We’ve heard people say things like, “There are older people are living on cruise ships because it’s cheaper than a retirement community”. But, I’ve always considered it an urban legend because cruise ships ain’t cheap.
77 year old Sharon Lane has proved me wrong. She was living in a retirement village in California, but left last month and put her life savings into a 15 year cruise around the world.
They ship is called the Odyssey and perpetually sails around the world in 3 year cycles. You can buy a 15 year lease on a cabin and then pay monthly fees to stay on for as long as you like. Sharon paid $129,000 upfront for an inner cabin and the will pony up about 3 grand each month. That covers meals, drinks, Wi-Fi, medical visits, room service, housekeeping, and laundry.
Sharon said, “There’s no end. Sure, in 15 years, but in 15 years I’ll be ready for a home. Or, maybe at the end, I’ll go on their next ship. I’ll cross that bridge when I get to it.”
Also, if you spend that much time at sea, aren’t you required to get some kind of sailor’s tattoo or a pet parrot? I wonder if she’ll come back saying words like “Land lubber”. That’d be pretty cool…… 92 year old woman with an eye patch and a parrot on her shoulder calling everyone a “lubber”.
Here’s a younger couple who are also in for 15 years.