Picture, if you will, a pair of great-grandparents who have traded in their rocking chairs for deck chairs, their neighborhood strolls for promenades along ship decks that span the globe.
Marty and Jess Ansen, a retired couple from Australia, have done just that, turning the idea of a leisurely cruise into a full-time lifestyle.
Their unconventional choice has seen them spend more time at sea than many of the crew members who serve them.
In fact, at over 450 days aboard Princess Cruises’ Coral Princess, they’ve outlasted several captains.
It’s a testament to their adventurous spirit and a reflection of a growing trend among retirees seeking alternative living arrangements.
But what drives a couple to trade terra firma for the constant motion of the ocean?
The answer, as we’ll discover, is a blend of wanderlust, financial savvy, and a dash of post-pandemic carpe diem.
The Beginning of the Journey
Post-Lockdown Wanderlust
The Ansens’ maritime odyssey began on June 16, 2022, a date that marked not just the start of their journey, but the end of a two-year period of confinement.
Like many around the world, they had endured strict COVID-19 lockdowns, which for Australians were particularly stringent.
The isolation seems to have acted as a pressure cooker for their travel ambitions.
As Marty explained to The TODAY Show, their extended cruise plan was born out of a desire to “catch up” on the sailings they had missed during the pandemic.
It was as if the forced stillness had created a potential energy of travel dreams, which, once released, propelled them into continuous motion.
This post-lockdown wanderlust wasn’t unique to the Ansens.
The cruise industry, which had been brought to a standstill by the pandemic, saw a surge in bookings as restrictions lifted.
But few took it to the extreme that Marty and Jess did.
Booking Strategy
When it came to planning their extended sea-faring retirement, the Ansens adopted a strategy that was both simple and bold.
As Marty recounted to A Current Affair:
“Eventually, I said to my [travel] agent: ‘Look, what ever comes, just book it.'”
This cavalier approach to travel planning might seem reckless to some, but for the Ansens, it was a calculated risk.
They had been loyal customers of Princess Cruises for years, having completed 31 cruises totaling over three years at sea before their current marathon journey.
Their familiarity with the cruise line provided a sense of comfort and consistency that made such a leap more palatable.
It’s a reminder that sometimes, the most audacious life changes are built on a foundation of familiar experiences.
Life Aboard the Coral Princess
Daily Routine
Life aboard a cruise ship, even for extended periods, is far from monotonous.
The Ansens have settled into a routine that combines physical activity, social interaction, and leisurely enjoyment of their surroundings.
Their day typically begins early, with an hour-long session of ping pong at 5:30 AM.
As Jess told A Current Affair, “We do it together. And we have a lot of fun.”
This morning ritual sets the tone for a day filled with various activities.
Jess particularly enjoys the ship’s dance offerings, participating in both ballroom and hula dancing classes.
Marty, for his part, revels in the opportunity to make “lifelong friends” among their fellow passengers.
Their days often conclude with a simple pleasure that encapsulates the appeal of their chosen lifestyle: enjoying a couple of beers on their balcony, taking in ever-changing views of the world’s oceans and coastlines.
Social Connections
One might assume that spending over a year on the same ship would lead to a sense of isolation or monotony.
For the Ansens, however, it has had the opposite effect.
They’ve become minor celebrities aboard the Coral Princess, known to crew and passengers alike.
The ship’s hotel manager, Ren van Rooyen, summed up their status succinctly:
“Everyone knows them around the ship, they’re basically celebrities onboard.”
This fame isn’t limited to the long-term crew.
Even passengers joining for a single cruise often arrive having heard about the couple who’ve made the ship their home.
It’s a testament to the close-knit community that can form in the unique environment of a cruise ship.
Cabin Life
The Ansens’ decision to make a cruise ship their home comes with some distinct advantages over traditional retirement living.
Chief among these is the level of service they receive.
Their cabin is cleaned daily by a dedicated steward, eliminating the need for household chores.
Marty jokingly remarked on their dependency on this lifestyle:
“Now, we don’t have to wash up anymore, or make the bed. We don’t know how to make a bed because we haven’t done it for so long, so now we have to stay on board just to stay alive.”
While said in jest, this comment highlights how thoroughly the couple has adapted to their new way of life.
The conveniences of cruise living—from housekeeping to dining—have become not just luxuries, but necessities.
Cost Comparison
Perhaps the most surprising aspect of the Ansens’ cruise ship retirement is their claim that it’s more economical than traditional retirement options.
As they explained in a joint statement via Princess Cruises:
“The cruise lifestyle is very efficient. You don’t have to worry about paying for rent or a mortgage, getting groceries or doing your laundry. We’re not young people, cruising is much cheaper than going to a nursing home and means we can continue to travel the world.”
This financial calculus challenges conventional wisdom about the cost of cruise travel.
While they didn’t disclose specific figures, their assertion suggests that when factoring in all the costs of maintaining a home and lifestyle on land, continuous cruising can be a competitive alternative.
Extended Family at Sea
New Friends and Celebrations
The Ansens’ extended stay has transformed their relationship with the ship’s crew from that of guests to something akin to family.
This was evident in the surprise birthday celebration organized for Jess, complete with a special song and cake in the dining room.
The bond goes both ways.
Jess noted their unique position aboard the ship, saying:
“We welcome the different captains on board. We’re on board longer than anybody else, the wheels change over but we stay on board.”
This continuity has allowed them to form deep connections with crew members across multiple voyages, creating a sense of belonging that transcends the typical cruise experience.
Family Visits
While life at sea might seem isolating, the Ansens have found ways to maintain connections with their land-based family.
They stay in regular contact via email, and strategically plan family visits when the ship docks near their relatives’ homes.
Interestingly, when asked if they missed their family, Jess’s response was candid:
“No. They’re busy people. And we’re at a stage in our lives where we just want to enjoy ourselves.”
This statement reflects a shift in priorities that often comes with retirement, where the focus turns inward to personal fulfillment and enjoyment after years of family obligations.
The Transition to the Crown Princess
New Adventures Await
As their time on the Coral Princess draws to a close, the Ansens are already looking ahead to their next maritime adventure.
They plan to transition to the Crown Princess, a larger ship in the Princess Cruises fleet, for another year of cruising.
This move demonstrates their commitment to their chosen lifestyle and their eagerness for new experiences.
The Crown Princess, with its capacity for 3,080 passengers, promises a different atmosphere and potentially new social dynamics for the couple to explore.
The transition also highlights the flexibility of their retirement plan.
Unlike a fixed address on land, their home can change, offering new vistas, activities, and social circles with each new ship.
Future Prospects
When asked about the longevity of their unconventional retirement, Marty was unequivocal.
He stated that he would do this for the rest of his life, indicating that residing close to family isn’t a priority for the couple at this stage.
This outlook challenges traditional notions of retirement, which often emphasize proximity to family and a settled lifestyle.
The Ansens’ choice represents a growing trend of retirees prioritizing experiences and personal fulfillment over conventional expectations.
The Cost of Life at Sea
Financial Benefits
The Ansens’ claim that living on a cruise ship is more economical than a retirement home warrants closer examination.
While they haven’t disclosed specific figures, we can draw some comparisons based on available data.
For context, let’s consider the experience of Ryan Gutridge, a cloud solutions engineer who started living and working onboard cruise ships full-time in 2021.
As reported by Business Insider, Gutridge found that living on a cruise ship for 300 days costs roughly the same as paying rent for an apartment in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
In 2023, his base fare budget was about $30,000.
While the Ansens’ situation differs from Gutridge’s, this comparison provides a baseline for understanding the potential economics of full-time cruising.
When factoring in the inclusive nature of cruise fares—covering accommodation, meals, entertainment, and often transportation between destinations—the cost-effectiveness becomes clearer.
Economic Considerations
The Ansens are not alone in seeing cruising as a viable retirement option.
Another couple, Grace and Jerry Grady, have taken this concept even further.
They sold all their possessions to live aboard one of the most luxurious residential cruise ships, the Villa Vie Odyssey.
This ship offers a ‘pay-as-you-go’ option for £70 per day, or long-term passengers can own a cabin from £78,300—less than a third of the average UK house price in 2024.
These figures provide another point of comparison for evaluating the financial viability of cruise ship living.
It’s important to note that the economics can vary greatly depending on factors such as the cruise line chosen, cabin type, and individual spending habits.
However, the Ansens’ experience suggests that for some retirees, this unconventional lifestyle can indeed be financially sustainable.
Health and Well-being
Staying Active
One of the often-overlooked benefits of cruise ship living is the abundance of opportunities for physical activity and social engagement.
The Ansens have fully embraced this aspect of their maritime lifestyle, incorporating daily exercise and social activities into their routine.
Their morning ping pong sessions provide not just physical exercise but also mental stimulation and social interaction.
Jess’s participation in ballroom and hula dancing classes offers cardiovascular benefits while also engaging her mind through learning new steps and routines.
Moreover, the constant availability of organized activities, from dance classes to trivia contests, encourages a level of engagement that might be harder to maintain in a traditional retirement setting.
This active lifestyle can have significant benefits for both physical and mental health in older adults.
Challenges of Cruise Life
Saying Goodbye
While the Ansens have found a sense of continuity in their cruise ship lifestyle, they still face the emotional challenge of saying goodbye to new friends made on shorter cruises.
This revolving door of relationships is a unique aspect of cruise ship living that requires a certain emotional resilience.
The couple has likely developed strategies for maintaining connections despite these frequent goodbyes, perhaps through social media or email correspondence.
However, this constant flux of social connections remains one of the more challenging aspects of their chosen lifestyle.
Logistics and Adjustments
Living on a cruise ship full-time comes with its own set of logistical challenges.
The Ansens must navigate the complexities of booking back-to-back cruises, ensuring they can maintain the same cabin across different sailings to avoid the hassle of packing and unpacking.
Additionally, they must deal with the periodic disruptions of disembarkation and re-boarding processes, even when they’re continuing on the next cruise.
These processes are necessary due to customs regulations and ship turnover procedures, but they can interrupt the sense of continuous living that the couple has established.
Cultural and Recreational Opportunities
Diverse Destinations
One of the most appealing aspects of the Ansens’ lifestyle is the constant change of scenery.
Their cruise itineraries have likely taken them to a diverse array of destinations, from bustling Mediterranean ports to remote Pacific islands.
This variety of experiences offers ongoing opportunities for learning and cultural engagement.
Each port of call presents a new set of sights, sounds, and experiences, allowing the couple to continue expanding their horizons well into their retirement years.
Onboard Entertainment
Modern cruise ships are floating entertainment complexes, offering a wide range of activities and shows.
For the Ansens, this means having access to nightly theater productions, live music, comedy shows, and more, all without having to leave their “home.”
The diversity of onboard entertainment ensures that there’s always something new to experience, from learning a new dance in a class to attending a lecture on the history of their next port of call.
This constant stimulation helps keep life engaging and prevents the monotony that some fear in retirement.
Building Community
Perhaps one of the most significant benefits of the Ansens’ lifestyle is the sense of community they’ve found aboard the ship.
As Marty noted, the opportunity to make “lifelong friends” is a key part of their enjoyment.
The cruise ship environment, with its contained social setting and shared experiences, provides fertile ground for forming new relationships.
For retirees, who sometimes struggle with social isolation, this built-in community can be invaluable for maintaining mental health and overall well-being.
Conclusion: A New Way of Retirement
The story of Marty and Jess Ansen is more than just an amusing anecdote about an quirky retirement choice.
It represents a broader shift in how we think about our later years.
Their experience challenges us to reconsider our assumptions about what retirement should look like and opens up new possibilities for those seeking alternatives to traditional retirement living.
While continuous cruising may not be for everyone, the Ansens’ journey highlights several key points that are relevant to all retirees:
- the importance of staying active,
- the value of continuous learning and new experiences,
- the benefits of a strong social network,
- and the need to find a lifestyle that aligns with one’s personal values and financial situation.
As our population ages and traditional retirement models strain under demographic and economic pressures, stories like the Ansens’ may become increasingly common.
They remind us that retirement is not a one-size-fits-all proposition, but an opportunity to craft a lifestyle that brings joy, fulfillment, and maybe even a touch of adventure to our golden years.
In the end, Marty Ansen’s simple declaration—”It’s a wonderful life”—may be the most powerful endorsement of their unconventional choice.
It’s a reminder that the measure of a successful retirement is not in how closely it adheres to societal norms, but in how much satisfaction and happiness it brings to those living it.
For the Ansens, home is where the anchor drops, and retirement is an ongoing voyage of discovery.