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.
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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’.
"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.
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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."
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.
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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.
Topics: Travel
The Tyla Team