There are a variety of ways to live full-time on a cruise ship and plenty of perks, too. It’s perfect for remote workers, and it could be cheaper than a mortgage, and comes complete with medical service, exercise center, markets and more.
People who work remotely, as well as those who are retired, are discovering an exciting way of life as a number of cruise lines are offering the ability to live on board temporarily or permanently with private rooms and apartments.
Permanent living on board a cruise ship
So-called “permanent” living on board a cruise ship can range for a set time of a lease or for the life of the vessel.
For example, a cruise ship called the MV Narrative, an upscale residential ship being built by Storylines, will offer more than 500 private rooms and apartments, which will be home to around 1,000 residents living on board permanently for the most part, CNBC reported.
There will be 11 different styles of these “global residences” or luxury homes, with the largest, called the “global,” which features 1970 square feet, two levels, and up to four bedrooms, a walk-in closet, two bathrooms, a dining room that seats six, and a large balcony.
Incredible amenities
Everything full-time residents need will be available on board, including medical service, 20 restaurants and bars, a farmer’s market, private kitchens, 24-hour room service, a 10,000-square-foot exercise center and spa open 24 hours a day, a school, library, bank, office spaces, co-working spaces and more.
Live on board for 3 years
Another ship making a live on-board and “all-inclusive” offer is the MV Gemini, by Life at Sea Cruises, which is limited to a three-year trip. The ship has 400 cabins available, which range from 130-square-feet “virtual inside” state rooms, to 260-square feet balcony suites, CNN reported.
However, passengers who want to live on board full-time must sign up for all three years of the ship’s scheduled voyage.
The MV Gemini offers meals including dinner, beverages all day, Wi-Fi, laundry, port fees, housekeeping, business center access, gym & fitness, a golf simulator, entertainment, and performances, plus a 24-hour hospital with free medical visits.
What does it cost to live permanently on a cruise ship?
Prices vary according to the cruise line, type of offer, and length of occupancy.
On the MV Narrative, the residences come fully furnished and are currently being sold as either a 24-year lease or life of vessel option. Floor plans range between 237-1970 square feet, one and two stories, and prices range from $875,000-$8 million.
Shared purchase units are available, and there is an option to rent out your residence through a “Guest at Sea” rental program. It should also be noted that “all-inclusive living fees” – which include food and drinks, laundry, fitness, and medical checkups – are added on top of the purchase price and start at around $2,100 per month.
One lucky resident, who works remotely for Meta, got in early on the deals and was able to nab a 12-year lease for an entry-level “discover” 237-square-foot studio for $300,000, which works out to roughly $25,000 a year, much less than the cost of rent in the major West Coast city where he works.
On the MV Gemini, prices for the three-year run start at $29,999 per person per year for the “virtual inside” staterooms, while the balcony suites, which are twice the size, cost up to $100,999 per person per year. Passengers must sign up for all three years, and a minimum down payment of $45,000 is required.
If not traveling as a couple, the company is launching a matchmaking scheme, allowing passengers to “share” a cabin with someone else, dividing the cost. Single travelers can get a 15% discount on the double occupancy rate.
