A couple from Florida, USA, has sold almost everything they owned, including their primary business and home, to embark on a continuous world cruise.
As reported by Sky News, John and Melody Hennessy initially bought a mobile home to travel within the United States. However, the 76-year-old man soon grew tired of driving. That’s when they came across an advertisement on Facebook for a 274-day world cruise with Royal Caribbean, marking the beginning of their journey to a permanent life at sea.
Throughout their travels, they have visited Australia, New Zealand, and the southern part of the Pacific Ocean. Despite claiming that their new life is more exciting, the couple insists it is also more economical. Currently, their schedule is planned out until December 2024 as they hop from one ship to another.
However, they have future plans to settle permanently on a residential cruise liner called Villa Vie, one of the first of its kind, where up to 30% of the onboard population will be permanent residents. The ship is set to sail in May 2024, but living onboard won’t come cheap. An interior cabin starts at $99,000, while a villa with a balcony and ocean view costs $249,000, excluding the nearly $8,000 monthly fee.
Residents aboard the ship can bring their families on board for free after paying port fees, with a reserved number of cabins for them. The ship will feature a business center and private offices, allowing travelers to work from anywhere in the world.
With the average age of residents on the ship being almost 60 years old, there is a dentist and a doctor on board for routine procedures. For more serious health issues, there is a hospital as well as a two-person morgue in case of the worst-case scenario.
“We no longer have a mortgage or the expense of homes. We no longer have vehicle insurance, property insurance, or utility bills. The list goes on. We are certain cruising is cheaper.
“Right now it is probably close to half of what it was when we lived on land.”
