Everyone has a dream, a goal they are working towards. The open ocean has a calling for many, and one couple decided to spend the rest of their lives living on one cruise ship. They have worked their entire lives to find their passion in leisurely travel, not to mention the fact that it is more affordable than a mortgage.
Cruise Ships were Calling
Angelyn and Richard Burk have lived a frugal life, saving every penny so they might achieve their goal of retiring comfortably. They are both in their 50s and they have now decided that life lived on a cruise ship is the ideal retirement for them. After weighing out some of their costs, and aligning that with their life savings, Angelyn discovered this dream was actually possible. They compared the cost of living on a cruise ship with taking out a mortgage, and the cruise ship was much more affordable.
According to Angelyn’s calculations, they could live a better life at a lower cost. She worked out that if they chose to retire now, they will be able to live off $43 per day. Not to mention, that was less than what they were living off before they embarked on this voyage across the oceans. Angelyn might have wanted to get out of her nine-to-five job, but she can thank her skills as an accountant for being able to work this out.
Having discovered just how fortunate they were with their savings, and having worked so hard to get to this point, they set off for a comfortable life aboard cruise ships. Speaking to 7News Australia Angelyn said, “We have been frugal all our lives to save and invest to achieve our goals. We are not into materialistic things but experiences.”
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Ocean Plans for the Future
In May 2021, Mr. and Mrs. Burk set off into the horizon, and they have been enjoying their sea life ever since.
“Our original plan was to stay in different countries for a month at a time and eventually retire to cruise ships as we got older.”
“We love to travel and we were searching for a way to continuously travel in our retirement that made financial sense.”
The couple reported that they would rather not set foot on land again, but occasionally the cruise ships’ schedules are not in alignment, so they do spend some time on land waiting for their next departure. They use this time to see their friends and family. However, they can count on one hand the number of times they have slept on land over the past year. “We don’t plan to permanently live on land in the future,” affirms Angelyn.
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Angelyn Recommends Cruise Life
Angelyn would recommend that this life is worth a shot. She says that anyone who enjoys a good cruise and can manage to put the work in can make this life possible.
“I believe this is achievable for the everyday cruiser, but it does take effort. It is leisurely travel without the complications of booking hotels, restaurants, and transportation while staying within our budget.”
Angeline’s Cruise Tips
Angelyn recommends that you make sure you are fond of the ocean. But, most importantly, you like to be in a boat without feeling queasy. She also says that the loyalty programs are worth investing in, they add extra specials which help to save money as you go. Loyalty cards make it easier for you to achieve the deals, and the more you use them, the better the deals become. Luckily for Angelyn and her husband, they are frequent voyagers.
Other tips from Angelyn include not being rigid with your travel dates. She warns that unexpected things might occur like bad weather and such, so try to remain flexible and open to any possibility. She also advises avoiding the drinks packages, undoubtedly because they are too expensive, and most people would not drink every day of the week if they live aboard the cruise ship. Their final suggestion is to travel light. Excessive baggage is only going to get in the way.
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Sources
- “Couple live aboard cruise ships after calculating it makes more ‘financial sense’ than a mortgage.” 7News. Jacqueline May. May 7, 2022
- “A couple in their 50s live permanently on a cruise ship because it’s cheaper than a mortgage.” Upworthy. Tod Perry. May 11, 2022