When 77-year-old Sharon Lane sold her Orange County home and moved aboard a cruise ship for the next 15 years, she wasn't chasing social media-worthy sunsets or bragging rights. She was making what might be the savviest financial decision of her retirement.
Lane's reaction to discovering the Villa Vie Odyssey was just two words: 'Holy cow.' She called them up and gave them money the same day. But her seemingly impulsive decision was actually rooted in cold, hard numbers that might surprise you.
The maths of cruise ship living versus traditional aged care in Australia reveal some eye-opening realities that could change how you think about your retirement plans.
In this article
The real cost breakdown that's got retirees reconsidering everything
Villa Vie Odyssey visits 425 destinations across all seven continents, with the main dining room offering a daily changing menu cycle based on healthy choices around the world. But beyond the wanderlust appeal, it's the financial equation that's drawing attention.
Here's how the numbers stack up: Living on a mass-market cruise ship can start at about $35,000 per year for room and board, with additional expenses including medical costs, laundry and alcohol increasing the overall cost.
For Villa Vie Odyssey specifically, residents like Lane purchased interior villas for around $200,000, then pay approximately $150 daily to cover meals, beverages, housekeeping, laundry, WiFi, and full access to ship amenities.
'Not only was it affordable to me, it would actually cost me less money to live here like this, have everyone taking care of me instead of me taking care of everybody'
Now compare this to Australian aged care costs. The average Refundable Accommodation Deposit in Australia is about $470,000, but if a resident has income below $34,005.40 and assets below $61,500, the Australian Government will cover the RAD for their accommodation. Additionally, residents pay a basic daily fee of $63.82 per day for standard services.
Australian couples are already making the switch
Brisbane retirees Marty and Jess Ansen have taken this concept even further. The retired couple told A Current Affair they have scheduled 51 back-to-back cruise journeys onboard Princess Cruises since June 2022, having already spent nearly the last 500 days living at sea as part of their 795-day voyage.
Marty and Jess didn't make this decision simply because they enjoy cruising; they said it is ultimately cheaper to live on cruise ships than to pay for a retirement or nursing home, with every meal included and their room cleaned daily.
Australian cruise ship living statistics
80 per cent of Villa Vie Odyssey's owners are from the US and Canada, with Australia and New Zealand a close second
55 per cent of residents are travelling solo
Australian couples like the Ansens have completed 51 back-to-back cruises, spending almost two years at sea
The psychological shift is just as significant as the financial one. 'We don't know how to wash up anymore, we don't know how to make a bed, because we haven't done it for so long. So now we have to stay on board just to stay alive!' Mr Ansen joked.
Behind the glossy brochures: what they don't tell you
Villa Vie Odyssey's launch wasn't quite the smooth sailing promised in the marketing materials. The ship was originally supposed to embark in mid-2024, but ended up stalled in Belfast, Northern Ireland, for four months, awaiting safety certification. When the vessel eventually set sail, Villa Vie contended with some cancelled ports and itinerary changes, with missed stop-offs in the Galapagos Islands, the Falklands and Antarctica leading to disappointment among passengers.
Lane says she's relieved to have missed much of the Odyssey's early drama and is confident that Villa Vie had enough time to 'work out the kinks' by the time she joined in mid-June. 'I don't want complications in my life, you know, I'm at a point in my life where I want simplicity,' she says.
The reality is more nuanced than the marketing suggests. The eight-deck Odyssey can 'technically' accommodate 924 people, but some cabins have been combined, meaning 'about 450 cabins in total,' with Villa Vie not expecting more than 500 residents onboard at any given time.
The practical realities you need to consider
Healthcare limitations
As one cruise officer explained, the guest was starting to require more help and care, placing demands on the crew beyond their roles. Cruise ships are designed for short-term vacation travel and are not set up for people to live on permanently, especially elderly and retired people. They don't have the medical, care facilities and support to cater for residents.
Family connections
The Villa Vie Odyssey does offer some solutions here. Friends and family can visit for up to 28 days with their own room and it's free. However, retiring on a cruise ship makes visiting family or attending family events much more complicated. Establishing long-lasting friendships on board can also be difficult, as passengers come and go.
Financial flexibility
Unlike aged care, where government support may be available, cruise ship living requires substantial upfront capital and ongoing financial capacity. Those who purchase long-term cabins on Odyssey do have the option to sell up should circumstances change, but this depends on market demand and the ship's ongoing operations.
Is cruise ship living right for you?
- Requires excellent health and financial resources
- Best suited for adventurous spirits who don't need extensive family support
- Offers genuine cost savings compared to premium aged care
- Provides structured social environment and activities
- Consider backup plans for health emergencies or family needs
What the experts say about this trend
Financial analyst Tricia Tetreault notes that 'Living on a cruise ship in retirement could be a cost-saving measure for seniors who may be working with a smaller financial nest egg. A cruise ship retirement has the potential to be more affordable than a standard retirement if you were comparing it to living in a retirement home or assisted living community'.
However, cruise expert Yeskel warns that 'There is a mix of criteria that have to fit together like a jigsaw puzzle in order to make retiring aboard a cruise ship a practical option: Finances, health status, flexibility, age and the ability to manage all aspects of your life remotely'.
Making the numbers work
For those considering this path, the financial comparison is stark. Using current Australian figures:
Traditional aged care (annual costs):
- Basic daily fee: $23,294 per year
- Average accommodation costs: $470,000 upfront or equivalent daily payments
- Additional care fees based on means testing
Cruise ship living (Villa Vie Odyssey):
- Initial purchase: $200,000 (interior villa)
- Annual ongoing costs: $54,750 ($150 x 365 days)
- Everything included: meals, cleaning, entertainment, transport
With every meal included in addition to having their room cleaned daily, cruise living can indeed prove cheaper than traditional aged care for many people.
The verdict for Australian seniors
Lane currently hopes to see out the full 15 years at sea, finally living her dream life. 'There's no end,' she says. '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'.
The cruise ship retirement model isn't for everyone, but for healthy, financially secure, adventure-minded seniors, it's proving to be more than just a romantic notion. It's a legitimate alternative that challenges our assumptions about what retirement should look like.
The key is being brutally honest about your health prospects, family needs, and financial capacity. If you can tick those boxes, swapping your letterbox for a porthole might be the most sensible decision you'll ever make.
Original Article
https://www.realestate.com.au/news/woman-gives-up-home-on-land-to-live-on-cruise-ship/
She left her home in California to live on a cruise ship for 15 years | CNN
Cited text: Her reaction, she says, was just two words: “Holy cow.” · “I called them up and I gave them money the same day,” recalls Lane.
Excerpt: Lane's reaction to discovering the Villa Vie Odyssey was just two words: 'Holy cow.' She called them up and gave them money the same day
https://edition.cnn.com/2025/06/26/travel/villa-vie-odyssey-cruise-ship-15-years
Villa Vie Residences: Your All-Inclusive Cruise Home
Cited text: ... With 425 destinations across all seven continents, you can explore the world without ever leaving home.
Excerpt: Villa Vie Odyssey visits 425 destinations across all seven continents, with the main dining room offering a daily changing menu cycle based on healthy choices around the world
https://villavieresidences.com/
Villa Vie Odyssey—The First Perpetual World Cruise
Cited text: ... Our main dining room offers a daily changing menu cycle of 14 days, based on healthy choices around the world, including daily specials.
Excerpt: Villa Vie Odyssey visits 425 destinations across all seven continents, with the main dining room offering a daily changing menu cycle based on healthy choices around the world
https://villavieresidences.com/odyssey/
What Are the Costs of Living on a Cruise Ship as a Retiree?
Cited text: Talk with a financial advisor who serves your area today. Living on a cruise ship in retirement could be a cost-saving measure for seniors who may be ...
Excerpt: Living on a mass-market cruise ship can start at about $35,000 per year for room and board, with additional expenses including medical costs, laundry and alcohol increasing the overall cost
https://smartasset.com/retirement/retirement-living-on-a-cruise-ship
Residential Aged Care Fees & Costs Explained | BlueCare
Cited text: Good to know: The Basic Daily Fee can be charged up to seven days before you move into residential aged care and must still be paid if you are on soci...
Excerpt: The average Refundable Accommodation Deposit in Australia is about $470,000, but if a resident has income below $34,005.40 and assets below $61,500, the Australian Government will cover the RAD for their accommodation
https://www.bluecare.org.au/aged-care-homes/content/guide-to-funding-your-aged-care-home
Understanding aged care home accommodation costs | My Aged Care
Cited text:
Excerpt: residents pay a basic daily fee of $63.82 per day
https://www.myagedcare.gov.au/understanding-aged-care-home-accommodation-costs
Aussie couple 'living' on cruise ship as cheaper option to retirement home
Cited text: The pair have another eight months aboard the Coral Princess before they disembark for a few months on dry land, then, they'll head off again for a ye...
Excerpt: The retired couple told A Current Affair they have scheduled 51 back-to-back cruise journeys onboard Princess Cruises since June 2022, having already spent nearly the last 500 days living at sea as part of their 795-day voyage
https://au.news.yahoo.com/aussie-co...aper-option-to-retirement-home-223844510.html
Aussie couple 'living' on cruise ship as cheaper option to retirement home
Cited text: 'We don't know how to wash up anymore, we don't know how to make a bed, because we haven't done it for so long.
Excerpt: Marty and Jess didn't make this decision simply because they enjoy cruising; they said it is ultimately cheaper to live on cruise ships than to pay for a retirement or nursing home, with every meal included and their room cleaned daily
https://au.news.yahoo.com/aussie-co...aper-option-to-retirement-home-223844510.html
Why Retiring On A Cruise Ship Is Cheaper Than You Think
Cited text: Aged care costs are rising in Australia, does this make retiring on a cruise ship more enticing?
Excerpt: Marty and Jess didn't make this decision simply because they enjoy cruising; they said it is ultimately cheaper to live on cruise ships than to pay for a retirement or nursing home, with every meal included and their room cleaned daily
https://cruisepassenger.com.au/tips-advice/how-you-can-retire-on-a-cruise-ship/
She left her home in California to live on a cruise ship for 15 years | CNN
Cited text: Petterson says 80 per cent of Villa Vie Odyssey’s owners are from the US and Canada, with Australia and New Zealand a close second.
Excerpt: 80 per cent of Villa Vie Odyssey's owners are from the US and Canada, with Australia and New Zealand a close second
https://edition.cnn.com/2025/06/26/travel/villa-vie-odyssey-cruise-ship-15-years
She left her home in California to live on a cruise ship for 15 years | CNN
Cited text: “It’s very roomy for the number of people.” · In November 2024 Villa Vie said that 50 per cent of passengers in the first takeup were traveling solo. Today, V...
Excerpt: 55 per cent of residents are travelling solo
https://edition.cnn.com/2025/06/26/travel/villa-vie-odyssey-cruise-ship-15-years
Why Retiring On A Cruise Ship Is Cheaper Than You Think
Cited text: “We’ve done a pretty good job of it since we’ve retired.” · The more the couple sail with Carnival, the more discounts they are receiving as they are ...
Excerpt: Australian couples like the Ansens have completed 51 back-to-back cruises, spending almost two years at sea
https://cruisepassenger.com.au/tips-advice/how-you-can-retire-on-a-cruise-ship/
Fees for permanent residential aged care | Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing
Cited text: Annual and lifetime caps limit how much a person can pay in means tested care fees.
Excerpt: Australian couples like the Ansens have completed 51 back-to-back cruises, spending almost two years at sea
https://www.health.gov.au/our-work/residential-aged-care/charging/fees
Why Retiring On A Cruise Ship Is Cheaper Than You Think
Cited text: Perhaps a future article might address this issue from an Australian point of view. Comments are closed.Angela Nuran and Paul Consentino are spouses a...
Excerpt: 'We don't know how to wash up anymore, we don't know how to make a bed, because we haven't done it for so long.
https://cruisepassenger.com.au/tips-advice/how-you-can-retire-on-a-cruise-ship/
She left her home in California to live on a cruise ship for 15 years | CNN
Cited text: Villa Vie Odyssey was originally supposed to embark in mid-2024, but ended up stalled in Belfast, Northern Ireland, for four months, awaiting safety c...
Excerpt: The ship was originally supposed to embark in mid-2024, but ended up stalled in Belfast, Northern Ireland, for four months, awaiting safety certification.
https://edition.cnn.com/2025/06/26/travel/villa-vie-odyssey-cruise-ship-15-years
She left her home in California to live on a cruise ship for 15 years | CNN
Cited text: “We learned that the weather down there is highly unpredictable so giving us this flexibility will ensure an amazing customer experience.” · Lane says...
Excerpt: Lane says she's relieved to have missed much of the Odyssey's early drama and is confident that Villa Vie had enough time to 'work out the kinks' by the time she joined in mid-June.
https://edition.cnn.com/2025/06/26/travel/villa-vie-odyssey-cruise-ship-15-years
She left her home in California to live on a cruise ship for 15 years | CNN
Cited text: The eight-deck Odyssey can “technically” accommodate 924 people, according to Villa Vie’s Petterson, but some cabins have now been combined into one, ...
Excerpt: The eight-deck Odyssey can 'technically' accommodate 924 people, but some cabins have been combined, meaning 'about 450 cabins in total,' with Villa Vie not expecting more than 500 residents onboard at any given time
https://edition.cnn.com/2025/06/26/travel/villa-vie-odyssey-cruise-ship-15-years
Aged care home costs and fees | My Aged Care
Cited text: This information can help you make the right choice for your care needs and financial situation. The types of fees and how much you pay will depend on...
Excerpt: As one cruise officer explained, the guest was starting to require more help and care, placing demands on the crew beyond their roles.
https://www.myagedcare.gov.au/aged-care-home-costs-and-fees
Aged care home costs and fees | My Aged Care
Cited text: How do these fees work?
Excerpt: As one cruise officer explained, the guest was starting to require more help and care, placing demands on the crew beyond their roles.
https://www.myagedcare.gov.au/aged-care-home-costs-and-fees
Villa Vie Residences: Your All-Inclusive Cruise Home
Cited text: This limited-time offer (ends April 30th, 2025) ensures unparalleled savings.
Excerpt: Friends and family can visit for up to 28 days with their own room and it's free
https://villavieresidences.com/
How to Retire On A Cruise Ship—2024 Edition
Cited text:
Excerpt: retiring on a cruise ship makes visiting family or attending family events much more complicated.
https://www.thiscruiselife.com/cruise-blog/how-to-retire-on-a-cruise-ship-2024-edition/
She left her home in California to live on a cruise ship for 15 years | CNN
Cited text: Those who purchase long-term cabins on Odyssey do have the option to sell up should circumstances change.
Excerpt: Those who purchase long-term cabins on Odyssey do have the option to sell up should circumstances change
https://edition.cnn.com/2025/06/26/travel/villa-vie-odyssey-cruise-ship-15-years
How Much Does It Cost To Live On A Cruise Ship
Cited text: Or do the cruise lines make it hard to do? I have the answers.
Excerpt: Financial analyst Tricia Tetreault notes that 'Living on a cruise ship in retirement could be a cost-saving measure for seniors who may be working with a smaller financial nest egg.
https://www.tipsfortravellers.com/how-much-does-it-cost-to-live-on-a-cruise-ship/
What Are the Costs of Living on a Cruise Ship as a Retiree?
Cited text: An alternative to booking back-to-back cruises or buying a condo is booking long-term cruises.
Excerpt: cruise expert Yeskel warns that 'There is a mix of criteria that have to fit together like a jigsaw puzzle in order to make retiring aboard a cruise ship a practical option: Finances, health status, flexibility, age and the ability to…
https://smartasset.com/retirement/retirement-living-on-a-cruise-ship
Why Retiring On A Cruise Ship Is Cheaper Than You Think
Cited text:
Excerpt: With every meal included in addition to having their room cleaned daily, cruise living can indeed prove cheaper than traditional aged care for many people
https://cruisepassenger.com.au/tips-advice/how-you-can-retire-on-a-cruise-ship/
She left her home in California to live on a cruise ship for 15 years | CNN
Cited text: Lane says she currently hopes to see out the full 15 years at sea, finally living her dream life. “There’s no end,” she says. “Sure, in 15 years… but ...
Excerpt: Lane currently hopes to see out the full 15 years at sea, finally living her dream life.
https://edition.cnn.com/2025/06/26/travel/villa-vie-odyssey-cruise-ship-15-years
What do you think? Is living on a cruise ship something you'd consider for your retirement, or does the idea of giving up a permanent home base feel too daunting? Share your thoughts on this fascinating retirement trend in the comments below.
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