Retirement is the time in life to do exactly what you want. For some, it means setting off on a business they’ve always dreamed off, and for others it may be gaining new experiences. While you may consider taking a cruise after beginning your retirement, it is even possible to live out your retirement on a cruise ship. If this is something that interests you, here’s some more information about it: 

Pros: Life at sea, and retirement as a whole at sea, is vastly different from retirement at home. For one, life on a cruise ship is completely maintenance-free: all laundry, dining, and repair services are provided for and there is no requirement on your part to have to mow a lawn, upkeep a house, or cook your own meals. In addition, a cruise ship often visits multiple cities per year, and if traveling the world was a priority for your retirement, then retiring on a cruise ship is a perfect way to accomplish that. In addition, modern cruise ships have many of the amenities one can find on land, such as shopping, spa services, fitness centers, wheelchair accessibility, an excellent onboard medical services. 

Some Cons: While retiring on a cruise ship may be a fantastic way to see the world, it may not be for everyone. One important consideration is that while ships dock, there will be long stretches of time where you are confined to your vessel. In this environment, it may be easy for boredom to set in after a few months. In addition, if you get seasick easily, despite the comfort and stability of these large vessels, illness may still be an issue. 

Preparing for Retirement at Sea:

Tip 1: Calculate your retirement yearly budget and make sure that any extra expenses are accounted for and paid for beforehand. It may be cheaper to cycle through multiple ships and companies rather than to stay fixed to one boat, this may also help alleviate the boredom of being on just one ship for months. 

Here are some websites to help you calculate your retirement budget and finance your cruise: 

1. https://personal.vanguard.com/us/insights/retirement/tool/retirement-expense-worksheet?lang=en
2. https://retireinstitute.com/resources/retirement-budget-calculator/
3. https://www.travelpulse.com/news/features/can-i-finance-the-cost-of-a-cruise.html

Tip 2: Plan what you will do with your home and other fixed assets such as a car or apartment. These could help fund your cruise, or if not then they should be looked after while you are away

Tip 3: Most cruise lines don’t allow pets onboard unfortunately unless they are service animals, so if you have a pet at home you should look into a long term kennel or having them stay with family. 

Here is some more information on Long Term Kennels and Pet Friendly Cruises

1. https://www.rover.com/long-term-dog-boarding/

2. https://www.countrycomfortboarding.com/2018/01/25/long-term-pet-boarding/

3. https://www.cruisecritic.com/articles.cfm?ID=2053

Tip 4: Staying in touch with friends and family on land is important and can help you keep connected to home even if you have been away for a long time. Look into the ship’s Wi-Fi capabilities and accessibility. 

Here is a great article on the internet at sea: 

https://www.cruisecritic.com/articles.cfm?ID=1419

Tip 5: Make sure to see your financial planner about your various investments and funds. While you may be far away from land, that doesn’t mean that you won’t still be taxed on your portfolio and other such monetary items. 

Retirement at sea can be a fun and novel way to spend your retirement. By planning ahead and weighing your different option, in can turn a cool adventure into the perfect retirement.