Could you live on a cruise ship?

I can't imagine anything worse. I have never been on a cruise, but like others I know it would not be for me. I like to be in charge of my own holiday, not herded around in tour groups. I'll make my own way there, get there when I want, leave when I want, see what I want etc. I know you don't have to go on the trips, but to me you would see so much more by flying and hiring a car. I have been on a coach trip, which turned out to be mine and my husband's idea of hell, we moved to a different hotel because the one included in the trip was awful, the food was worse than I could have imagined so we ate out and don't get get me started on the "turn" on an evening, I didn't know that that really happened and people actually watched it. We saw what we wanted to in two days, so hired a car and drove home 3 days early. What a waste of money. Never again.

MT62

If I had plenty of money, a carer to help me (if needed). Meeting different people.
Better than sat drooling in a nursing home.

Cunard does nice food!

I can imagine some ultra rich who are used to servants attending to your every whim enjoying living on a cruise

Its like having a mobile holiday home, you buy or lease the cabin, use it as you wish rent it out when you aren't using it. Cost are about £5000 a month and upwards for a couple, for a spacious outside cabin more likely £10,000 plus, like having a park home, you probably won't see much value back at the end of the lease.

Those with a few million to spare might enjoy the lifestyle.

I reckon I could.
It wouldn't appeal to me as a holiday choice, but if I could just treat the ship as my home, it'd be quite nice.

Certainly not! I do like cruising but only for a couple of weeks…..our longest was 20 days. Admittedly, the ships drop anchor at some amazing places but I like to feel the grass under my feet and sit under a tree in the park when I want to, not when predicted by a cruise operator.

i wouldn't mind living on a narrow boat

I always watch those on youtube.
They're beautiful!

MissAdventure

I always watch those on youtube.
They're beautiful!

I do too.
Also, check out ‘tiny house living’.
Houses made from shipping containers. Some fab ones out there.

oh goodness, you haven't given me another hobby to waste my time with - have you?

Oh yes, 'terracotta' for me too grandMattie
. I love that!

I'd find it all too claustrophobic. I need to get away from people occasionally, just to recharge my batteries.
There are the benefits of no cleaning or cooking but I can't think of many more. I have been on cruises and after 2 weeks I have had enough of the ship, the food, the routines and entertainment etc.

Not for me. I don't think I would enjoy it one bit.

I watch all the tiny house ones, too MT62
I like the A frame houses, the yurts, and the cob ones.
Basically, I'm just a nosy mare.

No thanks. Cruise ships always strike me as a bit of a Petri dish for bugs. One person goes down with something and it spreads like wildfire.

Could the government rent some older ones to expand the prison estate?

You would have to roll me off!
I have never seen so much food as on a cruise.
Unfortunately it gives you the opportunity to eat from morning to night and as I have little willpower it was a struggle!
It’s put me off trying another one though.

Yes!

Yes easily. We went on our first cruise in 2023 after many friends had said it was the best type of holiday and once you have been on a cruise you will never consider any other kind of holiday. How right they were. I instantly fell in love with cruising and will never consider any other type of holiday. And yes I could easily live on a cruise ship. Everything is to hand, food, entertainment, laundry, exercise, social activities, classes to name a few things. I have never felt as relaxed as I do on a cruise ship.

MissAdventure

I watch all the tiny house ones, too MT62
I like the A frame houses, the yurts, and the cob ones.
Basically, I'm just a nosy mare.

😂

JenniferEccles I agree with you too about dogs. Being terrified of dogs has made most other holiday options a no no for me. Being able to eat without dogs in pubs, cafés etc is not really a possibility anymore. And renting a cottage that doesn't allow dogs is virtually impossible.

Luckygirl3

grandMattie

Never. My worst nightmare!
Imagine never being under a tree, hearing the babble of the proverbial brook, children’s happy shouting when playing or coming out of school, dawn chorus…
Never seeing a field of corn, a wood full of bluebells. Oh no, not for me.
Terracotta for me, as 2Jags John Prescott famously said. 😂

Well exactly. And all that wretched food, food, food - making me feel sick just thinking about it ....

Re the food, a colleague who went on more than one cruise out of Miami, said that a lot of the passengers were hugely fat Americans who spent much of the day going from one food outlet to the other, all included in the price.
I’d heard of booze cruises, but these were evidently food cruises.

I suppose if you actually lived on a cruise ship you might be a bit more careful about food intake. I know on longer cruises we start walking up all the stairs rather than use lifts and we walk round the perimeter a couple of times a day which is a couple of miles or so - we only go on huge ships because I get seasick on small ones. Typically over 3,000 passengers plus a lot of paid staff. I don’t think I could cope long term,though.

I’m currently in the South of France on a cruise for 2 weeks. It’s so relaxing and so much to do or not do. I can’t imagine living on a ship as I love my home and garden, family and friends.
I see that the usual “petri dish” comment has been made. I have been on at least 20 cruises over the years and have only been unwell once and this was not an infectious illness.
As for the food, yes there’s a lot on offer but you’re not obliged to eat it all! Lots of healthy options too. I would normally only gain 1-2 pounds in 2 weeks and soon lose it when I get home.

I've read about a few people who do now. It costs them less than paying a mortgage and at least some of them work from the ship.

I've also read about people (Americans) who live in hotels. Some of the chains have apartments that are kept for visiting staff and if you ask you can apparently rent them out long term. Again people have found it cheaper than paying a mortgage. The hotels do the cleaning too. I don't think you can decorate or furnish the apartments, but you do get the use of the hotel amenities like pools.

I can see the appeal but I imagine you would have to rent a large cabin with a balcony, have never been on a cruise but some cabins I believe are really small.
Having all your meals made and days planned could be ok if you prefer to be looked after and don’t like doing your own thing.
I couldn’t do it though because I don’t like being at sea. A bit of a deal breaker.