We know many have questions regarding Medical, there are Medical Services onboard the ship, including a Pharmacy and Dental! More information about Medical can be found here: villavieresidences.com/medical-center 🏥
Idk. I have heard a couple cruise companies say they aren’t set up for the level of medical care you can get at the villages. It’s more for emergencies. And they don’t want to encourage people using the ships for retirement. So after those 15 years on board, you’d still have to buy in at the villages, or another higher care place.
@@hopegold883 There is a big difference between a 55 and over community and a care home- with hefty fees. Most people don't move into a care home until 5 years prior to death. The cost is at least $80,000 per year for one person and $100,000 a year for two people- and that's with a buy-in. That's in 2024. By no means do I discourage people from cruising at any age- but even young people need healthcare from time to time. Heck- my friends are falling apart in their 50's LOL. Hips, knees, backs- all sorts of issues that would make living on a ship impractical. For one thing- there is movement- and that is hard on anyone with balance issues. Just enjoy vacations. People who move to Florida and Hawaii get bored with where they live too. It's fun and then the novelty wears off- like anything.
Back then, I was all about traveling and enjoying life, but once inflation hit, I had to pull back. Even with adjustments, those earlier withdrawals and splurges are tough to recover from. Now, I’m more focused on making my savings last, but it’s a challenge I didn’t fully see coming
I’m nearing retirement myself, and I had similar concerns. I started investing later than most, and just relying on ETF compounding wasn’t cutting it for me either. After working with a financial advisor, I managed to restructure my investments and am now on track to retire with around $4 million. If I hadn’t sought advice, I doubt I’d be as confident in my plan right now
I usually steer clear of recommending specific people because financial needs are so personal. But I can say that working with Emily Ava Milligan has made a world of difference for me. I noticed her strategies are tailored to fit personal goals and make sense for different needs. It might be worth exploring to see if her approach resonates with you.
Do you own it or do you lose it when you pass on? In my area, for retirement communities, you cannot leave the home to your children. It goes back into the community for "sale" again.
That’s exactly what I was thinking. My understanding is that it’s a start up company. There are already some delays with launch, as far as I’ve seen on RU-vid. So if this company goes belly up at any time during the 15 years, what happens? I guess you wouldn’t be responsible for any more payments!
I'm sure they realize that. The biggest red flag to me is that the cruise company is telling them that their monthly fees will never increase (or at least not for 15 years). No way that is sustainable with inflation.
It's NOT an investment, it's NOT real estate, but it IS a lifestyle and there are a lot of people doing this. I would be VERY careful who I gave my money to.
Oh my goodness no. Imagine having to share breakfast, lunch, dinner, entertainment with the same neighbours for 15 years! And your only private space is a tiny bedroom. Great for holidays but for 15 years it's a life sentence.😳😳
I think we need to see this as a quick and dirty cost comparison, which is to point out that you can actually live on a cruise ship for around the same cost as living on land. One thing that JJ hasn’t really talked about is that this is a residential ship designed for residential living - not a traditional cruise line, which means the menu rotations, the entertainment and the activities onboard are geared to folks staying on board longer. The pace of travel is slower and you are not rushing from port to port often plowing through bad weather just to stay on tight schedules. But again - this is not a “one is better than the other” it’s a “hey look we have more options” kind of thing, and more options is a good thing.
@@dlgregory35 A. It isn't seaworthy yet. B. Mike promised the moon and the stars which is not happening. The ship is old, dated, and is not "refurbished" as promised- even though it's been in dry dock (s) since it was purchased in March. Cruise lines- order everything they need prior to dry dock- old furniture and bedding is removed- new carpet is installed throughout- new furniture is installed. NONE of that took place. They did refurbish the pool and created a business center (but even the internet wasn't working properly on "move in" day-. Move in day means visiting the ship by day and staying at a hotel in Belfast by night. Now- I'm not a gambling woman- but I'm will to bet they go belly up in the next month- with a shrug- oh well- we tried.
@@rebeccahowell6538 Exactly the ship is very old and although was very well kept by Fred Olsen it i still very old, that does not change, so can expect further breakdowns, etc and will be interesting to see who will pay for maintenance and dry docking.
@@dlgregory35 The life of ships, like airplanes, is governed by the condition of the frame and structure. As a comparison, the B52 has been in service since the 1950s and is still the US Air Force's primary bomber. This ship is being overhauled inside out, refitted and retrofitted. Take a look at some of the recent videos and you will have a better idea of the ship and its condition. What differentiates this ship from a modern "cruise ship" is the absence of the bells and whistles such as waterparks, ice shows, broadway shows, and the like. Two other differentiators are the fact that, as a smaller ship, it is able to enter ports which the far larger modern ship cannot; and that most port stays are overnight; in some cases several days. No more six hours in the port. Nothing wrong with either, however it is a very different experience.
It is not designed for residential living at all it is designed as a cruise ship and that is what it still is, nothing has changed they are cabins you will be living in and in most cases very small cabins.
The only thing you didn’t mention was what you own at the end of the 15 years. On land you own an asset that has appreciated over the past 15 years, when you leave the ship after 15 years you have nothing. It’s amazing for someone who can maybe afford both or has a home they are renting out while they are away so they continue to pay off their asset while traveling the world!
Actually, you do own your cabin and can rent it out similar to your home. You could also sell it. It’s your asset - similar to a home. It’s unknown how it will appreciate over time, but one thing you definitely gain is the value of Life Experiences. ☺️
Not the only thing. One other thing is they say your travel costs are included on the ship. Does that mean port excursions don’t cost extra? What about eating in port? That’s kind of an important part of travel? Don’t you still have to pay for things you consume off the ship? Obviously those things are small compared to the cost of a house. Just saying I think there are a couple things that were left out.
Here it the reality of owning a home in The Villages I bought my home 15 years ago and paid cash. The house has more than doubled in value. That increase in value is more than my expenses total for the 15 years, insurance, utilities, lawn care . service, property taxes, maintaining the building which was new upon purchase, monthly amenity fee, etc. All of it covered by the equity appreciation so if I sold today, I have lived here for free for the last 15 years.
We live in The Villages also and have for the last 12 years. Our home is paid for, and we do not spend nearly as much as was mentioned in the video for food etc. I am not sure if this is a real comparison. And, what about the medical care on a ship? The Villages has a great medical system in place which is almost free and probably much better. I like the land life. In addition, my home is somewhat larger than the size of the cabin. So......I agree.... after two weeks.....I am ready to get home again. These videos are beginning to sound as if Jared and Jordan are getting a free cabin to advertise and promote for this company for a free room for themselves.
We know that there are many people this cruise life is not for, and that land life may be better depending your situation. We also know if your home is paid off, or if you have paid in cash for your home- of course, your expenses will not fall within the categories of our comparison. Many, including us, have home values that have doubled in the last few years due to those community’s being hot spots for real estate investments. Based on stats from realtor.com, The Villages is predicted to be the #1 place people are moving for retirement in 2024 - so we wanted to draw a real life comparison to a place that is very popular (and seems to be booming!). This video wasn’t intended to bash or shame anyone for the life choices they have made after the age of 55, just show a comparison to two different lifestyles, one on land and one at sea. We have many friends who life in The Villages and it sounds like a wonderful community. 😀 Our focus is for those looking to travel full-time and seek the benefits of doing so.
LOL, well then sell it and see what you have to pay for a house just like it. Guess what? It would cost double what you paid for your house 15 years ago. You would only gain if you sold and did not need to buy another house.
@@elaineandstuartcohen9761 I imagine there is some business deal involved; which makes sense. Paid spokesman? Incentivized to sail in order to sell? That should be stated up front of the video as a disclaimer / ad.
I don't really think your analysis is quite right. If you are buying a house, you have much more space than just a small bedroom and you really can't consider the common areas of a cruise ship to be the same as the common areas of a house. Two people in a three bedroom house, can each of their own private den/office with their own TV. As you get older, you will appreciate that a couple really need at least two bathrooms. [I speak as a 76 year old married to a 83 year old.]. having a shared common living room/kitchen is not really the same as sharing common rooms with hundreds of people. Also, with the house you can have pets, relatives, or friends who stay over, An outside areas of trees and grass and flowers to walk-through. A better comparison might actually be to compare renting an apartment with the cruise ship, because you're totally eliminating the need for a down payment and mortgage... and the size of your apartment could be closer to comparing to the cruise room. still, it isn't interesting idea.
I've seen other owners of these cabins in comments of their videos say, "but look at our backyard". Well that's not yours. You're sharing it with strangers and paying a monthly fee for it. And you're never eating in private unless you have a top tiere room with a table or outside balcony. Or I guess you could eat sitting on your bed I can't go more than a week without privacy.
My advice would be have a little turnkey condo where your family lives, and then take some inexpensive cruises when good deals pop up. Take advantage of off season deals and repositioning cruises or even just back to back cruises when the prices are right. I've done a 24 day cruise, a 19 day cruise, and am about to embark of a 21 day cruise. I like having some time on land as well as cruising. I think being on the same ship would get a little stale after a while. I do like not having to cook and clean but still- I miss cooking, family, and friends. 30 days is the longest I want to be away. Not to mention that it costs money to see the ports of call. Some you can do on your own but others you need a tour, are going to want to try the local cuisine and shop. It all adds up after a while. I'm social but I also do like a little privacy and solitude- so I think it's nice to have a home on land as well.
This is ridiculous! your home gains equity, you don’t own or have anything back in your pocket by living in a cruise… even a 12 year old can figure this out 🤦♀️
It’s an interesting video, particularly seeing the costs of living on a cruise ship, however if you are trying to show it’s a cheap lifestyle choice there are a few points to note, oh and by the way I am an accountant, I live in a retirement village (in Australia) and I am an avid cruiser. 1. Most retired folks will not be getting a mortgage they will be paying outright so you can remove the interest costs which will change the whole situation 2. Property over time is likely to increase significantly whereas your diminishing lease to live on the ship if transferable/saleable is unlikely to hold or increase its value and will be zero at 15 years 3. What about travel / medical insurance? To cover you 365 days world wide is likely to be a very high amount particularly for older people. 4. Your costs may be fixed for 15 years but realistically if the company is subject to inflation and cannot make the bank balance you are either going to end up with reduced services, have to pay more or the company will go out of business 5. From watching other videos from your fellow passengers it would appear that this ship hasn’t actually gone anywhere yet and is some 3 months overdue to depart, you can’t even sleep on it although you can go on in the day and eat etc, but you are having to pay for additional accommodation. 6. I applaud you for giving this a go, it is pioneering and I truly hope it does succeed, but it’s untested unlike your retirement village comparison and is certainly a gamble. For people with plenty of money who are prepared to lose the $120k US buy in price and might get to go around the world at least once then great, but I fear not everyone is in that position. Personally I would rather book a world cruise on a well established cruise company ship which might cost something like $50 to $100 US depending on room choice for a couple and have a lot more confidence it would actually happen and then go home to my retirement village. I wish you and your fellow passengers the best of luck and look forward to following your journey to see where it leads.
They should see themselves as cruising residents, the insurance should include rescue at sea of you need hospital care which would be unavailable on board very expensive and expect medical would not be cheap on board either. I believe from reading cruise Month cruise one got medicines other personal requirements on shore as much cheaper, i think a lot looking at retirement at sea have found it is not what they thought it would be, would like to know if the maintenance $7000 then $5000 was for the pair or each person ? Not for this land lover.
The significant difference is you're buying a room with a view and and a bath. The Villages or another community is a home. However, I think it would be fun for a time. I worry about health care though as I have cardiac issues.
This is exciting! I spent about 10 months almost exclusively on cruise ships last year, but found it to be really expensive due to the fact I was 'ship hopping'. I would've saved a fortune if I'd jumped onto just one ship, but I was across 19 different ships, so didn't really save money vs a standard passenger cruising! This option you're looking at sounds SO interesting - thanks for sharing this!
As much as we love cruising after two weeks we’re ready to go home. Also, I can’t imagine going to the same restaurants week after week and let’s not even talk about medical care. I think we’ll keep cruising two or three times a year.
@@Juancarlo4342You go to the same rooms in your house too!! So?? These guys can be on the water and see so much and do so much. And if you have a creative mind, then anything is possible. 😊
they have an open kitchen program onboard where you can learn side by side with other cruisers under the leadership of a chef, additionally you have access to a kitchen. Cook your own food. Like you do at home.
@@sisenor4091 I mean you can go to them if you want something different, but why spend extra cash when you've already paid for food when you purchased your cabin? Food on board at all restaurants. 🙂
Thanks for the breakdown! As some others have pointed out, I think one important thing to keep in mind, particularly as one gets older, is the medical care. How much would that be, is there sufficient medical care on board, and if not, how would one get it in an urgent situation and how much would it cost? Also, for those who already have or may develop chronic conditions, there is the care needs and associated costs with that. If one decides to live on a cruise ship, I think it would also be prudent to make every effort to consistently lead the kind of lifestyle that will keep you as healthy as possible, especially if you already have any pre-existing conditions or are at risk of certain medical conditions.
We know many have questions regarding Medical, there are Medical Services onboard the ship, including a Pharmacy and Dental! More information about Medical can be found here: villavieresidences.com/medical-center 🏥
What happens after 15 years? In the Villages, you still have the home you purchased; on the ship, what happens after the guaranteed timeframe runs out? Do you have to pay another fee for the next 15 years? Also, what about the healthcare onboard? Might you need to leave the ship for the treatment of a long-term illness like cancer? Add in using costs during that period. Etc. That's not a lot of extra wiggle room for all the potential risk factors. The "margin of safety" is very thin to come out on top. Sure, you can do it for the adventure; but it doesn't look like a way to life-hack financial expenses.
Just a thought, 15 years of taxation and insurance saved. Even when you pay off your house, you are still heavily taxed. You can always rent your home out for the duration.Someone that needs to be thought out.
Fascinating information. I really appreciate the math as I get into figuring this kind of stuff out! The idea intrigues me but I'm not sure I could separate myself from my grandkids. I am really looking forward to watching you two in this adventure!
Very true but you will only get that money if you sell it. All the other houses around you appreciated also. So if you sell and buy another house, your appreciation is worthless. Now if you sell it and buy a cruise ship cabin for $140k, you can actually benefit from that appreciation.
@allent1034 the cruise ship hasn't left. I can get money out of my home to buy a 2nd property and still go on a cruise but not with this one which still hasn't sailed as of Sept 15, 2024. With the 2nd home I can rent it out which will take care of PITI and have more for the bank and I continue to build equity on my first home. I'm having my cake and eating it too.
Terrible as an investment because you'll never get that money back. When you are comparing it to retirement communities, then this cruise is designed for retirees only planning to live 15 years and most cruise ships and destinations do NOT accept health insurance. There is going to be more unforeseen costs that keep showing up for these 1sts timers onboard whether it be health care, extra port fees, extra utility fees, etc. I just watched another video and they told them they didn't turn on AC because it costs $5k/day to run so they will definitely be in control of when, where, ,and how long they run things unless they agree to charge more. I expect they will form an HOA committee onboard....This is going to be a great reality show! These people are going to find out they have zero control of what happens on that ship vs what they own on land...
I watch that to and I was like nope and the rooms are horrible on top of spending over a million dollars and no return 🤷🏾♀️I’ve owned and sold several houses this is not the same
not a fair comparison in my opinion. You took the lowest cabin price and they go up to over 400k. I think using a median price like you did for the villages may have been a better comparison.
It all depends on the person..I could sell and buy villages as a middle.class person and have no mortage..my car payment is 250 a month insurance is super cheap..I have a harley 150 a month..ive looked at resorts and they are a decent price too..maybe another country would be best
Sorry to correct you, The Villages is North West of Orlando. I could not live on a ship. I love to garden, cook, and decorate.......I hope this adventure is great for you!❤😂!😂
I absolutely love cruising and traveling in general, but after a couple of weeks, I just want to go home and be in my own bed. I also love relaxing in my own backyard and having family and friends over for bbqs. That being said, I can see why others might like living on a cruise ship.
So on the ship if you’re only allowed 15 years you don’t really own that cabin , you are leasing that cabin. So there’s no chance of making a profit by selling it after your 15 years is up, but on the other hand, the other community,.. you do own your condo. Where you can make a profit by selling it at some point down the line. I think that’s a huge point, but for some reason you neglected to mention.
People have raised some valid concerns on here, but my biggest one would be the company behind the cruise ship. It's a business like any other, which could go bust and then you're left with nothing and nowhere to go. My paid off house isn't going anywhere and even if it burnt to the ground, the insurance company will rebuild it. If you absolutely love cruising and would like to see all those places around the world, then maybe the risk is worth it. That's just how I feel about it, I hope you have a great time though 🙂
I got worried about the company when I saw a video of the orientation with passengers on board the ship. The owner said the Air Conditioning was currently turned off because it costs 5 grand a day to run it but he felt that it wasn't warm enough outside to justify running it. So to me, that tells me that this guy is all about pinching pennies.
@@John_Locke_108 yep, I’m sure they’re in financial trouble already and part of the reason for the delays. People keep on saying the rudder issue couldn’t be foreseen, which is true, but that means they’ve had an extra 3 months to finish the renovation, and they still haven’t finished it!!! Expecting paying residents to put up with workmen and a mess while they sail around. And after paying all that money, I don’t want someone telling me when I can or cannot turn on the A/C. It real has turned into a joke 😱
@@farab4391 Actually it does not seem to be true that the rudder issue couldn't be foreseen. The CEO on his Progress video said they knew the rudder stocks were insufficient but they had been grandfathered under the prior owner. What "surprised" them was that upon resale the grandfathering would no longer be applicable and that the ship would have to be recertified. It seems like a shocking lack of research prior to buying the ship. One has to assume there are regulations regarding this and not that inspectors arbitrarily applied standards to Odyssey that weren't written regulations and that had never been applied to any other older ship upon resale.
Those prices are ridiculous. I don’t spend nearly that much money a month and I live in NY. I bring home $4,000 a month and I have $1,200 rent utilities included $250 car payment $350 insurance $75 cable $120 gas $98 phone . That’s About $2,100 in bills which leaves me $1,900 to play with and save.
Yes, he claims in Florida transport cost in near 800 a month, does he think everyone takes limos? Car insurance 150, gas 100, where does he come up with 800? He HAS to bump all the prices up to make the idea of living in a metal box for 15 years an idea.
The big difference I see between the Villa Vie cabins and a home in the Villiages, and why this is not a good comparison at all, is that when you purchase a home in the Villages, or many residential retirement community, you have property ownership, while ownership of a cabin on a cruise ship is more like a long term lease good for 15 yeas with nothing at the end of that 15 years except memories. In the Villages, you can opt out at any time by selling your property if you really end up hating the community. Not sure anyone as addressed what happens if cruising around i the same ship beckmes boring in just a ver years, or the makeup of the community has you feeling you don't fit in, or, worse, a major health issue comes along where you need to be in one place for care and treatment for a year or more. Are you able to sell your cabin or otherwise get out of the financial arrangement, or is it more like being stuck with a timeshare? Then there is the question of what happens, given that this is an older ship, if jn a few years it had to go back to dry dock for major repairs taking your cabin with you and leaving you dock side until she is refitted and repair and is certified for occumpancy again. And what happens if this occurs halfway around the world from the ships homeport and where the shipping company is? Retirement communities like the Villages are run under all sorts of state laws that require them to make allocations so that they do not just up and leave residents without services and promises made and paid for, but even if they did, or were forced to sell to another management company, the home and property is still yours, and since most residential property goes up in value, its a good bet that you can sell and not loose money. And if some infrastructure in the Villages breaks down, you may have some inconveniences, but its highly unlikely you will be put out on the street while they fix some infrastructure. As for health and medical, a clinic ship's doctor and his staff as well as a pharmacy and a dentist are not the same level as even a community hospital. If you suffer a heart attack, stroke or its suspected you have a cancer, you are not getting anything but stabilizing treatment to hold you over until the next port, and what options you have for medical care may well be limited. Any of the big medical issues often faced by people in the age groups here, not only need the high-tech initial critical care, but also come with months of chronic care such as physical therapy, posdiblr home health care and so on. In a planned community like the Villiages connected to a greater community that offers all this its hard but you dont watch your home sail away while still hospitalized, and care after discharge is local. A diagnosis, for example, of even a simple cancer with high rates of successful treatment still requires months of chemotherapy, testing, images and scanning and being followed by an oncologist and even a gloating hospital ship would still be referring those patients to shorebased services and care. As for someone recovering from a stroke or heart attack, they too could need months of aftercare that just could not be done on ship, especially if the person was semi bed bound. And this ship, while still sound, from jnspection reports, one has to acknowledge, was retired because it had reached the point where a cruise company knew that, what looks fine today still is near end of life and while it could go on for years could also give up next week. It could well be that it would still sailing in 15 years, but how many times in that 15 years was it out of commission for major repairs. Sure, your home in the Villiages will need up keep and repairs, but houses have lifespans much greater than cruiseships and, unless it sustains major storm damage you are not out if it while maintenance or repairs take place. Comparing the Villages with Villas on a cruise ship is not apples and oranges but more like onions and chocolate.
Thanks for the great video and super excited for your journey on the Vila Vie!! Personally, I would NEVER buy in the Villages and much less buy a cabin on Villa Vie or any other residential cruise ship. For the amounts talked about in this video, I personally can live like an absolute KING and travel ALL over the world for MUCH less!! Also, seeing the SAME people day in and day out would make me want to go overboard!! LOL! This type of lifestyle is most certainly for a select few! Lots of luck and happiness to those folks!!
It would make sense to estimate the value of each asset at the end of the 15 year period. With a 4% appreciation rate the house would be worth about 728,000.
Happy for you guys if that's what you want. I could NEVER live on a ship for many reasons. I enjoy cruising and have done so for longer than you're alive,but I would never walk away from my home which is also an investment. I'm the type that after a two week vacation anyplace I'm ready to return home I would feel bored and trapped on a ship.
As I see it, living on a cruise ship is an alternative for people with the money, the desire for travel and adventure, and those looking for an incredible experience. Who can really say the value in that? Most of the best things in life aren't about the cost.
I don't see how you have not taken in consideration equity in your home. If you have no mortgage and a paid for home, the cost of living is definitely less. As much as I have a cruise addiction, I could not live on the same ship for years. I would much rather cruise twice a year. I will look forward to your long-term upcoming videos.
They have not considered maintenance and dry docks, and if buying the cabin what happens when the ship gets scrapped which cannot be too far into the future the ship is 32 years old. Where is their equity in the ship then? Homes land go up in value, ships decrease very much the older they are until scrapped , and this one is not far off the scrap heap. Also to date twice the sailing has been postponed but I wonder if they have managed to sell sufficient cabins to make i all work.
Oh come on i served on a ship coming to the end of its sea worthy life It was 44 years old when the British government scrapped it That ship has at least 10 years left in it an if sailed in relatively calm waters then longer If the people running this company are fraudsters I hope they get locked up As they will be playing with people's dreams
Or, living in Florida, my home could be underwater in 15 years, or uninsurable. Or I could be 6 feet under. There are no guarantees in life. Enjoy each day, and if that means a forever cruise...❤
From what you are saying you are buying the cabin. I think. What happens when the ship comes to the end of its life and needs to be scrapped where is your asset then? The ship is already 32 years old and near the end of its life now, and you are saying you are paying a deposit of $60,000.The ship has already; postponed the sailing date twice and what updates have been done to the ship in the very short time that they have owned the ship? Who pays for maintenance, dry-docks ( I assume you have to be off the ship when in dry dock) for repairs and so on a ship of this age it will need plenty of maintenance. How many cabins have they sold have they told you? You both seem very dry behind the ears for sure. I have been in ships and shipping all my life and I am a lot older than you two and know a lot more than you do about ships. I hope for your sake that it can work. I really do but I very much doubt it from my experience.
Jordan, I don't think many people who live in the villages have a mortgage, prob not even a car payment. I'm sure their insurance is more in FL however. Prob not a real good comparison. IMO
I loved seeing this since I’ve lived in The Villages for 5 years plus in last two years I’ve cruised 12 times (on Celebrity). FYI The Villages is one hour NORTH of Orlando. A few things that really changes the comparison a significant amount of buyers sell homes elsewhere and arrive with cash (and left over dollars from sale of previous home) and have no mortgage. I did and the value of my home here now is up 70%! My monthly expenses are way less than than living in NJ in my previous home. I’ve got enough now to cruise lots. Also a huge consideration about cruising full time is medical cost especially since The Villages average age may be somewhere around 70. Loved seeing this and will be sharing on several Villages Facebook pages. I love cruising so much and have been curious about “full timing”. I realize from this it’s not something I could come close to affording as a single lady.
If you can choose between moving to the Villages and this cruise, you either have the money from a prior home to pay for the "whole thing" or you don't. Their comparison was not paying all of it up front, which means they are most likely putting their equity into an account to pay the fees as they go. So the comparison does make sense, unless they can pay all the ownership costs and fees up front, like you did with your home.
My one BIG concern is medical expenses. If you have health issues this may be a little more tricky than for the average person. Thank you for the detailed video!!👍
Sounds great but having health issues it would be impossible for me ( my medication needs a lot of paperwork to be allowed in to a lot of countries ) would be a nightmare getting that sorted. For those that can work from anywhere as long as their is internet , their work place has no issues , have no other commitments back home Be an idea adventure for sure 🤍🤍. Interesting video 🥰
We know many have questions regarding Medical, there are Medical Services onboard the ship, including a Pharmacy and Dental! More information about Medical can be found here: villavieresidences.com/medical-center 🏥
We will be on cruises for 212 days this year-a total of $50K or so. The residential cruise ships intrigue me-but I think we’ll wait to see it the business model works over time.
You're assuming moving to the Villages and having a mortgage. Many retirees have their homes paid for so I would compare both ways, with or without a mortgage.
This is a great breakdown comparison. My question is: let’s say you live at sea for 3 yrs, will the ship have a more advanced medical dept/hospital , with travel insurance to cover on ship pharmacy for meds, labor and delivery should a woman become pregnant. Because even if maintain your land based pharmacy, I don’t think insurance is universal in all states. Definitely not international countries. What if someone needs common emergency surgery such as their appendix or gall bladder removed. What about a dentist? These are my concerns. Great vid J. Thanks so much.
We know many have questions regarding Medical, there are Medical Services onboard the ship, including a Pharmacy and Dental! More information about Medical can be found here: villavieresidences.com/medical-center 🏥
Many great comments, many great questions. Here, I lived on 45 different ships over a decade and a half. IMHO, the element many people are missing is that comparisons between life at sea and life ashore are a false and unreachable exercise. Comparisons between cruising (or other vacation experiences) as a break from life ashore is entirely different than living the travel life where the next port isn't a visit, its a home. The travel life at sea, as a resident looking out instead of as a tourist looking in, is a completely different life experience in every way. I'd do it again in a split second. Hope this helps someone.
Great breakdown of the costs. Many Americans "moving" to retirement communities have sold their primary home; and may go in either "mortgage free" or with very small mortgages. From a retired persons standpoint, it was always our goal to have the "house paid for" by the time we retire, so we could fund our travels. Another cost consideration is "upkeep" on the "Villages" home. New lawnmowers, new appliance, etc. Many people going into retirement look to downsize their homes, so they have less space to upkeep. The cruise ship and the smaller space certainly fit that bill. Curious what size the ocean view cabins are, and if there is regular upkeep done, like fresh carpets, etc. Do you have your favorite "chair" on the ship, that sort of thing. It's a great concept. Are there any "monthly fee" reduction for SOLO residents? Thanks. Lots to think about!!
Cruise ship life long term is good for healthy people life yourself but Seniors need much more healthcare and sometimes very serious emergencies arise. In addition, Medicare does not cover seniors when outside of the United States so additional insurance must be purchased and at what cost???
I was wondering what would happen if the ship had to go into dry dock or needed major mechanical repairs. Would they pay for tenants to live elsewhere or charge residents for repairs?
Living on a cruise may seem fun at first, but you will soon get bored or tired of it. I enjoyed my first cruise experience and am about to go on another cruise with RCL. The cruise room needs to be more significant for an extended stay. I would like to have some privacy and the ability to enjoy activities such as trying different restaurants, going to the theatres, cooking, hiking, and hanging out with friends and family. These will all be very restricted when I am stuck on a cruise with a set schedule...
I’ve taken 61 cruises and doubt I could ever tire of it. The past couple of years when I’ve been on longer cruises, 21 or 23 nights, I just haven’t wanted to get off.
Variety is the spice of life. We enjoy cruising once or twice a year. But also enjoy our summer cabin in northern Wisconsin. We love our dogs. We can see our grandchildren when we want. Our mortgage will be paid off this summer lessening our monthly expenses. Also, where do you live if the ship needs to go into dry dock? For us living on a ship would be too limiting. Better and cheaper to take cruises.
I know a lot of people are pointing out the value of their on-land houses, which is a good point. However, what you show here is that living on a cruise ship full-time is not an outrageous alternative. I looked at Villa Vie and saw that you could just rent “segments” for part of their global journey. You can also rent out your cabin if you are not going to be on the ship for some time. So, in that respect it could be a rental property if you have the means to maintain a second property on the ship or rent on land when you need to be in land. Just something I’m pondering. There are people that live full time on regular cruise ships now. Obviously, it works well for a small segment of the older population.
Are you purchasing the cabin or leasing it for 15 years. What happens when you leave the ship do you have an asset to sell or pass down? In the Villages you would likely exit with a 600K asset at least half paid off
Granted you do not have to pay extra to travel to all those places the ship travels to, but it will cost you once you get there. That is not something you added in. Your expenses are not over once on board. I think people will be shocked at how much they spend. I know myself well enough to know this is not for me. I love to cruise, but I need to ground myself at home once in a while. I don't think a life at sea permanently is for me. Even Super Mario has a home base.
Definitely! I think their Endless Hoizons program is the deal of the century! $299k for a solo with lifetime access to an outside cabin on this and their future ships, of which they are planing three in total. The next one could be announced in 2-3 months, which is very exciting.
You should watch the videos posted by 30 And A Wakeup, especially those where he discusses the cost of living on board a cruise ship. It seems more feasible to me.
Honestly? Thanks for making the comparison. And the big advantage IS traveling the world with your home. Those experiences are indeed priceless. However, For that money I would buy my self an RV to live in permanently and travel around the world with it. Advantages are that it will be a bit cheaper in the end AND you get to decide yourself where you are travelling next.
I bought my condo in Florida a year ago. It's already worth $45,000 more. My mortgage & HOA are just over $2,000 a month. I only pay cable, electricity and car insurance. My car is paid off. I love cruising but am good with 1 or 2 cruises a year. That is an exorbitant amount of money.
A long term Investment in a home versus living on a cruise ship temporarily isn’t really the best comparison. Homes also require maintenance, property taxes etc. If you leave the ship, and you haven’t bought a stateroom, you don’t leave owning anything to then sell like you would with a house. In 15 years, a cruise ship would be seen as old and people would want to be on the new and bigger ships etc. Renting an apartment and the cost of living is probably a better equivalent. Lifestyles, personal choices and medical costs also play heavily when comparing. Living on a cruise ship sounds lovely if you’re income can support it but it doesn’t sound like a realistic comparable for living on land for most people. Also, for people who can’t “work from home” living onboard a ship isn’t an option. If you have to leave the ship for personal reasons, even temporarily, flying half way around the world isn’t going to be as cheap as a domestic flight. It’s an awesome experience to live onboard a ship but you’re also paying for services you probably would do yourself at home - light housework, cleaning, cooking and laundry. Most people don’t have housekeepers, including retirees.
I would love to do this. I think the younger generations, like yourself & Jared are perfect for this. You know the average age is older for cruising, so I understand the healthcare issues for them. But if you've got the money & you see it as a good investment, not just of money, but lifestyle, I say go for it!
Average age of the residents right now is 58. This is a cruise for adventurers who want to see the world now they have the time, live in a community and have friends on tap to share all the experiences with…whether they’re digital nomads or retired.
I liked the breakdown. I have done something similar for myself with an assisted living facility vs staying aboard a cruise ship. The more mobile and older adult is, long term cruise ship living would be more advantageous. Plus cruise ships do have on on board medical facility (you forget to mention this). With all the perks and high status tier levels cruise ships offer, definitely give a stronger option to choose than living in The Villages, other retirement communities or an assisted living facility.
Here are a couple of questions...The analysis was for a view stateroom. If you want a balcony it's twice as costly. Also, the square footage is SIGNIFICANTLY different than what you'd have at a home in the Villages. The resale potential for a home in the Villages is higher than that of the resale value of Villa Vie. I believe only dinner is included in the cost of the monthly fees - along with beer and wine. Every other meal and drink is an additional expense of the owner. The excursions are not included in the costs of the ship, however, there are walking tours that can be done with headphones. There have been some delays in launching the ship. This blog was done before the original launch date and as of today, the ship is still moored at a dock and the residents are only allowed on board during the day. I'm not sure who is picking up the cost of the alternative accommodations an meals but I'd be curious to know. Lastly, what is the percentage of the ship that has been sold to residents. I would be interested to hear.
All meals are included in the fare. There is a specialty restaurant that will be a pay restaurant. Beer and wine (2 glasses per meal) are included with lunch and dinner. Since there are only about 200 passengers at present (perhaps more later) I doubt that there will be anything other than the buffet for a while. Reports so far is that the food is very good.
I love the comparison and yes, it is going to be different for everyone as everyone's situation is different. You are presenting an option to consider and it is very interesting. My husband and I are making our plans for his retirement in 2-3 years and something like this is an option we will look at. Just a note, if you put down $60K down payment for the cabin, your interest is on the remaining balance of $60K, not on $120K. So cut the interest per year in half for those 3 years of mortgage payments.
At a certain age, I can see this being reasonable, depending on the health care options. Most inclusive supervised residences for seniors here run about $5000/month CDN, and I see living on a cruise ship being comparable as neither are building equity or even having a goal of ownership. One big difference though would be that in a residence, as you need more care, it can get arranged and added onto your fees - services such as a PSW to help you shower or take any meds - and I doubt these services would be available on a cruise ship. For a younger person just getting into home ownership, this is not comparable and doesn't seem to make financial sense.
I feel it’s more like a time share! I’d get so bored being on the ship! I can’t even go on a “back to back” Villages- you own and the house will appreciate!
Actually, there's one expense that you didn't taking to consideration. When you were talking about the Florida village, your house is going to need to be maintained. There's going to be costs on top of that, sometimes you're going to need a new hot water tank or you're going to need new ceiling, fans or the place is going to have to have new taps or if you need a plumber. All those things need to be took into consideration too. There's maintenance that you need to take care of with a house. Regardless if it's in a community setting or not that house is yours, so you're gonna have to maintain it and keep it updated. If you're on a cruise ship, you don't need to do that. It's all took in care of I think you should calculate it another 10 to $20000 on top of that. 15 years at the bottom end of the spectrum because of maintenance costs.
Your analysis on “COST OF MOVING INTO A CRUISE SHIP” was terrific to watch, as we have been having that same discussion many times. However, your Youth has really slanted your evaluation. Americans usually retire about age 65. Add 15 years and that brings you to age 80! Point: If you’ve been blessed to go to college and live in a dorm, can you image living in about 300 sq./ft apartment for 15 years? Remember, a cabin is designed to hold about 2 weeks of clothes. I’m sure you realize that the human body is not static…inside and out! As we age, our bodies will need medical care, dental, vision, cardo, joints-just to mention a few areas. Sure, you can get great medical care on a good ship, but constant “well care/checkups” - not way. And you have no medical insurance that can cover any costs outside your home country. Everyone usually gains some weight on a cruise; how can you not eating every meal of anything they put in front of you? How does one keep down the sodium, fat, sugars, etc.-at every single meal … for 15 years? Again, the young “us” never knew that weight is harder to take off as we age. We’ve just pasted our 10-year mark living in our retirement golf resort. We addressed our home repairs-major and minor. The usual stuff: new washer/dryer, fix a leak in the roof, the exterior needs a new coat of paint. You get it. Everyone with a house can tell you endless lists. So, tell me, were does one go when the ship you now live on goes into dry dock-for weeks/months? And if your cruise line goes out of business? You have no recourse and will a need a lot of money to start over. Maybe your analyses needs to come down to about 8 years? (P.S. Really looking forward to your summer experience living on a cruise ship! Keep up the good work, Guys!)
For those who don't like the idea of the full commitment of buying a cabin to live in for 15 years, it looks to me on their website like you CAN just pay a lump sum fee and pick various 'legs' of the worldwide trip that you might like to go on (say 90 - 120 days of the trip for around $25,000 - $35,000). Like you could pick Africa, Southern Europe/Mediterranean, or the Japan/Philippines part of the trip. If I had the money, I think I'd rather do that - a marvelous adventure for a few months rather than a long-term commitment. I think I'd at least try that to see how I liked it before making the bigger 15-year purchase! It would give you the experience without having to stay on a ship the rest of your life! After 3 - 4 months, you should have an idea if you LOVE it or if you've had enough.
Next year I will be selling my property and then will not have a home. I plan to put the money in the bank from the sale, put all my belongings into storage and then travel extensively. I’m a retired female solo traveler. I think it would be fun to live onboard a ship for a few months, maybe 3-4 months and visiting all kinds of ports. I wouldn’t want to spend more than $4000 a month, all inclusive. Is that even possible on a different cruise line? I’m also a vegan so getting the food I eat could be a challenge. I think one year would be too difficult and boring to do.
Not for everyone but a fantastic alternative to long-term care/nursing home. It’s economical as property taxes, new taxes, gas, electricity, water, home insurance & repair costs rises yr after yr.
My husband and I can't wait to follow your adventure when you move to your new residence. Lots of pluses and lots of minuses in my mind but absolutely intriguing. But then we won't run into you during one of our cruises...
As a retiree I think most people that would be doing this would already have a home with equity, that they would sell to finance their move to a cruise ship. I would think that the biggest issue for someone doing this is spending all of their equity and then outliving the 15 year residency. Where do you go then? For the people asking about medical insurance I would think you could get the same type of insurance that Nomads get. Your basically being a nomad just at sea instead of on land.
It sounds fabulous! If I could ever afford it I would absolutely want to live on a cruise shop. I’m so happy for both of you. The chance of a lifetime, and what beautiful experiences you have in store.
Sounds too good to be true especially when at the end of 15 years you have nothing to show for it and you would then need to find a place to live all over again. I would love to travel like that but the costs are way too high per month even after the first 36 months when the cabin has been paid. Also I would think that a bigger cabin would be even more expensive. This scheme would work great for someone who already has money to spare and would want to have a select cabin on the ship for travelling. I wonder what the additional 5000 per couple per month covers since I thought the price of the cabin included everything on the ship. Nice idea but more than the average person or retiree can afford.
These are both horrible financial moves. But the cruise ship is FAR worse. At least with the home in FL you haven’t lost your money, you’ve just invested it into real estate. I mean, a bad real estate market, but it was a nice try.
I would think most people moving to the Villages would be selling a home someplace else and would have a good amount of cash to put on the Village home either being a small mortgage or none at all. Plus the fact that you own something in the end. Anyway enjoy your new adventure. You need to do whatever makes you happy.
I've been following Villa Vie for a while now. It really comes down to what kind of a lifestyle you want. We aren't in a position to do this right now, but it is certainly something I would consider.
Am so looking forward to watching. Interesting part of the costing would be cost per square foot of home versus ship. Is there any kind of shared kitchen space so you could prepare your own sometimes? And as a senior healthcare is quite an issue - many of us have periodic follow up care even if we are currently healthy.
I find this so intriguing and the money works out pretty close to as you say IMO. The website for them is good, but not much info as far as the percentage sold to date and such. I would think they would want to promote that. You did a lot of work on this one and it came out great. Cheers.
