What It's Really Like to Retire on a Cruise Ship Full Time
The ocean doesn't knock. It doesn't ask. It just moves. For the growing number of retirees living full-time aboard cruise ships, that gentle sway isn't just background noise — it's home. And for many, it's a surprisingly practical one.
But before you toss your house keys overboard and book that endless voyage, here's what this unconventional lifestyle is really like — the good, the strange, and the sometimes overlooked.
Life Afloat: Not Just for Millionaires
Kirk Rickman and Tori Carter decided to retire with a twist — they sold their house and set sail. Since 2022, the Ontario couple has been living full-time on cruise ships, visiting 75 countries while swapping snow shovels for snorkeling gear. The couple reflected on their experience in a 2024 article for Toronto Life.
And while the idea may sound like a luxury reserved for the ultra-rich, the truth is more nuanced. According to the couple's own meticulous budgeting, it can cost as little as $30,000 per person annually — not far from what many spend on home ownership, utilities, and car payments. Plus, they no longer have to pay for property taxes, groceries, or home repairs.
That said, cruise life isn't a financial breeze for everyone. Fees stack up fast with port taxes, tips, upgraded cabins, Wi-Fi, excursions — even laundry. One "$45-per-night" cruise ended up costing Rickman and Carter more than $2,000 for just 10 days after extras were added.
Your World on the Seas
Ask long-term cruisers why they stay aboard, and a few themes emerge: simplicity, service, and endless novelty.
In an article for Business Insider, Christine Kesteloo, a former cruise director who now lives at sea half the year, says her life involves no cooking, cleaning, or even laundry — it's all handled by the ship's crew.
With two TVs in a compact cabin, access to hundreds of movies, room service at the tap of a screen, and a private veranda overlooking the open sea, Kesteloo truly loves her room, even with its limited size.
Others take it further. Some cruise lines have turned cruise ships into floating condo communities, offering residences that can be leased, bought, or even inherited.
For $1 million or more, you can own a two-story apartment with a balcony and a walk-in closet — all aboard a vessel circumnavigating the globe, World of Cruising reports.
Challenges Beneath the Surface
Of course, cruise life isn't all Mai Tais and sunsets.
Internet at sea is notoriously unreliable. Even uploading a 10-minute YouTube video can take a week. And while digital nomads are finding clever ways to work remotely from ships, that rhythm doesn't suit everyone.
Packing is another headache. Living out of a few suitcases — and preparing for climates from Antarctica to Rio — means constant reshuffling. And despite the glamour, there's no department store at sea. Lose a lip gloss in your laundry, and your entire wardrobe might suffer.
Then there's the emotional toll. Time with family is limited, and while phone calls and apps like WhatsApp help, some cruisers admit they plan entire reunions months in advance just to keep the connection alive.
Who's Really Doing This?
According to a 2017 Cruise Critic survey, nearly 60% of respondents said they'd love to retire at sea. An additional 27% would reportedly consider it — if the price was right, World of Cruising reports.
And while retirees make up the bulk of long-term passengers, younger professionals are joining in. People like 28-year-old Austin Wells, who works remotely for Meta, have secured multi-year leases aboard ships. With onboard gyms, spas, libraries, and medical care, it's not hard to see why. In a 2022 interview with CNBC, Wells describes his cruise ship apartment saying, "This is probably the first time ever that there is even the ability to have a standard job and even consider working and living from a floating apartment complex."
So, Could You Do It?
This lifestyle isn't for everyone. It requires letting go — of space, stuff, and sometimes stability. But for many who've made the leap, the freedom is worth it. If your dream retirement includes waking up in a new country every few days, dancing in shipboard ballrooms, and never mowing a lawn again — life at sea might just be your next chapter.
References: I live on a cruise ship for half of the year. Look inside my 336-square-foot cabin with a wraparound balcony. | Can you live on a cruise ship full-time? | 'When we retired, we sold our house and started living full time on cruise ships' | The easiest way to travel full time? See what a 28-year-old paid for an apartment on a cruise ship
