While many of us might think a holiday on a cruise ship would be a once-in-a-lifetime luxury, it turns out you can actually live on one for a rate that’s much cheaper than you’d assume.
One of the latest offers comes from Life at Sea Cruises, a new company that is launching a three-year cruise spanning seven continents, allowing passengers to visit 13 of the 14 Wonders of the World.
Departing from Istanbul, Turkey, on 1 November, from Barcelona, Spain, on 5 November or from Miami, US, on 16 November, the ‘bucket list’ trip promises ‘an experience like no other’.
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"From exotic beaches to bustling cities, adventure or relaxation, we have it all," the Life at Sea Cruises website says of its 'ultimate adventure'.
The ‘beautifully revitalized’ 19,000-ton MV Gemini, which has room for up to 1,074 passengers, boasts everything from a fitness centre and 24-hour on-call hospital to a state-of-the-art spa and wellness centre, along with various entertainment and performance options.
Prices start at $29,999 a year per person – the equivalent of about $83 a day – which was a price tag that proved too irresistible for former flight attendant Meredith Shay.
She told Forbes: “As a flight attendant, I have seen many places (Mongolia, Jordon, Bhutan, Nepal), but to be on a ship, to experience islands and faraway places - not easy-to-get-to destinations - fills my soul."
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While this particular cruise is yet to set sail, one couple who can vouch for a life at sea are Angelyn and Richard Burk, originally from Seattle, who decided to pack their bags and head off on a similar trip a couple of years ago.
The Burks set off in May 2021 as they were keen to find a way to continuously travel without breaking the bank, and they found that – for their trip, at least - it was actually cheaper than paying a mortgage.
"We love to travel, and we were searching for a way to continuously travel in our retirement that made financial sense," Angelyn, a 53-year-old former accountant, explained to Australia's 7News back in January, a year after their adventure began.
The couple calculated that they can travel for the rest of their lives for as little as $43.74 (£35.44) a day.
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So far, they've hopped on and off various cruise ships around the world, including a 51-day trip from Seattle to Sydney.
Some of their favourite spots have included Singapore, Italy, Canada and the Bahamas.
"Our original plan was to stay in different countries for a month at a time and eventually retire to cruise ships as we got older," Angelyn explained.
"We love to travel and we were searching for a way to continuously travel in our retirement that made financial sense."
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She told CNN in April 2022 that the average cost per day in their new lives was $89 USD (£72.11), which included the price of their room, food, entertainment, transportation, tips, port fees and taxes.
According to Zillow, the average price for a home in Seattle is $913,416 (£740,058).
"This is well within our retirement budget," she said.
Featured Image Credit: Life At Sea Cruises/Facebook/Angelyn BurkTopics: Travel