Life on the ocean wave

I am among the many older Australians who have discovered the joys of cruising relatively late in life.

I took my first long, ocean-going voyage when I was in my mid-fifties and now, a decade later, I’ve completed another 16 of them! 

But if you think I’m a cruise fanatic, think again. A growing number of seniors have taken their fascination with all things nautical a step further – by signing up to live on a ship. 

It’s a bit like living in a residential community that takes you around the world – and, yes, there are pitfalls to look out for before signing on the dotted line.  

As regular cruise vacationers know, ship life provides a taste of luxury, ease of travel, and the simple pleasure of waking each morning to the fresh smell of the ocean breeze. 

You don’t worry about cooking or cleaning or constantly packing and unpacking as you do with any other holiday. You meet like-minded people, and you enjoy all the comforts of home – with constant sea views and exotic ports of calls thrown in for good measure.  

If that sounds like you, the good news is that residential cruise ships are making the dream of living that life forever more accessible. 

One of the biggest developments driving interest among Australians was the recent visit to Sydney of one such ship, the Villa Vie Odyssey.

Designed for affordable full‑time living at sea, the Odyssey has already attracted a small but growing Aussie contingent, with about 20 of its 360 residents coming from here. 

The ship operators expect that number to rise as more people learn about the concept and take part in its short‑stay “try before you buy” program. 

Villa Vie Odyssey offers cabin ownership from around $500,000, with monthly fees per couple of about $5,500, positioning it as a significantly more affordable option than ultra‑luxury residential vessels such as The World, where the starting price is more than $4 million. 

Villa Vie also offers a “Golden Passport” program with an age-based lifetime fare. In this model, older passengers pay less for lifelong accommodation, meals, entertainment, WiFi, laundry, and routine medical check-ups. 

Prices begin around $140,000 for travellers aged 90 and over, with tiered increases for younger age groups.

American couple Johan Bodin and Lanette Canen, who live aboard the Odyssey, said in a recent interview, “We love our new lifestyle. It’s just fantastic; we couldn’t have wished for anything else.

“People think we’re rich but we’re not. It makes financial sense and we’re at the right age to do this. We’re curious people.” 

Among Australian seniors who’ve already demonstrating a strong appetite for the cruising lifestyle are Jess and Marty Ansen. 

The great-grandparents from Brisbane spent more than 800 days at sea with Princess Cruises, came back home for a while, then set out again for another 10-month adventure. 

They say the seafaring life, which includes meals, daily housekeeping, entertainment, medical access, and social activities, is more enjoyable than a retirement home – and cheaper. 

They are not alone in their ship-shifting lifestyle. An American man, Mario Salcedo, has taken more than 1,000 consecutive voyages, changing from one vessel to the next. 

“Super Mario”, as he is known, travels exclusively on Royal Caribbean ships and is, by far, the company’s most frequent passenger. In fact, he’s become a celebrity in the cruise world and even has his own Wikipedia entry. 

A word of caution 

Despite the romance of perpetual travel to exotic locales, cruise living is not free of downsides. 

Some seniors note that it can eventually feel repetitive, with the same hallways, routines, and food cycles diminishing the magic over time. 

There is also the question of long‑term social balance. While many enjoy the constant company, introverts or those needing more personal space may find the environment exhausting. 

A more sobering warning comes from the experience of Sue Barr, a woman in her 60s who sold her home to live and work aboard a cruise ship as a photographer. 

Her story presents a stark contrast to the carefree passenger lifestyle many imagine. 

Barr found the reality gruelling: extensive and costly medical tests to qualify for work, cramped windowless crew cabins, rigid hierarchies, relentless schedules, and very little personal freedom.  

Her account highlights the profound difference between living on a ship as a passenger and attempting to do so as crew, which is certainly something retirees considering onboard employment should approach with caution.  

However, for those contemplating a real sea change, and are doing so with the eyes wide open, life on a cruise ship could be the perfect way to retire. 

Related reading: Independent,  Cruise Mummy,  Cruise Passenger, Royal Caribbean blog, Real Estate