Retired Couple Sails Into Savings With 51 Cruises Instead Of Settling In A Retirement Home

Oct 05, 2023

While many dream of a serene retirement home, one Australian couple from Brisbane is charting a different course. Marty and Jess Ansen, seasoned travelers with a penchant for the high seas, have found an unconventional way to spend their golden years. The great-grandparents believe that living aboard a cruise ship offers not only a more exciting lifestyle but is also more cost effective than traditional retirement homes.

On June 16, 2022, the Ansens embarked on what can only be described as an epic voyage. They've committed to 51 back-to-back cruises, and their adventure shows no signs of slowing down. 

Their decision, while spontaneous, wasn't entirely out of the blue. The couple has nurtured a love for cruising for four decades. According to People, the Ansens have gone on at least 31 short cruises together before cruising and travel changed.  

The halt in cruise operations due to the lockdowns in 2020 and 2021 became a turning point. Determined not to waste another moment on land, Marty and Jess decided to set sail when the borders re-opened and enlisted for an extensive 795-day trip. This means that the couple won’t be deboarding a cruise ship until August 2024.  

Aboard the Coral Princess, Marty and Jess have stayed longer than many of the crew members. Cruising has become a lifestyle for this couple, who said that the cost is a lot cheaper than paying to live in a retirement facility. It's also convenience and luxury rolled into one. The choice comes with a lot of perks, as cruises have a lineup of activities. 

The Ansens do not even have to worry about their meals or the upkeep of their rooms since there are workers on the ship who take care of these things. 

“Where else can you go where you go for dinner, you go to a show, you go dancing?” Jess explained their reason for choosing a cruise over a retirement home to A Current Affair, which caught up with the couple on one of their trips. “Through the day, you have all these activities. I love the hula dancing and the ballroom dancing.”

The Ansens begin their day on the ship by either playing a game of table tennis or enjoying breakfast with a view on their balcony. Their extended stay hasn't gone unnoticed, as they have built a camaraderie with the crew on board. Marty and Jess have become a staple even among the passengers, especially after Jess celebrated her birthday aboard the ship in August 2023, surrounded by newfound friends. 

Ren van Rooyen, the ship's hotel manager, said that everyone knows the couple and they're treated like onboard celebrities. He regards the elderly couple as his second parents when he’s on the ship.

After nearly 500 days of sailing, Marty and Jess will continue with their travels for eight more months on the Coral Princess before moving on to the Crown Princess, an even bigger cruise ship, for another year of cruising. However, they do plan to see their family if there are stops at ports near their home.

“The cruise lifestyle is very efficient," the Ansens said. "You don’t have to worry about paying for rent or a mortgage, getting groceries or doing your laundry.”

"We’re not young people," the couple emphasized. "Cruising is much cheaper than going to a nursing home and means we can continue to travel the world.”

Would you consider swapping traditional retirement life for an adventure at sea, just like Marty and Jess Ansen? Do you think this will become a trend among retirees? Do you know someone who might like this idea? Pass this story along for inspiration!