There is a new time for retirement and vacation, and it is on the high seas. Villa Vie Residence, a luxury cruise line, is making waves with its first-ever “perpetual cruise,” which lets you live on a ship for as long as you like. With the “Endless Horizons” package, visitors can live on the Villa Vie Odyssey cruise ship for the rest of their lives.
The Villa Vie Odyssey is not your average cruise ship; it’s a mobile house meant for living in for a long time. It has an ambitious schedule that lasts 3.5 years and visits 425 places in 147 countries, with stays that last five days or more. This long stay at each port provides occupants plenty of opportunity to really see the sights in towns and places across the world before the ship leaves for its next adventure.
A Different Way to Retire
This kind of living costs money, but for some people, it’s cheaper than a regular retirement. The cheapest way to stay for a lifetime starts at $349,999 for one individual and $599,999 for a pair. For those desiring an even more lavish trip, the premium package starts at $1.24 million for a single person and $1.74 million for two.
The ship is set up to be a nice home for a long time. The big rooms have queen-sized beds, big bathrooms, and places to work. Guests can pay an extra $50,000 to get a package that includes medical care and spa treatments. The Odyssey can hold 650 people and has many amenities for its tenants, such as a library, a fitness facility, a pickleball court, entertainment areas, many bars, and a spa.
A 77-year-old teacher who relocated from her retirement community in California to the ship is a good example of how appealing this way of life is. She plans to live at sea for the next decade, stating that it’s not only economical but also a relief from daily tasks. “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,” she remarked. “All the things you have to accomplish in life? Done! You get the life we have now if you write down everything you have to do on a sheet of paper and cross off anything that wasn’t a fun activity.