Retire on DCL

[GenieDana]

Saw this this morning...

http://www.tallahassee.com/mld/tallahassee/news/10450967.htm

 

[tvguy]

AARP's newsletter had an article on this too. There is at least one lady already doing this. Actually, likely more, if you count the cruise ship "The World" which is set up as a traveling condo complex. But you have to have a couple of million dollars on the World to buy your cabin, just like a condo.
My mom is in her 80's and pointed out the AARP article, but took issue with the price. She is used to cruising in the off season for $399 a week, so she figured she could live on a ship for less than $25,000 a year with tips. That's darn close to what her social security income is.

 

[DVCajun]

This would only work if the cruisers/retirees didn't need any special care or assistance. I can't imagine a stateroom host being amenable to the idea of helping someone dress in the morning. Or dispensing pills either, for that matter. Cool idea though!

 

[tbck1993]

I agree with this! I work in long term care and there are only a select few that could actually do that.

 

[BethA]

My parents met a woman on RCL that was living on the cruise ship. She had lived in NYC and said with all the food and entertainment it was way cheaper and more fun than living alone.
Sounds great to me!

 

[rae519]

BethA - Hi! And I must echo that sentiment - retiring on a cruise ship sounds like something the Doctor ordered (no pun intended!)
Rae

 

[cruisenewbie2004]

I don't know. It sounds terribly lonely. And no cruise line wants to be in the assisted living business.

 

[tvguy]

The AARP article inteviewed a lady that was doing it, and she said it was far LESS lonely than living alone. She had new friends every week, plus the cruise staff.
I'm sure the cruise lines don't want to get into providing a lot of medical care, but look at how much they already do provide to people that are supposedly healthy.
And you know, EVERY cruise ship already has a morgue.

 

[DVCajun]

...but look at how much they already do provide to people that are supposedly healthy.

Precisely why a ship would have to charge more for permanent resident retirees. All people experience medical issues sometimes, but the fact is that as we age our bodies start acting up!

I also believe that we can't necessarily compare current cruise rates with rates for permanent residents unless no special services are required. A ship full of elderly people would surely require more medical staff and facilities, which would cost the cruise line more. The lady who's doing this now is in the extreme minority which is the only reason it's working. If elderly people started booking permanent stays on ships I imagine the cruise line would have to do some fast thinking and figure out how to either discourage the practice or receive compensation for the extra medical attention they would need.

 

[cruisenewbie2004]

Fact of the matter is the older you are, the more likely you will require medical assistance. It's one thing if you are on a cruise designated for the purpose of hosting retirees for long periods. It's another thing to think you can get away with it by simply booking and booking on a DCL ship for huge period of time. People get sick and hurt on DCL cruises all the time, but the difference is these are not chronic health problems that may require specialized care. The system is not set up for that.

 

[rae519]

I can't wait to be my mother's age (75) and be as healthy as she is! She is all for permanently cruising - but I think DCL has spoiled her since she wouldn't consider any other ship!! Power to the Mouse!

Rae

 

[dclwdwlover]

I don't know. It sounds terribly lonely. And no cruise line wants to be in the assisted living business.

And boring to me. I can't imagine visiting the same places over & over & over & over & the ships play the same movies for a length of time & the same shows, also.

People here have commented that they'd like to see new shows on DCL. Can you imagine if those were the only shows available to you each & every night for years?

The thought of meeting new people & having all food & cabin services taken care of are the only things that appeal to me with this scenario.

 

[cruisenewbie2004]

And boring to me. I can't imagine visiting the same places over & over & over & over & the ships play the same movies for a length of time & the same shows, also.

I agree. We ran into one woman on our ship who had just come from a 30 something day cruise. At least there would be more variety. If I had to sit through the same 3 restaurants over and over and see the same shows---ugh. I don't know. I think there is more to life than cruising.

 

[Buddy Bear]

Well, I don't know that you would have to book the same cruise. I think the concept was to spend your money on a cruise instead of assisted living since the cost is the same so you could book any cruise not the same one all the time.

At least that is what I got from it.

Jeff

 

[inkkognito]

On one of our RCCL cruises, we met an elderly widow who was pretty much living on ships. She was on a shorter cruise at the time but had a preference for longer ones, like round the world trips. She had the money and was lonely without her husband, so she enjoyed meeting new people on the ship & at dinner and having everything taken care of for her. She really seemed to be enjoying herself.
Barb

 

[tvguy]

Fact of the matter is the older you are, the more likely you will require medical assistance. It's one thing if you are on a cruise designated for the purpose of hosting retirees for long periods. It's another thing to think you can get away with it by simply booking and booking on a DCL ship for huge period of time. People get sick and hurt on DCL cruises all the time, but the difference is these are not chronic health problems that may require specialized care. The system is not set up for that.

Well, your are correct cruise ships are not set up as assisted living facilities, HOWEVER, remember, the average age of a cruise passenger is 60. I worked on a TV special on cruising back in 1980 when the Love Boat was hot, the average age of a cruiser was 70 then. So while the average age of a cruiser is younger now, the ships medical facilities are still geared for the older cruisers. Like I said, EVERY ship has a morgue.