An older couple has chosen to spend their retirement traveling on 51 consecutive cruises because they found it to be “way less expensive” than living in a retirement community.
In June 2022, Marty and Jess Ansen set off on a fun trip when they got on the Coral Princess, two years after the tough pandemic lockdowns in Australia.
Over the next year and a half, the great-grandparents have been traveling around the world, having fun dancing, enjoying delicious buffets, and meeting new friends everywhere they go.
The Ansens have been living on the 2,000-passenger cruise ship for over 450 days, and they plan to stay there for another year and a half.
The couple has enjoyed 51 back-to-back cruises. Credit: Joe Raedle / Getty
In a chat with A Current Affair, Marty shared that he tells his agent to schedule “anything that comes up,” which is how they found themselves going on 51 cruises in a row.
The pair have outlasted many people on the ship, including the captain.
Marty said, “The wheels might turn, but we’re still here,” and Jess chimed in, “We’re happy to have new captains join us.”
Ren van Rooyen, the hotel manager of the Coral Princess ship, said that the couple is the most devoted passengers they have on board.
Van Rooyen mentioned that they often joke about how every time they leave and return, it feels like visiting family again, saying, “It’s like seeing my mom and dad again, but on the ship, they feel like my second parents.”
The hotel manager mentioned that the two have become like “famous people on the ship” because other passengers who are on shorter trips want to meet them. Their story has really inspired a lot of folks back in their home country.
The couple had been going on cruises for many years before they began their 795-day adventure. They figured out that living on a cruise was actually less expensive than moving into a retirement home, which made them choose this lifestyle. Plus, they thought they had lost out on a lot of fun during the hard times of the Australian lockdown.
In a shared message through Princess Cruises to PEOPLE, they talked about how their plan saves money, saying: “Living on a cruise is super efficient. You don’t have to stress about paying rent or a mortgage, buying groceries, or doing laundry.”
We’re not exactly kids anymore, but going on cruises is way less expensive than living in a nursing home, and it lets us keep exploring the world.
They are now having a great time with the benefits of their current way of living, which includes awesome entertainment like dancing and delicious food that comes with the ticket price.
Jess shared with the outlet about all the exciting things to do, saying, “What other place offers this? You can have dinner, catch a show, or go dancing. During the day, there are so many activities to enjoy.”
In addition, the retirees kick off their mornings with an hour of energetic ping pong, followed by enjoying a couple of beers on their balcony while soaking up the beautiful scenery.
They were able to avoid doing chores because a group of housekeepers comes in every day to clean their room. Marty joked that they have gotten so used to living on a boat that they “don’t even remember how to make a bed since it’s been ages since we did it.”
“So now we have to stay on board just to stay alive,” he joked.
Credit: Joe Raedle / Getty
According to PEOPLE, the Ansens are set to come back to land in August 2024.
The break is only a little while, but Jess and Marty plan to go on another year-long cruise on the Crown Princess.
