Retiring on a cruise ship sounds like a fantastic idea once you reach a certain age. Who wouldn't want to travel and have a new balcony view each day?
It seems like everyone is cruising these days, and when most people return to their normal lives, they are thinking about their next getaway. Some people love to be on a cruise ship so much that they try to get a weekend getaway on Carnival, Norwegian, or Royal Caribbean.
When that's not enough, people start thinking way ahead in the future. The question: "Can I retire on a cruise ship?"
Cruise ships are fun and provide excellent vacation destinations, but they're not equipped to be a nursing home unless some cruise line decides to offer one for retirees. While it is so tempting to sell everything and take your retirement to sea, there are few things you may want to consider.
The cost to retire on a cruise at sea is high, and you would never receive the level of care required should you need full-time care or a nursing home. It could also cost you $100,000 to travel the world, which makes this more of a rich man's hobby, and not everything is picture perfect.
On most cruise lines, you will pay extra for alcoholic beverages and sodas. And you'll certainly pay hundreds of dollars for Internet service at sea. You have to add the extra expense for making phone calls either from the ship or roaming from your cell phone.
Who will do your laundry? Some ships do offer laundry service for a price. Princess Cruises offers a cost of $3.25 per washer load and $3.25 per dryer load. That can add up, and those machines are very tiny. Oh, and you'll need to keep your outfit clean for the formal nights.
Do you plan to go on land? Guided tours at ports are becoming more expensive.
You might get tired of visiting ports and bored with the same daily routines. The ship food might become a nuisance, or you might gain weight from all the desserts. Watching the same entertainment and shows every night will become stale and old.
We don't want to discourage anyone from living their dreams by retiring on a cruise ship. It's a fun idea if you have the money and can live in small quarters.
You must also be healthy. Don't rely on medical care on cruise ships because it's very expensive and designed to treat minor illnesses and injuries. On-going care isn't available from the health facility.
Sure, there's a doctor on the ship, but they're not ready to deal with full-time patients. If you are very ill or injured, you will be hospitalized at the next port or will require a helicopter evacuation. It's just not feasible, and your health insurance provider might find a way not to pay your medical bills since you're away so much.
Why not just cruise part of the year? Many of the cruise lines offer world cruises that keep you sailing for three to six months. If you're thinking about traveling full-time, try a cruise at least three months and then decide.
Source: Cruisers Choice
Off Radar Comment
What this article does not consider, is that moving forward custom made solutions will be found for active pensioners who truly retire on board. Moreover, there are a great number of wealthy pensioners and many already take a year out on board.
