long term care cruise ship

How to retire on a cruise ship

As I approach retirement age, the thought of retiring on a cruise ship has crossed my mind. Okay, who am I kidding? It's a daily obsession.

Retirement living is generally broken into three phases: the active healthy phase where you are fully independent, the phase where you need some assistance with meals and household chores, and the phase where you need a far greater level of care. Cruise retirement life obviously suits the independent phase, but it also closely resembles the assisted living option most people consider on land.

Both cruise ships and retirement communities include food, lodging, utilities, housekeeping and social gatherings, plus enrichment activities like guest lecturers, movies and art, computer or dance classes. Add to that the ability to travel the world without bothering with airplanes and hotels, and it makes sense that many people view living on a cruise ship as an ideal retirement plan.

For cruise news, reviews and tips, sign up for TPG's cruise newsletter .

But how do you go about it? Clearly, you can live on a cruise ship — any good travel agent will happily book you on a year's worth of cruises at a time. But there's no "How to Retire on a Cruise Ship" guidebook to help you make informed decisions about the cost and feasibility of living out your golden years at sea.

What is the best way to go about full-time cruise ship travel? What other considerations should be taken into account? I dug in with some good old-fashioned research to see where that led me. Here's what I learned about how to retire on a cruise ship – and whether it's a good idea.

What does it cost to retire on a cruise ship?

When it comes to a retirement budget, commercial independent and assisted living facilities that provide extras like meal plans, housekeeping services, activities and transportation start on average around $60,000 per year per person, or $164 per night. (Obviously, this pricing will vary based on where you live, inclusions and luxury levels.) I set out to determine if retiring onboard a cruise ship could match (or beat) what's available on land, so I compared facilities with amenities and payment structures closest to what you could get on a cruise ship.

Retiring on a traditional cruise ship

While negotiating with cruise lines for a lower fare on a long-term arrangement is possible in many cases, I found that even without any special deals with the cruise line, I could book 52 back-to-back seven-night Caribbean cruises from Miami on Carnival Cruise Line 's newest ship, Carnival Celebration , for around $43,000 per person in an inside cabin. That's around $118 per person per night. (Think carefully whether you can stand to live year-round in a windowless room.)

Shopping for Carnival's cheapest cruises on older ships, I could get the average below $50 per person per night in inside cabins and around $110 in balcony cabins, including port taxes and fees. That means your cruise fare could be as little as $18,250 per person per year. Unfortunately, the fare is not your only cost to consider.

You would need to budget for flights between ports and occasional hotel stays if you decide to return home or swap ships. Plus, there are tips for staff to consider, which can total thousands per person during the course of a year.

All that puts the minimum for a couple or a single traveling alone (which requires single supplement charges in double occupancy cabins) just over the $50,000 per year mark.

Related: Best cruises for seniors who love to travel by sea

Obviously, there's no upper limit to how much you could spend on retirement on either land or sea, but here are some examples of what I found: A year on Cunard 's Queen Elizabeth in a balcony stateroom would run about $64,000 or $175 per night per person. A year onboard P&O Cruises' Britannia in a balcony cabin could be arranged for roughly $53,000 or $145 per night per person. Both options would allow you to see a great deal of the world.

By contrast, a year onboard a luxury cruise line like Silversea, Seabourn or Regent Seven Seas will cost a minimum of $200,000 per person ($548 per person per night). The good news about that price is that cruising on those lines includes things like tours, gratuities, alcoholic beverages and most specialty dining, as well as laundry.

Retiring on a residential ship

An alternative to sailing on a traditional cruise line through your retirement years is to buy or lease a cruise ship cabin on a luxury residence ship. The most well-known of these is The World, but there's been recent buzz about startup company Storylines and its residence ship, MV Narrative, which is set to launch in 2025. Victoria Cruises Line is also planning to turn two refurbished vessels into residential ships for long-term living, with a proposed launch in spring 2023.

Ownership simplifies a few things logistically, and your only additional costs are likely to be port expenditures and/or travel when you opt to leave the ship. You might also be able to rent out your cabin when you aren't using it, helping offset the cost of your cabin.

Storylines, for example, is selling staterooms either for the life of the ship or for quarterly seasonal shared ownership. Twenty-four-year lease options are also available. In addition to the initial purchase or lease cost, residents will pay an all-inclusive living fee per person per month that covers food and beverages, housekeeping, laundry, Wi-Fi, and, of course, fuel for the ship.

How does this option compare, pricewise? To purchase a 237-square-foot inside cabin with a virtual window for the life of the ship costs $1 million on average. A twenty-four-year lease is around $650K. Storylines also charges an additional all-inclusive living fee to cover onboard services (food, housekeeping, Wi-Fi, etc.); for an interior stateroom, this mandatory charge is $2,586 per person per month, based on double occupancy, or $62,064 annually for two people living together. Purchase prices for a one-bedroom, 1.5-bathroom unit averaged $2.7 million, with $111,000 in living fees.

For purposes of comparing the costs to traditional cruise ships, the living fee in the inside cabin on MV Narrative is $85 per person per night and the one-bedroom suite is $152 per person per night. These figures are in addition to the upfront costs of buying or leasing.

If you can invest in ownership or lease of a stateroom, your cost per night (beyond your purchase or rental price) can be lower than cruising traditionally. However, as MV Narrative is not yet under construction and is not slated to be built at one of the main cruise ship-building yards, you'll definitely want to talk to an advisor about investing your retirement savings in a startup company that has not yet brought a product to market.

What's so desirable about retiring on a cruise ship?

We talked about what's included on the ship and the potential of retiring for the same or even less than what you'd expect to pay for land-based retirement accommodations. That may be enough incentive for some, but what else makes retiring on a cruise ship an attractive choice?

For many, it's travel itself. Changing scenery every day can be an inspiring way to live. Even an option that visits the same ports over and over might be more appealing than staying at home for some people.

Simply not having to worry about grocery shopping, meal preparation or home maintenance tops most people's lists of retirement goals, and all of those would fit into a cruise ship retirement. Avoiding weather extremes is another retirement priority. It's possible to plan your retirement cruise itinerary to ensure you are always headed away from cold and snow.

The atmosphere on board a cruise ship is another plus. It's a whole other vibe from your average senior living facility. Whichever ship you choose is likely to be filled with people excited to be on board. That attitude can be infectious. Being surrounded by young people, not just folks of retirement age, can also make cruise ship life more appealing.

Related: Which cruise brand is right for you? A guide to the most popular lines

Living on a cruise ship presents the opportunity to meet new people. In some cases, it would be a shipload of new faces every week or two. Imagine how many new friends you could make in a year. Some cruisers make friends with crew members on every cruise they take. The opportunity to stay onboard and foster those relationships for long stretches might be irresistible.

Then there are people who enjoy being in the company of others, while maintaining nothing but passing interactions with them. Even an introvert might find the social scene of a cruise ship a better arrangement than a more solitary retirement scenario.

What might make you think twice about living full-time on a cruise ship?

For some, the best part of retirement is spending time with family — especially the grandkids. Cruise retirement doesn't rule that out, but it does make it a bit more complicated. It's hard to be the type of granny who can frequently babysit when you live on a cruise ship, potentially thousands of miles away from where the grands live. If your family wants to visit you, they'd have to pay for cruise fare for everyone.

The same holds true for developing lasting relationships. Passengers and crew come and go on ships, so your relationships will be fleeting. Retired singles may find it difficult to find the next love of their life floating around the Caribbean on a ship full-time. For introverts, it can be exhausting to continually make the effort to meet people.

If you prefer the company of animals to people, you're out of luck. In most cases, you can't take pets with you on a cruise, so that can be a drawback for many retirees.

Related: Are dogs allowed on cruise ships? These are the cruises that allow pets

A feeling of confinement is tops on the list of reasons people I talked to said they couldn't retire on a cruise ship. Even on a large ship, you can only go where it goes, plus the room you call your own is likely to be far smaller than what you are used to. There's a certain loss of freedom, but that's common with many forms of retirement living.

Plus, the cabin you book might not be designed for senior living, the way apartments at a retirement home or senior living community would be. You'll also have fewer options for cable TV plans and phone calls and Wi-Fi costs will be pricier than on land.

Though cruise ships have a medical staff, they aren't equipped to handle serious health issues. You'd have to manage prescription medications from a distance for long periods of time, and schedule time off the ship for routine checkups. Any medical emergencies might require you to be airlifted from the ship, and the distance to the nearest hospital could be quite far.

Related: Do cruise ships have doctors, nurses, medical centers or hospitals?

And in most cases, you won't be able to rely on Medicare for your health coverage while out of the country. For that, you'll need a travel or ex-pat health insurance plan, with costs ranging from around a hundred per month to thousands, depending on your coverage specifics. Plus, your cruise retirement could be cut short at any point by health issues. They won't hesitate to kick you off the ship if you need more appropriate care on land – and then you'd need to quickly find a new place to live while suffering from medical concerns.

Besides the health aspect, you'll always need to have a solid backup plan. Things like mechanical breakdowns, disaster-related shutdowns and cruise line business decisions can drastically affect your plans — more so than in most land-based living situations. You would need annual travel insurance as well as enough available money to cover hotels and transportation from almost anywhere on the globe.

How to start planning for a cruise ship retirement

Taking an extended cruise is a good first step toward deciding if you want to make cruising a more permanent retirement option. I met a woman last year when I cruised on Royal Caribbean's Grandeur of the Seas who was in the planning stages for the cruise line's 274-night world cruise. This woman was testing out several storage products she hoped would make life easier on her extended cruise. From drawer organizers to under-bed rolling plastic bins, she was traveling with things most weeklong cruisers would never think of.

She was also working on boosting her loyalty status with Royal Caribbean . There are perks available to the highest loyalty levels that would save money when retirement time arrives. Complimentary laundry tops the list of valuable perks at the top levels on the mainstream lines, along with spa treatments and specialty restaurant meals, Wi-Fi discounts and free or discounted cruise nights. Even luxury lines like Silversea and Seabourn offer top loyalty members discounts and free nights.

The higher your status when you retire, the more perks you start out with – though you'll quickly climb through the loyalty ranks if you sail on the same line for an entire year.

The woman I met was using low-cost solo cruises (which earn double points) on Royal Caribbean's smallest ship to boost her status point total. Status is shared with domestic partners or spouses living in the same household, regardless of whether they went on the same number of cruises. Other ways to boost status would include taking advantage of double points offers like the one Celebrity Cruises is running this year on European cruises or by cruising in upper-level suites.

Related: A beginner's guide to cruise line loyalty programs

Initial steps toward cruise ship retirement might also include selling one's home (or preparing it for becoming a rental), disposing of excess possessions and re-homing pets. You will also want to consult with a financial advisor to help with residency laws and money management that might allow you to cruise even longer into retirement.

Bottom line

Retiring on a cruise is an intriguing possibility, whether you book a year's worth of back-to-back cruises on a traditional cruise ship or purchase a floating apartment on a residential ship. Either way, retirement at sea comes with both advantages and disadvantages. While you will have the opportunity to explore the world and meet lots of new people, you may find yourself missing the people you left behind.

The financial aspects, particularly when it comes to health insurance, are likely to be tricky, requiring careful planning with expert advice. And you'll need a backup plan should your health at some point prevent you from remaining on board.

The best plan is to plan well ahead, starting with a few long cruises to make sure it's a good fit. Many of the steps you would take in planning for a world cruise would be the same things you would do to pave the way for a full cruise ship retirement. Once you're convinced you're cut out to cruise year-round for years on end, you can begin to make the arrangements to dismantle your old life on land and build a new one at sea.

Planning a cruise? Start with these stories:

• The 5 most desirable cabin locations on any cruise ship
• A beginners guide to picking a cruise line
• The 8 worst cabin locations on any cruise ship
• The ultimate guide to what to pack for a cruise
• A quick guide to the most popular cruise lines
• 21 tips and tricks that will make your cruise go smoothly
• 15 ways cruisers waste money
• The ultimate guide to choosing a cruise ship cabin

Welcome to Elysium Cruise Residence ® and the exclusive Elysium Wellness Lifestyle™ Premium Aged Care + Luxury Ship Residence

“Adding Life to Your Years, And Years to Your Life…”

Total: 371 Luxury Staterooms

2 Regal Penthouses

103 Penthouses

148 Balcony Staterooms

118 Luxury Staterooms

About Elysium…

Elysium presents a vision for your aged care lifestyle.

This could be your daily view from an Elysium Cruise Residence™ aged care stateroom

Elysium is a premium aged care residence & Continuing Care Retirement Community / Assisted Living / Skilled Nursing Level (CCRC / AL / SNL) residence based on an expertly customised luxury cruise ship.

The Elysium ship is itinerary free, following the best weather, leisurely cruising along Australasian coastlines, visiting small boutique ports, enjoying long duration and immersive stays at the select list of Elysium’s ‘preferred ports’ around Australia, New Zealand, and the Pacific Islands.

The Elysium Residence is an elegant and dignified solution for those that would otherwise be in aged care facilities and institutions that are land-based, land-locked, claustrophobic, with static inflexible views, at the mercy of the local weather, seasonal extremes, and inescapable geohazards.

Elysium is an elegant solution and life-style option at a competitive cost to that found in current premium aged care facilities, and luxury residences, in Australasia and globally. It is genuine care, dignified elegance, and a luxurious lifestyle option befitting those in their grand years looking back on a full life of success and achievements, and an opportunity to enrichen and add more quality years uplifted by the Elysium lifestyle experience.

Elysium harnesses the ‘blue space’ and ‘Blue Zone’ experience that has supporting scientific proof to what generations have felt all along, that a life with expansive beautiful water views is calming, stress reducing, invigorates one’s outlook, and encourages a positive frame of mind.

3D Virtual Tour

Take a peek at the level of luxury of your future residence, and capture a glimpse of your inspiring balcony views. Your ever-changing expansive blue sky, blue sea, views are unparalleled and superior to any land- locked, static view ashore. This is what you can expect with an Elysium lifestyle future…

Here are our answers to the likely questions you have for this new way of enjoying aged care. And yes, there is a limit of only 371 luxury stateroom vacancies (in the world) – watch the ‘residence available’ count down as confirmed registrations of interest are lodged and refundable 10-20% deposits are pledged.

Mission Statement – Vision – Values

To know where Elysium wants to go, and take you with us on the Journey, we have a Vision of Why, Where, and How, founded on Principled Values, with a Mission Statement outlining how we have carefully planned to usher you to an unparalleled aged care lifestyle.

“The way to predict the future is to create it”

~ Abraham Lincoln

This Elysium Cruise Residence™ lifestyle innovatively combines the best in wellness health, immersion in expansive ‘blue space’ and ‘Elysium Wellness Lifestyle™’ living, a choice for continued interactive relationships with international and local communities, an initiative and social imperative life crafted to add quality to every residents’ life, including all the support nurses, carers, hospitality staff and crew, uplifting and aspirational, promoting longevity… “adding Life to Their Years, and Years to Their Life”

– Elysium’s Founder, André Sidler.

Elysium sets the new standard of aged care

Retirement, aged care, exclusive business venue, on-call 24/7/365 medical support – an envious residential life at sea .

Elysium Cruise Residence™ is a world first in a niche market that Elysium itself has created and developed. What this means is that Elysium has ‘First-to-Market’ advantage, is the market leader, holds 100% market share, and will do so for the next 5-7 years. There is no offering in the world like Elysium. Availability will be at a premium given the limited residence number of only 371 luxury staterooms, including Penthouses – refer to the ‘availability counter’ at the landing page introduction.

The average waiting time for land-based premium aged care residences is 1-2 years – demand for an Elysium residence may be longer.

Don’t delay, submit and register your interest early to receive your unique enquiry code to secure your priority for any future reservation – fully registered priority codes cannot be traded as commodities (at this stage).

Exclusive Elysium Lifestyle Benefits…

Join the Exclusive Elysium Premium Aged Care Residence ensconced on an expertly customised luxury cruise ship

Enjoying peace of mind with the full medical support of onboard general and gerontology clinics, and 24/7/365 expert medical support staff

Hosts genuine, dedicated, expert, nursing care onboard, literally only minutes away with the push of a carer call button – 24 / 7 / 365

Provides the option for couples to continue to live together whilst one, or both, have increasing medical support needs – keeping loving couples together for longer and with genuine empathy

Caters for a broad, spectrum multi-national, full or part-time resident category that includes, but is not limited to, hospice and palliative care, aged care, cosmetic surgery, retiree, business professionals, and financial institute professionals.

The mobile floating residence harnesses the best seasonal weather the region and local conditions provide. By natural default this provides unmatched ‘blue space’ dynamic views of blue skies, blue sea, blue expanses, from your luxury stateroom balcony – every day.

Elysium caters to a HNWI demographic of aged care patients, palliative and hospice patients, retirees, business professionals, and financial institutes. Because of the concentration of wealth, and high level of business expertise on the ship, the Elysium residential offering is by default highly exclusive and physically limited by luxury stateroom numbers – this highlights the attractiveness for visionary early subscribers

An elderly woman affectionately thanking her nurse

Longevity~Wellness~Health~Lifestyle

The Elysium Cruise Residence™ is home to its in-house exclusive Elysium Wellness Lifestyle™ , a longevity lifestyle designed “to add Years to Their Life, and Life to Their Years” — André Sidler CEO and Founder.

Elysium’s holistic lifestyle approach draws upon pragmatic wisdom, life-enhancing biotech, a broad range of healthy menus including proven Mediterranean style faire, daily choices of mental and physical activities, enriching social interactions, a sense of purpose and worth, genuine care, full medical support on call 24/7/365, and immersed daily in magnificent unimpeded ‘blue space’, blue sky, blue sea views. The Elysium aged care residence and longevity lifestyle is unmatched and unparalleled.

Expanded medical facilities

Comprehensive, expanded medical facilities and clinics onboard, provide the ship a globally elevated level of medical autonomy whilst off-shore. The facilities have a gerontology focus for integrated care and wellness to live healthier and longer, whilst also safely catering for medical contingency’s likely to affect residents and the crew.

Two full-time, 24/7/365, fully staffed, Accident and Emergency surgeries provide redundancy for each other, as well as podiatry, pathology, pharmacy, dental, optician, x-ray, and general clinics, provide a well-supported medical service for a majority of foreseeable scenarios, well exceeding the medical support levels likely to be found at other aged care residences, or luxury cruise ships.

Elysium’s unique onboard medical facilities and expert medical staff can be called into action in contingencies such as natural geohazard disasters, seabourne emergencies, providing life-saving and necessary humanitarian disaster relief.   

Boutique scenic ports

Flexible and itinerary free, leisurely cruising between ‘Elysium preferred ports’ in Australasia – enjoying ‘blue space’, pristine, clear coastal waters of New Zealand, Australia, and the Pacific Islands, anchoring in the most spectacular safe harbour havens.

Basking in long duration, immersive, interactive community port visits, changing location to follow the best seasonal and local weather patterns – safely avoiding inclement weather for their time as Elysium residents onboard.    

Calming ‘blue space’ sea views, unimpeded horizons, and dynamic coastal scenery

The dynamic change of one’s luxury stateroom residential view is globally unmatched. The Elysium Residence view changes nearly everyday as the ship imperceptibly weathervanes into gentle breezes whilst at anchor in the harbour, or “up-anchors” and slow cruises to another scenic and protected anchorage – no longer restricted by a fixed static view, free of land based, land-locked, aged care retirement facilities who cannot physically compete with this unbound scenic advantage.

Our Visionary Partners

Elysium Cruise Residence® is proud to pledge its commitment to the Tiaki Promise  https://tiakinewzealand.com/  – touch the link for more information on our commitment to protecting and promoting New Zealand, and to “Care for Land, Sea and Nature, Treading Lightly and Leaving No Trace”

Get in touch

Want to get in touch? We’d love to hear from you. Here’s how you can reach us…

Contact us if you are curious as to how you can embark on an Elysium lifestyle choice as an;

• Aged care resident
• Retiree resident
• Business professional resident
• Financial advice expert resident
• Aged care medical staff member in a tax-free environment

We hope you have found the Elysium offering multi-faceted!

If you have read the FAQs , and have further enquiries, email us now for more specific information. 

Follow us on social media

Submit your enquiry into the Elysium Cruise Residence™ lifestyle. Additional information will be emailed to you.

• Email This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Concept Ideas Pty Ltd    ABN:  87 145 498 906  ACN:  145 498 906

Concept Ideas Ltd          6935574      NZBN : 9429046908469

Elysium Cruise Residence Limited          Bermuda Registered Company No. 202100518

Disclaimer: The various cruise ship images are generic representations conveying the sense of 5-Star rated luxury the Elysium premium aged care residence platform is based upon. The inaugural Elysium ship will be to this representative size, luxury configuration standard, and makes no claim that would restrict Elysium’s’ future luxury ship selection to a specific new ship class, ship name, ship operator brand, or current ship. Follow our Facebook page   for the latest update on our ship choice.  / Privacy Policy

© 2020 Elysium Cruise Residence ™ ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Website designed by Oxygen Media

Long term cruises for seniors: FAQ

Long term cruises for seniors: most frequented askeds  questions, did you know you could retire on a cruise ship, the longest “around the world” cruise at the best price ever.

There are a lot of cruise lines-, that are offering long term around the world trips, but clearly the longest of the longest is the Grand Voyage by Victoria Cruises.

Until 2021, before Victoria Cruises, the longest cruise was  by Viking Cruise Line with 138 days. Second place was Holland American Line (HAL) and MSC Cruises with 128 days, and the final was Princess Cruises with 55 days.

Only one of them (Viking) can be compared with Victoria Cruises, who are welcoming passengers on board over-the age of 18. Victoria Cruises is the most adult friendly as well, their passengers are generally aged 40-50.

On top of this, VCL  is the best deal  rental costs starting from $132/day/person with all inclusive pampering in a premium cabin,- while the others are pricier-

Viking $435, HAL $176, Princess $142.

Benefits of long term cruising:

You have enough time to discover places-, and learn the culture, not just the ports

You don't need to rush,

VCL also buy daily fresh seafood directly from fishermen at the port

You can live on boat, like normally at home, don't need to moving around with heavy luggages, getting tired from long traveling time.

On board you have homecare service, if you need some help

VCL have the strictest healthcare protocol, so you don't need to worry about anything

Between ports you have enough time to relax, learn or be entertained

The whole world is your home

How much is a cruise that takes you around the world?

Its really depends on how many days the cruise lasts and which company you choose. Average cost is $201.20/person/day.

55-day cruise $7,790

128-day cruise between $15,490-$22,499 

138-day cruise: $55,995

800-day cruise (just only offered by VCL): $7,999 (monthly/starting price)

How much does a 365-day cruise cost?

Prices around $70,000-$120,000/1-2 years / person. 

You can book this type of world adventure  only with Victoria Cruises Line at https://victoria.cruises/booking/ .

They offering premium suites, cabins and luxury staterooms only for adults, only over 50 years of age. The ship functions like a luxurious houseboat or an elite retirement home. Passengers can live their normal everyday life while traveling around the world.

Which cruise line is best for single seniors?

It doesn't matter if you are single or not, the best deal is Victoria Cruises.

They are prepared and focused for the needs of seniors, which means the following: 

Wellness and spa

Medical services

Fresh premium selection foods and drinks

Every cabin and stateroom has a luxurious interior, high quality textiles and beautycare products

Adult and senior friendly entertainment options

Adult friendly company aboard, no children, no adults under  the age of 40.

How long does an around- the- world cruise take?

The average lasts 6 months-unlimited months, dependings on how flexible you are. 

You can live on the boat like at home, or you can enjoy a holiday, its up to you.

If you want to make a really cool decision, move to the Victoria Majestic or Victoria Amazing and be different! 

How much does it cost to retire on a cruise ship?

I wrote more about this in my previous article (RETIREMENT HOME VS. CRUISE SHIP LUXURY RESIDENCE?) here , but take a look at this chart:

As you can see, you can live your retirement years on a cruise ship from $132-$417 daily.

For this price, you don’t need to pay bills, clean your apartment, shop, cook, clean the dishes, wash your clothes, pay for holidays, pay for homecare services, pay to move around, or use your car or public transport daily. You have much more time to enjoy your life, take your time, read books, play games or whatever you truly want.

Can I live permanently on a cruise ship?

There are very few cruise lines that are happy to host their passengers every day for years, and Victoria Cruises is one of them, offering the longest, most sustainable cruise.

The answer is then yes, you can!

You can rent a stateroom for 6-18 or even more months-, and live normal “land life” on the sea.

How much does it cost to live on a cruise ship full time?

In 2022-2023, an  27 months world cruise with Victoria Cruises costs roughly $5,000-$20,000. You can stay longer aboard if you want, after 800 days it's not nessesary to move, just simply start a new expedition!

How do you live on a cruise ship for a year?

You can live normally like on land-, for more than a year if you want. lt's not just a holiday, not just a world cruise, it's a luxurious lifestyle

Author: Vivien H. 04/11/2021

The website using cookies to provide the best user experience while browsing securely. Cookie Policy

• Best of Senior Living
• Most Friendly
• Best Meals and Dining
• Best Activities
• How Our Service Works
• Testimonials
• Leadership Team
• News & PR

• Already Booked?
• My Favorites

Tap our phone number to call us for a FREE consultation

• Email Deals
• Personal Quote

• Advanced Search

• Featured Cruise Deals

• Deals by Destination

• Deals by Cruise Line

• Deals by Departure Port

Last Minute Cruise Deals

Holiday Cruise Deals

Military Cruise Deals

• Family Cruise Deals

Popular Destinations

Australia/New Zealand

• Canada / New England

Popular Int'l Departure Ports

Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Barcelona, Spain

Civitavecchia (Rome), Italy

Piraeus (Athens), Greece

Reykjavik, Iceland

Southampton, England

Stockholm, Sweden

Sydney, Australia

Vancouver, British Columbia

Venice, Italy

Popular U.S. Departure Ports

Baltimore, Maryland

Boston, Massachusetts

Cape Liberty (Bayonne), New Jersey

Fort Lauderdale (Port Everglades), Florida

Los Angeles, California

Miami, Florida

New York, New York

Port Canaveral, Florida

San Francisco, California

Seattle, Washington

Popular Lines

Luxury Lines

River Lines

AmaWaterways

Atlas Ocean Voyages

Avalon Waterways River Cruises

Carnival Cruise Line

Celebrity Cruises

Holland America Line

MSC Cruises

Norwegian Cruise Line

Oceania Cruises

Paul Gauguin Cruises

Princess Cruises

Regent Seven Seas Cruises

Royal Caribbean International

Seabourn Cruise Line

Silversea Cruises

Uniworld River Cruises

Viking Expeditions

Viking Ocean Cruises

Viking River Cruises

Windstar Cruises

Land Vacations

• Cosmos Tours
• Globus Journeys
• Kensington Tours
• Tauck Tours

All-Inclusive Resorts

Cruising 101

• Free Consultation

Why Cruise?

Shore Excursions

Cruising Tips

Future Cruise Credits

Photo Galleries

Specialty Cruises

Group Cruises

Business / Incentive Cruises

Events & Meetings at Sea

Private Charters

Theme Cruises

• River Cruises

Cruise Tours

Wedding Cruises

Hosted Cruises

Family Cruises

Senior Living at Sea

News & Media

Press & News

Testimonials

Social Media

Pre-registration

Passports / Visas

Travel Protection

Why Cruise Web?

Our Approach

Low Price Guarantee

Gift Certificates

Customer Service

Not sure where to start?

Talk to a travel consultant.

Free quotes. Expert guidance. No booking fees.

Take advantage of limited-time offers and special deals

  Senior Living at Sea

Spend your retirement years the way you've dreamt of spending them - traveling the world. With Senior Living at Sea, exclusively from The Cruise Web, you will spend your retirement years at sea on a permanent cruise vacation!

You deserve to LIVE your retirement!

Your retirement, your way

• Get the MOST out of your retirement - less planning , more traveling !
• Live an event-filled, globetrotting adventure or a care-free, peaceful retreat.
• Make new friends and create unforgettable experiences.
• You're free to participate in a variety of social events as much - or as little - as desired.
• Host land-locked family and friends onboard, or stay in touch via social media.
• Get a better value compared to traditional land-based retirement options .

See the world

• Explore natural wonders and discover new cultures.
• Engage all of your senses onboard and ashore in various ports of call.
• Enjoy the safety, security and convenience of cruising with a new view every day!
• Be the exciting family member that everyone wants to visit.
• Bring your bucket list to life!

Maintenance-free living

• Friendly full-service staff attend to the details while you LIVE your retirement!
• Choose your accommodations from various private stateroom configurations - featuring twice-daily housekeeping.
• Instead of mowing, vacuuming or washing dishes, enjoy a spa day at sea!
• No membership dues, maintenance costs or ownership fees.

Delicious dining

• Enjoy mouth-watering cuisine inspired by destinations visited, as well as classic American fare.
• Diverse onboard dining venues offer frequently updated menus prepared by world-class chefs.
• Take advantage of health-conscious dining options, or indulge in decadent treats!
• Attentive staff learn your preferences to accommodate requests and dietary needs.

Captivating entertainment

• Choose from daily social activities, engaging lectures, top-notch entertainment and more - do your retirement, your way!
• Catch a film in the onboard theater, or take in a live performance - no tickets required!
• Stimulate your mind with educational workshops, culinary classes and destination-themed discussions.

Let's Plan Your Most Exciting Chapter, Senior Living at Sea

Wait no longer to do everything you promised yourself you would do in retirement. Call 1-888-250-7803 today to learn more about Senior Living at Sea, or request to be contacted below:

Contact Form

Call 1-888-250-7803 to build your personal Senior Living at Sea itinerary!

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Explore our most Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) about Senior Living at Sea:

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

BENEFIT COMPARISON

Compare the benefits of Senior Living at Sea versus traditional land-based senior living:

Benefit Comparison

WHAT IS SENIOR LIVING AT SEA?

Senior Living at Sea is a new retirement option available exclusively from The Cruise Web. With Senior Living at Sea, The Cruise Web's carefully curated annual itineraries transform land-bound retirees into globe-trotting explorers .

Senior Living at Sea customizes perfect cruise itineraries to meet your individual travel desires, health needs, retirement timelines and financial considerations. Call 1-888-250-7803 to discuss your options to experience Senior Living at Sea.

This is what you've worked so hard for - make every day the adventure of a lifetime!

WHY SENIOR LIVING AT SEA ?

Senior Living at Sea provides the convenience of cruising with the fulfillment of world travel - all without having to suffer through uncomfortable flights and jetlag, or repeated packing and unpacking. You also won't find a better value for retirement living than on a cruise ship, where you'll enjoy the incredible amenities and exceptional service of a carefree vacation lifestyle. Traditional land-based retirement communities or assisted living programs can't come close to providing the same benefits and value as making a cruise ship your home - compare for yourself in our Benefit Comparison . Plus, with Senior Living at Sea, your stateroom will be cleaned daily while you're out enjoying fresh cooked meals, Broadway-style shows, casino games and various social activities. Imagine never having to make your bed again!

Instead of spending retirement land-locked, why not travel the world by ship? After all, over 70% of the Earth's surface is covered by water! Experience destinations like Asia, Australia, Europe and the Caribbean. Trade away your harsh winters bundled up and shoveling snow for spacious accommodations on a state-of-the-art cruise ship following the sun in gentle, tropical climates!

WHO IS SENIOR LIVING AT SEA?

Senior Living at Sea is ideal for active and independent retirees. The Cruise Web's Senior Living at Sea residents are drawn to living a carefree, yet adventurous lifestyle, all while exploring the world one port at a time. Contact us at 1-888-250-7803 and check out our FAQ to learn more and see if Senior Living at Sea is right for you.

Check out our most Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) about Senior Living at Sea:

Compare the advantages of Senior Living at Sea versus traditional land-based retirement options:

See what guests are saying about their Senior Living at Sea experiences:

Testimonials for Senior Living at Sea

Call our Senior Living at Sea desk at 1-888-250-7803 to discover more about Senior Living at Sea:

We Make Vacation Planning Easy

With an overwhelming world of choices, we understand you may need some personal assistance to plan your perfect vacation. From finding the right destination to choosing the best departure date, we're here to help. Plus, our experienced travel consultants have access to exclusive vacation deals to make sure you get the best value for your time and money.

Expert guidance. No booking fees.

Find a cruise.

• All Cruise Types
• Popular Cruises
• Luxury Cruises

Vacation Deals

Destinations & ports.

• All Destinations

Cruise Lines

• Popular Cruise Lines
• Luxury Cruise Lines
• River Cruise Lines
• All Cruise Lines
• All About Cruising
• Already Booked

Follow our social media and blog for the latest cruise and travel news, including our best vacation deals.

• Monthly Newsletter

Brent and Michael Are Going Places

Brent and Michael's Guide to Living Long-Term on a Cruise Ship

How we've managed to live for months on cruise ships — for much less than what other people pay..

Much has been written about long-term cruise ship living for retirees .

We think that living on a cruise ship for a month or more at a time is also something that long-term travelers should consider. We’ve taken many cruises and often live on cruise ships for two months at a time or more.

But as with anything, there are pros and cons to doing this. Let’s look at these pros and cons in turn:

THE PROS OF LONG-TERM CRUISE SHIP LIVING

With Planning, It Can be Surprisingly Affordable

The New York Times estimates that it costs about $300 per person per day to live full-time on a cruise ship.

We do it for far, far less: anywhere from $120 a day to $180 a day, for both of us together (always well under $100 a person).

Since we’re full-time travelers (not paying a rent or mortgage on a place back “home”), traveling by cruise ship actually saves us money over traveling by plane or train. We apply the money we would be spending on lodging anyway, and throw in the cost of food and transportation, and we come out ahead.

But there are several important caveats when looking for such lower fares yourself:

Our cheaper fares are for a small, interior room. Larger rooms, suites, or rooms with balconies, will cost closer to the New York Times estimate.

These are discount and/or last minute fares that only come with lots of searching (and patience).

Most quoted online fares do not include mandatory service fees , which have replaced tipping. Online fares often don’t include port taxes either. Whatever quoted fare you see online, add an additional $15-$20 per person per day for service fees . And make sure port taxes are included (which can be considerable when, for example, passing through the Panama Canal). When calculating your total costs, be sure to include these service fees, which won’t be charged until you’re actually on board the boat. (We also often make additional tips, because the crew members work extremely hard and often hail from poorer countries.) For what it’s worth, even many “how-to-do-it” articles on cruise ship living fail to account for these mandatory service fees.

Traveling as a single person makes traveling by cruise ship much more expensive.

When choosing a specific boat, here are some other things to consider:

Older and/or smaller boats will probably be cheaper than newer ones (but with fewer passengers, the service may be better, and you may have more personal space). We prefer smaller boats.

Newer and/or bigger boats will offer more amenities (like waterslides, climbing walls, bowling alleys, and more flashy entertainment options), but you’ll pay a premium for all these things.

Different cruise lines cater to different demographics. Passengers on Holland America will be older than Celebrity, Princess, or Royal Caribbean, which tend to have more youthful crowds. Disney and Carnival cater to a more family crowd. There are pros and cons to each demographic. Meanwhile, four major lines — Regent, Royal Seven Seas, Seabourn, and Silverseas — offer “luxury” cruises, which will be difficult to find at a discount.

Specialty cruises (for, say, LGBTQ people, singles, or digital nomads) will almost always be more expensive (but being alongside like-minded cruisers may be worth the extra cost).

The most affordable cruise lines tend to be Royal Caribbean, Norwegian, and MSC (a European line). To see excellent, thorough, up-to-date reviews of the different cruise ships themselves, visit CruiseCritic.com .

Here are some resources to help you find discounted fares. Again, a good price for an interior cabin on a long-term cruise will be anywhere from $120-$180/day, total, for two people ( this includes daily $15-$20 per-person service fees , which will not be included in any online quote !).

It’s also a good idea to get on various emailing lists, to see special or last-minute deals:

Cruise Critic Deals

Cruise Compete

Perx (airline and travel employees only)

Vacations to Go

Cruises Only

An important warning on discounted cruises : while there are definitely legitimate discounts to be had — and the above sites all seem reputable to me — there are also a lot of unscrupulous websites and apps claiming to offer great deals, but they may have huge strings attached; some of these sites and apps are even outright fraudulent. Always use common sense: examine the fine print closely, especially the cancellation policies, and save all correspondence; consider trip cancellation insurance; read online reviews of any website you use; always pay using a credit card (and never wire money); and if you’re still many months out, lean toward offers that only require a deposit up front, not the entire payment.

And, of course, as with all discounted travel, you’re probably not going to end up in the ship’s “best” room. If you pay for a balcony, you’ll get one, but it’s probably not going to have the ship’s best view. And you’re also much less likely than a full-paying passenger to get a free room upgrade.

Continue reading this post for free, courtesy of Michael Jensen.

How to Retire on a Cruise Ship

Retirement on a cruise ship is a major lifestyle shift, so consider these factors before committing to life at sea.

Getty Images

If you've never been on a cruise, you might try out several to see if you enjoy the rhythm and are comfortable at sea.

If you enjoyed cruises during vacations, it may be appealing to think about moving onboard permanently in retirement. Cruising has become increasingly accessible during the last decade and continues to provide a somewhat leisurely mode to explore the world . While the idea of setting sail and enjoying a plethora of amenities can be attractive, there are logistics to consider before signing up for long-term cruising.

To investigate retirement on a cruise ship, you'll want to:

• Understand what's involved with the lifestyle.
• Look at your finances and set a budget.
• Review options for the services you need.
• Consider how your social life will be impacted.
• Outline your priorities and talk to family.

Use the following information as a starting point to help you decide if you should spend your retirement years on a cruise ship.

Living as a retiree at sea isn't as simple as purchasing a ticket and stepping on board. There are many different routes, trip lengths, price points and ship sizes to consider. If you've never been on a cruise, you might try out several to see if you enjoy the rhythm and are comfortable at sea. For those who have only gone on short-term cruises, such as weekend getaways or weeklong trips, it might be beneficial to try out a three-month cruise to see if an extended trip is still enjoyable.

John and Melody Hennessee from Port Salerno, Florida, decided to travel during their retirement years. They have settled on cruising, and even became owners of a residence on Storylines MV Narrative, a residential ship in development and set to sail in 2026. The ship is designed to enable global citizens to carry out a healthy and active lifestyle while traveling throughout the world. "It's so special to live out this dream every day while getting to see and hear the ocean," they say.

Before retiring on a cruise ship, go through your belongings on land and aim to downsize . Also think through your health conditions, and if you'll be able to get medical assistance if needed.

Cruise Ship Retirement Options

You might aim to spend your entire time sailing on one ship, or you could move around. Some cruise lines offer cabins for sale, allowing you to own your place at sea. Other ships accommodate extended trips, such as 180 days or more.

You also need to decide what to do about your current housing situation. You might rent your home while you set sail or divide your time between cruising and living on land. While it's possible to sell your residence and permanently commit to the cruise life, you'll want to think about long-term options, such as what you'll do if you go cruising for a year and then want to settle somewhere else.

Cruise Ship Retirement Costs

The amount you spend on cruising will depend on where you want to travel and the amenities you choose. "Rates are negotiated based on duration, cabin type and past passenger status," says Annie Scrivanich, senior vice president of Cruise Specialists, which is headquartered in Seattle.

The average cruise fare in 2023 ranges between $130 and $260 per day, according to Cruzely.com data. However, factors that impact price include the cruise line, the ship, the dates of your cruise, cabin type and trip length. There is also spending to consider, and you might be able to get a discounted rate for long-term travel.

You can monitor travel sites to watch for price drops. Also contact the cruise line to ask about services for long-term guests, such as arranging for family and friends to join you occasionally or allowing you to go home for a special event and then rejoin the ship.

Pros of Retirement on a Cruise Ship

If you love to see new places, cruising provides an opportunity to see the world , especially areas where you might not otherwise venture. "With longer-term cruising, specifically those trips that last weeks or months, you get to visit faraway places that can't be reached on shorter cruises," says Tanner Callais, founder and editor of Cruzely.com, based in Austin, Texas.

"There are around-the-world cruises that last months and can take you to Asia, Europe, South America and all points in between," Callais says.

You might develop new and unique relationships on board. Over time, you will likely become familiar with the ship's crew and may feel a sense of belonging. Due to your extended presence, "you'll receive extra care and attention while on board the ship," Scrivanich says. "You will be able to enjoy resort-style living surrounded by fellow travelers with similar interests." Readily available entertainment and excursions could provide opportunities to socialize and stay active.

The carefree retirement lifestyle could be attractive too. "There is no home maintenance, meals to prepare, house to clean or any other of the daily chores that take up so much time," Callais says.

Cons of Retirement on a Cruise Ship

Staying close to family and watching grandchildren grow could be difficult when you're at sea for months or years at a time. You might also grow weary of the frequent stops cruise ships make, along with your lack of control over the time spent at ports. For instance, you may want to tour a city for a full week, but the ship might only stop for two days. With unlimited food and drink available, it could be hard to maintain a goal weight.

If you're interested in a side job during retirement, in-person work opportunities could be limited. You might be able to work remotely if there is steady Wi-Fi available.

There are also medical considerations to keep in mind. "A prospective shipboard retiree must be in good health, as the cruise lines certainly aren't equipped to function as an assisted living facility," says David Yeskel, a travel journalist known as The Cruise Guru and based in Santa Monica, California.

Medicare coverage is limited outside of the United States, and it won't pay for health care services provided when the ship is more than six hours away from a U.S. port. You may have to purchase private health insurance for travel . While there are basic medical services on board cruise ships, they tend to focus on emergency care, which could make regular checkups difficult to schedule.

How to Retire Overseas

Kathleen Peddicord June 2, 2023

Tags: retirement , money , Travel , Cruises

The Best Financial Tools for You

Credit Cards

Find the Best Loan for You

Comparative assessments and other editorial opinions are those of U.S. News and have not been previously reviewed, approved or endorsed by any other entities, such as banks, credit card issuers or travel companies. The content on this page is accurate as of the posting date; however, some of our partner offers may have expired.

Subscribe to our daily newsletter to get investing advice, rankings and stock market news.

See a newsletter example .

You May Also Like

Self-employed retirement planning.

Kate Stalter April 12, 2024

Saving for Retirement After 50

Kate Stalter April 11, 2024

How to Buy Property Overseas

Kathleen Peddicord and Rachel Hartman April 10, 2024

How to Invest When Abroad

Brian O'Connell April 9, 2024

Is AARP Membership Right for You?

Rachel Hartman April 8, 2024

How to Create a Retirement Budget

Rachel Hartman April 4, 2024

What Expats Need to Know About Taxes

Maryalene LaPonsie April 2, 2024

Average Retirement Ages Around the World

Rachel Hartman April 1, 2024

10 Best U.S. Beach Towns for Retirees

Jessica Walrack , Emily Brandon and Emily Sherman March 29, 2024

Full Retirement Age for Social Security

Emily Brandon , Rachel Hartman and Maryalene LaPonsie March 29, 2024

CFP or CPA for Retirement Plan?

Kate Stalter March 28, 2024

Social Security Spousal Benefits

Mountain Towns for Retirement

Rachel Hartman March 27, 2024

Can Expats Get Social Security?

Maryalene LaPonsie March 27, 2024

Places to Retire on the Water

Rachel Hartman March 26, 2024

Avoid the IRA Procrastination Penalty

Kate Stalter March 25, 2024

Save If You Work Part-Time

Rachel Hartman March 22, 2024

Stable Value Funds in Retirement

Brian O'Connell March 21, 2024

Use Your 401(k) to Pay Off Debt

Rachel Hartman March 20, 2024

Save for Retirement Without a 401(k)

Emily Brandon and Rachel Hartman March 19, 2024

• Port Overview
• Transportation to the Port
• Uber & Lyft to the Port
• Dropping Off at the Port
• Cruise Parking
• Cruise Hotels
• Hotels with Parking Deals
• Uber & Lyft to the Ports
• Things to Do
• Cozumel Taxi Rates
• Free Things to Do
• Restaurants Near the Cruise Port
• Hotels & Resorts With Day Passes
• Closest Beaches to the Cruise Port
• Tips For Visiting
• Shore Excursions
• Cruise Parking Discounts
• Hotels with Shuttles
• Which Airport Should I Use?
• Transportation to the Ports
• Dropping Off at the Ports
• Fort Lauderdale Airport to Miami
• Inexpensive Hotels
• Hotels near the Port
• Hotels With Shuttles
• Budget Hotels
• Carnival Tips
• Drink Packages
• Specialty Restaurants
• Faster to the Fun
• More Articles
• CocoCay Tips
• Norwegian Tips
• Great Stirrup Cay
• Harvest Caye
• How to Get the Best Cruise Deal
• Best Time to Book a Cruise
• Best Websites to Book a Cruise
• Cruises Under $300
• Cruises Under $500
• Spring Break Cruise Deals
• Summer Cruise Deals
• Alaskan Cruise Deals
• 107 Cruise Secrets & Tips
• Tips for First-Time Cruisers
• What to Pack for a Cruise
• What to Pack (Alaska)
• Packing Checklist
• Cruising with Kids
• Passports & Birth Certificates
• Bringing Alcohol
• Cruising with a Disability
• Duty-Free Shopping
• Cruise Travel Insurance
• Things to Do on a Cruise Ship
• What Not to Do on a Ship
• News & Articles

How Much It Costs to Live on a Cruise Ship For a Year

Who hasn’t gone on a cruise and thought, “I could do this forever”?

The idea of retiring from the rat race and living out your days on a cruise has great appeal for some people.

There’s no cleaning, no cooking, and no lawn to mow. You don’t have to worry about doing the dishes or paying an electric bill. There’s always something going on, new people to meet, and every day you wake up to some of the most beautiful views in the world.

Add to that the fact that Internet access allows many to work remotely from anywhere, and wi-fi is widely available on any major cruise ship. That means even if you don’t want to completely retire, but instead work from the cruise ship, it’s technically possible.

Of course, not everyone can run off and live on a cruise ship, but that doesn’t mean you can’t dream.

And the first question that comes to mind when you think about escaping is how much it would cost to live aboard a cruise ship?

So how much would you have to pay? Is the total cost even realistic? We recently priced out the cost of living on a cruise ship for an entire year.

The result? Just know that you’ll definitely need to open your wallet to live full-time in paradise.

Where You’ll Spend Money on Your Cruise

Head to any cruise website and you’ll see plenty of cheap headline prices. Cruises starting at a few hundred dollars for a week are common. At first glance, it seems like living on a cruise ship would be amazingly affordable. ( One cruise line advertises the ability to live aboard for just around $33,000 per person, per year .)

After all, a cruise for $500 a week would cost only $26,000 to sail for a year. For many people, that would be cheaper than living on land! 

But anyone who has been on a cruise knows those headline prices are just the start of what you pay. In fact, in our opinion it’s a bit disingenuous of the cruise lines to advertise those prices. After all, what you’ll actually pay is much, much more.

Double Occupancy Cruise Fare: Apart from a few sailings that offer solo cabins, any headline price you find is actually only half of what you will pay for cruise fare. That’s because cabins are typically sold based on double occupancy, but prices are shown per person.

So for a fare that’s $599, it will actually cost $1,198 based on double occupancy. Even if you are sailing solo (unless in a solo cabin), you will still have to pay this “double” charge.

In other words, whenever you see a cruise price, double it right away for what you’ll really pay in fare.

Port Fees & Taxes: We all expect to pay taxes on things that we buy. It’s no different for a cruise. However, the taxes aren’t included in the headline cruise fare. As well, cruise fares will also have port fees tacked on. These are per-passenger fees paid to ports of call for the privilege of docking.

These fees vary, but in general, expect about $100-$200 per person for a seven-day cruise.

Gratuities: Sure, at the end of the day gratuities aren’t a required cost (you can adjust them as necessary), but in practice they are usually considered a charge that you’ll have to pay. They also add up quickly.

At around $16 per person, per day, a couple traveling on a week cruise will pay about $200 in gratuities. Over the course of a year on a cruise ship, that amount comes out to more than $10,000!

Onboard Spending: Anyone who has taken a cruise knows that what you pay in cruise fare is the start of what you’ll spend during your time on the ship.

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.

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

With all of these expenses in mind, we dove into what it would cost to live on a cruise ship for an entire year.

Of course, when it comes to cruising for twelve months, you have an amazing number of options. From different cruise lines to routes, departure ports, ships, and even cabin types, there are a number of things that will have a big impact on what you spend.

That’s why we aimed to keep everything simple. 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.

Carnival Horizon is a newer ship from the cruise line that sails six and eight-day itineraries year-round from Miami in 2024. That means you could sail the entire year without having to change ships and always coming back to a homeport in the United States.

The routes that the Horizon sails would take you all across the Caribbean, from Cozumel to Aruba, from Curacao to Grand Cayman. Because it is a bigger and (relatively) newer ship in the Carnival fleet, you’d also have tons of amenities and activities on board, as well as a many restaurant options — including Guy’s Burger Joint .

As for the cabin, in our search we opted for a balcony cabin. Yes, you would be able to sail for cheaper in an oceanview or interior cabin, however, we assume that if you are aboard the ship for an extended period of time, having your own balcony is a must.

As well, we assume a couple is sailing with two people to the room. 

Summing up, here’s what we searched for our prices used in this estimate:

• Cruise Line: Carnival
• Ship: Carnival Horizon
• Time Period: January-December 2024
• Homeport: Miami
• Room Type: Balcony
• Number of People: 2

Here’s How Much It Costs to Live on a Cruise Ship

So how much does it cost to sail on the Carnival Horizon for a year? We estimate it to cost around $199,000 for two people , although that number can vary from person to person, depending on their spending habits .

Here’s an overview of where you’ll spend, and we breakdown each expense below:

Cruise Fare: The largest expense by far is cruise fare. Pricing a balcony room for each of the dozens of cruises the ship sails in 2024, it totaled $99,766 . Factored out, that's about $1,900 a week or $6,150 per month. Keep in mind this is for two passengers on the ship and includes the bulk of what you'll spend on a cruise, including your cabin, entertainment, and food.

Port Fees & Taxes: There's no escaping taxes, even on a cruise out at sea. Pricing out our cruises, the taxes and port fees for two people totaled up to $15,395 for the year. That comes out to a little less than $1,300 a month.

Gratuities: One of the perks of being on a cruise is that you are waited on hand and foot. But it doesn't come free. Carnival charges $16.00 per person, per day for automatic gratuities. Over the course of a year, that adds up to $11,648 in tips paid to staff.

Onboard Spending: How can you know what you'll spend on the ship over the course of a year? It's impossible to know for sure, and different people will spend different amounts. For example, do you need to have a drink package every day of the year? Or are you fine drinking water or juice? Are you a gambler? How often do you want to eat at specialty restaurants?

While you can't pinpoint exactly what you'll spend, you can get a good estimate. As a public company, Carnival Corporation (the parent of Carnival Cruise Line) publishes detailed numbers about their business. For instance, in 2022 the company took in $7 billion in ticket revenue and $5.1 billion in onboard spending.

So onboard spending across all of its lines was 73% of ticket revenue. For every $1,000 in cruise fare, the average person would spend about $730 on the ship. (Note: Onboard spending has increased since cruises returned, but bundling of offers like drink packages and wi-fi have also changed the amount. Before the pandemic, it was usually around 45% of ticket revenue.)

Using this metric, with a total cruise fare of $99,766, the average couple would spend $72,829 onboard during the course of the year. However, it's likely that the figure would be drastically lower as average spending on the ship will likely be less if staying full-time versus splurging for a short vacation.

Total Cost: Adding up tickets, port fees, taxes, gratuities, and onboard spending, the total estimated cost of living on a cruise ship for a year is $199,638 for a couple -- or about $100,000 per person. Without onboard spending, it comes out to $126,809 or $63,404 per person.

Notably, this figure is about 35-40% higher than the roughly $145,000 we calculated for the same ship when we last ran the numbers in 2023. The main difference between then and now? Cruise fares in 2024 for Carnival Horizon come out about $18,000 higher (for two people) during the course of the year and onboard spending estimates increased sharply based on the latest figures provided in financial reports.

Too Expensive? Here's How to Lower the Cost

There's no doubt that it's expensive to live on a cruise ship, but there are ways that you can trim that amount. If you're interested in cutting down the price, here are a few ideas.

Limit Onboard Spending: In our estimate, we used the average spending Carnival Corporation sees across all its cruise lines, which is 73% of the cruise fare.

You don't have to spend near that much. After all, when people cruise they are on vacation and likely willing to spend more freely than they would normally. By limiting the amount spent on board, you can cut thousands off this estimated total.

It's doubtful you can get by without spending at least some money, but our estimate comes out to about $700 per person, per week. Being able to spend less than that should be relatively easy.

Older Ships: Our estimate is aboard the Carnival Horizon. We chose this ship because it is relatively new (meaning you'll have the most amenities for a long-term stay), but it also runs a regular schedule from Miami.

That said, in general newer ships like the Horizon are more expensive to sail aboard. If you look for older ships, you should be able to cut the price down.

Be Flexible for Cheaper Trips: For this estimate, we priced out a year's worth of cruises on a single ship. This makes it easy if you're sailing long-term; you simply stay on the ship and don't have to worry about changing ships, or ports.

If you want cheaper options, however, you might find them by being more flexible with changing ships and/or cruise lines when you find a deal. That's where sailing from a port like Miami -- which offers a lot of options -- can be beneficial to your pocketbook.

Avoid Expensive Times of Year: In our search, the sailing aboard the ship varied dramatically due to the time of year. For example, the most expensive cruise aboard Horizon during the year was during the Christmas holidays and ran $1,399 per person. The least expensive 8-day cruise ran $869 per person -- or about 60% as much.

If you have the ability to take a few weeks off here and there during the expensive times of year, it can lead to big savings.

What do you think about the cost of living full-time on a cruise ship for a year? Let us know in the comments below.

Popular: 39 Useful Things to Pack (17 You Wouldn't Think Of)

Read next: park & cruise hotels for every port in america, popular: 107 best cruise tips, secrets, tricks, and freebies, related articles more from author, 11 tips cruise lines don’t want you to know (but they aren’t against the rules), 61 questions about cruising answered (everything you wanted to know), 107 best cruise tips, tricks, secrets, and freebies, what’s the best month to cruise pros & cons of sailing each month of the year, 11 rude things never to do on a cruise (according to real passengers), here’s how much money cruise ships make off every passenger (infographic), 13 comments.

What about the VCL Victoria Cruises Majestic ship? Set to sail this fall, it’s a true long term residential ship that will circumnavigate the globe in 27 months from Fort Lauderdale. There is still space available! Price points and discounts vary based on how long you lease your cabin -ranging from 6 month’s minimum up to 37 months and beyond. About 500 cabins have been sold so far- adults only. And it’s all inclusive of internet, most drinks, laundry service, housekeeping of course, room service, etc.. All the standard things you’d find on a cruise ship. See this article that was posted today by one of the future residents! https://www.allwaystraveller.com/continents/worldwide/circumnavigating-the-globe-for-two-years-on-a-residential-cruise-ship

I would love to see the cruise lines cater to single seniors, they would be surprised how many would travel all the time….I personally would like to do three months, but the cost is just too high! Maybe there is a singles travel cruise group that I can join. Any suggestions out there?

Someone young wrote this article. Carnival is not the line most people would choose to cruise for a long period of time. On the Oceania Marina we met a couple cruising for several months and a charming older man who was cruising for 180 days. The couple had sold their house & were having a new house built, so homeless for a period of time. The older man was single &, I think, rather lonely so the ship life provided him nice social opportunities to talk to people. Here’s more info; “After record demand for its 2023 world cruise, Oceania Cruises has unveiled the itinerary for its epic global voyage for 2024. The cruise line’s 180-day journey around the world will set sail on January 14, 2024, and visit more than 96 destinations in 34 different countries.

“Incredibly, last year our 2023 world cruise sold out in just one day, so for 2024 we are providing guests more extended voyage options to deeply and meaningfully rediscover the world,” Howard Sherman, President and CEO of Oceania Cruises, said in a statement shared with Travel + Leisure.

Oceania’s “Around the World in 180 Days” cruise will depart from Los Angeles and cross more than three oceans and 15 seas as it makes its way around the globe to New York. The journey, on the Oceania Insignia, stops at more than 100 UNESCO World Heritage sites with 24 overnight stays.

Passengers will journey across the Pacific, through French Polynesia and Australia before continuing onto destinations like Japan and Vietnam’s Ha Long Bay. The voyage continues along the shores of India and the Arabian Peninsula before sailing across Europe and completing its route across the Atlantic in New York.

The 2024 “Around the World” journey starts at $48,499 per person and includes roundtrip first-class airfare and amenities like prepaid gratuities, laundry, and luggage delivery. During your days at sea, you can keep yourself busy with spa appointments, art workshops, the casino, cabaret, and four open-seating restaurants — not to mention the daily afternoon tea service accompanied by a four-string quartet. There is also a fitness center and sports deck, and of course, a saltwater pool with two hot tubs.

As usual, catering mostly to people who have the means to do this without blinking. It is time for older single seniors on a fixed income to be able to be able to cruise on a non party boat. A tranquil, voyage, letting go and actually hearing the sounds of Mother Nature, not a floating amusement park. That would be amazing.

It would only be me living on the ship, cant i spilt that cost that I would have if i had a spouse? so would that be about 60k ?

I think this is not taking into consideration the rewards systems that most cruise operators have which would reduce the fare, even in a balcony cabin. I could never do it since the state of cruiseline wifi is still pathetic!

Another way to do it vs estimated$175k year is to buy in to a condo cabin on the new state of the art Narrative from Storylines.com. Sails around world in 3 1/2 years starting at $5000 a month 2 people all inclusive , starting 2024!

😂😂😂 with prices starting at $400,000 and rising to $8 million

What about when someone needs care/hospitalisation etc….. Surely you would need a private medical insurance policy, which would get progressively more expensive as you aged?

I’m sure. This article only focuses on the costs of sailing for the year. Other costs aren’t considered.

Good information but why does long term stay/full time cost is so high. you would think there be discount especially for seniors. Also price for solo why double? I think it sounds like fun how about travel for 3 months first to try out. Sea sick is that a common element to consider for most? People with restricted diet such as vegetarians do they get the meals prepared? Are some classes offered for free? classes such as dancing or crafts part of the activities? Thanks

the price for double occupancy is basic international hotel rates. The cruise ship is basically a floating/mobile resort hotel. All cruise lines came onboard with the double occupancy in 2010. before it was fare and half to cruise solo. If you get a good cruise line that you like, most have a loyalty program that after so many cruise points you will be charged fare and a half for solo travel. 3 months would be a good trial to see if you like it, sea sickness is not really a problem as these ship travel well. you can put in for restricted diet before going on a cruise so should not be a problem long term – might be you have to request every week. Main Dinning has a veggie meal every night and the buffet style cafe onboard allows you to select what you want. You can even get Kosher meals. most Classes are free as well as activities. buy the drink package that is suitable to your habits. your excursions will cost you but after a few weeks you may be done with excursions and it is all about enjoying the ship.

LEAVE A REPLY Cancel reply

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

7 Easy Ways to Get From the Airport to the Miami Cruise Port

44 must-have alaskan cruise tips, tricks, and secrets, 15+ easy port canaveral hotels with cruise shuttles to the ship, hotels with cruise shuttles for every major port in america, 39 useful things to pack for your cruise (including 17 you’d never think of).

• Privacy Policy
• Terms & Conditions

FARR LAW FIRM

Protecting Seniors and their Families by Preserving Dignity, Quality of Life, and Financial Security.

• Meet the Farr Law Firm Team
• Radio Interviews
• Legal Treatises and Scholarly Articles by Evan H. Farr
• Evan Farr in the Media
• The History of the Farr Law Firm
• TV Appearances

Honors and Awards

• Join our Team
• Meet the Critter Corner Team
• Revocable Living Trusts
• Wills and Probate
• Living Trust Plus® Medicaid Asset Protection Trust and Veterans Trust
• Dynasty Trusts / Spendthrift Trusts / Beneficiary Asset Protection
• Retirement Planning
• Powers of Attorney
• The 4 Needs Advance Medical Directive®
• Rental Property Protection: LLCs vs. Asset Protection Trusts
• Irrevocable Life Insurance Trusts
• Charitable Remainder Trusts and Wealth Replacement Trust
• Charitable Lead Trusts
• Limited Liability Companies (LLC)
• Estate Planning for Parents with Young Children
• Estate Planning for Parents of Disabled Children
• Share Your Legacy Story – A Free Service for Our Clients
• Grandparents Contributing to 529 Plans
• Business Transition Planning
• What is Elder Law — Four Levels of Lifetime Protection Planning
• Life Care Planning Attorney
• Medicaid Complexity
• The Ethics of Medicaid Planning
• Living Trust Plus®
• The Ethics and Complexity of Medicaid Planning
• Living Trust Plus® Medicaid Asset Protection Trust
• Asset Protection for a Later Marriage – Trusts and Prenups
• Veterans Aid & Attendance
• Alzheimer's Planning
• Long-term Care Directive®
• Reverse Mortgage Planning to Pay for In-Home Care
• Child Protection Planning
• Medicare Appeals Attorney
• LGBT Elder Law
• Preplanning Your Funeral
• High Net Worth Planning — Asset Protection and Tax Avoidance
• The Quantum Trust Asset Protection Trust (Non-Medicaid)
• The Bridge Trust Asset Protection Trust (Non-Medicaid)
• Guardianship & Conservatorship
• Supported Decision-Making
• Special Trusts for Persons with Disabilities
• The Autism Cliff: Transition Planning for Young Adults with ASD
• Disability Planning
• Is it SSI or SSDI or DAC? What’s the Difference?
• Estate Planning for Parents of Children with Disabilities

Taxation of Special Needs Trusts

• Veterans Disability Benefits
• Social Security Disability Benefits
• Fiduciary Services
• Trust Administration
• Estate Administration
• Executor and Trustee Assistance
• Elder Law FAQ
• Living Trust Plus® FAQ
• Estate Planning FAQ
• Beneficiary Asset Protection Trusts FAQ
• Guardianship & Conservatorship of Children and Disabled Adults FAQ
• What is Long-Term Care FAQ
• Medicaid Expansion FAQ
• Long-Term Care Insurance FAQs
• Medicaid: The Perils of Gifting FAQ
• SSI and SSDI FAQ
• Social Security Disability (SSD) FAQs
• Social Security FAQ
• Prepaid Funerals FAQ
• Hybrid LTC Insurance Policies FAQ
• Storing Important Documents FAQ
• Pet Trusts FAQ

Estate Planning & Incapacity Planning

Comparison of elder law firms based on the size of the firm, more problems with beneficiary designations — usually beneficiary designations take precedence over your estate planning documents, but sometimes they don’t, caring for the pet of a loved one when they can no longer do so themselves, are transfer on death deeds a good alternative to estate planning, medicaid asset protection and veterans benefits planning, why medicaid planning is 100 percent ethical, critter corner: dispelling myths about medicaid, are va nursing homes free for veterans, hospitals must tell medicare patients if care is ‘observation’ only, special needs planning and guardianship/conservatorship, 529s and able accounts get a major boost , is the term “special needs” going out of style rethinking the terminology in light of the law, how can able accounts and special needs trusts work together, probate and trust administration, 10 biggest estate planning blunders of celebrities – don’t make these mistakes, ask the expert: what does it really mean to be named as an executor, understanding probate: the two types of probate, the nightmare of probate and how to avoid it.

• Long-Term Care Report
• Veteran’s Aid and Attendance Report
• Alzheimer’s Report
• Special Needs Report
• Guardianship & Conservatorship Report
• LGBTQ Planning Report
• Tax Brackets, Strategic Tax Bracket Management, IRMAA
• Key Elder Law Dollar Amounts – Medicaid / Medicare / SS Benefits
• Lifetime Protection Plan®
• The Aging Continuum
• Recommended Reading
• Medicaid Look-Back Documentation to Keep
• Longevity Calculators – Life Expectancy v. Longevity
• Trusted Referrals of Other Senior-Serving Professionals
• DocuBank Electronic Storage
• Tools and Resources
• States with Filial Responsibility Laws
• Helpful Links
• Webinar – How to Protect Your Assets from the Expenses of Probate and Long-term Care
• Upcoming Public Estate Planning & Elder Law Seminars
• Webinar: The Ultimate Secret to Avoid Going Broke in a Nursing Home
• Webinar – Special Needs Planning
• Professional Seminars
• Request a Speaker
• What Is Elder Law?
• Medicaid Asset Protection
• High Net Worth Asset Protection
• Fiduciary Svcs.
• Veterans Aid and Attendance
• Guardianship & Conservatorship

Seniors Should Consider Cruise Ships Rather than Nursing Homes

About 2 years ago my wife and I were on a cruise through the western Mediterranean aboard a Princess liner.  At dinner we noticed a senior lady sitting alone along the rail of the grand stairway in the main dining room. I also noticed that all the staff, ships officers, waiters, busboys, etc., all seemed very familiar with this lady. I asked our waiter who the lady was, expecting to be told that she owned the line, but he said he only knew that she had been on board for the last four cruises, back to back.

As we left the dining room one evening I caught her eye and stopped to say hello. We chatted and I said, “I understand you’ve been on this ship for the last four cruises.” She replied, “Yes, that’s true.” I stated, “I don’t understand” and she replied, without a pause, “It’s cheaper than a nursing home. So, there will be no nursing home in my future. When I get old and feeble, I am going to get on a Princess Cruise Ship. The average cost for a nursing home is $300 per day. I have checked on reservations at Princess and I can get a long term discount and senior discount price of $135 per day. That leaves $65 a day for:

• Gratuities, which will only be $10 per day.
• I will have as many as 10 meals a day if I can waddle to the restaurant, or I can have room service (which means I can have breakfast in bed every day of the week).
• Princess has as many as three swimming pools, a workout room, free washers and dryers, and shows every night
• They have free toothpaste and razors, and free soap and shampoo.
• They will even treat you like a customer, not a patient.
• An extra $5 worth of tips will have the entire staff scrambling to help you.
• I will get to meet new people every 7 or 14 days.
• T.V. broken? Light bulb need changing? Need to have the mattress replaced? No Problem! They will fix everything and apologize for your inconvenience.
• Clean sheets and towels every day, and you don’t even have to ask for them.

Now hold on for the best! Do you want to see South America, the Panama Canal, Tahiti, Australia, New Zealand, Asia, or name where you want to go? Princess will have a ship ready to go. So don’t look for me in a nursing home, just call shore to ship.

PS. And don’t forget, when you die, they just dump you over the side at no charge.”

The joke above is from , in honor of April Fools Day!  However, as in many jokes, there is some truth to it.

A Cruise Ship is Cheaper than a Nursing Home

For the past 11 years, Genworth has surveyed long term care costs across the country. In their most recent survey, the 2014 Cost of Care Survey, 14,800 nursing homes, assisted living facilities, adult day health facilities and home care providers in 440 regions nationwide were surveyed, providing a comprehensive report. These are some of the findings for the Northern Virginia area and the Fredericksburg/Richmond area:

• The median cost of a private nursing home room in the Northern Virginia area has increased 8% to $112,968 a year ($120,709 a year in a recent NY Life Study). In the Fredericksburg/Richmond area, the cost increased 3% to $91,250.
• The median cost of a semi-private room in a nursing home in the Northern Virginia area has increased 7% to $107,128 a year.  In the Fredericksburg/Richmond area, the cost increased 3% to $79,388.
• For assisted living facilities, the median rate increase was 5% to $48,930 a year in the Northern Virginia area. In the Fredericksburg/Richmond area, the cost increased 5% to $48,030.
• The median salary for the services of a home health aide was $45,760 a year in the Northern Virginia area. In the Fredericksburg/Richmond area, the median salary increased 1% to $41,184.
• The cost of adult day care, which provides support services in a protective setting during part of the day, increased 6% to $24,960 a year in Northern Virginia. In the Fredericksburg/Richmond area, the cost decreased 1% to $41,184.

As you can tell from the survey data, long term care can have a major financial impact. And with a cruise costing $70-$200 on average per night for seniors, depending on accommodations, cruises are, in fact, a lot cheaper than nursing homes in the Metro DC area.

So why not live on a cruise ship?

• You can’t bring more much more than a suitcase worth of items on a cruise, so forget about packing your favorite possessions, such as your favorite recliner or a framed family portrait bigger than an 8 x 10, if they don’t fit in your suitcase.
• Passengers must disembark when the cruise ends, and make arrangements while the ship is at port. Keeping these temporary arrangements month after month would be difficult for most people.
• Seniors who move to assisted living facilities and nursing homes require help with activities of daily living, such as bathing, toileting, dressing, and grooming. You may be able to get breakfast in bed on a cruise ship, but the staff is most likely not prepared or able to help you dress or bathe.
• Many seniors have a high-risk of falling because of mobility concerns. A cruise ship certainly wouldn’t be the best place to live for such a person, as even the largest ships can list violently in bad weather.
• For those who might want to stay close to family and friends, a cruise ship would not be a good option, as most of your loved ones will not be able to visit on a regular basis.
• On-board medical personnel likely won’t include geriatric specialists, and they probably won’t be trained to assist in major emergencies. If an emergency does arise that they’re not ready for and you can’t wait till the ship reaches the next port, your ambulance ride is almost certainly going to be an airlift, which can be catastrophically expensive and logistically problematic.
• If a passenger or passengers have a contagious illness in a confined environment like a cruise ship – an emergency might be more of a likelihood than we care to consider.

 Planning for Long-Term Care

As you can see, cruise ships aren’t an ideal place for seniors to live, but may be nice for a vacation. Seventy percent of the population will need long-term care in the future. With an average cost of a nursing home in Metro DC is $12-$14,000 a month—an amount that can be devastating to most families—it is definitely prudent to plan ahead. The Living Trust PlusTM maintains much of the flexibility of a revocable living trust, but protects your assets from the expenses and difficulties of probate PLUS the expenses of long-term care while you’re alive, PLUS lawsuits and a multitude of other financial risks during your lifetime. Read more on our website.

Life Care Planning and Medicaid Asset Protection is the process of protecting your assets from having to be spent down in connection with entry into a nursing home, while also helping ensure that you or your loved one get the best possible care and maintain the highest possible quality of life, whether at home, in an assisted living facility, or in a nursing home. Call one of our offices to make an appointment for a consultation:

Fairfax Elder Law: 703-691-1888 Fredericksburg Elder Law: 540-479-1435 Rockville Elder Law: 301- 519-8041 DC Elder Law: 202-587-2797

Evan H. Farr is a 4-time Best-Selling author in the field of Elder Law and Estate Planning. In addition to being one of approximately 500 Certified Elder Law Attorneys in the Country, Evan is one of approximately 100 members of the Council of Advanced Practitioners of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys and is a Charter Member of the Academy of Special Needs Planners.

Below is the URL to a story about a woman who has lived on a ship for 7 years. I was her tablemate on 4 cruises in 2013. They put the ship in dry dock for 2 weeks every 2 years for rehab & upgrades & I asked her what she did for those weeks. She replied that she went on a cruise.

But your article is correct. A ship is not a good place for anybody who needs assistance for everyday living, & it’s not cheap either.

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

Leave a comment Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Testimonials

We hired Evan Farr to create our entire set of estate documents. I would work with him again and can recommend him without reservation.

Evan Farr and his firm have been a godsend to my family. He was so easy to speak with about hard family topics.

My pension was not enough to cover my wife’s nursing home expenses. If it weren’t for the Medicaid [that the Farr Firm helped me qualify for] I don’t know what would have happened.

Thanks to your firm, we still have our home, a few dollars still in the bank, and most importantly, my wife is able to be in our home with the help that she needs.

You really “wowed” me with the amount of homework you had done prior to our first meeting and with every explanation and thorough and gentle guidance that you made during the entire process.

Evan Farr, is, in my view, one of Virginia’s foremost authorities on the subject of elder law… Use his website – get educated – then call him!

First class counsel; very knowledgeable and knows his area. Likeable guy.

Evan Farr is one of the foremost authorities in elder law in the State of Virginia. He has a true passion for his clients and solid competence. He is a solid choice for any individual or family seeking his services.

Evan is an extremely knowledgeable Estate Planning and Elder Law Attorney. He is very approachable and down to earth.

Order Evan's Books

Free Special Reports

Get in Touch

From our blog.

Should I Enroll in Medicare if I have Federal Retiree Coverage?   

Q. In your latest article, you discuss how elder … [Read More...]

Critter Corner: How Can I Locate an Old 401(k) Retirement Account? 

Dear Kiwi and Mango,  I am about to retire from … [Read More...]

Comparing Elder Law and Estate Planning — What’s the Difference?

Elder Law and Estate Planning serve two different … [Read More...]

Other Elder Law Blogs

Serving areas.

• Fairfax, VA
• Fredericksburg, VA
• Rockville, MD
• Annapolis, MD
• Washington DC
• Arlington, VA
• Alexandria, VA
• Leesburg, VA

Free Newsletter Signup

Google Reviews

... read more We had an extensive interview over zoom with Mr Farr. We received all the papers we needed and some details needed to be changed which were done right away and resent. The attorneys we met with at the office the day we signed our wills and all the other documents were knowledgeable and explained the entire process very well. We would certainly recommend them for any senior person making a will.

... read more Evan Farr and his law firm helped me immensely in the regaining control of my life. I now have control of my POA and, finances , my assets and my most importantly my medical care. I have a 100% disability rating through the VA. My parents were extremely upset that I was regaining my autonomy again, that was swiped away by my parents; with this disability of Multiple Sclerosis. They wanted complete and total control of my life. My money, my disability pension, my assets, my vehicle. My parents were even making me put the title of the vehicle in their name. I was under duress, living in his house, he made me sign everything over to him. I basically signed my life away. Mr. Farr helped me regain my self confidence , my self worth and my God given autonomy. Thank you Mr, Farr!

... read more We have a couple of adult children who are on the autism spectrum. They're going to need guardianship, shelter, and money to help support them long after we're no longer here, so we saw Evan Farr for help preparing wills, a family trust, and a special needs to protect them. Mr. Farr did a really excellent job and brought several critical issues to our attention that we wouldn't even have considered without his guidance. I think our family's situation is set up to be as secure as possible thanks to his help. The rest of the staff was also friendly and helpful. Thank you! We plan to use the firm again if/when we need help and will recommend them to our friends if they need estate planning.

... read more We chose Farr based on the special needs aspect of our trust which we were updating. Our original lawyer was unavailable, but Farr was an excellent choice to replace them. The Farr employees were extremely patient with us as I took a very long time to finally finish the actions. They provided excellent responses to our law and tax questions. We are planning to use them when we are sure we are ready to have our son's guardianship concluded.

... read more Our experience with the Farr Law Firm was professional, informative and pleasant. Our primary contact, Sara, answered all our questions regarding estate planning and our revocable trust. The staff was courteous and professional.

... read more Farr Law Firm headed by Evan Farr gave exemplary service on difficult, nut necessary topics. The entire process was stress-free and accommodating. The firm uses technology to assist in reviews and edits and delivers efficient quality service. They also made excellent suggestions in providing ancillary services appropriate to our age group such as funeral and burial planning. The staff from lawyers, paralegals and administrative staff was efficient, timely and responsive. They provided ample time for review and discussion and delivered a quality product that suited our needs. I would recommend them without reservation for anything related to elder care, financial planning, estates and trusts as well as wills.

... read more I can say nothing but good things about the Farr Law Firm. Tony is outstanding. He takes the time to answer all my questions in great detail. Sara too, is a very knowledgeable attorney. I highly recommend both of them. Great team.

... read more I found the people I dealt with to be knowledgeable and very willing to answer all questions prior to finalizing my documents. I would recommend those seeking to prepare for the challenges of later life to contact them.

... read more I met with Mr. Evan Farr & Ms. Sara Entis and both were very informative & knowledgeable in assisting me through the complex trust process. Also, with all their booklets containing thorough explanations & examples for every category of estate planning demonstrates that their firm is one of the best around in this field.

... read more Mr. Farr has been of great help to me through the years, providing great legal counsel in drafting and executing my will and trust, and later counsel on dealing with end-of-life issues with my (out of state) mother. Highly recommended.

... read more Happy with their service. Knowledgeable and professional. Appreciate their straightforward approach. Thank you Sara Entis.

... read more Knowledgeable, authoritative and responsive. Attorney Farr not only prepared the trust, but also successfully overturned a wrongful refusal of tax relief by the local municipality. By the way, I am an attorney myself.

... read more Originally we chose Evan Farr and his law firm based on his clients' reviews. Our initial appointment with Evan only confirmed all the excellent reviews we have read. Three specific qualities set Evan apart from other attorneys practicing Elder Law: his vast knowledge, excellent listening skills and offering of continuous education for his many clients. We much appreciated Evan's help in navigating the complex and stressful process of setting up our legal documents. We also appreciate Sara Entis' efforts to finalize this colossal task and to make the important signing appointment totally flawless. In addition, we want to mention Sierra Kolasa's willingness to help every time we needed assistance. Our entire experience only proved that choosing Evan and his firm was the right decision. We highly recommend Evan and his firm to everyone.

... read more This firm is amazing, professional and organized. They helped us create the documents we have delayed for so many years. They also created a special needs trust for our son. We are planning to continue working with them.

... read more The attention to detail from every member of the team is impressive. The Farr Law Firm provides very practical and efficient solutions to tough problems. They are highly responsive and they show true caring and compassion for their clients.

Practice Areas

• Trusts and Estates
• Advance Medical Directives
• Irrevocable Trusts
• Asset Protection for a Later Marriage – Trusts and Prenups
• Alzheimer’s Planning
• Advance Care Planning
• Disability and Special Needs Planning
• Special Needs Trusts in Virginia, Maryland, and DC
• Guardianship & Conservatorship Attorney for Incapacitated Adults in Virginia, Maryland, and DC
• Microboards
• Life Estate Planning FAQ
• Living Trust Plus® FAQ

Thank you for your upload

Live at Sea With These 5 New Residential Ships

• December 26, 2021

Living at sea might have been an unattainable dream for many just some months ago. But with five new players entering the market, it may be high time for the nomads to start weighing their options.

Cruise Industry News has gathered everything we know about the residence-at-sea projects set to come to fruition soon.

MV Narrative Operator: Storylines Delivery Target: 2024 Capacity: 547 residences

After first planning to purchase a second-hand cruise ship, Storylines decided to construct a purpose-built residential ship in the end. The new vessel – called the MV Narrative – was ordered in 2021 and is being built at the Brodosplit shipyard in Croatia.

The ship features fully furnished residences ranging from 237 sq. ft. to 2411 sq. ft., priced between $300,000 and over $8 million for a premium two-level penthouse suite. The MV Narrative is set to enter service in 2024.

According to Storylines, the owners and invited guests will have the opportunity to live a “sustainable life of luxury and freedom at sea.” Features include waterfront marina, microbrewery, art studio, hydroponic gardens and more.

Positioned as “the greenest ship in the market,” the MV Narrative will use LNG fuel along with innovative reusable energy technologies and energy storage and recovery systems.

Dark Island Operator: Clydebuilt Delivery Target: 2025 Capacity: 101 residential suites

The Dark Island is ready for production at the River Clyde in Scotland, aiming to start operations in 2025. The vessel will be run by the family-owned Clydebuilt and feature 101 residential suites.

The ship’s suites span over eight decks and are now on sale, with prices varying between 8 million and 110 million British pounds.

Each accommodation has its own cooking facilities, but the ship also boasts three restaurants with chefs drawing inspiration from Scotland’s classic dishes and regions.

The Dark Island also has a spa, a salon where manicures and pedicures can be done, a hydrotherapy pool, a fitness and wellbeing center, and more.

Njord Operator: Ocean Residences Delivery Target: 2025 Capacity: 117 residences

The M/Y Njord – which was ordered in 2021 – is set to enter service in 2025. The 289-meter residential yacht will feature 117 residences once it’s constructed at its shipyard, Meyer Werft.

According to the ship’s operator Ocean Residences, the Njord is designed to meet “the strictest environmental regulations,” both at delivery and in the future.

The vessel will be powered by dual-fuel engines, with tank capacity for marine gas oil and LNG, batteries for hybridization, heat recovery systems and advanced power management systems.

Blue World   Operator: Blue World Voyages Built: TBD Capacity: 40 private residences

Blue World Voyages is planning a hybrid ship concept, with owner residences and passengers. First announced in 2019, the brand was said to be eyeing a second-hand cruise ship to introduce its product.

Original plans called for a 2021 service launch, with seven-day voyages in the Mediterranean targeted at those with an active lifestyle. Activities ranged from golf to snorkeling and kayaking.

The company’s ship would feature 425 berths, offering 200 standard staterooms, 25 single rooms and two upper decks of residences for a total of 40 apartments. The ship would also offer a full deck dedicated to spa procedures and wellness and another deck for sports and fitness.

Somnio Operator: TBD Built: 2024 Capacity: 39 apartments

The Somnio was designed by Tillberg Design of Sweden as a luxury residential yacht. The project is overseen by Captain Erik Bredhe and features 39 onboard apartments with amenities.

The Somnio – described as a yacht liner – is set to enter service in 2024 and will boast a 10,000-bottle wine cellar, restaurants and bars, in addition to an onboard beach club with water sports.

The vessel will also be built with the highest future hygiene and safety requirements in mind, and the owners say that they will have access to “world-class healthcare and medical services.”

The 39 apartments are already on sale, with the procurement happening strictly through a system of invitation or referral.

Cruise Industry News Email Alerts

• Breaking News

Get the latest breaking  cruise news .  Sign up.

54 Ships | 122,002 Berths | $36 Billion | View

Highlights:

• Mkt. Overview
• Record Year
• Refit Schedule
• PDF Download
• Order Today

• 2033 Industry Outlook 
• All Operators
• Easy to Use
• Pre-Order Offer
• Advertising
• Cruise News
• Magazine Articles
• Quarterly Magazine
• Annual Report
• Email Newsletter
• Executive Guide
• Digital Reports

Privacy Overview

Get tips to file federal and state tax returns, boost tax refunds, avoid IRS penalties and more.

Popular Searches

AARP daily Crossword Puzzle

Hotels with AARP discounts

Life Insurance

AARP Dental Insurance Plans

Suggested Links

AARP MEMBERSHIP — $12 FOR YOUR FIRST YEAR WHEN YOU SIGN UP FOR AUTOMATIC RENEWAL

Get instant access to members-only products and hundreds of discounts, a free second membership, and a subscription to AARP the Magazine.

• right_container

Work & Jobs

Social Security

AARP en Español

• Membership & Benefits
• AARP Rewards
• AARP Rewards %{points}%

Conditions & Treatments

Drugs & Supplements

Health Care & Coverage

Health Benefits

Staying Fit

Your Personalized Guide to Fitness

AARP Hearing Center

Ways To Improve Your Hearing

Brain Health Resources

Tools and Explainers on Brain Health

How to Save Your Own Life

Scams & Fraud

Personal Finance

Money Benefits

View and Report Scams in Your Area

AARP Foundation Tax-Aide

Free Tax Preparation Assistance

AARP Money Map

Get Your Finances Back on Track

Budget & Savings

Make Your Appliances Last Longer

Small Business

Age Discrimination

Flexible Work

Freelance Jobs You Can Do From Home

AARP Skills Builder

Online Courses to Boost Your Career

31 Great Ways to Boost Your Career

ON-DEMAND WEBINARS

Tips to Enhance Your Job Search

Get More out of Your Benefits

When to Start Taking Social Security

10 Top Social Security FAQs

Social Security Benefits Calculator

Medicare Made Easy

Original vs. Medicare Advantage

Enrollment Guide

Step-by-Step Tool for First-Timers

Prescription Drugs

9 Biggest Changes Under New Rx Law

Medicare FAQs

Quick Answers to Your Top Questions

Care at Home

Financial & Legal

Life Balance

LONG-TERM CARE

​Understanding Basics of LTC Insurance​

State Guides

Assistance and Services in Your Area

Prepare to Care Guides

How to Develop a Caregiving Plan

End of Life

How to Cope With Grief, Loss

Recently Played

Word & Trivia

Atari® & Retro

Members Only

Staying Sharp

Mobile Apps

More About Games

Right Again! Trivia

Right Again! Trivia – Sports

Atari® Video Games

Throwback Thursday Crossword

Travel Tips

Vacation Ideas

Destinations

Travel Benefits

Beach vacation ideas

Vacations for Sun and Fun

Plan Ahead for Tourist Taxes

AARP City Guide

Discover Seattle

How to Pick the Right Cruise for You

Entertainment & Style

Family & Relationships

Personal Tech

Home & Living

Celebrities

Beauty & Style

TV for Grownups

Best Reality TV Shows for Grownups

Robert De Niro Reflects on His Life

Free Online Novel

Read 'Chase'

Sex & Dating

Spice Up Your Love Life

Navigate All Kinds of Connections

How to Create a Home Gym

Store Medical Records on Your Phone?

Maximize the Life of Your Phone Battery

Virtual Community Center

Join Free Tech Help Events

Create a Hygge Haven

Soups to Comfort Your Soul

AARP Smart Guide

Spring Clean All of Your Spaces

Driver Safety

Maintenance & Safety

Trends & Technology

How to Keep Your Car Running

We Need To Talk

Assess Your Loved One's Driving Skills

AARP Smart Driver Course

Building Resilience in Difficult Times

Tips for Finding Your Calm

Weight Loss After 50 Challenge

Cautionary Tales of Today's Biggest Scams

7 Top Podcasts for Armchair Travelers

Jean Chatzky: ‘Closing the Savings Gap’

Quick Digest of Today's Top News

AARP Top Tips for Navigating Life

Get Moving With Our Workout Series

You are now leaving AARP.org and going to a website that is not operated by AARP. A different privacy policy and terms of service will apply.

Go to Series Main Page

Norovirus Cases Are Rising on Cruises. Here’s How You Can Stay Safe

Keep hands clean as stomach bug cases rise.

Larry Bleiberg,

Just as travel has begun to bounce back after the pandemic, cruise ship passengers are facing another threat to their vacation: norovirus .

Thirteen ships so far this year have reported outbreaks of the highly contagious stomach bug, the most since 2012, according to the  U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) . Nearly 1,700 passengers have come down with the virus, which causes vomiting, nausea, diarrhea and stomach pain. Not only does it take the joy out of vacation, keeping passengers confined to their stateroom, but for older travelers, there’s a concern of dehydration, doctors say.

AARP Membership — $12 for your first year when you sign up for Automatic Renewal

The  bug thrives in crowded conditions  and is spread through food and by touching contaminated surfaces. The easiest way to avoid the ailment is to wash your hands with soap and water after using the bathroom, before eating and after touching surfaces touched by others.

Samuel Mathis, M.D., an assistant professor in the University of Texas Medical Branch Department of Family Medicine, says the resilient virus can live for days and there are plenty of places for it to linger on cruise ships: “Door handles, stairway banisters, tongs for food at the buffet, things that a lot of people touch that aren’t cleaned between each use.”

And washing your own hands isn’t enough. Mathis says older passengers and others traveling with family face a risk from others in their party. For example, if grandchildren aren’t careful hand-washers, they can easily infect their grandparents and others.

Mathis, who works in Galveston, Texas, a cruise port, has seen passengers with norovirus. He says that while the virus itself is uncomfortable, it isn’t typically dangerous. “The biggest risk for almost everyone — but especially for seniors — is actually the risk of dehydration: losing all that fluid through nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.”

Symptoms of dehydration  include extreme thirst, lack of urination and dizziness when standing, Mathis says.

ARTICLE CONTINUES AFTER ADVERTISEMENT

If passengers come down with a stomach bug, they should contact the ship’s medical clinic, which will monitor for dehydration. In addition, they should stay in their cabin away from people until they are symptom-free for at least 24 hours, Mathis says. “That can be really rough because you’re missing your cruise.”

The most recent norovirus outbreak was reported on the  Viking Neptune  cruise ship. During its June 6 to June 20 voyage, 110 of the ship’s 838 passengers, or 13.1 percent, were infected. In addition, nine of the 455 crew members were infected.

Holland America Line

Up to $200 onboard credit on select cruises

“We believe the gastrointestinal illness originated from a shoreside restaurant in Iceland where a group of guests dined during their free time,” the cruise line said in a statement. After docking in New York, the ship was thoroughly cleaned and disinfected, and continued its scheduled sailings.

The CDC regularly inspects cruise ships and monitors the number of outbreaks. This year, norovirus also has been reported on cruises operated by Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises, Princess Cruises, Holland America and P&O Cruises. The worst year for norovirus was 2006, when 32 ships reported infections, according to the CDC.

Cruise experts say several factors may be contributing to the rise in cases. For one, cruising has soared this year, with the number of passengers expected to surpass the total that sailed in 2019, according to the Cruise Lines International Association.

Letting down their guard

Ashley Kosciolek, senior cruise writer at The Points Guy, a consumer travel website, says that after years of COVID-related precautions, passengers may have let their guard down. 

“People are just so happy to be back, but they’ve gotten a little lax with hygiene. I personally have seen lots of people using the women’s room and not washing their hands. I don’t know if it’s subconscious rebellion or if they don’t realize what could happen.”

Kosciolek says she has made it a practice to wash her hands before going to the buffet, and then washing them again before she eats, since buffet implements aren’t sanitized after each passenger touches them.

Mathis says it might even make sense for passengers to avoid the buffet and dine only at their ship’s sit-down restaurants.

That said, the chances of catching the bug on a cruise ship aren’t particularly high. According to the  Cruise Lines Industry Association , the risk each year of getting laboratory-confirmed norovirus during a ship outbreak is about 1 in 5,500. The most common settings for norovirus aren’t even at sea. Over half of all cases originate in long-term health care facilities, according to the CDC, while less than 1 percent of all norovirus cases come from cruise ships.

Kosciolek notes that while cruise ships are required to report outbreaks, many land-based cases go unreported. “It is easy for someone who has never cruised to see these news reports and say, ‘Oh my goodness, I’m never going to cruise because I’m going to get sick.’ ”

Likewise, Mathis says vacationers shouldn’t let the fear of norovirus keep them from taking a vacation.

“I do not suggest that people don’t go on cruises. When proper safety precautions are taken, cruises are fantastic opportunities for individuals to relax, to spend time with friends or family and meet new people. It really just comes down to recognizing there are risks.”

Virginia native Larry Bleiberg is president of the Society of American Travel Writers, a frequent contributor to  BBC Travel  and the creator of  CivilRightsTravel.com .​​

Discover AARP Members Only Access

Already a Member? Login

MORE FROM AARP

5 Illnesses You Can Get on a Cruise 

The focus has been on COVID, but it’s not the only one

How You Can Stay Healthy While at Sea

Cruise ships have adapted to a post-pandemic world

Top New Cruises

If you’re ready for a vacation on the high seas, you can set sail as early as May on one of these exciting new passenger vessels

Or Call: 1-800-675-4318

Enter a valid from location

Enter a valid to location

Enter a valid departing date

Enter a valid returning date

Age of children:

Child under 2 must either sit in laps or in seats:

+ Add Another Flight

Enter a valid destination location

Enter a valid checking in date

Enter a valid checking out date

Occupants of Room

Occupants of Room 1:

Occupants of Room 2:

Occupants of Room 3:

Occupants of Room 4:

Occupants of Room 5:

Occupants of Room 6:

Occupants of Room 7:

Occupants of Room 8:

Enter a valid date

You didn't specify child's age

There are children in room 1 without an adult

You didn't specify child's age for room 1

There are children in room 2 without an adult

You didn't specify child's age in room 2

There are children in room 3 without an adult

You didn't specify child's age in room 3

There are children in room 4 without an adult

You didn't specify child's age in room 4

There are children in room 5 without an adult

You didn't specify child's age in room 5

You have more than 6 people total

Please select a trip duration less than 28 days

There must be at least 1 traveler (age 12+) for each infant in a lap

Enter a valid From location

Enter a valid start date

Enter a valid drop location

Enter a valid drop off date

Select a valid to location

Select a month

Enter a valid going to location

Enter a valid from date

Enter a valid to date

AARP Value & Member Benefits

Hurtigruten Expeditions

5% off cruise fares and a €100 per person onboard credit

AARP Vacation Ideas

Ideas for every type of trip – from cruises to road trips

AARP Travel Center Powered by Expedia: Car Rentals

Up to 30% off select car rentals

AARP® Staying Sharp®

Activities, recipes, challenges and more with full access to AARP Staying Sharp®

SAVE MONEY WITH THESE LIMITED-TIME OFFERS

• View Results
• 1 (current)

* Terms & Conditions Package not available on sailings less than 5 days or charter sailings.

Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Unveils Bold New Vision for the Future with Strategic Long Term Fleet Expansion and Enhanced Private Island Development

Plan includes next generation vessels for Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises, and Regent Seven Seas Cruises to be built by Fincantieri, along with infrastructure enhancements for Great Stirrup Cay, all while continuing its disciplined multi-year de-leveraging plan.

Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. (NYSE: NCLH) (together with NCL Corporation Ltd., "Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings", "Norwegian", "NCLH" or the "Company") today unveiled the most comprehensive new build order in its history-a total of eight state-of-the-art vessels, representing nearly 25,000 additional berths, with new classes of ships for each of its three award-winning brands-and the construction of a multi-ship pier at Great Stirrup Cay, the Company's private island destination in the Bahamas and its top-rated Caribbean port of call. This unprecedented decade-long strategy enhances its product offering, guest experiences, and operational infrastructure, supporting the Company's sustained leadership in delivering innovative cruise vacations.

The new ship orders across all three brands are scheduled for delivery over a ten-year period, between 2026 and 2036. Following the delivery of four Prima-Plus class ships from 2025 through 2028, Norwegian Cruise Line is expected to take delivery of four approximately 200,000-gross-ton ships, each with a capacity of nearly 5,000 guests, in 2030, 2032, 2034 and 2036, which are subject to financing [1] . Building on the success of its Allura Class ships, the last one being delivered in 2025, Oceania Cruises is scheduled to take delivery of two 86,000-gross-ton ships, each with a capacity of 1,400 guests in 2027 and 2029. Lastly, following the award-winning Explorer Class ships, Regent Seven Seas Cruises is scheduled to take delivery of two 77,000-gross-ton ships, each with a capacity of 850 guests, in 2026 and 2029. Details regarding the ships’ amenities, staterooms, dining, recreational, efficiency, sustainability and other features will be announced in the coming months.

"This strategic new-ship order across all three of our award-winning brands provides for the steady introduction of cutting-edge vessels into our fleet and solidifies our long-term growth. It also allows us to significantly leverage our operating scale, strengthen our commitment to innovation and enhance our ability to offer our guests new products and experiences, all while providing opportunities to enhance the efficiency of our fleet," said Harry Sommer, president and chief executive officer of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. "We are likewise excited with the addition of a new pier at Great Stirrup Cay to support our increased capacity in the Caribbean and multiple ships to call on the island, enhancing our guest experience and bringing seamless and reliable access to our private island year-round."

In partnership with the Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri, each brand will design their new ship class and focus on creating the largest, most efficient, and innovative vessels of their respective fleet. Aligning with the Company’s sustainability efforts, the new ship designs are expected to advance the journey towards decarbonization.

This strategic new-ship order across all three of our award-winning brands provides for the steady introduction of cutting-edge vessels into our fleet and solidifies our long-term growth. It also allows us to significantly leverage our operating scale, strengthen our commitment to innovation and enhance our ability to offer our guests new products and experiences, all while providing opportunities to enhance the efficiency of our fleet. We are likewise excited with the addition of a new pier at Great Stirrup Cay to support our increased capacity in the Caribbean and multiple ships to call on the island, enhancing our guest experience and bringing seamless and reliable access to our private island year-round.

"Over the years, our long-standing relationship with Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings has been rooted in a shared vision for the future of maritime travel, consistently setting new standards for innovation, luxury, sustainability, and guest satisfaction in the cruise industry,” said Pierroberto Folgiero, CEO and Managing Director at Fincantieri . “We are thrilled to work on these new build orders and deliver emblematic cruise ships that will embody our shared legacy of excellence for generations to come.”

The Company has obtained export credit financing with favorable terms to fund 80 percent of the contract price of each of the two Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises ships, subject to certain conditions. The ship orders for Norwegian Cruise Line remain subject to financing, currently underway. 

Mark A. Kempa, chief financial officer of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, commented, "we expect that these strategic investments will secure our growth trajectory, significantly boost our earnings profile, and enhance shareholder value well into the future. With a favorable payment structure that includes pre-delivery financing and modest initial installment payments for these ship orders, we still anticipate strong Net Leverage reduction of 1.5 turns by the end of 2024, relative to 2023, and expect the Company to continue reducing Net Leverage each year for the foreseeable future."

New Pier Development at Great Stirrup Cay

The new pier development at the Company's private island in the Bahamas, Great Stirrup Cay, is slated to break ground in summer 2024 and be completed by late 2025 with an investment of approximately $150 million. The new pier will be constructed to simultaneously accommodate two large vessels of the Company's current and future ship classes. The pier development will enhance the guest experience on Great Stirrup Cay, and along with Harvest Caye, the Company's private island in Belize, continue to provide guests with world-class destinations in the Eastern and Western Caribbean.

Conference Call

The Company has scheduled a conference call for Tuesday, April 9, 2024, at 8:00 a.m. Eastern Time to discuss this announcement. A link to the live webcast along with a slide presentation can be found on the Company's Investor Relations website at https://www.nclhltd.com/investors. A replay of the conference call will also be available on the website for 30 days after the call.

[1]  Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. expects a four-ship Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) order to replace a separate, effective, two-ship order for Oceania Cruises initially placed to secure availability with the shipyard. The four-ship order for NCL is still being finalized and is subject to financing. Delivery for the second Oceania Cruises ship is contractually scheduled for the fourth quarter of 2028, but may be delayed to 2029. All expected delivery dates are preliminary and subject to change.

An official website of the United States government

The .gov means it’s official. Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

The site is secure. The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

• Publications
• Account settings

Preview improvements coming to the PMC website in October 2024. Learn More or Try it out now .

• Advanced Search
• Journal List
• Elsevier - PMC COVID-19 Collection

Cruise Ships, Nursing Homes, and Prisons as COVID-19 Epicenters: A “Wicked Problem” With Breakthrough Solutions?

I was not surprised that some of the earliest signs of COVID-19 outside of China were outbreaks on cruise ships. Several years ago, during a month on a 500-passenger cruise ship, I learned firsthand how rapidly viral infections can travel through those floating communities. I was the trip physician; the month was December; respiratory virus season had arrived early that year; and we unknowingly welcomed several unwanted guests when our passengers boarded in Nassau. Within 2 weeks, more than half the passengers were actively coughing and the clinic was inundated. On just 1 typical clinic day, I diagnosed 3 cases of Influenza A, 8 patients with viral bronchitis, 1 case of pneumonia, and 3 cases of gastroenteritis. And this was a “small” voyage; more common are passenger lists at least 5 times larger!

News headlines soon shifted from cruise ships to nursing homes. The canary in the coal mine was a 5-star-rated home in Kirkland, WA, 1 whose staff had the misfortune of being blindsided because they had no forewarning that COVID-19 was in the area when a cluster of febrile respiratory infections hit the facility, leading within 2 weeks to 23 deaths. 2 After that, the floodgates opened, such that as of mid-April more than 7000 deaths—a fifth of all US COVID-19 mortality—were linked to skilled nursing facilities. 3 In New York, 72 long-term care facilities had 5 or more deaths each; in New Jersey, almost two-thirds of nursing homes had recorded COVID-19 infections 3 ; and in Pennsylvania, 55% of COVID-19 deaths were reported to have been among residents of nursing homes or personal care homes. 4

Next, we began to hear similar reports from prison complexes. Cook County (Illinois) jail, one of the country's largest, reported that more than 500 inmates and staff tested positive for COVID-19, with inmates constituting two-thirds of the cases and all 3 of the deaths. 5 Closer to my own home, the Neuse Correctional Institution in Goldsboro, NC, a state prison, reported that 259 inmates tested positive for the coronavirus, and that the vast majority were asymptomatic 6 ; and practically in my backyard, the federal prison in Butner, NC, reported that 91 inmates had tested positive for the virus, at least 5 of whom died of the infection. 7

Commonalities Link the 3 Settings

While at first glance cruise ships, prisons, and nursing homes are very different institutions, in fact they share many commonalities. Each is a densely populated congregate setting with cramped housing units that do not lend themselves well to sheltering in place. Each prepares meals in a central kitchen and serves them to large gatherings. Each sponsors activities that bring large groups together on a regular basis. Each has relatively large numbers of staff who have extensive contact with the residents and work under demanding conditions for modest pay. Each has medical resources that compete with other, nonmedical priorities. Each has health care regulations that, while extensive, could not possibly have fully prepared them for COVID-19; instead, in the face of an impending outbreak, rapid, nimble responses were needed, and these have proven hard to initiate and coordinate in all 3 settings. Thus, each setting can be considered high risk for amplifying infectious diseases such as COVID-19, because the conditions that prevent disease dissemination are nearly impossible to achieve.

Indeed, so daunting are the prospects for avoiding the spread of COVID-19 in these settings that a case can be made for getting as many people out as soon and safely as possible. For the cruise ship industry, the short-term solution was to suspend all operations for 30 days, with a longer furlough likely. 8 The challenge, of course, will be whether and if so when and how operations can be safely resumed.

Reducing the prison population is a more challenging proposition and requires legal action. Nonetheless, many states have acted to reduce bookings and/or to release persons who are older, have chronic disease, or have been jailed for nonviolent crimes. 9 , 10 In California, noting that older inmates are at particularly high risk if they acquire the infection, a motion was filed to allow older inmates to be released even if they had been incarcerated for violent crimes. 11

No similar movement has taken place around discharging nursing home residents, despite significant family concerns and some recommendations that families look for alternatives. 12 Instead, most experts, including the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), do not recommend contemplating such moves, because acceptable living arrangements are not readily apparent. 13 A few families have taken independent action, particularly to bring post-acute patients home earlier than anticipated, but this has been infrequent. More common is the opposite situation—hospitals looking to discharge COVID-19 patients to nursing homes for post-acute care, and in response some nursing home units and entire nursing homes devoting themselves to COVID-19 care. These transitions, as well as outbreaks in the nursing homes themselves, place tremendous pressure on the nursing home industry to in short order develop the policies and procedures, provide the requisite staffing, and acquire the protective equipment and testing capacity that are necessary to safely manage COVID-19 patients.

Working on the Front Lines

During my “viral” December as a cruise ship doctor, I had several advantages in comparison to nursing home or prison health care. My population was relatively healthy, educated, and health-conscious; the average age was 52. I had numerous opportunities to provide public health messages about basic hygiene, which were understood and occasionally followed. The crew—largely minorities from the developing world who worked long hours—had minimal turnover and were meticulous in their work. Furthermore, cruise ships that visit US ports are required to follow CDC policy recommendations and have their infection control processes inspected twice annually and the results posted publicly. 14 , 15 On the ship, I held clinic twice a day; access was on an as-needed basis; and the ship provided nurses to support the medical clinic and conduct a wide variety of prevention and surveillance activities. The clinic's on-site testing included an influenza kit, a complete blood count, and an x-ray machine, so while resources were limited, our diagnoses were immediate, and positive flu cases could be isolated within minutes after presenting to the clinic. On the other hand, the unavailability of many tests and the lack of ready access to referral resources came into sharp focus when, 48 hours away from the next port, a passenger in his 80s presented with incipient sepsis, having spent the previous 72 hours alone in his cabin awaiting spontaneous resolution of what proved to be bacterial pneumonia. Furthermore, even on that short trip I had to deal with outbreaks of acute gastroenteritis and, aware that norovirus can spread like wildfire on cruise ships, struggled to decide whether or not to isolate patients. Still, these issues were minor compared with what I would have experienced had we encountered a more deadly outbreak such as COVID-19.

In contrast, nursing home care is far more challenging. The average patient is in her or his low 80s, has multiple chronic illness and disabilities, needs hand-on care with activities of daily living, and has some degree of cognitive impairment. Post-hospitalization admissions come daily, often bringing with them such subacute problems as delirium, gastrointestinal upset, pressure ulcers, and atelectasis. Shortages and rapid turnover of nursing and personal care staff create care challenges almost daily. Medical care providers are off-site most of the time and have competing responsibilities 16 ; in consequence, decisions are often made over the telephone, with nursing staff assuming far more responsibility than they do in other health care settings. Laboratory specimens are collected on site but transported to outside laboratories for processing, resulting in diagnostic delays.

COVID-19 magnifies the challenges of providing medical care in the nursing home. It brings into sharp focus the fact that infection control leadership tends to be assigned to a part-time nurse whose position turns over more than 50% per year, 17 meaning that institutional knowledge and the ability to provide leadership in the face of an infection outbreak is often compromised. And, although many staff members show tremendous loyalty and perseverance in the face of a coronavirus outbreak, a COVID-19 outbreak leads to increased staff absenteeism because of the need for isolation among persons who become ill or from fear of contracting the disease, thereby worsening an already difficult staffing situation. 4 Shortages of personal protective equipment occur rapidly, without a clear avenue to obtain more, and access to testing is limited, with results often not returning for 4 or more days.

Prison medicine is in many ways similar, with the exception that the average patient is younger, has fewer chronic illnesses, and rarely has cognitive impairment. Perhaps even more than nursing homes, prisons have difficulty keeping and retaining physicians and nurses—in my home state of North Carolina, for example, it is the norm to have as many as a quarter of prison health care staff positions unfilled [Dr E. Ashkin, Director, NC Formerly Incarcerated Transition (FIT) Program, personal communication]. Furthermore, as with nursing homes, lack of access to rapid testing is a major problem, with COVID-19 results typically taking 4 or more days to be reported. 18 A World Health Organization guide to preparedness, prevention, and control of COVID-19 in prisons advocates ready access to testing, routine handwashing, hand sanitizer access, physical distancing, availability and use of disposable tissues when coughing or sneezing, admonition to avoid touching the face if hands are not clean, use of masks for any person with respiratory symptoms, environmental cleaning measures capable of killing viruses, restriction of movement when cases present, and use of personal protective equipment for staff attending to persons with suspected COVID-19 disease. Unfortunately, these are no more than a pipe dream in many settings. 19

Blaming Isn't Helpful

Given the many risks in and limitations of these settings, working in health care at this time has come to be considered a heroic act. 20 Efforts to recognize and support health care workers have ranged from audible displays such as howling, screaming, applauding, and beating pots and pans, 21 to fundraising and volunteer efforts to provide needed personal protective gear and mental health support. 22 , 23 I can only hope that the public's applause, approbation, and vocal support for hospital staff and emergency medical providers extends all the way to the staff of nursing homes and prisons, where the resources are usually far less available, the workload especially massive, and the remuneration lower.

Unfortunately, a common first reaction from the media, policy makers, and regulators to a COVID-19 tragedy has been to look for someone to blame. A perfect example of such blame was the levying of a $611,000 fine on Life Care Center of Kirkland, WA, for failing to report the outbreak, for giving inadequate care, and for failing to provide 24-hour emergency physician services. 24

I can understand the regulators' point of view. Nursing homes have been known for years to be an especially hazardous component of the health care system, with high rates of multidrug resistance and multiple problems around infectious disease prevention. 25 Infection control issues have chronically been and continue to be the most common single reason for deficiency citations. 26 To help improve infection control practices, the US Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services in 2016 released new requirements for long-term care facilities, all components of which were to have been initiated by November 2019. 27 So, levying a punitive fine to a nursing home that had been previously cited for infection control violations would seem a reasonable reaction.

But the COVID-19 pandemic is too unprecedented an event to expect any residential care setting to have been adequately prepared to handle an outbreak. Instead of blaming, a much more helpful approach would be to pull together as rapidly as possible to identify and address the problems and needs, and to support rather than to blame. After all, it appears that COVID-19 is going to be with us for years, and that the current short period of intense scrambling and tight isolation is going to give way to a long, arduous “dance” in which we seek to keep the disease at bay while trying to maximize restitution of our pre–COVID-19 lives and routines. 28

Can This “Wicked Problem” Lead to Breakthrough Solutions?

In planning and policy, the term “wicked problem” is used to describe issues that are complex, intractable, and open-ended. 29 Solutions to wicked problems are neither easy nor apparent, do not lie within existing decision-making pathways, require imagination and transdisciplinary thinking, call for changes in society, are the best that can be done at the time, and need to be continually re-examined. 30

The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed a wicked problem for the cruise ship industry, the prison system, and the nursing home industry. Because the pandemic will persist for at least a few more years and, if the virus mutates as does influenza, perhaps permanently, changes in all 3 industries are needed beyond the stopgap measures that are currently being pursued. I don't know enough about the cruise ship industry or the prison system to hazard a guess about which directions the ultimate problem-solving should take. However, by virtue of having worked in post-acute and long-term care for more than 40 years, I feel prepared to highlight a few issues that need priority attention: physical plant limitations, chronic staffing problems, poor infection control, and limited health care capacity. Together they embody the wicked problem of how to best care for older persons who have numerous morbidities and functional limitations, many of whom are near the end of life. Of course, these issues have already been pervasive in the nursing home industry; all that COVID-19 has done is to shine a spotlight on them.

Will the tragedy of COVID-19 for long-term care settings mobilize positive change, through out-of-the-box, interdisciplinary problem solving? Will it lead policy makers to eliminate multiperson rooms, shared bathrooms, and large wards, and possibly large buildings, because they increase infection risk? 31 Will it lead to real solutions to the staffing problems that have existed in long-term care for decades? Will it truly integrate the long-term care, acute care, and primary care systems in a manner that is not only seamless but in which acute care settings no longer receive most of the resources?

Given the societal ageism that has been exposed by the COVID-19 pandemic, 32 and the persistent economic problems that will follow the pandemic for the foreseeable future, I would not bet money on major changes occurring in the long-term care system in the near future. But I would be thrilled to lose that wager.

Press Releases

Norwegian cruise line holdings unveils bold new vision for the future with strategic long term fleet expansion and enhanced private island development, plan includes next generation vessels for norwegian cruise line, oceania cruises, and regent seven seas cruises to be built by fincantieri, along with infrastructure enhancements for great stirrup cay, all while continuing its disciplined multi-year de-leveraging plan.

MIAMI, April 08, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. (NYSE: NCLH) (together with NCL Corporation Ltd., “Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings”, “Norwegian”, “NCLH” or the “Company”) today unveiled the most comprehensive new build order in its history—a total of eight state-of-the-art vessels, representing nearly 25,000 additional berths, with new classes of ships for each of its three award-winning brands—and the construction of a multi-ship pier at Great Stirrup Cay, the Company’s private island destination in the Bahamas and its top-rated Caribbean port of call. This unprecedented decade-long strategy enhances its product offering, guest experiences, and operational infrastructure, supporting the Company’s sustained leadership in delivering innovative cruise vacations.

The new ship orders across all three brands are scheduled for delivery over a ten-year period, between 2026 and 2036. Following the delivery of four Prima-Plus class ships from 2025 through 2028, Norwegian Cruise Line is expected to take delivery of four approximately 200,000-gross-ton ships, each with a capacity of nearly 5,000 guests, in 2030, 2032, 2034 and 2036, which are subject to financing 1 . Building on the success of its Allura Class ships, the last one being delivered in 2025, Oceania Cruises is scheduled to take delivery of two 86,000-gross-ton ships, each with a capacity of 1,450 guests in 2027 and 2029. Lastly, following the award-winning Explorer Class ships, Regent Seven Seas Cruises is scheduled to take delivery of two 77,000-gross-ton ships, each with a capacity of 850 guests, in 2026 and 2029. Details regarding the ships’ amenities, staterooms, dining, recreational, efficiency, sustainability and other features will be announced in the coming months.

"This strategic new-ship order across all three of our award-winning brands provides for the steady introduction of cutting-edge vessels into our fleet and solidifies our long-term growth. It also allows us to significantly leverage our operating scale, strengthen our commitment to innovation and enhance our ability to offer our guests new products and experiences, all while providing opportunities to enhance the efficiency of our fleet,” said Harry Sommer, president and chief executive officer of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. “We are likewise excited with the addition of a new pier at Great Stirrup Cay to support our increased capacity in the Caribbean and multiple ships to call on the island, enhancing our guest experience and bringing seamless and reliable access to our private island year-round.”

In partnership with the Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri, each brand will design their new ship class and focus on creating the largest, most efficient, and innovative vessels of their respective fleet. Aligning with the Company’s sustainability efforts, the new ship designs are expected to advance the journey towards decarbonization.

"Over the years, our long-standing relationship with Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings has been rooted in a shared vision for the future of maritime travel, consistently setting new standards for innovation, luxury, sustainability, and guest satisfaction in the cruise industry,” said Pierroberto Folgiero, CEO and Managing Director at Fincantieri . “We are thrilled to work on these new build orders and deliver emblematic cruise ships that will embody our shared legacy of excellence for generations to come.”

The Company has obtained export credit financing with favorable terms to fund 80 percent of the contract price of each of the two Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises ships, subject to certain conditions. The ship orders for Norwegian Cruise Line remain subject to financing, currently underway.

Mark A. Kempa, chief financial officer of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, commented, “we expect that these strategic investments will secure our growth trajectory, significantly boost our earnings profile, and enhance shareholder value well into the future. With a favorable payment structure that includes pre-delivery financing and modest initial installment payments for these ship orders, we still anticipate strong Net Leverage reduction of 1.5 turns by the end of 2024, relative to 2023, and expect the Company to continue reducing Net Leverage each year for the foreseeable future.”

_______________ 1 Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. expects a four-ship Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) order to replace a separate, effective, two-ship order for Oceania Cruises initially placed to secure availability with the shipyard. The four-ship order for NCL is still being finalized and is subject to financing. Delivery for the second Oceania Cruises ship is contractually scheduled for the fourth quarter of 2028, but may be delayed to 2029. All expected delivery dates are preliminary and subject to change.

New Pier Development at Great Stirrup Cay

The new pier development at the Company’s private island in the Bahamas, Great Stirrup Cay, is slated to break ground in summer 2024 and be completed by late 2025 with an investment of approximately $150 million. The new pier will be constructed to simultaneously accommodate two large vessels of the Company’s current and future ship classes. The pier development will enhance the guest experience on Great Stirrup Cay, and along with Harvest Caye, the Company’s private island in Belize, continue to provide guests with world-class destinations in the Eastern and Western Caribbean.

Conference Call

The Company has scheduled a conference call for Tuesday, April 9, 2024, at 8:00 a.m. Eastern Time to discuss this announcement. A link to the live webcast along with a slide presentation can be found on the Company’s Investor Relations website at https://www.nclhltd.com/investors. A replay of the conference call will also be available on the website for 30 days after the call.

About Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd.

Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. (NYSE: NCLH) is a leading global cruise company which operates Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises. With a combined fleet of 32 ships and approximately 66,500 berths, NCLH offers itineraries to approximately 700 destinations worldwide. NCLH expects to add 13 additional ships across its three brands through 2036, which will add approximately 41,000 berths to its fleet. To learn more, visit www.nclhltd.com .

Terminology

Adjusted EBITDA . EBITDA adjusted for other income (expense), net and other supplemental adjustments.

EBITDA . Earnings before interest, taxes, and depreciation and amortization.

Net Debt . Long-term debt, including current portion, less cash and cash equivalents.

Net Leverage . Net Debt divided by Adjusted EBITDA. 2

Cautionary Statement Concerning Forward-Looking Statements

Some of the statements, estimates or projections contained in this release are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the U.S. federal securities laws intended to qualify for the safe harbor from liability established by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements other than statements of historical facts contained, or incorporated by reference, in this release, including, without limitation, those regarding our business strategy, financial position, results of operations, plans, prospects, actions taken or strategies being considered with respect to our liquidity position, valuation and appraisals of our assets and objectives of management for future operations (including those regarding expected fleet additions, our expectations regarding the impact of macroeconomic conditions and recent global events, our expectations regarding cruise voyage occupancy, operational position, demand for voyages, plans or goals for our sustainability program and decarbonization efforts, our expectations for future cash flows and profitability, financing opportunities and extensions, and efforts to reduce operating expenses and capital expenditures) are forward-looking statements. Many, but not all, of these statements can be found by looking for words like “expect,” “anticipate,” “goal,” “project,” “plan,” “believe,” “seek,” “will,” “may,” “forecast,” “estimate,” “intend,” “future” and similar words. Forward-looking statements do not guarantee future performance and may involve risks, uncertainties and other factors which could cause our actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from the future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied in those forward-looking statements. Examples of these risks, uncertainties and other factors include, but are not limited to the impact of: adverse general economic factors, such as fluctuating or increasing levels of interest rates, inflation, unemployment, underemployment and the volatility of fuel prices, declines in the securities and real estate markets, and perceptions of these conditions that decrease the level of disposable income of consumers or consumer confidence; implementing precautions in coordination with regulators and global public health authorities to protect the health, safety and security of guests, crew and the communities we visit and to comply with related regulatory restrictions; our indebtedness and restrictions in the agreements governing our indebtedness that require us to maintain minimum levels of liquidity and be in compliance with maintenance covenants and otherwise limit our flexibility in operating our business, including the significant portion of assets that are collateral under these agreements; our ability to work with lenders and others or otherwise pursue options to defer, renegotiate, refinance or restructure our existing debt profile, near-term debt amortization, newbuild related payments and other obligations and to work with credit card processors to satisfy current or potential future demands for collateral on cash advanced from customers relating to future cruises; our need for additional financing or financing to optimize our balance sheet, which may not be available on favorable terms, or at all, and our outstanding exchangeable notes and any future financing which may be dilutive to existing shareholders; the unavailability of ports of call; future increases in the price of, or major changes, disruptions or reduction in, commercial airline services; changes involving the tax and environmental regulatory regimes in which we operate, including new regulations aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions; the accuracy of any appraisals of our assets; our success in controlling operating expenses and capital expenditures; trends in, or changes to, future bookings and our ability to take future reservations and receive deposits related thereto; adverse events impacting the security of travel, or customer perceptions of the security of travel, such as terrorist acts, armed conflict, such as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine or the Israel-Hamas war, or threats thereof, acts of piracy, and other international events; public health crises, including the COVID-19 pandemic, and their effect on the ability or desire of people to travel (including on cruises); adverse incidents involving cruise ships; our ability to maintain and strengthen our brand; breaches in data security or other disturbances to our information technology systems and other networks or our actual or perceived failure to comply with requirements regarding data privacy and protection; changes in fuel prices and the type of fuel we are permitted to use and/or other cruise operating costs; mechanical malfunctions and repairs, delays in our shipbuilding program, maintenance and refurbishments and the consolidation of qualified shipyard facilities; the risks and increased costs associated with operating internationally; our inability to recruit or retain qualified personnel or the loss of key personnel or employee relations issues; impacts related to climate change and our ability to achieve our climate-related or other sustainability goals; our inability to obtain adequate insurance coverage; pending or threatened litigation, investigations and enforcement actions; volatility and disruptions in the global credit and financial markets, which may adversely affect our ability to borrow and could increase our counterparty credit risks, including those under our credit facilities, derivatives, contingent obligations, insurance contracts and new ship progress payment guarantees; any further impairment of our trademarks, trade names or goodwill; our reliance on third parties to provide hotel management services for certain ships and certain other services; fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates; our expansion into new markets and investments in new markets and land-based destination projects; overcapacity in key markets or globally; and other factors set forth under “Risk Factors” in our most recently filed Annual Report on Form 10-K and subsequent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The above examples are not exhaustive and new risks emerge from time to time. There may be additional risks that we consider immaterial or which are unknown. Such forward-looking statements are based on our current beliefs, assumptions, expectations, estimates and projections regarding our present and future business strategies and the environment in which we expect to operate in the future. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date made. We expressly disclaim any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statement to reflect any change in our expectations with regard thereto or any change of events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement was based, except as required by law.

_______________ 2 The Company does not provide certain estimated future results on a GAAP basis because the Company is unable to predict, with reasonable certainty, the future movement of foreign exchange rates or the future impact of certain gains and charges. These items are uncertain and will depend on several factors, including industry conditions, and could be material to the Company’s results computed in accordance with GAAP. The Company has not provided reconciliations between the Company’s 2024 guidance and the most directly comparable GAAP measure because it would be too difficult to prepare a reliable U.S. GAAP quantitative reconciliation without unreasonable effort.

Investor Relations & Media Contact

Sarah Inmon (786) 812-3233 [email protected] [email protected]

Released April 8, 2024

• Email Alerts
• RSS News Feed

Short vs. long cruises: Which one is right for you? Here's how they compare.

Whether you want a weekend getaway or to max out your vacation days, there’s a cruise for that.

Cruise lines offer itineraries ranging from a few days to monthslong . But there are more differences between short and long sailings than just the amount of time guests spend on board. The length of a cruise can help dictate the types of ports passengers visit, the kind of ship they’re sailing on and even the general vibe on board.

“It's important to walk our guests through and for cruisers to think about, what's the experience that they're trying to have,” said Jamie Margolis, owner of Moms at Sea Travel, a Dream Vacations franchise. “So, we try to tease out that information, like, ‘What's your vacation style?’ ”

What can guests expect from short cruises?

Cruises can be divided into those shorter or longer than a week, according to Jared Feldman, owner of travel agency Jafeldma Travel. “So, anything less than that is really considered a short cruise,” he said.

Those around three nights long are often aimed at new-to-cruise guests “who aren’t really ready to commit to seven days but really want to quote-unquote test the waters, let's say – to see if cruising is right for them,” he added.

Those sailings typically feature just one port and a sea day and often visit tried-and-true cruise destinations. Travelers sailing from South Florida ports like Miami and Fort Lauderdale will likely visit Nassau in the Bahamas or one of many cruise line private islands , for example. While those sailing from Galveston, Texas, can expect to stop in Cozumel.

Margolis called three-and-four-night voyages a “great intro to cruising,” albeit with more limited itinerary choices. “Is their dream to go to Saint Kitts? They're probably not going to find that on a short sailing,” she said.

Shorter cruises may also lend themselves more to a party atmosphere and be less kid-friendly. But Margolis noted that’s not unique to cruising. “I mean, it's the nature of travel that short weekends can be celebratory,” she said.

And with diverse onboard offerings – from ship-within-a-ship concepts to kids clubs – passengers can often carve out their own experience.

Cruise lines have new offerings in that shorter category. Celebrity Cruises is launching its first regular weekend itineraries in the Caribbean this month, and Royal Caribbean International’s Utopia of the Seas will offer three-and-four-night sailings when it debuts in July.

What can guests expect from long cruises?

Feldman said any sailing over seven days could be considered a “longer cruise.” Those can range from around 10 days to more than six months. Royal Caribbean is operating a nine-month world cruise to more than 60 countries.

While short cruises “can feel like a bit of a whirlwind,” according to Margolis, longer itineraries offer more time to explore a greater variety of ports. They may feature less-visited destinations such as Aruba and Curaçao and often take place on smaller, older vessels (though ships are refurbished regularly).

That’s partly due to the limitations in places they stop. “Some of the ports … cannot really accommodate this large ship hardware,” Feldman said. “So, you need a smaller-size ship to navigate in and out of these ports.”

The onboard demographic also tends to skew older on those cruises since retired passengers typically have more free time, and travelers with kids are often beholden to school schedules.

If you want a middle ground, though, Margolis said a seven-night cruise “really takes you through what I think is, like, the whole cruise cycle.”

"You get on, you get acclimated, you find all the different amenities, and then you're able to … truly relax, disconnect, unwind,” she said. ‘And then you know, midweek, you start getting your luggage tags, and you go through that mental process of accepting that you're going to have to get off in a couple of days and go back to work.”

At that length, it's also easier to tack on a bit of extra time on the front or back end of the sailing to explore on their own, Feldman added.

Are short or long sailings cheaper?

Because short sailings frequently take place on larger ships, they are “very attractively priced” to help fill the cabins. But that doesn’t mean they’ll always be cheaper than a longer cruise.

A cruise with more stops will have higher port fees, but passengers may book longer itineraries further out and get better fares.

Looking for cheap cruises?: Here's what to know know about finding deals.

“Most times, you're not going to book a three-to-four-night sailing 12 to 18 months in advance,” said Feldman. “You're going to book that much closer in.”

The ship’s age also plays a role in how it’s priced, with shiny new vessels commanding higher rates . “So, there's a lot of different variables in play that kind of dictate where you're going to come out ahead or how much your cruise is ultimately going to cost based on those factors,” said Feldman.

Nathan Diller is a consumer travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Nashville. You can reach him at [email protected].

How to Retire on a Cruise Ship

I f you enjoyed cruises during vacations, it may be appealing to think about moving onboard permanently in retirement. Cruising has become increasingly accessible during the last decade and continues to provide a somewhat leisurely mode to explore the world . While the idea of setting sail and enjoying a plethora of amenities can be attractive, there are logistics to consider before signing up for long-term cruising.

To investigate retirement on a cruise ship, you'll want to:

• Understand what's involved with the lifestyle.
• Look at your finances and set a budget.
• Review options for the services you need.
• Consider how your social life will be impacted.
• Outline your priorities and talk to family.

Use the following information as a starting point to help you decide if you should spend your retirement years on a cruise ship.

Living as a retiree at sea isn't as simple as purchasing a ticket and stepping on board. There are many different routes, trip lengths, price points and ship sizes to consider. If you've never been on a cruise, you might try out several to see if you enjoy the rhythm and are comfortable at sea. For those who have only gone on short-term cruises, such as weekend getaways or weeklong trips, it might be beneficial to try out a three-month cruise to see if an extended trip is still enjoyable.

John and Melody Hennessee from Port Salerno, Florida, decided to travel during their retirement years. They have settled on cruising, and even became owners of a residence on Storylines MV Narrative, a residential ship in development and set to sail in 2026. The ship is designed to enable global citizens to carry out a healthy and active lifestyle while traveling throughout the world. "It's so special to live out this dream every day while getting to see and hear the ocean," they say.

Before retiring on a cruise ship, go through your belongings on land and aim to downsize . Also think through your health conditions, and if you'll be able to get medical assistance if needed.

Cruise Ship Retirement Options

You might aim to spend your entire time sailing on one ship, or you could move around. Some cruise lines offer cabins for sale, allowing you to own your place at sea. Other ships accommodate extended trips, such as 180 days or more.

You also need to decide what to do about your current housing situation. You might rent your home while you set sail or divide your time between cruising and living on land. While it's possible to sell your residence and permanently commit to the cruise life, you'll want to think about long-term options, such as what you'll do if you go cruising for a year and then want to settle somewhere else.

Cruise Ship Retirement Costs

The amount you spend on cruising will depend on where you want to travel and the amenities you choose. "Rates are negotiated based on duration, cabin type and past passenger status," says Annie Scrivanich, senior vice president of Cruise Specialists, which is headquartered in Seattle.

The average cruise fare in 2023 ranges between $130 and $260 per day, according to Cruzely.com data. However, factors that impact price include the cruise line, the ship, the dates of your cruise, cabin type and trip length. There is also spending to consider, and you might be able to get a discounted rate for long-term travel.

You can monitor travel sites to watch for price drops. Also contact the cruise line to ask about services for long-term guests, such as arranging for family and friends to join you occasionally or allowing you to go home for a special event and then rejoin the ship.

Pros of Retirement on a Cruise Ship

If you love to see new places, cruising provides an opportunity to see the world , especially areas where you might not otherwise venture. "With longer-term cruising, specifically those trips that last weeks or months, you get to visit faraway places that can't be reached on shorter cruises," says Tanner Callais, founder and editor of Cruzely.com, based in Austin, Texas.

"There are around-the-world cruises that last months and can take you to Asia, Europe, South America and all points in between," Callais says.

You might develop new and unique relationships on board. Over time, you will likely become familiar with the ship's crew and may feel a sense of belonging. Due to your extended presence, "you'll receive extra care and attention while on board the ship," Scrivanich says. "You will be able to enjoy resort-style living surrounded by fellow travelers with similar interests." Readily available entertainment and excursions could provide opportunities to socialize and stay active.

The carefree retirement lifestyle could be attractive too. "There is no home maintenance, meals to prepare, house to clean or any other of the daily chores that take up so much time," Callais says.

Cons of Retirement on a Cruise Ship

Staying close to family and watching grandchildren grow could be difficult when you're at sea for months or years at a time. You might also grow weary of the frequent stops cruise ships make, along with your lack of control over the time spent at ports. For instance, you may want to tour a city for a full week, but the ship might only stop for two days. With unlimited food and drink available, it could be hard to maintain a goal weight.

If you're interested in a side job during retirement, in-person work opportunities could be limited. You might be able to work remotely if there is steady Wi-Fi available.

There are also medical considerations to keep in mind. "A prospective shipboard retiree must be in good health, as the cruise lines certainly aren't equipped to function as an assisted living facility," says David Yeskel, a travel journalist known as The Cruise Guru and based in Santa Monica, California.

Medicare coverage is limited outside of the United States, and it won't pay for health care services provided when the ship is more than six hours away from a U.S. port. You may have to purchase private health insurance for travel . While there are basic medical services on board cruise ships, they tend to focus on emergency care, which could make regular checkups difficult to schedule.

Copyright 2023 U.S. News & World Report