87 year old has lived on cruise ship for 8 years

[zhelud]

https://www.washingtonpost.com/posteverything/wp/2016/03/07/what-its-like-to-live-on-a-cruise-ship-for-8-years/

Not what I would be doing if I had $450/day to spend in retirement- but I guess cruising is her thing.

[themagicman]

I would love to do this! But I do not think I could do it for 8 straight years (maybe 2 on 2 off rotation) and I think I could do it for much cheaper per day on average. I can usually find cruises in the $75-100 range and do not think I would use too much spending money on top of that

[nereo]

What she quoted as her per-day cost is actually cheaper than I thought ; about $164,000/year.
Personally i don't like large cruise ships, but glad that she's doing what she wants.  It makes more sense (to me) than continuing to live in and care for a 4 bedroom home all by herself.

[Cromacster]

Very interesting no doubt, but holy shit $450/day!!

[Syonyk]

Sounds better than sitting around being miserable and waiting to die (my extended family's approach to getting old).  Good for her!

[charis]

"The older you get, the harder it is to lose weight” -  she discovered after hitting 80.

Too funny.

[MayDay]

They are really taken care of- all meals, activities, don't need to own a car, house, etc.  Plus cruise employees checking in regularly.

If the alternative is assisted living (to get all meals and check-ins) then I can see how financially it would be about a wash.  But I just googled and assisted living is actually pretty cheap compared to this- ~4000 a month. 

I'd do it part of the year (winter) when I was old if I had the cash. 

[nereo]

If the alternative is assisted living (to get all meals and check-ins) then I can see how financially it would be about a wash.  But I just googled and assisted living is actually pretty cheap compared to this- ~4000 a month. 
 

I think this really depends on the location and quality of the facility, plus what care and amenities are available.  My grandmother wanted to be near my parents but living independently in an assisted living facility, and it was much closer to the $100k/year mark.

[soccerluvof4]

Good for her I say. After being in the Navy on an aircraft carrier I probably will never step foot on a Cruise Ship. I know there is no relation between the two but have no desire.

[Catbert]

I was on a Holland American cruise where another passenger lived aboard cruise ships.  Similar age and situation.  She was very garrulous and wore a vest that had all her Holland American pins covering it so everyone know who she was.  She used a walker but otherwise must have been in good health.  She was reputed to sail 11 months out of the year.  The 12th month she was on land to take care of things like doctor and dentist appointments, taxes, etc.  I always assumed that she got a break on the cost, but maybe not.

This wouldn't be for me because I'm an introvert.

[Paradise]

Years ago, back when DH and I cruised a bit, we met more than a few older gentlemen who lived this way (the "dance hosts" mentioned in the WP article). To a man, they were all outgoing, friendly, well-dressed, and EXCELLENT dancers. The men told us the cruise lines (then - not sure if still) substantially subsidized their fares, if not waived them, in exchange for being attentive dance partners and friendly fellow passengers to the many, many women cruisers…  To this day, DH sometimes mentions that if I ever get hit by a bus (!), he's headed for the cruise terminal to sign up!

[HAPPYINAZ]

That is so cool she is getting to do what makes her happy and not letting conventional norms from keep her from it!  Congratulations to her!  I haven't ever had a desire to get on a cruise ship, but I am thrilled to see her carving out a way of life that is so different and interesting!  So many older people I know just sit in their house and watch TV.  Imagine how many gorgeous sunsets and sunrises she has seen at sea!

[MrsDinero]

While I would never do it (I get really bad motion sickness), I think she is pretty cool to be doing what she loves.  It sounds like she also visits her family several times a year.

Honestly I think $450 a day is not so bad considering everything she is getting:

Room/board
All meals
Housekeeping
Medical
Entertainment
Travel around the world
Access to pools and gyms
Constant influx of new "friends"
No car/house maintenance or payment or insurance

[nobodyspecial]

There was a women that lived on the QE II liner before it was scrapped  http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/hampshire/7719605.stm
 

[Cassie]

On our last cruise we met people that did it for about 100/day.

[bkmnky72]

On our last cruise we met people that did it for about 100/day.

This would be my ideal vacation if/when we hit it big.

[Leisured]

I know an elderly woman who has said that continual cruising would be an alternative to a retirement home. She has not done it, though.

[KBecks]

If I make it to 80 and have my act together I will consider this as an option!  I suppose I could crash with my kids now and then for some land time.

[Villanelle]

I would love to do this! But I do not think I could do it for 8 straight years (maybe 2 on 2 off rotation) and I think I could do it for much cheaper per day on average. I can usually find cruises in the $75-100 range and do not think I would use too much spending money on top of that

The problem with that is that you would have to cruise hop, so you'd no longer be living in one stable place.  Plus, you'd have to cover airfare to get you from one port to your next departure port.  I suspect much of the appeal for this woman is the stability.  If she had to move around in order to find the deals, if would likely be far less attractive.  That's a great strategy for vacationing, but probably not so much for an 87yo who is using this as her home. 

[OzzieandHarriet]

I read that article. After seeing some of the assisted/independent living places for elders that are out there (both my mother and MIL were in them), I think this would be highly preferable! More interesting and way better food.

[rocketpj]

Years ago, back when DH and I cruised a bit, we met more than a few older gentlemen who lived this way (the "dance hosts" mentioned in the WP article). To a man, they were all outgoing, friendly, well-dressed, and EXCELLENT dancers. The men told us the cruise lines (then - not sure if still) substantially subsidized their fares, if not waived them, in exchange for being attentive dance partners and friendly fellow passengers to the many, many women cruisers…  To this day, DH sometimes mentions that if I ever get hit by a bus (!), he's headed for the cruise terminal to sign up!

Well, given that my wife makes more than I do, perhaps elderly dance partner/cruise gigolo will be my next career if she decides to leave me at some point.