You Can Live Permanently on a Cruise Ship! Here’s How Much It Costs

You know that sinking feeling when your cruise is over and real life comes calling again?

Imagine if you never had to get off the ship at all.

Believe it or not, living permanently on a cruise ship isn’t just a fantasy for the ultra-rich – it’s something more and more people are actually doing.

In this guide, you’ll find out what life at sea full-time really costs, the ships that make it possible, and what you’ll need to consider before trading your house keys for a cabin key.

You Can Live Permanently on a Cruise Ship

It is possible to live on a cruise ship, and there are several cruise lines that allow you to purchase an apartment on board. Alternatively, you could book a series of short cruises on a mainstream cruise line.

It’s better to choose a cruise ship designed for long-term living than one from a mainstream cruise line. Logistically, booking back-to-back cruises with a standard cruise line is often not possible and you may have to change rooms regularly or even switch ships.

Cruise Ships You Can Live On Permanently

Technically, you could live on any cruise ship, but it might not be possible. Cruises don’t always sell out, but the most popular staterooms and cabins book up far in advance. You would have to constantly look at booking cruises to make sure you have somewhere to stay.

Let’s look at your options in a little more detail…

Traditional Cruises

You can book yourself onto a traditional cruise ship for the long term. You would need to book each itinerary, one after the other.

If you wanted the same cabin on every cruise, it’s wise to make sure that you’re first in line when bookings open. That’s the only way to make sure you can secure the same room for the long term. Otherwise, someone could book your room and essentially kick you out.

Cruises are available to book around 18 to 24 months in advance, so you’ll need to plan ahead.

Moving cabins might not be the end of the world – but it would be a lot easier if you didn’t have to pack and unpack at the start of every new itinerary.

World Cruises

The easiest way to enjoy living on a cruise ship for the long term would be to look for world cruises. These itineraries can last a long time. Some of the longest run for six months, but three months is more common.

However, don’t expect world cruises to run back-to-back. Typically, a cruise ship that is offering a world cruise will go back to offering more regular sailings for the rest of the year, so you would need to keep booking new cruises every time.

These cruises are often expensive too, so the cost of booking world cruises as frequently as possible may not be something you can afford to do.

I was keen to see what a world cruise ship was like, and I managed to book myself a place on board just for the first two days. You can see what the ship was like in my video…

Ship-Hopping

Another option is to ship-hop every few weeks. This may work out cheaper, especially on some cruise lines that offer cheap nightly rates and one-way repositioning cruises.

You should bear in mind how much work would be involved in constantly booking your next cruise, plus the added stress of worrying about whether you’d miss your chance and end up without a cabin.

It can be done, though. One person who’s doing just that is Fraser from the YouTube channel Fraser At Sea. Check out this video where he announced his plans to live on cruise ships in 2023:

I’ve taken cruises that cost as little as £40 ($50) per night with all meals included. So if you’re savvy, living on cruise ships can be pretty cheap.

Below you can see examples of some of the best cruise deals available right now…

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Cruise Ships Designed for Permanent Living

Arguably the better way to live on a cruise ship is to choose one that’s designed for permanent living.

There aren’t too many of these in existence, but there are some ships that are planned with full-time living in mind, removing all of the worry about making sure you stay booked onto the ship.

Here are the ships that are designed for full-time living:

Ship Name	Operated By	Year of Launch
The World	Residences at Sea	2002
Victoria Majestic	Victoria Cruise Line	Currently Unknown
Somnio	Somnio Superyachts	Currently Unknown
Villa Vie Residences	Villa Vie	2024
Njord	Ocean Residences	2026
MS Utopia	Utopia Residences	2027
MV Narrative	Storyline Cruises	2027
MS Dark Island	Clydebuilt Dark Island Residences	2028

1. The World

The World is the largest private residential ship on the planet with 165 residences. It has 106 two- and three-bedroom apartments, 19 one- and two-bedroom studio apartments and 40 studios.

Instead of booking individual cruises, people purchase one of the residences on the ship and are then free to use it as and when they want. Some people live on the ship full-time while others come and go, using it as a vacation home or an alternative to owning a yacht.

The World tries to distance itself in some ways from comparisons to a traditional cruise ship, but there are a lot of similarities, including in the onboard experience.

Take a look at this video to see what you can expect from life on board…

The ship features guest speakers, musicians, and cultural performances to entertain guests, similar to those which would feature on traditional luxury world cruises.

Daytime activities are available too, with two swimming pools as well as a tennis court, and a gym offering exercise classes like yoga and cardio. This is good, considering there are six gourmet restaurants on the ship!

The residences also have their own kitchens, and there’s a grocery store on the ship, if you want to cook for yourself.

The World has a spa, just like you would find on a cruise ship. So really, the experience is very comparable to a typical cruise ship – the only difference is that you have your own kitchen area and that you’re able to stay on the ship long term.

Although one more difference is the option to host guests. You own your residence, and so you’re able to welcome guests onto the ship if you wish.

The ship isn’t particularly family-friendly – kids are welcome, but there isn’t much for them to do. Understandably, the ship is primarily aimed at a mature audience, as it’s likely to be retirees who wish to live on a cruise ship.

But that doesn’t mean your family won’t want to visit every now and then, and they will be permitted onto the ship to say hello, although you may be charged if they use some of the facilities, including the restaurants.

2. MS Utopia

The MS Utopia is a planned billion-dollar residential ocean liner by Utopia Residences. It’s been in the works for years, having first been announced back in 2009.

It’s been billed as the ultimate floating community, with around 190 private residences, a 175-room hotel, a casino, a huge spa and all the luxury extras you’d expect from a ship of that scale.

But despite plenty of buzz and several promised launch dates, including a more recent target of 2027, things have gone pretty quiet. The project has faced repeated delays and still doesn’t have a confirmed construction or delivery date.

So while the idea of living aboard Utopia sounds incredible, it’s one to file under “watch this space” for now rather than something you can plan for just yet.

3. Victoria Majestic

The former MS Veendam for Holland America Line, Victoria Majestic, has now been turned into a residential ship and will soon set sail with.

The Victoria Majestic (once the MS Veendam for Holland America Line) has been repurposed as a floating residential ship by Victoria Cruises Line. Marketed as the “world’s first affordable residential ship”, cabins aren’t sold – they’re rented under long-term leases.

The longer you rent a cabin, the bigger the discount you’ll get. According to Victoria Cruises, an Inside Cabin costs between $4,799 and $7,999 per month for two people, with a $10,000 refundable deposit. That works out at around US $2,400 per person per month on the longest lease – still one of the cheapest ways to live full-time on a cruise ship.

The vessel promises a comprehensive lifestyle at sea – three meals daily, drink service, Wi-Fi and a global itinerary covering 200+ destinations.

But a word of caution – the ship’s launch has been delayed several times, most recently, its planned July 2025 sailing was postponed due to low occupancy, with Victoria Cruises stating they need 80% occupancy in order to set sail. A new departure date hasn’t yet been confirmed, so for now, it remains an exciting idea rather than a ready-to-book reality.

4. Somnio

Not much is known about Somnio – this ultra-exclusive superyacht remains shrouded in secrecy, with access strictly by invitation only. But here’s what we can tell you.

With just 39 private residences, each fully custom-designed, the apartments start at around $11 million (and likely above). On top of that, maintenance fees are expected to run at least $100,000 per year.

The vessel promises serious luxury: an aft-deck hub with a lap pool, twin spa pools, and bars and seating areas; watersports equipment; tenders for fishing and diving. And its itinerary is designed to cruise the globe leisurely, allowing guests to savour ports rather than simply pass through.

While Somnio was initially projected for launch in mid-2024, the schedule has since slipped, and there is no confirmed delivery date. The project faces legal and financial hurdles, so it remains better treated as a “may-happen” rather than a “book-now” opportunity.

5. Villa Vie Residences

Villa Vie Residences is one of the most exciting options for anyone dreaming of a life at sea. You can own your cabin, rent one for a set period, or even take advantage of their unique rent-to-buy option.

The ship is sailing on a continuous 3.5-year voyage that visits more than 425 ports across 140 countries, before starting the whole journey again.

If you choose to buy, cabins start from around $129,999, with a monthly fee to cover running costs. You can also rent out your cabin when you’re not onboard, helping to offset your costs. Guests are welcome too – you’ll just pay their daily port fees and gratuities.

Prefer to test the waters first? The Voyagers Programme lets you book shorter segments starting from about US $119 per person, per night, so you can try life at sea without committing long-term.

The cruise is all-inclusive, covering beer and wine with meals, complimentary healthcare, high-speed WiFi, selected shore excursions, and even free laundry – making day-to-day life at sea surprisingly easy.

When you factor in those inclusions alongside the monthly fees, it remains one of the best-value ways to live full-time on a cruise ship.

I was lucky enough to be able to interview one of the guests who has purchased a cabin on the Odyssey. You can read that interview here: One Man’s Plan to Live Full-Time on a Cruise Ship.

And if you want to see what life is like on the ship now that it has (finally!) set sail, there are several YouTubers living on board who will keep you updated.

Suggested read: This ‘Golden Passport’ Lets You Live On A Cruise Ship Forever

6. MV Narrative

The MV Narrative is billed as a contemporary super-yacht offering a luxury residential community at sea, operated by Storylines. It’s pitched as a more affordable way to live on board compared with some of the ultra-premium options, with residences starting from around $1 million and ranging up toward several million for larger units.

There’s still the option to lease a residence rather than buy, which means you pay yearly fees (in the five-figure sum) but don’t take ownership at the end of the term.

The yacht is designed with plenty of wow-factor amenities: multiple swimming pools, around 20 dining venues, a microbrewery onboard, plus a dedicated library, watersports marina and a global learning programme for families.

Several British people have already bought residences on board, one of these is mindset coach Mimi Bland. You can read her story here: British Woman Embarks On New Life Working Remotely From A Cruise Ship.

However – and this is important – despite the grand vision, construction is still underway, the maiden voyage hasn’t yet launched, and the start date has been pushed to 2027 or later. That means this also remains an aspirational option rather than an immediately bookable lifestyle.

7. Njord

The Njord by Ocean Residences is a high-end superyacht-style residence ship under development, aimed at luxury buyers. The vessel will feature around 117 private residences, with two- to six-bedroom layouts and sizes up to 9,000 sq ft. Prices start from about US $8.5 million.

The yacht is packed with features: smart-home tech, designer furnishings, multiple dining venues, pools, wellness facilities, and even onboard scientific research amenities.

It was initially slated for delivery in 2025, but current information shows a revised target of 2026, and the build is still subject to financing and final approvals. So, while it remains one of the most lavish opportunities to live at sea, it’s still very much in the planning/construction phase rather than move-in ready.

8. MS Dark Island

Dark Island is another ambitious residential ship project, planned for delivery in 2026. Designed for travellers who crave adventure with a touch of luxury, it will combine global exploration with enrichment – offering expert-led lectures, forums and field trips that bring each destination to life before guests even arrive.

The ship takes its name from the Hebridean island of Benbecula – known in Gaelic as The Dark Island – a name that symbolises peace and serenity rather than anything gloomy.

There will be 101 ultra-luxurious suites, all with private balconies and a choice of one, two or three bedrooms. Every detail is being designed with sustainability in mind, from eco-friendly technologies to energy-efficient systems, ensuring the ship leaves as light a footprint on the planet as possible.

Dark Island aims to offer a life at sea that’s not just indulgent, but meaningful too.

The Three-Year World Cruise

There was one more option – and this was designed as a middle option between traditional cruising and residential cruising. That’s the ultra-long-term world cruise option announced by Life At Sea Cruises.

However, just as the ship was due to launch on her three-year itinerary in November 2023, the company cancelled the cruise after revealing they had not been able to secure a suitable ship. Read about the cancellation here.

The company had originally announced a three-year itinerary on their ship MV Gemini, with all-inclusive fares starting at $29,999 per person, per year. At the time, this looked like one of the most affordable long-term options for anyone interested in living on a cruise ship.

But then there were challenges about whether the ship was seaworthy, and so a second ship was sought. But with a deal lined up, the cruise line didn’t pay for the AIDAaura when it came up for sale, and instead it was purchased by Celestyal Cruises.

The cruise was due to set sail on 1st November 2023 and visit 135 countries until late 2026, covering 130,000 miles.

Guests had already travelled to Istanbul for the departure, and are now facing a wait for refunds. The company has promised to repay guests using monthly instalments, which suggests the money may have been spent. By early 2024, only a handful of passengers had received partial refunds, while most were still waiting and beginning to take legal action. Hopefully, everyone eventually gets their money back.

How Much It Costs to Live on a Cruise Ship

The cost of buying an apartment on a residential cruise ship is between $1 million and $14 million. There are also annual fees of between $60,000 and $300,000 to pay. In theory, you could cruise on traditional cruise ships for around $35,000 per year if you choose a basic cruise.

There’s no getting away from the fact that residential cruise ships are expensive. That’s because they’re more like luxury ships, and they’re very exclusive. Plus, you’re buying an asset, which can be sold on at a later date.

It’s difficult to compare costs directly since ships include different levels of service within their fares, plus you don’t know how long you’re going to want to live on a cruise ship.

But for the sake of comparison, let’s look at the estimated costs of living aboard three residential cruise ships, three traditional cruise lines and the new three-year world cruise.

Table Comparing the Cost of Living on Cruise Ships for 10 Years

Type	Cruise line/ship	Purchase price	Cruise Fare / Fees (10 years)	Taxes (10 years)	Tips (10 years)	Drinks (10 years)	Estimated WiFi cost	Total cost for 10 years (for 2 people)	Asset value after 10 years
Cheap cruise	Carnival	n/a	$156,000	$127,750	$52,925	$219,000	$70,000	$1,251,340	$0
Mainstream cruise	Royal Caribbean	n/a	$360,000	$58,400	$56,300	$325,000	$66,000	$1,731,400	$0
Luxury cruise	Regent Seven Seas	n/a	$2,190,000	$0	$0	$0	$0	$4,380,000	$0
Residential	MS The World	$3,000,000	$1,000,000*	Included	Included	Included	Included	$4,000,000	$3,000,000
Residential	Somnio	$11,000,000	$1,000,000*	Included	Included	Included	Included	$12,000,000	$11,000,000
Residential	Villa Vie	$99,999	$419,880	Included	Included	Included	Included	$519,879	$99,999
Residential (lease)	Victoria Majestic	$10,000 deposit	$576,000	Included	Included	Included	Included	$606,000	$30,000
Residential	MV Narrative	$1,000,000	$650,000	Included	Included	Included	Included	$1,650,000	$1,000,000

How to Live on a Cruise Ship Cheaply

The cheapest option would have been Life At Sea Cruises’ three-year world voyage, which promised all-inclusive living for $29,999 per person, per year. It was an exciting concept – until the sailing was cancelled just weeks before departure when the company failed to secure a ship.

So, for now, the most affordable real option for long-term life at sea is Villa Vie Residences, where cabins now start from $129,999 to buy or around $119 per person, per night to rent.

If you would rather stick to a traditional cruise line, you can still keep prices low, but remember you’ll be booking cruises regularly, and you will need to avoid paying for many extras on the ship. You’ll also want to look at cruising with the cheapest cruise lines in the world, such as Carnival or MSC Cruises.

When you’re booking a Carnival cruise, the cheapest fare you can get will be one where you only pay for the cruise itself and the necessary extras – the port fees, taxes and gratuities.

And trust me, while it is possible to opt out of gratuities, you definitely don’t want to do that when you’re living on a cruise ship!

If you cruised in this way – choosing an inside cabin, eating only in the free restaurants and sticking to the free drinks you get on the ship (water, juices, basic tea and coffee at breakfast) then you could possibly cruise for around $35,000 per year.

This would mean you’d have no internet access and you would have to pay for any other drinks separately, but you would be able to enjoy the free accommodation, days at port, and the included daytime and evening entertainment on the ship, along with meals in the main dining restaurant, the buffet and any other included venues on the ship.

Of course, whichever cruise you choose, you’ll still have to factor in your daily living expenses such as excursions, medication, phone bills and souvenirs. This article shows how much you can expect that to cost.

How to Live on a Cruise Ship for Free

The absolute cheapest way to live on a cruise ship is to work on one – although it probably isn’t what you had in mind when you thought about living on a cruise ship!

It’s the cheapest option because you’d actually be making money – and your room and food would be free. But you would be working six or seven days a week with only very rare days off, and often for long hours.

It’s hardly a relaxing way to see the world. But if you fancy it, there are plenty of cruise ship jobs with no experience needed.

In some cases, senior officers, including the ship’s captain and cruise director, may be allowed to have their families stay on the ship with them. It isn’t really standard practice, and most officers live on the ships alone, but if you really wanted to live on a cruise ship for free, then try convincing your partner to take up a career as a ship’s senior officer and then see what the cruise line can do for you!

Comparing the Cost of Cruise Ship Living With Other Options

A cruise ship offers a number of perks over regular living, the main one being that you get to see the world. Living on a cruise ship means travelling all across the globe, experiencing new cultures and thrilling experiences.

But how does the cost compare to regular living?

Is it cheaper to live on a cruise ship than in a house?

It costs a similar amount to live on a cruise ship as it does in a house. In the UK, the average cost of living is £2,200 per month, equal to around $2,650, and in the US the average cost is $3,200. You can live on a cruise ship for around $2,500-$3,000 per month.

Surprising, right? The average cost of living stats for the UK and for the US include typical rent payments, the cost of food, transport and entertainment, so we’re looking at very comparable rates. The UK’s cost of living makes it being cheaper than the average cruise, while the US is slightly more expensive.

Again, these are average costs for the countries. If we just look at the most expensive places to live, then London becomes £3,200 a month, or $3,800, while New York is approximately $5,100. So living on a cruise ship could actually work out cheaper!

Living on a Cruise Ship vs In a Nursing Home: What’s Cheaper?

It can be cheaper to live on a cruise ship than in a nursing home. The UK average cost for living in a care home is £3,550 per month ($4,250), while the US average is much higher at $7,900 per month. It is possible to live on a cruise ship for $5,200 per month.

Of course, if you need to live in a care home, there’s a good chance you need a carer. If that carer’s responsibilities aren’t specialised – if a family member is capable of taking care of you – then you just need to pay for a second person to join you on a cruise.

But that can still work out to be cheaper than paying for a care home.

Accommodation option	Monthly cost for 1 person plus carer
Nursing Home in UK	$4,250
Nursing Home in US	$7,900
Residential Cruise (Villa Vie Residences – long-term lease)	$5,200
Mainstream Cruise (Carnival)	$5,800
Luxury Cruise (Regent)	$36,500

So, if you don’t need any specialist medical care and have someone in mind who would like to travel the world with you, then paying for the two of you to live on a cruise ship could work out to be a similar price, or cheaper, than living in a care home.

However, one thing that you’ll certainly need to factor in is travel insurance and medical costs. Travel insurance for such a trip could be very costly indeed, and it is mandatory.

Cruise ships do have doctors, but visits to the onboard medical centre can be very costly indeed, and for any serious medical issues, you would need to visit a hospital on land.

The People Who Live on Cruise Ships

What we’ve gathered from this guide is that, financially, it is viable to live on a cruise ship, although you need to plan your cruise carefully.

But is it actually an option, or are we being fanciful?

I’ve looked into some real-life examples of people who have lived on cruise ships, and there are some notable examples that prove it is a lifestyle within reach.

1. Lee Wachtstetter

Lee Wachtstetter was an American author who began living on cruise ships back in 2005, choosing Holland America Line’s MS Prinsendam as her ship of choice. She moved in 2008 to Crystal Serenity, and I love the reason why – it’s because Holland America stopped providing dancing partners.

Wachtstetter remained on Crystal Serenity until 2018, when she apparently had to return to land due to ill health. She’s published a book about her experiences, called I May Be Homeless, But You Should See My Yacht.

2. Morton Jablin

Morton Jablin, affectionately nicknamed ‘Captain’, is another long-term cruise passenger. As of 2018, when Jablin was 94 years old, he had spent 13 years living on the Seven Seas Navigator, enjoying a life of luxury. Sadly, Morton Jablin passed away on 14 January 2023 at the grand age of 99.

3. Mario Salcedo

Perhaps the most famous case is that of Mario Salcedo, nicknamed Super Mario. Mario has lived continuously on Royal Caribbean ships since 2000, with an average of 15 days a year spent on land to handle life admin. He did live on land for 15 months during the COVID-19 pandemic, too.

Salcedo isn’t a retiree – he works on the ship, managing investments for various high-worth individuals. And he isn’t tied to a single ship – at the end of his cruises he will return to his condo in Miami for a few hours, before embarking on his next voyage, often flying to a different port to meet the ship.

Suggested read: The Surprise Side Effect Of Life At Sea From The World’s Most Experienced Cruiser

4. Monica Brzoska and Jorell Conly

Monica and Jorell are a younger couple who made headlines after deciding to swap their traditional home life for full-time cruising back in 2023. They’ve been documenting their adventures as they sail the world together, proving that life at sea isn’t just for retirees.

Suggested Read: They Sold Everything To Live On Cruise Ships! Good Idea Or Not?

Things to Consider When Living on a Cruise Ship

Here are some of the things you’ll need to consider when you’re living on a cruise ship.

1. Tax

There are two main things to mention when considering tax on your cruise.

Firstly, every cruise you take has taxes that need to be paid. On residential cruise ships or long-term world cruises, these are incorporated into the cost, but if you choose to book traditional cruises back-to-back, the taxes and fees may be separate – so be careful when you’re budgeting.

The second tax consideration is if you decide to work while you cruise. Even if you cruise on a ship permanently, you’ll still need to have a home country of residence, and you’ll need to obey the tax laws for that country.

However, there are often exclusions if you spend less than a set number of days residing in the country, so it’s worth checking your local tax laws and speaking to your accountant for advice.

As an example, in the UK you usually only pay tax if you live in the country for more than half the year. So, by living on a cruise ship permanently, you may not have to pay tax at all.

In theory, you could get a work-from-home job and work on a cruise ship, and potentially save yourself tax money by not being permanently based in your home country! And if you’re a high earner, it could even be more cost-effective to work at sea since the cost of the cruise fare may be less than the tax you save.

This Reddit thread dives into it in a little more detail.

Especially when you consider that your cruise fare includes your room and food – maybe this is something I need to think about?

Just be careful, though, because you may also be paying for other benefits at home that you could miss out on if living on a ship. For example, in the UK, if you don’t make National Insurance payments, you won’t get the full state pension later in life.

2. Insurance

Normal travel insurance isn’t going to cover you if you decide to live on a cruise ship. Travel insurance policies count on the fact that medical cover is a rarity when you travel for 2-3 weeks of the year.

You’ll need to look into long-term health insurance, so that you have cover should anything go wrong while you’re sailing, and this is likely to be significantly more expensive than regular travel insurance. 

3. Health

Speaking of health, you’ll need to consider how you’re going to stay healthy while living on a cruise ship. Cruise ships generally have a doctor on board, but visits to see them are costly, and they don’t offer most dental treatments.

It would be better to have the option of returning to land on a semi-regular basis to see a doctor and dentist, where prices will be lower.

If you intend to eat in the cruise ship restaurants, remember that they are aimed at vacation guests, and so meals will be richer and higher in calories than a regular diet. You might need to be careful with your meal choices, and you’ll want to make sure you visit the gym regularly or find other ways to stay active.

4. Mail

A minor consideration, but if you sail on a cruise ship, receiving mail isn’t as easy as it would be at home. It is possible for someone to write to you at a cruise port via the port agency, but this requires you to reach an agreement for them to hold your mail.

It may be better to have a post box somewhere that you visit regularly – essentially, set up a home port where you can visit medical services and pick up any mail that you need.

The Bottom Line

That’s a lot of information, but considering how we’re talking about as big a decision as living your life on a cruise ship, there’s always going to be a ton of information you need.

Is it realistic? Yes, it clearly is since others have done it, but it’s not something you can do without having some decent savings.

You’ll need at least $3,000 a month on most cruises, often more, and that’s per person – if you want to live solo, then costs may be inflated as well, so bear that in mind.

The best option is to choose one of the specialist cruises aimed at residential guests – such as the MV Narrative from Storylines. These offer the comfort of a long-term solution, while being more affordable than the ultra-luxury MS The World. 

It’s definitely a tempting way of living out your retirement, with the chance to be cooked for and pampered while being whisked around the world. Are you considering it?

Related Posts:

• I Grew Up Living on Cruise Ships – Here’s What It Was Really Like
• The Dark Side Of Living On A Cruise Ship
• How To Do Laundry on Cruise Ships: The Ultimate Guide
• 28 Hidden Costs of Cruising You Should Budget For