Could you live on a cruise ship?

AmberGran

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.

My aunt worked in a local hotel and my cousin and I were sent to visit an old lady who lived there. She had sold everything after her husband died, and reckoned a hotel was preferable to a care home!
Now, we were about 16, and I remember the lady was interesting to talk to, as she had travelled the world with her seafaring husband, so visiting her was never a chore, but I don’t remember how we came to stop going. It also never occurred to us at the time how she would fare if she needed actual nursing care, say after being discharged from hospital. The self- centredness of youth, I suppose!

No l hate the thought of cruise ships. But l could live permanently in a nice, Adults Only, Inclusive Hotel. Somewhere warm..

Would have be older adults and have a heated indoor pool and spa.

Which companies have been the best stansgran?
And could you live onboard?

Goodness that was long and no paragraphs.

I’m in the camp of loving a cruise. We came back Sydney to Southampton after DH retired. It was wonderful. The ships doctor had been to school with my husband and gave him an article from the BMJ which said that cruising was cheaper than a care home. That was 20 years ago and I lobby for a cruise holiday every time DH talks of a holiday. On our first cruise we made friends with over half a dozen people who are still friends and we still meet up though one or two have dropped off their perches. We are going on a cruise next month which turns left out of Newcastle and goes round the uk to places we haven’t been to and are now too far to drive in one day whereas younger we would have got up very early and set out for the Scilly isles in a day. The other joy is packing and unpacking or the lack of it. I can’t stand beach holidays and do not lie by a pool. There are usually very good talks often excellent musicians and if you want a film night. I download books on my kindle although there is a library but I’m a bit iffy about well handled books. I once bumped into someone from a ship I was on in a bookshop and they had been sent to update the library. I gleefully guided their choice and had first picking of the new books which I had wanted but were still too pricy for my mean nature on kindle(99p max)
We stick to ships of less than 500 people and yes there maybe someone you take a dislike to but you probably never see them again unless on your table and then just ask to move. It’s only happened once and it was a rather unpleasant woman who objected to another ladies perfume. I also find that my DH actually enjoys the black tie evenings and so I use up my rather ancient evening dresses. As long as no moths fly out . As for the food I ask for half portions ,always choosing waiter service as I’m on holiday and find I lose weight round my middle because I eat carelessly at home . I’ve so fat never had a tummy upset but all the ships we’ve been on have had either wash hand basins by the restaurant or someone with a hand spray. If anyone was ill I would say unless sea sickness got them then they should scrub hands rather than wash them and stick to waiter service. And that’s on board life. The ports are usually lovely and a bit of research is a good idea. We generally book a taxi to meet us and know the route we want. Often have recommended individual taxi drivers to others having kept their names and cards.

Well I have to agree that it would be better than a care home but for those not yet destined for a care home - I would rarely see my friends and family, I would miss all the family celebrations, I would miss the cycle from Spring to Winter in my home. Might be possible for a year I suppose, but all those things are far more meaningful to me than not having to cook and care for a home.

Just the thought of it makes me shudder. Those huge great ships that just look like tower blocks of flats, nowhere to escape to, definitely not for me.

Where do I sign?
Yes I would, providing good WiFi, a nice big TV and my PS5 or laptop. Much better than a care home. Fabulous food, no cleaning or gardening. Ditch the responsibility for too many possessions. No property to maintain. You meet lovely people, and some dickheads too, just like anywhere else. I’d like a layover in the UK every so often to see my children though.

I can see that if you are without personal care needs but don’t want other responsibilities, a cruise life would work very well. You wouldn’t have a home to run and more people to joke and laugh with. If you progress to having personal care needs I assume your cruising days are over…

Yes I could live aboard a cruise ship, but that’s despite other people, I’ve never made ‘friends’ on holiday, I’m polite and will join small talk if I have to share a table at dinner

It's better than a care home ..prob cheaper too 😎

I’m with grandMattie 100%. I am definitely a land lover. I’ve been on a cruise before and as nice as it was I was pleased when it was over.

I met a nanny on a fit-farm. She said that , the father of the children kept her on to look after the children. She would fly them out to wherever the boat with his cabin was when there were school holidays. Every year the owners of the cabins decided where they wanted to go.
However this is what she said. I have no proof if is was reality.

Yes, if I won the lottery, I'd happily give it a go. I never want to board another aircraft again, but there are still lots of places I'd like to visit, so I'd sail away, and hop on and off depending on what port takes my fancy. I would be happy with a nice room and balcony and plenty of socialising when I felt like it.

Quite a few comments from "I know I wouldn't like it" folk. We know a chap who said the same, for years. Finally his wife got him to try a cruise -- now he cannot wait to go again!

We went on a few - when we were both working! -- and there's LOTS to do, but you do NOT have to join in if you don't want to.
Plus of course the ship stops at ports most days (that's the whole point?!) unless you're going across the Atlantic or Pacific.
There's a cabaret/show most nights on most ships, plus a bar or two will likely have a singer or pianist for an hour or two.

As for the food, yes, you could overeat, I recall finding myself in a deckchair one afternoon next to one of the entertainers. I asked him how he avoided eating millions of calories a week, he said HIS routine was to only eat lunch (plus teas and coffees I think).

I recall on one ship we used to hit the buffet, after a late-evening stroll, we could get a tea or a fancy coffee without a big crowd. The boys and girls of the dancing troupe used to get there about 11pm, (after their second evening show), they struggled to eat much in the day what with rehearsals then shows, plus helping with daytime entertainments.

We also used to occasionally get up on deck for a sunrise moment, and you'd find regular joggers and power-walkers trundling round whichever deck was marked out for them!

I also recall taking some crochet 'kit', and I guarantee if you're like that, out on deck somewhere, you'll soon draw some new friends wanting instruction or the pattern?!

There are specialist cruises for Bridge players - and there's plenty to do for their stranded bridge-widow/widower if that's the case! Others for gardening themes, wine enthusiasts, all sorts. If you're new to the cruising idea, have a look at one of the specialist sites, 'IGLU' is good, Bolsover Cruise Club, lots of them.

We did meet one or two people who cruised year-long, though I think they swapped ship somewhere?

BUT -- though we like cruising (especially on a smaller ship, a floating city is NOT for us!), we couldn't do it year-round.
If you REALLY like, say, theatre, would you go EVERY night, and EVERY week?

Yes - I would , definitely! Bring it on - better than sitting at home on my own in the cold and wet! XX🚢

Ive enjoyed cruises over the years but as for living on a cruise ship permanently it would be a No from me. I would feel as if I was in prison. Too restricted

that would be my idea of HELL! I have only been on a couple of cruises including Norweigan fjords and spain, but spent the whole time with my head down the lav throwing up

No way in the world! I'd be terrified of the thing sinking in the middle of the ocean, far, far away from the RNLI. I'd very seriously miss all the wildlife and trees we have on terra firma, even though I live in suburbia where there are far too many motor vehicles for my liking.

Except for my Cat Yes I would. I love cruising. I love Sea Days. The problem I would have would be my Travel Insurance because I'm having enough trouble getting any at the moment.
It would also depend on the ship and the cabin. I think it would have to be a balcony cabin or a suite. I'm not sure my finances would last long enough to do it. My house is already half tied up to my three daughters so selling that would maybe mean I I wouldn't be able to afford it.

If this is a cruise ship for older people only, no thank you.

Would go stir crazy inspite if being able to go ashore now and again.

If it's a cruise ship for all and sundry, again no thank you. Kids yelling and screaming, music blaring, yuck!

Love the sea & a brief trip on a boat. Love river & canal holidays as do love the water. Living on a ship no way! Need my countryside too & would miss birds & trees! So think I’ll just stay home & visit the sea often now I do not live on the coast! Each to his own my Nan would say!

BN: aren't the fees about the same?!!

For some reason those who run that ship called The World, that people do live on, thought my husband and I might like a tour so we went to look round it while it was in Falmouth. The year's travel itinerary is decided by owners' ballot but you get more say if you've got one of the most expensive apartments. We had a look at a couple of them, decorated by the owners. One was hideous, the other rather lovely and contained some serious art. Hardly anyone was in residence as they'd apparently gone off to see some golf in France and were being picked up later in the week by the ship in Paris.

I'm with those who couldn't ever think of it (though the library was a delight..). I am scared of the sea and couldn't even do a cross-channel ferry but the ship was OK, if a tad beige in the public areas. I think I'd get horribly fat! Luckily I idon'thave the required minimum of £250,000 per year to find out..

The big ships actually have hospitals on board but you do need medical insurance because it can be very expensive otherwise. I spent a day in one once and they were really good, I had a heart monitor on and a drip ( no heart attack, thank goodness just a seasick reaction to being in a cyclone!) Some go for medicines etc , it is usually at the bottom of the ship near the gangplank area presumably so they can send you to hospitals in really bad situations. Oh, if we were all poseurs then there are a hell of a lot of us ! What a snobby comment , never heard that one before, Not that many from the UK though but we cruise mostly the pacific region so it is probably too far.