Who is the elderly couple living on a cruise ship?

Retired Australian couple Marty and Jessica Ansen revealed they have been aboard the Coral Princess cruise ship for more than 450 straight days.



Angelyn and Richard Burk are the most famous "cruise nomads" in 2026, having lived permanently on cruise ships since May 2021. The American couple, who are in their early 60s, realized that by selling their home in Washington state and "ship-hopping" across various lines using loyalty discounts, they could live for about $100 a day ($36,500 a year)—significantly less than the cost of a mortgage, property taxes, and groceries on land. They travel light, usually with just one suitcase each, and have visited dozens of countries including Italy, Iceland, and Singapore. While they are the most well-known, they aren't the only ones; other long-term cruisers like Mario Salcedo (known as "Super Mario" on Royal Caribbean) have also made the sea their permanent home for decades. For the Burks, the lifestyle offers a "leisurely way to see the world" without the stress of hotel bookings or transportation logistics, effectively turning their retirement into a never-ending global vacation.

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Angelyn and Richard Burk have spent the past few years of retirement bouncing from cruise ship to cruise ship exploring countries all over the world. They say all the traveling is actually saving them money.

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A couple have traded life on dry land for sailing the seven seas. And I'm not just talking living on a little sailing boat and fishing for lunch, but settling down on cruise ships. Finding it to be cheaper than paying a mortgage, Seattle couple Angelyn and Richard Burk ditched their jobs for a new start.

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Is it expensive to retire on a cruise ship? The cost of living onboard a cruise ship varies depending on the type of cabin you choose and the amenities you desire. Generally, retirees can expect to pay anywhere from $1,500 - $3,000 per month for accommodation, meals, entertainment, and other activities.

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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.

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The bottom line is that in some cases, spending an extended amount of time on a cruise ship can be more cost effective -- as well as more enjoyable -- than a nursing home or retirement community.

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Life at Sea cruises, which will host a three year cruise for $30,000 per year, is taking on more passengers. Apparently, the number of people who want to sail away from their lives is bigger than expected.

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Can you live on a cruise ship? Yes, and here's how much it costs. Buying into a ship like the MV Narrative is a way to travel the world with fewer hassles, one buyer told CNBC Travel.

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I used to be employed by cruise ships, but now I live on one while my husband works on board. Christine Kesteloo. I'm a wife on board — I live on a cruise ship for half of the year while my husband works on it. There are a lot of perks, like free laundry, food, and room service.

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Cruise ship workers are not supposed to hook up with passengers, but that doesn't mean it doesn't happen. It is rare though – most crew follow the rules because they know they'll lose their job if they're caught. You won't be surprised to hear that cruise lines ban crew from having sex with passengers.

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Passengers can come and go Some passengers said they plan to renew their stay indefinitely. We have quite a few people – about 70% – who are choosing to do the 37-plus month, and a lot of them are saying, 'I'm going to stay on this ship until the day I die,' Linderoth said. The cruise around the world sets sail Dec.

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An Australian couple is choosing not to spend their time in a retirement home but instead have opted for two years at sea. Marty and Jess Ansen, of Brisbane, embarked on 51 back-to-back Princess Cruises back in June 2022, with a 795-sea day trip to anticipate.

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Buying a Permanent Cabin for Retirement There are several cruise lines that allow travelers to purchase an apartment or condo onboard, with food and other amenities included. However, this could also be a much more expensive option depending on what type of cabin you're purchasing.

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Cruise ship that lets you live onboard for 3 years for $38,000 per year will accommodate more passengers. Life at Sea cruises, which will host a three year cruise for $30,000 per year, is taking on more passengers. Apparently, the number of people who want to sail away from their lives is bigger than expected.

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Depending on the cruise line, some nurses may have the option to bring family members aboard with them. This benefit is sometimes conditional on length of service or limited to a specific number of days per contract.

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What is the least expensive cabin on a cruise ship? Interior or inside staterooms are typically the least expensive category on a cruise. Those cabins are generally the smallest on board and rarely accommodate more than three people, according to Joy Hess, owner and lead travel consultant at Outside the Lines Travel.

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Princess Cruise Line Princess has both smart casual and formal dress codes for evening dining. Smart casual options include casual dresses and skirts, or pants and a nice top. Nice jeans (clean and not torn) are permitted in Princess' main dining room and specialty restaurants on smart casual evenings.

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Things that aren't included in the basic cruise fare are airfare, shore excursions, alcoholic beverages, spa treatments, souvenirs and casino games. The cruise you choose will also affect your total cost. A longer world cruise vacation costs more than a shorter one, of course, but the cruise line matters, too.

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