Travel & Holidays Living on a cruise ship

Discussion in 'Living Room' started by skyfall, 8th May, 2019.

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  1. skyfall

    skyfall Well-Known Member

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    Went on my first cruise in January and really enjoyed it. It felt like I was staying in a fancy hotel which was new to me as I've always backpacked and stayed at cheap guesthouses. Spent 2 weeks cruising around Asia with Holland America and got hooked on the lifestyle.

    So now I'm thinking about living on a cruise ship for a change of scenery. I'm aged mid 40's, single, no pets, retired. My plan is do back to back cruises for 1-2 years before committing any longer, selling my car and putting things in storage. I will budget $90-100k a year ($250-270 per day) and book an inside room to save money. I will pay for it using rental income and some offset funds.

    I plan to stay an Oz resident for tax purposes because I don't want to lose my tax free threshold as I only have rental income to support me. This should be easy as I will still get my mail delivered to an Australian address and plan to return.

    Is there anything else I need to consider? Should I try different cruise lines or commit to one from the beginning to get their loyalty points?

    Has anyone done this before, were there any logistical problems?
     
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  2. Propagate

    Propagate Well-Known Member

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    Insurance? I think most travel insurance has limits on length of cover in any single period?
     
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  3. Dan Donoghue

    Dan Donoghue Well-Known Member

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    We love cruising, it's probably our favorite way to holiday but we couldn't live on one, we have one in Dec this year then another in Jan next year (just a couple of weeks after the Dec one) and we think we may struggle a little. Great idea to do them back to back and see how you feel, I did see (Sea lol, me so funny!!!!) that Princess do a world cruise, I think it goes for a few months.

    We find the ones that run 10 - 14 days are the good spot for us, we start going a bit stir crazy after that.
     
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  4. Terry_w

    Terry_w Lawyer, Tax Adviser and Mortgage broker in Sydney Business Member

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    There was a discussion on this forum a few years ago about an American woman who had live on cruise ships for more than 10 years. Might be of interest if you can find it
     
  5. Terry_w

    Terry_w Lawyer, Tax Adviser and Mortgage broker in Sydney Business Member

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  6. Morgs

    Morgs Well-Known Member Business Member

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    Love the idea - I've thought about retirement on a decent cruise ship!

    Factoring the the all inclusive costs of being aboard it really stands out as good value. Depending on the type of cruise of course, and if you're planning on doing it over years it'd need to be a combination of decent routes which stop in and see different things else it may get old. Good problem to have though!
     
  7. Marg4000

    Marg4000 Well-Known Member

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    I think your main problem would relate to health.

    Get seriously sick and you will be offloaded at the next port and sent to hospital, then you are on your own. At best you would be offloaded at the end of your current cruise if you are not considered healthy enough for the next cruise. Cruising continually will simply be a series of back-to-back cruises if you choose the same ship.

    Travel health insurance for an extended length of time would need thorough investigation.
    Marg
     
  8. Lizzie

    Lizzie Well-Known Member

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  9. Stoffo

    Stoffo Well-Known Member

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    Living on a cruise ship during the zombie apocalypse is my plan :D
    No need for fences :p
     
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  10. balwoges

    balwoges Well-Known Member

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    RSL floating on water, not for me ... :eek:
     
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  11. Morgs

    Morgs Well-Known Member Business Member

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    That is amazing...
     
  12. geoffw

    geoffw Moderator Staff Member

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    When my daughter went backpacking for 18 months, I had to set up travel insurance with another company. I confirmed with the original company first.
     
  13. josh123

    josh123 Well-Known Member

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    Hi @skyfall my family and I have been on around 18 cruises in the last 4 years. We absolutely love cruising which lead my wife into starting her own cruise business and is in the top 200 accredited cruise specialists in Australia. It’s such an easy way to holiday! I plan on doing something similar when the kids are grown up and I’m retired.

    My wifes advice is that you should stick to one cruise line if they offer a loyalty program. It all depends on the destinations you want. What ship did you go on with HAL? HAL certainly have some great itineraries especially on Maasdam.
     
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  14. TMNT

    TMNT Well-Known Member

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    I have no advice to give you, but that is the most awesome, unique and excitiing thing ive read today!!!!

    please please write up a diary for all us to indulge in!!

    that being said, I reckon youre going to be bored within a few months, and over the living in paradise idea (unfortunately)
     
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  15. TMNT

    TMNT Well-Known Member

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    Nice, may I ask what exactly does the business do?
     
  16. Gockie

    Gockie Life is good ☺️ Premium Member

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    HAL is very much an old person cruise line! Food and service has always been great, but 90% of people would be over 65.
     
  17. qak

    qak Well-Known Member

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    HAL is typically for older people, but I think that is to do with the cruise lengths - longer cruises will attract people who aren't limited by school holidays etc.

    I don't know if I could do a year ... 14 days is probably my maximum? I get a bit bored of sea days, so I have worked out the repositioning cruises would probably not suit me (plus I think the days at sea are a bit wasted if you have limited time).

    Maybe the high end cruises, where you spend a couple of days in ports might be better - I think they tend to be more all-inclusive (tours and drinks!) so I don't know how that fits with your budget. (& are grats supposed to be paid on those cruises?)
     
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  18. Mel Morgan

    Mel Morgan Sydney Property Manager Business Member

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    I love love this - its essentially floating real estate!

    I think living permanently at sea would get old after a few years but I'd love to do something like this for 3-6 month periods once the kids are grown up..

    I wonder if owning one of those 'apartments' would provide a decent ROI.
     
  19. datto

    datto Well-Known Member

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    Nah, not for me. I'd miss the Druitt. Wobbly legs on the weekend is enough I think.

    Wait a minute. There must be bogan cruises. Of course, 80% of cruises are full of drunks mucking up. I'll ring the agent tomorrow.
     
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  20. Ace in the Hole

    Ace in the Hole Well-Known Member

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    My initial thoughts too, but more about health in general.
    Cruising does not exactly support good healthy lifestyle habits as most people are there to let themselves go.
    Being around these social conditions for 1-2 years straight would almost certainly negatively affect health, no matter how strong your will power is.
     
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