable now.....
For an American citizen, if you can afford it, perhaps buying a condominium in the Miami / Ft. Lauderdale area and doing 3-weeks on / 1-week off schedule would solve a lot of those problems.
Did you read my five-year plan?
Agreed.
So pay months rent for a place you stay 1 week a month?
I urge ALL to AVOID CRUISE SHIPS
30 PEOPLE A YEAR VANISH ON THEM
@@norml.hugh-mann most are suicides or people under the influence that climb over or up on the railing and fall. There are certainly some murders, but per capita the rates are pretty low compared to those ashore.
@@norml.hugh-mann guarantee they fall overboard man. I work for Norwegian in the Baltic sea and we had a person disappear mid cruise, he never got off at port and just vanished. Last seen going into his cabin....usually that's always how it is
Great stuff. I've been exploring the idea of trying to live a year just cruising.
i met a couple on one of my cruises on Carnival several years ago who traveled two weeks at a time and two weeks at home. They had their own cabin and even had badges that said, “i give hugs.” They had a great rapport with the staff as so many of them are from other countries and far from home. Loved getting to meet them and spend time with them!!
The psychological reasons for doing this are surely why most people don't. From articles about him, it's pretty clear that Mario had severe burnout after being a corporate road warrior for 20+ years. But even then, as you said, he still has a condo in Miami, and is on land for about 2 weeks a year to get various things done.
During the Covid pandemic he lived in one of the islands in the Caribbean (Aruba?) .... not even his already paid apt. in Key Biscayne, Miami, Florida. It was mentioned that he spends 2 weeks a year on land. I have it understood that he spends the 365 days on a RC ship. Most unusual behavior ...
@@silviaeaston Damn, what does he do for a living? I need to get his job so I can afford to go on a permanent vacation, too.
The only real issue is living assistance. As long as you’re healthy enough to care for yourself and have the means, cruise lines don’t care.
When I worked for Princess there was a couple that lived in one of the suites on a particular ship. They would be required to vacate their suite for at least two months every year. There was some kind of legal reason. Additionally they felt the “owned “ the suite and would try to dictate things with officers and crew. And wanted to put in their own furniture. It was very difficult and they always took the “Captain’s Circle” prize for most cruises which discouraged other passengers.
But wouldn't they have loyalty benefits?
@@dv9239 They did. I haven’t been on Princess for a while, but I think they stopped giving out the prize for having most cruises for a while because of this couple. The thing was that they wanted to be treated as owners and not as passengers, even though they were not owners.
@@perspectivesbyalison2338 Their position is quite understandable, given the hundreds of thousands of dollars that they spent with that cruiseline....possibly millions cumulatively, as you mentioned "suite"...and not an Inside Cabin, for instance. In contrast with what you observed (negative perceptions towards guests) with Princess cruises, If you watch the interviews with Mama Lee, you will see that the cruiseline allowed her to renovate her Suite, and the staff even gladly helped her with that. Also, notice the several online/TH-cam interviews with Super Mario and notice how Royal Caribbean officers and employees go out of their way to make him feel at home, as if he owns the ship, even though he is not strictly an owner. They even made a special place for him to use as a work-station on the Pool Deck...."Mario's Office".....For frequent and longtime guests, great appreciation is due, for they help to make the company great, and serve as amazing brand-champions.
The appeal of cruising is that you can visit various places and experience various cultures for one set (reasonable) price with very little hassle. Stacking more than two or three cruises back to back in the same region would start digging into those benefits.
Our last cruise was before the pandemic. About 300 people lived on the boat and had gold cards. The staff knew them by name. The cruise ships are floating nursing homes.
The Staff Know our Names, very quickly, even on a 1 week Cruise. This Video Suggests that Anyone with limited mobility, or extensive Health Issues, are not great candidates for Long Term Cruise Ship Living, regardless of their ability to Pay.
@@robertweekley5926 A ship is not a floating hospital. Also no dentist, optician etc. And the ships doctor can't care for every patient in detail. How would you get your meds if you need some regularly which has not necessarily to do with old age (blood pressure, diabetes etc.).
Lol
Even the crew doesn't want to deal with old, sick people trying to live full time on a ship.
😅😅
Can't believe this popped up today. It's a sign!! We have been talking about spending 6 months out of the year on a Ship when we retire. I thought that there might be some kind of discount for long term travellers, it appears not. Thanks for laying out all the information.
Mario is a legend! Met him before when I was working on Royal Caribbean, everyone knows him, really nice guy. All staff come across him eventually
I was on Symphony of the seas a week ago. Mario was on the ship during that time and i saw him working at his own office on pooldeck.
I truly enjoyed this vlog! I've always wondered what it would cost to live on a cruise ship in comparison to regular life. It seems it's almost a zero sum gain financially when you add in everything it cost on land (food, transportation, lodging, entertainment, communications, etc. etc. etc. The only difference I see is living on land is less of a hassle. Thank you so much.
What an amazing explanation for me since I have often thought about living on a cruise ship! My favorite vacation type is cruising. I remember the first cruise I ever did (Carnival) and I was so sad to leave. I think if I were not attached to the land for work and stuff, I would be on the water tout les temps!
Thanks, Gary.
As always, you’ve hit the nail on the head.
Floating petri dish, Golden Corral and casino all in one.
Once is enough!
Retirement home yesterday when we checked was $3,400 a month and the room was tiny. This sounds like a good idea except for all the covid garbage you have to go through
If you comply there are some great deals and free upgrades right now. I gotta say no thank you!!
$3400 a month. That’s a bargain. My father was in a nursing home for 4 years and his last month was $7000.
Hun , all that " covid garbage " was to keep people safe .. Just so ya know ..
Maybe we set up ships without the scheme-of-the-year-before-last garbage, and for those who are healthy because they don’t deal with the medical mafia, instead they learn about alternate medicine, Chinese traditional medicine, other ways of being healthy. Seems that could be a nice residential line.
I've been blessed to enjoy both European and Caribbean Cruises and you can just feel and see the difference between them. Eg European Cruise we really dressed up for dinner in the restaurant but I felt a bit out of place the first evening dressed up for dinner in my ball gown on the Caribbean Cruise, people were in jeans and baseball caps for dinner in the restaurant!!!!!
Sounds like a great possibility for the next F. Scott Fitzgerald novel ! Gary -- many, many thanks for these entertaining, informative videos.
I had talked to a couple that said they spent most of the year on cruise ships. They stated they look for the next deal leaving from the port they are going into. They don't stick to a specific line. They did have a condo on the east coast where they could spend time with family. Loved hearing the costs and facts of cruise line living.
For the price of living on a cruise ship, you could get a houseboat or medium sized cabin cruiser. That would be the option I'd choose!
Then you have to supply and cook your own food, that's a deal breaker for me.
Fuel isnt free bud. You're going to spend 50% of your boats value on fuel, insurance and mooring annually, then theres food and maintenance (dont forget maintenance seeing as your $110000 in no existing world covers a ready to run liveaboard vessel, nevermind fuel, provisions etc.)
@@daveperkins7645
YES could not agree with you more. My fuel tank is only 85 gallon. It's $100s of dollars to fill up. The haul outs each year for bottom repaint
The GEAR lube change on lower unit. Very expensive. Just the constant CLEANING shining the bright work. There is always corrosion creep somewhere. My boat was basically the cost of what that guy payed a year. When I bought it NEW at boat show from floor model.
@@daveperkins7645
Also forgot to mention the TOWING service is a must. People remember that a boat TOW is from the time the TOW boat leaves it's dock. The charge clock is ticking. Best insurance to have on water TOW coverage.
@@rp1645 indeed. They're nothing but holes in the water you fill with cash. What does boat stand for again? Oh, yeah, bust out another thousand. Lol
Me before Covid "That might not be a bad idea". Me during Covid " You would have to threaten me to get on one of those floating Petri dishes now"!
Insightful - thank you much. Nobody talks about this, I have been wanting this info for years.
Wife & I have done several cruises, hardest part for me has been staying away from the ice cream machine! However, on a Norwegian Carribean cruise couple years ago I ended up in the Infirmary's ICU for 5 of the 7 (or 8) day cruise. A severe respiratory infection, and was 72 at the time. Just want to say the medical staff was great, care was great, and our home (Los Angeles) insurance took care of it. I almost died! The attending doctor from Moscow and I both are big Frank Zappa fans and actually had a bit of fun while really ill! In Europe we prefer trains and hotels.
Thanks for bring up the travel insurance point for the world cruise. It’s on my bucket list, but another thing to ask the travel agent about when the time comes.
Thanks for sharing the costs. My single bedroom apartment with all utilities (electric/water/sewage/trash/internet) costs me $11,220 per year. But Im sure living on a constantly moving ship has its excitement.
@@themidgetsman - Oh yea, good point. That brings my yearly costs to $20,820 USD.
Wow, great video and information! Thank you for sharing your knowledge with us!
Very thorough video. Thank you for breaking it down. I only wish!
Fascinating! I always hate getting off the ship at the end. Thanks for doing the math -- i think that leaves me out.
I once went Scuba Diving in Cozumel during a land vacation. An older man forgot his fins on the dive boat. The captain just said "leave them with us, he lives on Royal Caribbean and will be back next week to get them, we see him every week".
That sounds really boring, diving every week. ha ha
From what I understand, Mario has a condo with a housekeeper in his home port of Miami which he visits often. He "lives" there and takes lots of back-to-back cruises.
This gives me an idea. Old used by date cruise liners could be converted to floating apartment blocks. Or dismantled and assembled on dry land. Or use some of the parts to build something else. A BIG job but most of the luxury fittings, structural pieces and material is already there.
This is probably more common at Las Vegas casinos. I spent almost half of the year last year jumping between free room offers in Vegas. There are still casinos that offer free nights for minimal play / play with low theoretical losses. Plus you're in a major city, and friends and family can visit anytime they want. A couple with enough money could generate offers at the same casinos and do it indefinitely. Downtown casinos are so close I can check out of one and check into another one five minutes later.
I believe that the owner’s association on that condo cruise ship years ago “The World” used to have big disputes over deciding upon the annual itineraries, every owner wanted to go somewhere different at different times of the year and the fees were massive
Thats a really good summary for a 10 min video. What I would add to that is the WHY do you want to live in a cruise ship. Falling in love for your holiday destination is very different then trying to live in ship. Its like those couples that move to Mexico after taking an all inclusive in Cancun....
Really outstanding video. Addresses many points I've long wondered about. well done.
Thanks for this very informative topic. I appreciate the depth and breadth of topics that you cover. Your channel keeps getting better and better!
Thanks for watching! And appreciate your comments 😀😀
Thanks for the actual research and not just opinions on the matter. This topic has come up several times among passengers on the few cruises I have taken. Should get many views.
Thanks for watching! Great to hear you found it interesting. I found it interesting researching - as you say the idea gets thrown around a lot but usually without facts !
Wonderfully informative vid that I could tell you put some time into researching. thank you
Would be interesting to see them make a cruise ship for long term living with more medical care, dental care etc etc.
For dental, you could probably find a port that has a good dentist reasonably nearby and make an appointment for the day you know you'll be in that port. If you're on the ship year-round, missing a day of sight-seeing twice a year shouldn't be a big deal.
@@HariSeldon913 Yeah good point
It would cost a fortune by design.
So a nursing home at sea? No thanks!
From the comments, I guess it's not for everyone, but I sure would love it as a retired person if I had that kind of money.
Semester at Sea may be an option. I went on that while in college & there were senior residents on board many who had been on the ship multiple times. We lived onboard for 100 days (there is a fall & spring semester cruise to different ports of call). We loved getting to know & talk to the adult residents. They even attended our courses if they wanted to sit in on them. There were even spouses/kids on board as well who were traveling with teachers so it was a great community feel. But I was 21 at the time so it was fantastic but even now as I get close to 60, I'd love to go back onboard for a semester for sure! College kids & all!
idk, i've seen the course subjects available. it's limited and the variety isn't as appealing as i'd hope it would be for an up to $30k tuition fee
Do you ever wonder where the time went? I do!
Until that boat sinks like Titanic. Which was purposeful if you didn't already know.
I didn't realize they have been doing semester at sea that long. I looked into it 17 years ago (when I was 26) and didn't pull the trigger. I should have.
@@kablah777 I went in Fall 1983 & there were alums from many years prior. It was the single most helpful & formative experience of my life. I grew into a whole lot better of a person because I saw other peoples, cultures & struggles up close & personal and continue to draw on that time in my life even today.
In fact I've been working with new colleagues for about 5 months now and out at drinks the other night it came up in conversation and I shared with them a bit about my experience and mentioned that at the end of my days I'll be reflecting on both the amazing things & not so amazing things I experienced in those 100 days. It'll be giving me comfort right up to the end. The world 🌎 is a glorious place and there is so much to see & learn that causes you to completely change your perspective from being Me focused to being We focused.
Gary I love all your videos v informative. I love to get dressed up when going to dinner on my cruises but every year I feel like the cruise lines get more casual. Could you do a video on which lines are best for the casual feel and for formally, dressing up smart etc. Thanks again for all your help!
I was one of about 3000 on the NCL Escape a week ago. It was extremely rare to see a suit and tie on a guest. Maybe 2 or 3 per night. Most wear shorts and t shirts all day. Dressing up is dead .
You’ve really done your research on this video, hats off to you.
Wow you come up with answers some of us didnt realise we wanted the answer to but do
Very interesting. Always great to see the reality of "I wonder what it would be like to......?". Like everything, the romanticism and luster of the nomadic lifestyle seems to wear off and slide into the mundane. Definitely an eye opener to the realities of cost, burn out and aging.
I'll stick with my dream of cruising the world for several months and then returning to my home base.
Thank You!
Thanks again for another unique and informative topic. Even if I had the money the idea of living on a cruise ship doesn’t appeal to me. It may be fun for a while but it would become very redundant.
When I was in South East Asia, I lived in hotels for 2 years, but this would be ideal. No need to cook. They clean your room everyday and you can choose to stay in your room on busy days.
Really enjoyed this topic and video... Thank you for the research and development of this piece...
Thank you Gary. Excellent information and yes a Residential privately owned
would probably be the route. The costs are very high indeed
You don't really own your stateroom on the residential ships like the ResidenSea. It's actually a long-term multi-year lease that expires! I recommend doing back-to-back cruises for a season like out of South Florida, or a world cruise.
I think pre-pandemic it would have been possible, but with the hassles with Covid regulations, it would be difficult even if someone could afford it.
I lived on a 27 ft Searay Sundancer in Racine Wi for 6 months I loved it
As a senior, with no family, I find this idea really quite tempting. Living in a floating small town/village. Still having the ability to jump ship from time to to time for time on land and picking up again in another port along the way. Now, just need the money... 😊
What a great look at an enticing retirement plan...or at least, it SEEMS like an enticing plan at first.
We talked to a nice gent who was on his final leg of a B2B2B2B2B2B2B2B cruise on Carnival Freedom, which was a great choice at that time because she did a wide variety of excursions -- E. Caribbean, W. Caribbean, "exotic" southern Caribbean, "Journeys" cruises, etc. The only reason he was leaving after our sailing was because the ship had been chartered for a jazz cruise, and he couldn't stay...just as you said was a possibility.
He was semi-retired, but still teleworking from the ship as a technical writer. During the charter "downtime" he was going back to California to check his landside post office box and picking up a quick cruise on Carnival Imagination. He seemed pretty happy and every guest-facing crewmember seemed to recognize him on sight, but I could see it getting old after a while.
I don't think Carnival Freedom will be an option since it caught on fire. Lol
About 15 years ago I met a guy on a Celebrity cruise. He recently sold his business and was ready to relax and had the money. He developed a three year plan to see the world. It was 3 years because that was about as far out as trips could be scheduled. He invited us to his suite for dinner and showed us his plan. It was very detailed and planned to the smallest detail with extra stays in places like Rome and Barcelona and Miami. All great jump off points for trips. He wasn’t particular about the cruise line, it was all about the destination and how each stop would lead him to the next place. It was an interesting concept but as you stated, he was a little lonely. We met about a year into his adventure and I think the shine had worn off. As much as we enjoy traveling and cruising, both ocean and river, there’s no place like home.
Exactly 👌🤞
home alone
@@herotime3726 He really seemed alone even though he was surrounded by people. If you’re gregarious and can easily talk to strangers then it might work better. He was traveling alone and the friendships he made were transitory and shallow. Traveling with a spouse or partner would make all the difference. As my dad said, wherever you go, there you are. 😁
I remember about 20 years ago there was a cruise ship that was a condominium complex you could own your a suite for life. I think it was called residentsea looked it up and found another ship like it but don’t think it’s the same ship but same idea.
We live fulltime in a rv, most of the time we are moving around every couple of weeks. We took an Alaska cruise this year and the one thing i was going to miss was not having to cook and clean. 😊😊
Thanks for giving us the lowdown on what it actually takes to LIVE on cruise ships.
Thanks for watching!!
Like almost all things in life, living on a cruise ship will get old really fast. The novelty will wear off and sooner or later you'll come to hate cruising. I think this is the primary reason why most people don't do this.
Maybe but is it different than living in a regular home? I have lived in my house for 20 years. When I look outside, I see the exact same thing every time. My neighbors are the same, the town is the same, everything is the same. On a cruise, at least you visit many different places, always a different look, different people, etc. I haven't gotten bored living in my home yet.
@@allent1034 But the main difference is that I can decide to go and do anything I want, where I want at a whim as I'm not limited to predetermined locations like I would be on a cruise ship. Plus I can't participate in a wide variety of potential hobbies which spice life up while living on a cruise ship.
@@keyboardmamma All very true. I think the point is that there is good and bad about everything. Living on a cruise ship, would mean you have to ride the ship to whatever itinerary you chose. Living in a house means, your house is stuck in the same spot. Both can be good or bad. If you want to take up archery, you can't do that on a cruise ship. Living in a house means travel is limited. They are just different. There is no point in deciding one is great and the other is terrible.
Good video, thanks. It deals with something that people perhaps mention as "what would it be like?" without digging any further. Good points made.
It kind of reminds me a little of van life where you probably don't see or here about the bad stuff it sounds really romantic but must be scary during storms ect
Saying you have the money, 9-month world cruises would probably be the way to go. Surely they would have a dentist on board. And there should be other 9-month-ers to become long-term friends with then. I wonder if such groups form their own cliques on board, either formally or informally. Something you might want to research, Gary. Maybe even join such cruises for a leg and do interviews with them, individually and/or as a group. Might make for a nice mini-series on your channel. I don't recall any cruising channel that has done this. Be the first! :-)
We are doing the Ultimate World Cruise Dec 2023 to Sep 2024
So excited for that adventure. I love your videos they are very informative
cool are u gonne put something on yt ?
Wow, that sounds fantastic! I’ve looked into those, but of course they are way out of my price range
Can I just say that $72,000 a year is probably what most people in the USA don’t even make. These people were loaded to begin with.
Yeah that's more than the average household income (2 wage earners)
Its Certainly Ok for them to talk about this like it is something affordable if you have Millions or some great stocks that keep you in the half million range every year or even quarter million but the ORDINARY PERSON this is still elaborate and far out of their reach. I would do it if I could afford it.
Keep in mind - this isn’t for everyone! This is something for those interested & able.
Didn’t know this was a thing until I met 2 older ladies that weren’t in a rush nor had their luggage & they said they go back to back for many months at a time
The cost of living on a cruises ship is well above the median income of retirees but if one loved cruising it would be a nice adventure to spend atleast one nomadic 3-4 month snowbirding season cruising the Caribbean.
My husband and I were only just discussing the live aboards the other day wondering how they managed during the pandemic. You mention very practical points about why the reality doesn’t measure up to the fantasy. I did not realise there were some dedicated residential ships, oh how the other half live 😁 We are in Australia so it is going to be another year or so before we will be back cruising sadly.
... we can still plan a future cruise ... just not next month ...
Thanks for watching! It does seem that cruising is a way off down under ….
Just head to the outback!
When the cruise ships shutdown I think people waded through the quarantine requirements to go back to the country of citizenship.
Wendover Productions has a video about how crews got home: "The insane logistics of shutting down the cruise industry"
Absolutely love this channel. My wife and I just finished our first cruise on Carnival Sunrise out of Miami to Jamaica and Grand Cayman. I don’t know if that line is right for us, but I will cruise again. Love your insight in this newfound life. Also, how do I get one of the shirts you are wearing…love it!
This reminds me of the movie, '1900.' A wonderful movie about a baby born on a Ocean Liner in 1900 and spends his life aboard. I highly recommend this movie.
I can’t imagine living on a ship full time. I would absolutely lose my mind as I’m a person that needs to move and adventure. I remember actually being on a ship that used to be a cruising boat for the Great Lakes in the 1930s. I was losing my mind in 2 hours. I need to be on land.
Yeah, much better to live in a house that doesn't go anywhere and you have the same scenery every day.
@@bambooprincess3495 Well, the SS Badger is a car ferry that also transports humans across the lake? It's not meant to have much. As it is, it has a museum, badger bingo, shop, trivia, outdoor deck where you can exercise (which I used to my great advantage as I have serious anxiety), movie area/video games, state rooms you can use for a nap or some time away, restaurant for food (and alcohol if you wish to have that), kids' activities. You're on it for four hours. Do you expect a casino? No. It's the only coal operated car ferry in existence. You do it for nostalgia. My dad does it to make sure I die from sketchy Wi-Fi, no air con, and a boat that likes to rock a little too much for my tastes. I much prefer the German operated Lake Express which cuts the commute in half and has actual wi-fi that works. Oh, and I don't get sea sick (lake sick? inland sea sick?)
@@allent1034 I actually travel quite frequently for doctors, horse lessons, stuff for the dogs, so I'm never looking at the same scenery that often. I do like a routine, but my vacations are really that, vacations!
Good research and great insight, Gary. Thank you.
I used to enjoy cruises, and even then, living on a cruise ship had zero appeal.
I was always grateful when a cruise ended.
Limiting cruises to just the Caribbean makes no sense to me with so many other places to visit.
If you have the money I recently finished an entertainment contract with Norwegian cruise lines on the Baltic sea. I would 100% recommend that itinerary The ship is amazing and the cruise goes all over the Baltic countries Russia Poland Sweden Finland it's awesome
Mario has no interest in "visiting new places" (which is oftentimes what the majority of cruisers is doing) Mario is clearly simply just "getting away from "life"... he had 2 wifes and at least 2 children (Alexander and Diana)
@@user-cp3tv1lp2g now that is what I'd like to do.
If we ever have my ship come in, I would do the round the world trip. If it becomes an issue with a cabin switching, but do stay overs in various countries to take a break. However, if I was going to year off to do something, I would rather be hiking and seeing landscapes.
New to your channel but so well done. Very interesting ideas. Perhaps not for everyone, but who knows?