Seniors Set Sail

Retirement Options

By Cutright Elizabeth on Sep 12, 2017 in News

For some retirees, living out the golden years at sea provides a fun, and surprisingly affordable, alternative to typical senior living facilities.

While many aging adults anticipate retirement to be one endless vacation, some savvy seniors are taking that vacation mentality to the next level by making their home onboard a cruise ship. In many cases, this choice not only allows retirees to see the world but provides them access to many of the same amenities available at most reasonably-priced retirement communities, at just about the same cost.

“What easily grabs your imagination when you think about people who opt to live aboard cruise ships instead of in retirement communities is how much fun it must be to be out in the world, meeting new people and seeing new places in a lovely atmosphere with good food and attentive service,” says Spencer Brown, Carolyn Spencer Brown, editor in chief of CruiseCritic.com.

Affordable Adventures

“You can go on a world cruise for under $300 a day, per person, double-occupancy,” Mara Hargarther, a travel agent and cruise vacation specialist at Dream Vacations in Ponte Vedra, Fla, recently told The New York Times. Explaining how those fees are often only slightly higher than high-end senior living facilities.

In fact, according to a 2004 study from the Journal of American Geriatrics Society, 20 years on a cruise ship comes with a price tag of just about $230,000, only a little more than the $228,075 cost of living for two decades in a retirement home.  Though there’s no doubt the current cost would be much higher, LongTermCare.gov estimates annual fees for assisted living range between $36,000 to $72,000, right in line with an average daily rate of $100 most consumers can expect to pay aboard a cruise ship.

The idea of living at sea after retirement continues to gain momentum. According to a recent poll from Cruise Critic, a majority of respondents signaled they’d be willing, and eager to retire at sea, with another 27% saying they would consider the possibility if “the price was right.”

Loyalty and Royalty

In addition to transportation, food and entertainment, many cruise ships offer additional amenities available to frequent customers and those willing to pay a premium. In fact, many cruise line companies market specifically to the senior demographic, offering “Snowbird in Residence” programs and specially designed luxury apartments that come with a 40-year lease.

“The upper tiers of these loyalty programs would afford passengers special rates, special upgrades and the opportunity to access concierge-type services on board,” said Jeff Smith, a senior vice president at World Travel Holdings, a cruise agency based in Virginia Beach, Va.

Ahoy Matey

While many of the seniors who opt for retirement at sea admit the lifestyle poses some challenges, they maintain that the benefits outweigh the difficulties. Those with long-term health issues or older people in need of more than the most basic health care may need to pass on long-term cruising. Retirees must also keep hidden costs in mind, like Wi-Fi fees and cell phone roaming charges.

Nevertheless, while doctor’s appointments must be dutifully managed and time spent with grandchildren curtailed, most seafaring seniors thrive on the opportunity to connect with others and see the world.

“The convenience of visiting both popular and more off-the-beaten-path ports of call all at once — only unpacking once – is something that only cruising can really deliver,” says Spencer Brown.

“I decided I had enough of the corporate world, and I wanted to spend the rest of my life traveling the world,” says 20-year cruise ship veteran Mario Salcedo. “The best way to accomplish that vision was to live on a cruise ship.”