Retired Couple Books 51 Back-to-Back Cruises as It’s Cheaper than Retirement Home

Marty and Jess Ansen live their best lives aboard a cruise ship as great-grandparents and beloved community members. Given their love for cruising, they have been aboard for over a year and have no plans to return to dry land. Being on the vessel is their best and cheapest alternative to staying in a retirement home.

Growing old often means being confined to a retirement home and spending a hefty amount of money to be cared for. However, this wasn't the case for Marty and Jess Ansen, a couple from Australia who had been cruising for months.

The couple had been adventurous before the pandemic, but they had to stay still due to COVID-19. They particularly enjoyed going on different cruises for decades. So, when the cruising industry finally opened, they grabbed the opportunity to travel again instead of staying at a retirement home.

The duo have been aboard the Coral Princess ship since June 2022 and have more months on the vessel. Besides the joy cruising brings them, the couple also saves much more than a retirement home. According to the two, going on a cruise is much cheaper than entering a nursing home.

They feast on buffet spreads instead of buying and cooking food and have housekeeping services as part of the cruise package. This means they don't have to think about doing chores.

In fact, the couple no longer remembers how to wash up or make their bed, as it has been a while since they have been doing it. The massive ship features a pool, outdoor viewing decks, sports and recreational activities, and a bar, among other things. Their room also has a balcony, where they can wake up to fresh air and sunlight.

The couple got used to a schedule after being on board for a long time. Marty and Jess usually get an hour of table tennis at around 5:30 in the morning, keeping them busy, active, and happy. Jess also goes hula dancing and ballroom dancing whenever she feels it. Marty said:

"We're on board longer than anybody else. The wheels change over, but we stay on board."

Cruise ship staff also know the couple well. Instead of the captain welcoming them, the duo welcomes different captains who board the vessel. Rem vem Rooyen, the cruise's hotel manager who has been on the ship shorter than the couple, joked that boarding the ship felt like coming home to see his mom and dad. "They're like my second mom and dad on board," he said.

Some crew members even surprised Jess during her birthday as the two already feel like part of the vessel's family and community. Besides crew members who feel like family, some guests also know of Marty and Jess. According to the captain, the great-grandparents are basically celebrities on board.

While they are having the time of their lives, Jess and Marty admit that there comes a downside to their long cruises, including saying goodbye to the people with whom they have formed bonds.

Marty already informed his agent to book long cruises whenever the opportunity arises. In total, Marty and Jess have booked 51 back-to-back cruises and have yet to make plans to slow down. After eight more months on the ship, two years in total, the couple plans to board the Crown Princess for about a year.

"It's a lifestyle," Jess said, who loves having delicious meals prepared for her, watching shows for entertainment whenever the schedule permits, and being busy with several activities.

While they are having the time of their lives, Jess and Marty admit that there comes a downside to their long cruises, including saying goodbye to the people with whom they have formed bonds.

As for the family they left on land, Marty and Jess sometimes schedule meet-ups to see them. Admittedly, they don't miss their family because of their children and grandchildrens' busy schedules. Still, they stay in touch through email and messages.

Prices of cruise ships vary from type of vessel and destination. The world's largest cruise ship, "Icon of the Seas," which is bigger than the Titanic, retails for $3,000 per person for their suites. The vessel is set to sail from Miami, Florida, in January 2024, marking its first journey.