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Good price but also you should add the disclaimer that the higher your loyalty and previous service "military, stockholder, ect" there is on board credit per cruise and additional bonuses. Some may include up to 700 per cruise that can reduce your gratuity cost or give extra spending room for dining & drinks. Lowering the yearly cost❤
I came here to see if anyone had mentioned this. Can you imagine he perks you'd earn with this much cruising? More than enough for margaritas and some specialty meals.
Ok. I subscribed. After viewing this video I am not certain staying in an interior room is what I would like to live in. Our previous three cruises were in royal Caribbean balcony with their latest and greatest of the time. We like balcony because having coffee as the waves rolled by, or watching stars at night made it the best.
I just found your videos and subscribed. I'm retired and have a desire to cruise. I have friends of similar age who join me. Finding a channel that actually speaks to my age demographics is refreshing. I'm not looking to retire on a cruise ship, but I like the concept. I also like older ships and I hadn't thought of Freedom of the Seas as Old. lol
I’m going on Villa Vie for 103 days for $14k solo and that is not the cheapest. It includes beer, wine and gratuities. Also, you can bring your own drinks onboard.
I just subscribed... I cruise solo fairly often. I've cruised on the Freedom of the Seas and I really like the ship! I'm heading down to Miami tomorrow to board the Icon of the Seas on Saturday. My first Royal Caribbean cruise was on the Navigator of the Seas in one of their Promenade-view interiors and I loved it! I generally prefer an oceanview balcony, but this was more affordable, and the window seat was a cool place to sit at night in my jammies, watching the entertainment and people below. I'm not sure if I'd like to cruise full-time but I'd love to do some longer cruises, including back to back options. Longest cruise so far was a Panama canal transit (15 days). I also did a Transpacific itinerary (14 days), so I don't mind lots of sea days!!
@@CruiseNewsNetwork It's a beautiful ship with lots to do. I loved the new AquaDome Market. All of the shows were fantastic! My main dissatisfaction was that I could not find one quiet spot on the ship (except for my own balcony room) - the adults-only pool is often crowded and is very noisy with loud music. I miss the Solarium!
I subscribed! Found your videos to be unique and informative. Most channels do not talk about the financial aspects of cruising. Looking forward to your insights!
It seems even "dirt" is REALLY expensive nowadays!! 😂 Seriously though, that was a lot of work for you to find all those cruises that were back-to-back. I am a budding cruise consultant, so I know what that took . Good job! I'm 68, obsessed with cruising, and If I thought I could retire on a cruise ship I would do it in a heartbeat!! 💓 I've been on over 20 cruises and counting ,and we most recently just got off the Celebrity Edge last week from Hawaii. What a fabulous trip and ship! Now planning a 14 day to Norway on HAL in August with a good friend who happens to be Norwegian! 🥳 I'm enjoying your videos and looking forward to more of them👌👏
What do you do during Hurricane Season June 1 - December 31? Does the Freedom leave Florida? What about Medical care while you are in the Caribbean? Do you pay for a special medical insurance plan that can Air Ambulance you out of the Islands and bring you back to Florida for a Severe Medical Emergency?
Hi! Ships still sail during hurricane season. Only on rare occasions do they cancel outright (in which I'd stay in a hotel). But you are correct to be concerned about it. During that season, it does get a little rough on the seas. Freedom leaves from Florida for the months that I was looking at. Yes, you should look into additional medical/travel insurance. There are a number of options, but very expensive. (But very necessary, in my view!)
YES! Great idea! I’ll do Celebrity next! Thanks so much for watching and hope you’ll consider subscribing! And please keep those suggestions coming in the comments section… it really helps me out. :)
Hi! Thanks SO much for watching! :) Actually, all the weeks are in there, making up a back-to-back sailing. If you watch the video again, you’ll see I didn’t register them in the order of the calendar. Instead, I mostly went in the order of the different sets of itineraries because it’s faster that way since I don’t have to keep searching for the proper week. For example, I went through all the Eastern Caribbean sailings at once, then tackled the Western. As I did them, I wrote them on a sheet of paper along with the price, and I put THOSE entries in consecutive order so that I could make sure there weren’t any gaps. I’ll DEFINITELY do my next video in the order of the calendar year instead, because I can see how that would be confusing to a viewer! I’m new to this and honestly stunned and so happy that people are actually watching it. THANK YOU for pointing out how this looks on your end. It really helps. And thanks for watching! Hope you’ll consider subscribing!
Maybe you could price out a snowbird itinerary, something like the months of January and February to give us Northerners a break from the winter weather.
Excellent point! I actually mention that in the video I just posted a few minutes ago. I won't be including any of those discounts just because most people won't have them when they start off and I'd rather they be prepared for the worst case scenario (or closer to it). But you are completely right... those rewards can save a lot, especially on drinks and sometimes even laundry! Thanks for watching and I hope you'll consider subscribing! :)
Interesting video. Try calculating this on one of the older Royal Caribbean ships such as Vision of the Seas. This ship is currently locked to Baltimore and it does not move its home port.
$114,577.84 a year on a cruise ship is not an absurd amount. Just think of what your annual costs are on land in your house. Although too much of a good thing can also not be what you hope it to be. Seeing the same port for the most part over and over again will become a monotonous . But the idea of going for a couple of months, especially during the Northeastern (USA)winters seems like a downright bargain.
$2,500/pw? I own a 4brm 3bth home and it costs me around $15,000/yr for utilities, taxes, rates, insurance, etc. That doesn't include food of course, but it's $85K less than a cruise ship! Imagine the same menu, the same entertainment, on an endless loop!? I once spent 6wks on a cruise ship, 4 x back to back cruises and that was enough for me. Nice to come home once in a while...
New subscriber (#355). Very informative and I am interested in this topic since I like cruising and may consider actually retiring on a cruise ship when I retire in the next 8 to 10 years. I would definitely be interested in the solo costs. One possible thing to consider is each cruise lines' loyalty program and share holder benefits. $100 on board credit for each cruise taken as a share holder will add up and produce a nice savings.
Thanks for your videos. Your prices don’t (maybe there’s no way to do this prior to the actual cruise) have/include any discounts for booking the next cruise while currently on a cruise nor loyalty program discounts. Is there a way to factor these discounts into your totals? Thanks.
Thanks for the analysis of the cost and the search for a "best value" itinerary. I think it would be interesting to talk about the positives vs just "living at home" for the year. What is the "stay home" expense? Let's us see what goodies we experience for the delta cost. I understand there are some assumptions here, but its what people will really do.
As several people pointed out, you have gaps in your days. These are 5 and 4 day cruises. Where do you stay the other days of those weeks? And also, you said in your commentary that occassionally they disembark in one port, move the ship to a different port then embark for the next cruise. So you need to factor in transportation between ports. That said, this is an interesting concept. I like that you are trying to get some realistic costs! And I woud do transatlantic as my "base" trip. Good luck on your channel!
Hi! Thanks SO much for watching! :) Actually, all the weeks are in there, making up a back-to-back sailing. If you watch the video again, you’ll see I didn’t register them in the order of the calendar. Instead, I mostly went in the order of the different sets of itineraries because it’s faster that way since I don’t have to keep searching for the proper week. For example, I went through all the Eastern Caribbean sailings at once, then tackled the Western. As I did them, I wrote them on a sheet of paper along with the price, and I put THOSE entries in consecutive order so that I could make sure there weren’t any gaps. I’ll DEFINITELY do my next video in the order of the calendar year instead, because I can see how that would be confusing to a viewer! I’m new to this and honestly stunned and so happy that people are actually watching it. THANK YOU for pointing out how this looks on your end. As for the ports, for this video, we wouldn't be traveling between departure ports at all in between cruises. My next video has us switching ships, but I put us on ships that are in the same port, boarding the same day as we are disembarking on the other. But yes, if you do switch ports or stay at a hotel for a few days waiting for your ship to come in (haha - literally), you'd want to account for that in your pricing estimate. That can really add up! And thanks for watching and for the good luck! I am going with your suggestion of a transatlantic video next, so look out for that! Hope you’ll consider subscribing! :)
Um, $9,500.00 per month... for an inside cabin? Yikes! I can live like a king in Thailand, Philippines, Vietnam, or Malaysia for a third of that, including food, drink, a rental car, and health insurance! AND... I can travel about the SEA region pretty much as I please.
If people want to live on cruise ships, it's much cheaper not to concentrate on only one cruise line, and longer cruises usually have lower costs per day. (I know you know this, but some viewers may not.)
I was a hardcore RC and Celebrity only cruiser but tried a few Princess cruises and thinking about changing over. Princess seems to be a bit less expensive and the cruises, ships, etc just as good if not better. Can you do a retire on Princess cruise video?
I will! It's on my to-do list. I love Princess too because they have much longer itineraries. Thanks for watching, and I hope you'll consider subscribing!
Try Royal Caribbean Enchantment of the Seas. She is the second oldest ship in the fleet. I just finished an 8 day cruise in SW Caribbean and was impressed with the itinerary, staff, food and overall care of the ship.
My perspective on Caribbean cruises are different from yours since I live in Hawaii. My interests are in the Pacific, Asia and Africa. Panama and South America would also be interesting, but I've already done the Mediterranean.
Great idea! I'll put some Pacific, Asia, Africa adventures on my "to do" list for the channel. Mahalo for the suggestions. Thanks for watching, and I hope you'll consider subscribing!
Hi! Thanks SO much for watching! :) Actually, all the weeks are in there, making up a back-to-back sailing. If you watch the video again, you’ll see I didn’t register them in the order of the calendar. Instead, I mostly went in the order of the different sets of itineraries because it’s faster that way since I don’t have to keep searching for the proper week. For example, I went through all the Eastern Caribbean sailings at once, then tackled the Western. As I did them, I wrote them on a sheet of paper along with the price, and I put THOSE entries in consecutive order so that I could make sure there weren’t any gaps. I’ll DEFINITELY do my next video in the order of the calendar year instead, because I can see how that would be confusing to a viewer! I’m new to this and honestly stunned and so happy that people are actually watching it. THANK YOU for pointing out how this looks on your end. It really helps. And thanks for watching! Hope you’ll consider subscribing!
It depends on what country you are in, but in general, you will have to get off and get back on. It's not as bad as it sounds though - I'm posting a video tonight that talks about the process more. Be sure to look out for it. Thanks for watching, and I hope you'll consider subscribing! :)
WOW thats over 9K a month LOL just for food and housing. Put in medical insurance, prescriptions, clothing etc etc and your over 10k a month in retirement. LMAO If I am spending 10k a month I am not in some shoe box on a boat.
At some point during that lengthy an itinerary, I assume loyalty benefits will start making the extras like specialty dining and drinks cheaper (assuming you use OBC for that. I wonder how much of an impact that could have over a year long B2B2B2B...?
I'm about 10-12 years away from retirement (unless the SHTF, of course) and present estimates are that I will need to stay in the 80-85K range per year. This is just a bit too much, and I'll bet there's no ship I would actually want to retire on for the price I expect to be limited to. Great research, though. This is the first vid of yours I have seen. I am going to review other topics you've covered.
I tried to convince my brother that we should go on a cruise ship for a couple of months in the winter. He told me that I could go by myself. I like the concept because all your meals are included and you won’t have many expenses. I would just need to find a ship with a self serve laundry.. it would just be the logistics of organizing the travel plans for so many weeks.
You are so right to be cautious - as I mentioned, they fluctuate seasonally and also as you get closer to the cruise date. They have better prices during hurricane season too. Hmmm... can't imagine why... ;) haha Thanks so much for commenting, and I hope you'll consider subscribing!
It would've been more helpful if you compared the cost vs living in a house or apartment over the same time period. I also think if you're planning back to back cruises of less than 6-7 nights, then building in laundry costs and other incidentals would be helpful as well. My thought is that once per month you might need to book a short term rental near the port for a few days to get in things like laundry, doctors appointments and other land based activities - clothes shopping, movies etc.
I agree - I like the idea of staying a few nights in a hotel from time to time just to catch up on things like laundry and dentists. And yes, I realize I'm the first UA-camr to ever talk about dental hygiene on UA-cam. LOL Thanks for watching, and I hope you'll consider subscribing!
How about doing this for Princess, Holland America, MSC, Celebrity and Carnival! That would be doing every cruiser thinking about this a great service!
I just today posted one for Celebrity! I'll be sure to get those others done as well. Be sure to subscribe so you won't miss them when they go up. Thanks so much for watching! :)
I know you say retire, but these are only year prices, I would love to have an income of $100k a year after retiring, but above all that, love the videos and the breakdowns..
MSC cruises are cheap and include drinks and gratuities in price when booking from UK. Also don't forget using a travel agent they could probably throw in some on board spend or meals. I think the wife of Tony at La Lido Loca cruise channel is a travel agent so may be interesting to contact them to see if you can lower the cost or get more included.
You know, you bring up a good point. I believe it does include port fees, as that's what I've always been told by Royal Caribbean in the past. But always check with them before you book because their wording is so vague, they could change it! :) They do like to change things on us. LOL
I have done it the last 20 years but I get reduced fares because I am a guest lecturer.Mostly world and long exotic cruises about half days that super Mario has accumulated
Yes, you'd definitely be getting rewards and would get lots of perks like free drinks and even laundry when you hit RCL's highest tier. Thanks for pointing that out, and I hope you'll consider subscribing! :)
Me too - I just posted a video a few minutes ago where you'd see a LOT more of our world. Thanks for watching and I hope you'll consider subscribing! :)
Become super rich! Buy an older cruise ship Take it to a ship yard and have an actual apartment built in it behind the bridge like the captain's apartment (yes, cruise ship captains get an actual apartment on the ship!). Live on a cruise ship and keep the same quarters forever, and never fear having to find accommodations when the ship is "down" for a few days every now and again. You can even make your own rules and have a pet and bring your own favorite wine and alcohol on board!
I like your idea. I literally just saw a listing for an older Royal Caribbean ship FOR SALE - so you might be able to pull that off! :) I talk about it in the ship tour I just posted of the Vision of the Seas. Thanks for watching, and I hope you'll consider subscribing!
YES! Regarding military - NCL is currently offering 10% off for ALL of their cruises. I love them for that. And Royal SOMETIMES does (supposedly, but we always ask and haven't come across a military discount on Royal yet.) And yes, seniors sometimes get discounts, but again, it's on a cruise-by-cruise basis. Thanks for watching, and I hope you'll consider subscribing!
Definitely a good idea! I talk about that in my video that I just released this morning. SO GLAD you mentioned it here in the comments. Thanks for watching and I hope you'll consider subscribing! :)
I posted a solo cruise one just last week. Wanted to make sure you saw it. I was kind of saddened by the prices Royal gave for solo though. I'm going to keep looking for better options for you. Though I still hope you'll check it out. Thanks for watching, and I hope you'll consider subscribing!
Yikes - they're not all five-days. LOL But yes, I agree - I'd prefer to do longer cruises when I do this, even though turnaround day isn't that bad when you're doing back to back cruises. Thanks for watching, and I hope you'll consider subscribing!
I don't really want to retire on a ship but while I'm still active I want to spend a month or so onboard. And then maybe the queen Mary for a trip across the pond. I'm disabled, took 9 years to get to this point. Don't want to waste it!!
B2b cruises are a good way to go. We have done this multiple times. If you’re flying to the home port you can kill two birds with one stone so to speak. We also have gone b2b and a cruise on a different ship or a different cruise line. If you can get the same room on a b2b it’s a bonus as you don’t have to pack up and unpack. Usually to get the same room it is best to book early and these days it means really well in advance. We did a b2b2b all in tne same room on the Celebration in its first season.
Sadly, they rarely do - but yes, ALWAYS check with them because you never know. And they will give discounts sometimes for military or things like that. But if you book this often, you will get a ton of perks because of their loyalty program (you'll eventually get things like free drinks and free laundry, etc.) So that's something, anyway. :) Thanks for watching, and I hope you'll consider subscribing!
I know. I'd love to cruise in a balcony cabin always too. I posted a video a couple weeks ago that just does balcony cabins. So be sure to check it out. Thanks for watching, and I hope you'll consider subscribing! :)
Wow, if you are suggesting over 10k a month excluding insurance etc, not sure what your personal budget is. Let's get realistic there are better alternatives that you should suggest
It's definitely not cheap in my book either. But it sure is compared to that Icon of the Seas! :) I am looking for some cheaper options to highlight though. Thanks for watching, and I hope you'll consider subscribing!
also start a you tube chanel dedicated to the experience , how toos, hacks, life, problems = income to offset the cost. also may make it a bit tax deductable. you talk me into it!!
As you get more points, you would also get free drinks and discounted/free cruises, reduced internet, other perks. Also can get free drinks/cruises through the Casino program to bring costs down. Wife and I have considered doing this to a degree once retired, but incorporating transatlantic and transpacific into the mix. the prices for these longer cruises is significantly cheaper - and would bring pricing down even more. Ex: Taking 13 day transatlantic this Nov and is $1,350 Total fare for 2 people in Oceanview room. Includes taxes / fees with 4 stops in Spain and Portugal. About $50/person/day. (not including gratuities, internet or drinks) If you purchase 100 shares of stock, you can also get on board credit for every cruise - anywhere from $50 - $250 per cruise depending on length of cruise. Plus other potential OBC if you have a good travel agent. Good video, subscribed to see what else you can come up with.
SUCH good points! Love the stock idea. I forgot about that one. Thank you for sharing these ideas with others! I just now posted one that does a transatlantic. And thanks for watching. I hope you'll consider subscribing!
Yes. It is a requirement to disembark and then reembark through port customs. The cruise line needs to know how to account for their passenger manifest.
In USA when I went on back to back cruises on Oasis of the Seas I had to disembark for an hour in port then straight back on. Think this was a US customs rule. They then gave me a free lunch in the Italian restaurant (this was 10 years ago so may have changed). However on Celebrity Edge in Europe 2 years ago we just stayed on the boat, but no free meals.
Hi! Thanks SO much for watching! :) Actually, all the weeks are in there, making up a very long back-to-back sailing. So there are no days in between sailing. If you watch the video again, you’ll see I didn’t register them in the order of the calendar. Instead, I mostly went in the order of the different sets of itineraries because it’s faster that way since I don’t have to keep searching for the proper week. For example, I went through all the Eastern Caribbean sailings at once, then tackled the Western. As I did them, I wrote them on a sheet of paper along with the price, and I put THOSE entries in consecutive order so that I could make sure there weren’t any gaps. I’ll DEFINITELY do my next video in the order of the calendar year instead, because I can see how that would be confusing to a viewer! I’m new to this and honestly stunned and so happy that people are actually watching it. THANK YOU for pointing out how this looks on your end. It really helps. And thanks for watching! Hope you’ll consider subscribing!
How sweet to hear you say that because I honestly always hated my voice and thought I NEEDED background music to make it tolerable. :) Thanks for watching, and I hope you'll consider subscribing!
Hi! Thanks SO much for watching! :) Actually, all the weeks are in there, making up a back-to-back sailing. If you watch the video again, you’ll see I didn’t register them in the order of the calendar. Instead, I mostly went in the order of the different sets of itineraries because it’s faster that way since I don’t have to keep searching for the proper week. For example, I went through all the Eastern Caribbean sailings at once, then tackled the Western. As I did them, I wrote them on a sheet of paper along with the price, and I put THOSE entries in consecutive order so that I could make sure there weren’t any gaps. I’ll DEFINITELY do my next video in the order of the calendar year instead, because I can see how that would be confusing to a viewer! I’m new to this and honestly stunned and so happy that people are actually watching it. THANK YOU for pointing out how this looks on your end. It really helps. And thanks for watching! Hope you’ll consider subscribing!
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New subscriber! I appreciate the focus of your content. It is rare to find a channel that addresses anyone over the age of 35. Thank you.
Thank you so much for subscribing! :)
Good price but also you should add the disclaimer that the higher your loyalty and previous service "military, stockholder, ect" there is on board credit per cruise and additional bonuses. Some may include up to 700 per cruise that can reduce your gratuity cost or give extra spending room for dining & drinks. Lowering the yearly cost❤
Yes, not to mention if you use a cruise line loyalty credit card you can use points to book free cruises lowering your costs even more
I came here to see if anyone had mentioned this. Can you imagine he perks you'd earn with this much cruising? More than enough for margaritas and some specialty meals.
I go everywhere by myself I do what I want when I want
Ok. I subscribed. After viewing this video I am not certain staying in an interior room is what I would like to live in. Our previous three cruises were in royal Caribbean balcony with their latest and greatest of the time. We like balcony because having coffee as the waves rolled by, or watching stars at night made it the best.
I 100% agree!! :) My next video will have balcony cabins for all of them. Thanks SO much for subscribing.
I just found your videos and subscribed. I'm retired and have a desire to cruise. I have friends of similar age who join me. Finding a channel that actually speaks to my age demographics is refreshing. I'm not looking to retire on a cruise ship, but I like the concept. I also like older ships and I hadn't thought of Freedom of the Seas as Old. lol
Thank you so much for subscribing! :)
I’m going on Villa Vie for 103 days for $14k solo and that is not the cheapest. It includes beer, wine and gratuities. Also, you can bring your own drinks onboard.
What Curise Line is this? Like the $$s for sure
Sounds wonderful! :)
Hi! It's Royal Caribbean! :)
I just subscribed... I cruise solo fairly often. I've cruised on the Freedom of the Seas and I really like the ship! I'm heading down to Miami tomorrow to board the Icon of the Seas on Saturday. My first Royal Caribbean cruise was on the Navigator of the Seas in one of their Promenade-view interiors and I loved it! I generally prefer an oceanview balcony, but this was more affordable, and the window seat was a cool place to sit at night in my jammies, watching the entertainment and people below. I'm not sure if I'd like to cruise full-time but I'd love to do some longer cruises, including back to back options. Longest cruise so far was a Panama canal transit (15 days). I also did a Transpacific itinerary (14 days), so I don't mind lots of sea days!!
Thanks for subscribing! Let us know how you liked the Icon when you get back. And HAVE FUN!
@@CruiseNewsNetwork It's a beautiful ship with lots to do. I loved the new AquaDome Market. All of the shows were fantastic!
My main dissatisfaction was that I could not find one quiet spot on the ship (except for my own balcony room) - the adults-only pool is often crowded and is very noisy with loud music. I miss the Solarium!
I subscribed! Found your videos to be unique and informative. Most channels do not talk about the financial aspects of cruising. Looking forward to your insights!
Thank you so much for subscribing! :)
It seems even "dirt" is REALLY expensive nowadays!! 😂 Seriously though, that was a lot of work for you to find all those cruises that were back-to-back. I am a budding cruise consultant, so I know what that took . Good job! I'm 68, obsessed with cruising, and If I thought I could retire on a cruise ship I would do it in a heartbeat!! 💓 I've been on over 20 cruises and counting ,and we most recently just got off the Celebrity Edge last week from Hawaii. What a fabulous trip and ship! Now planning a 14 day to Norway on HAL in August with a good friend who happens to be Norwegian! 🥳 I'm enjoying your videos and looking forward to more of them👌👏
Thanks so much for watching! I'm so glad you are enjoying them!
What do you do during Hurricane Season June 1 - December 31? Does the Freedom leave Florida? What about Medical care while you are in the Caribbean? Do you pay for a special medical insurance plan that can Air Ambulance you out of the Islands and bring you back to Florida for a Severe Medical Emergency?
Hi! Ships still sail during hurricane season. Only on rare occasions do they cancel outright (in which I'd stay in a hotel). But you are correct to be concerned about it. During that season, it does get a little rough on the seas. Freedom leaves from Florida for the months that I was looking at. Yes, you should look into additional medical/travel insurance. There are a number of options, but very expensive. (But very necessary, in my view!)
Enjoyed this video, we prefer Celebrity cruise line. Can you do another video on that line? Subscribed
YES! Great idea! I’ll do Celebrity next! Thanks so much for watching and hope you’ll consider subscribing! And please keep those suggestions coming in the comments section… it really helps me out. :)
Subscribed! You will also be accumulating cruise credits, I wonder how much that comes into play.
Good luck with your launch and channel. It's a fascinating industry.
Thank you so much for subscribing! :)
New subscriber from the frozen shores of Lake Erie 🌊 enjoyed the content and the moments of satire!
Thank you so much!
You missed some days. Some of the cruises ended and a certain day and the next one didn’t start on the same day but, rather, a few days later.
Hi! Thanks SO much for watching! :) Actually, all the weeks are in there, making up a back-to-back sailing. If you watch the video again, you’ll see I didn’t register them in the order of the calendar. Instead, I mostly went in the order of the different sets of itineraries because it’s faster that way since I don’t have to keep searching for the proper week. For example, I went through all the Eastern Caribbean sailings at once, then tackled the Western. As I did them, I wrote them on a sheet of paper along with the price, and I put THOSE entries in consecutive order so that I could make sure there weren’t any gaps. I’ll DEFINITELY do my next video in the order of the calendar year instead, because I can see how that would be confusing to a viewer! I’m new to this and honestly stunned and so happy that people are actually watching it. THANK YOU for pointing out how this looks on your end. It really helps. And thanks for watching! Hope you’ll consider subscribing!
Thanks for starting the channel.👍
No problem 👍 Thanks for watching, and I hope you'll consider subscribing! :)
Maybe you could price out a snowbird itinerary, something like the months of January and February to give us Northerners a break from the winter weather.
Snowbird is coming up next! So please make sure you subscribe so you won't miss it! :) Thanks for watching.
Like your channel concept, but are you going to consider the Crown and Anchor benefits you will have as you mobe tnrough the year?
Excellent point! I actually mention that in the video I just posted a few minutes ago. I won't be including any of those discounts just because most people won't have them when they start off and I'd rather they be prepared for the worst case scenario (or closer to it). But you are completely right... those rewards can save a lot, especially on drinks and sometimes even laundry! Thanks for watching and I hope you'll consider subscribing! :)
Interesting video. Try calculating this on one of the older Royal Caribbean ships such as Vision of the Seas. This ship is currently locked to Baltimore and it does not move its home port.
I love the Vision! I'll definitely do that. Thanks for the idea! Be sure to subscribe so you'll see when I post it. :)
$114,577.84 a year on a cruise ship is not an absurd amount. Just think of what your annual costs are on land in your house. Although too much of a good thing can also not be what you hope it to be. Seeing the same port for the most part over and over again will become a monotonous . But the idea of going for a couple of months, especially during the Northeastern (USA)winters seems like a downright bargain.
$2,500/pw? I own a 4brm 3bth home and it costs me around $15,000/yr for utilities, taxes, rates, insurance, etc. That doesn't include food of course, but it's $85K less than a cruise ship! Imagine the same menu, the same entertainment, on an endless loop!?
I once spent 6wks on a cruise ship, 4 x back to back cruises and that was enough for me. Nice to come home once in a while...
New subscriber (#355). Very informative and I am interested in this topic since I like cruising and may consider actually retiring on a cruise ship when I retire in the next 8 to 10 years. I would definitely be interested in the solo costs. One possible thing to consider is each cruise lines' loyalty program and share holder benefits. $100 on board credit for each cruise taken as a share holder will add up and produce a nice savings.
Thank you so much for subscribing! :) You are definitely right about those benefits. I will mention them in my next video!
Thanks for your videos.
Your prices don’t (maybe there’s no way to do this prior to the actual cruise) have/include any discounts for booking the next cruise while currently on a cruise nor loyalty program discounts.
Is there a way to factor these discounts into your totals?
Thanks.
Thanks for the analysis of the cost and the search for a "best value" itinerary. I think it would be interesting to talk about the positives vs just "living at home" for the year. What is the "stay home" expense? Let's us see what goodies we experience for the delta cost. I understand there are some assumptions here, but its what people will really do.
Great suggestion! I'll put that on my "to-do" list. Thanks for watching, and I hope you'll consider subscribing! :)
As several people pointed out, you have gaps in your days. These are 5 and 4 day cruises. Where do you stay the other days of those weeks? And also, you said in your commentary that occassionally they disembark in one port, move the ship to a different port then embark for the next cruise. So you need to factor in transportation between ports. That said, this is an interesting concept. I like that you are trying to get some realistic costs! And I woud do transatlantic as my "base" trip. Good luck on your channel!
Hi! Thanks SO much for watching! :) Actually, all the weeks are in there, making up a back-to-back sailing. If you watch the video again, you’ll see I didn’t register them in the order of the calendar. Instead, I mostly went in the order of the different sets of itineraries because it’s faster that way since I don’t have to keep searching for the proper week. For example, I went through all the Eastern Caribbean sailings at once, then tackled the Western. As I did them, I wrote them on a sheet of paper along with the price, and I put THOSE entries in consecutive order so that I could make sure there weren’t any gaps. I’ll DEFINITELY do my next video in the order of the calendar year instead, because I can see how that would be confusing to a viewer! I’m new to this and honestly stunned and so happy that people are actually watching it. THANK YOU for pointing out how this looks on your end. As for the ports, for this video, we wouldn't be traveling between departure ports at all in between cruises. My next video has us switching ships, but I put us on ships that are in the same port, boarding the same day as we are disembarking on the other. But yes, if you do switch ports or stay at a hotel for a few days waiting for your ship to come in (haha - literally), you'd want to account for that in your pricing estimate. That can really add up! And thanks for watching and for the good luck! I am going with your suggestion of a transatlantic video next, so look out for that! Hope you’ll consider subscribing! :)
Like your content and your delivery
I appreciate that! Thanks for watching, and I hope you'll consider subscribing! :)
@@CruiseNewsNetwork of course I’m a new subscriber
So you choose one ship and stay on it for consecutive sailings? Where do you stay in between sailings...hotel rooms?
The way I did it in this video, there is no time in between sailings. Thanks so much for watching! And I hope you'll consider subscribing!
Um, $9,500.00 per month... for an inside cabin? Yikes! I can live like a king in Thailand, Philippines, Vietnam, or Malaysia for a third of that, including food, drink, a rental car, and health insurance! AND... I can travel about the SEA region pretty much as I please.
That sounds like a great plan too! :)
Affordable is a relative term and I’m finding that affordable to me is no where near what others think is affordable.
So very true, @tpcast!
I guess I am #4! Lol. Just subscribed about 3 minutes ago! Love your videos. I am sure you will get many subscribers to your channel very soon.
Thank you so much for subscribing! :)
If people want to live on cruise ships, it's much cheaper not to concentrate on only one cruise line, and longer cruises usually have lower costs per day. (I know you know this, but some viewers may not.)
I was a hardcore RC and Celebrity only cruiser but tried a few Princess cruises and thinking about changing over. Princess seems to be a bit less expensive and the cruises, ships, etc just as good if not better. Can you do a retire on Princess cruise video?
I will! It's on my to-do list. I love Princess too because they have much longer itineraries. Thanks for watching, and I hope you'll consider subscribing!
I would go with the older ships in the fleet of the Vision and Explorer class but it depends on home port location, itineraries and sevices.
I love the Vision class ships! Thanks for watching and I hope you'll consider subscribing! :)
Check out Carnival. Now that we are Diamond, we get free drinks during private parties etc. And we can take our drings back to our cabin or to dinner.
I will and THANK YOU for the input! I hope you'll consider subscribing!
Try Royal Caribbean Enchantment of the Seas. She is the second oldest ship in the fleet. I just finished an 8 day cruise in SW Caribbean and was impressed with the itinerary, staff, food and overall care of the ship.
So glad to hear that! Thanks for watching, and I hope you'll consider subscribing! :)
My perspective on Caribbean cruises are different from yours since I live in Hawaii. My interests are in the Pacific, Asia and Africa. Panama and South America would also be interesting, but I've already done the Mediterranean.
Great idea! I'll put some Pacific, Asia, Africa adventures on my "to do" list for the channel. Mahalo for the suggestions. Thanks for watching, and I hope you'll consider subscribing!
Hi! Nice video, but...when you were choosing the cruises the dates were not back to back?!?!?!
Hi! Thanks SO much for watching! :) Actually, all the weeks are in there, making up a back-to-back sailing. If you watch the video again, you’ll see I didn’t register them in the order of the calendar. Instead, I mostly went in the order of the different sets of itineraries because it’s faster that way since I don’t have to keep searching for the proper week. For example, I went through all the Eastern Caribbean sailings at once, then tackled the Western. As I did them, I wrote them on a sheet of paper along with the price, and I put THOSE entries in consecutive order so that I could make sure there weren’t any gaps. I’ll DEFINITELY do my next video in the order of the calendar year instead, because I can see how that would be confusing to a viewer! I’m new to this and honestly stunned and so happy that people are actually watching it. THANK YOU for pointing out how this looks on your end. It really helps. And thanks for watching! Hope you’ll consider subscribing!
@@CruiseNewsNetwork Thanks for clarifying! I'm looking forward to your solo cruise video...and I subscribed!
Thank you!!!
If you have a back-to-back cruise can you stay onboard while the other passengers disembark & new ones arrive?
It depends on what country you are in, but in general, you will have to get off and get back on. It's not as bad as it sounds though - I'm posting a video tonight that talks about the process more. Be sure to look out for it. Thanks for watching, and I hope you'll consider subscribing! :)
I don’t know what neighborhood you’re living in, but this would break my bank account. Sheesh!
I agree! It's really pricey! :) Thanks for watching, and I hope you'll consider subscribing!
Great information-recommend Sydney New Year’s Eve and Milford Sound New Zealand
Oh my - that sounds AMAZING! I'm putting it on my to-do list! Thanks for watching, and I hope you'll consider subscribing!
WOW thats over 9K a month LOL just for food and housing. Put in medical insurance, prescriptions, clothing etc etc and your over 10k a month in retirement. LMAO If I am spending 10k a month I am not in some shoe box on a boat.
Yes, it sure adds up, doesn't it? And medical insurance can be a lot more if you want to be covered while on a cruise. Thanks for watching!
“Just for food and housing” is illogical hyperbole.
Look at the prices for assisted living facilities…
@@CCoburn3I agree. If you add all the amenities that are available, especially the food and drinks, cruise ship retirement doesn’t sound that bad
@@CCoburn3yes but a cruise ship is no substitute for an assisted living facility
how about a video on maybe half a year or a month - living on cruise ship!
Absolutely! Thanks for watching, and I hope you'll consider subscribing! :)
At some point during that lengthy an itinerary, I assume loyalty benefits will start making the extras like specialty dining and drinks cheaper (assuming you use OBC for that. I wonder how much of an impact that could have over a year long B2B2B2B...?
Yes, and that might cover my margaritas! :)
Enjoy the content of your channel. Keep it up!
Thank you so much for watching! I hope you'll consider subscribing! :)
You’re not at 3 subs, you’re at 1.1k! lol congratulations!
Thank you! I nearly fell over when I saw the newest number! YAY! Shocked and thrilled! Thanks for watching and I hope you'll consider subscribing! :)
Looking forward to the repositioning cruises comparison. I think it will be cheaper.
I just now posted one with repositioning! Thanks for watching and I hope you'll consider subscribing! :)
I'm about 10-12 years away from retirement (unless the SHTF, of course) and present estimates are that I will need to stay in the 80-85K range per year. This is just a bit too much, and I'll bet there's no ship I would actually want to retire on for the price I expect to be limited to.
Great research, though. This is the first vid of yours I have seen. I am going to review other topics you've covered.
It IS pricey! I'm searching for some cheaper options to put up here too. Thanks for watching, and I hope you'll consider subscribing! :)
RCL has a ultimate world cruise that last 274 days. The price for an inside cabin is 59k.
I tried to convince my brother that we should go on a cruise ship for a couple of months in the winter. He told me that I could go by myself. I like the concept because all your meals are included and you won’t have many expenses. I would just need to find a ship with a self serve laundry.. it would just be the logistics of organizing the travel plans for so many weeks.
Disney does! (Unless they changed it recently.) And I know it might not be what you're looking for, but they ARE beautiful ships! :)
With the more expensive pricing for summer, Christmas as other holidays, I think your total might be a bit low.
You are so right to be cautious - as I mentioned, they fluctuate seasonally and also as you get closer to the cruise date. They have better prices during hurricane season too. Hmmm... can't imagine why... ;) haha Thanks so much for commenting, and I hope you'll consider subscribing!
It would've been more helpful if you compared the cost vs living in a house or apartment over the same time period. I also think if you're planning back to back cruises of less than 6-7 nights, then building in laundry costs and other incidentals would be helpful as well. My thought is that once per month you might need to book a short term rental near the port for a few days to get in things like laundry, doctors appointments and other land based activities - clothes shopping, movies etc.
I agree - I like the idea of staying a few nights in a hotel from time to time just to catch up on things like laundry and dentists. And yes, I realize I'm the first UA-camr to ever talk about dental hygiene on UA-cam. LOL Thanks for watching, and I hope you'll consider subscribing!
How about doing this for Princess, Holland America, MSC, Celebrity and Carnival! That would be doing every cruiser thinking about this a great service!
I just today posted one for Celebrity! I'll be sure to get those others done as well. Be sure to subscribe so you won't miss them when they go up. Thanks so much for watching! :)
I am new subscriber and really liked the video. I am a new subscriber SO I appreciate the simplicity. Thank you again.
Thank you so much for subscribing! :)
You should check out carnival Cruise line instead of Royal Caribbean Cruise line I'm willing to bet you'll be even half that price
Yes, that is definitely on my list! I can't wait to see the difference! Thanks for watching, and I hope you'll consider subscribing! :)
I know you say retire, but these are only year prices, I would love to have an income of $100k a year after retiring, but above all that, love the videos and the breakdowns..
Thank you so much! :)
MSC cruises are cheap and include drinks and gratuities in price when booking from UK. Also don't forget using a travel agent they could probably throw in some on board spend or meals. I think the wife of Tony at La Lido Loca cruise channel is a travel agent so may be interesting to contact them to see if you can lower the cost or get more included.
I would never retire on MSC! As an avid cruiser, they are not worth it for any price!!
@charla6548 I will not go back on msc either. Did it twice during lockdown. Never again.
@@charla6548 Please share what you disliked
Excellent ideas! Thanks so much for commenting!
you mentioned the price is based on taxes and fees, good. does this include port fees?
You know, you bring up a good point. I believe it does include port fees, as that's what I've always been told by Royal Caribbean in the past. But always check with them before you book because their wording is so vague, they could change it! :) They do like to change things on us. LOL
Does this ship have DIY laundry facilities, or do you have to send it out? What would be the added cost of weekly laundry?
They charge $25 per laundry bag. But after 175 nights you would get free weekly laundry on 5+ night cruises.
Princess has laundrymats on board.. @@sherab2715
I have done it the last 20 years but I get reduced fares because I am a guest lecturer.Mostly world and long exotic cruises about half days that super Mario has accumulated
Brilliant!
I’m a new subscriber from Canada 🇨🇦 good luck
Thank you so much for subscribing! :)
brand new watcher subscribed today
Thank you!! :)
I'm a subscriber, I really enjoy your content
Thank you so much for subscribing! :)
Would you be accumulating loyalty awards? You would after some days get the benefits ie. specialty restaurants and other perks.
Yes, you'd definitely be getting rewards and would get lots of perks like free drinks and even laundry when you hit RCL's highest tier. Thanks for pointing that out, and I hope you'll consider subscribing! :)
Nice number crunching! I think I’d get bored of the same ports so often.
Me too - I just posted a video a few minutes ago where you'd see a LOT more of our world. Thanks for watching and I hope you'll consider subscribing! :)
Become super rich!
Buy an older cruise ship
Take it to a ship yard and have an actual apartment built in it behind the bridge like the captain's apartment (yes, cruise ship captains get an actual apartment on the ship!).
Live on a cruise ship and keep the same quarters forever, and never fear having to find accommodations when the ship is "down" for a few days every now and again.
You can even make your own rules and have a pet and bring your own favorite wine and alcohol on board!
I like your idea. I literally just saw a listing for an older Royal Caribbean ship FOR SALE - so you might be able to pull that off! :) I talk about it in the ship tour I just posted of the Vision of the Seas. Thanks for watching, and I hope you'll consider subscribing!
Cheaper than a nursing home. Anyway, please try MSC. MSC worldwide itineraries interest me.
Do the cruise lines offer any military or seniors discounts????
YES! Regarding military - NCL is currently offering 10% off for ALL of their cruises. I love them for that. And Royal SOMETIMES does (supposedly, but we always ask and haven't come across a military discount on Royal yet.) And yes, seniors sometimes get discounts, but again, it's on a cruise-by-cruise basis. Thanks for watching, and I hope you'll consider subscribing!
I would love this!
Thanks for watching, and I hope you'll consider subscribing!
have you tried MSC now that they are entering the US for full ?
Yes, MSC is on my "to do " list for the channel. Great suggestion! Thanks for watching, and I hope you'll consider subscribing! :)
You can get much better rates and onboard credit if you book it with a travel agency.
Definitely a good idea! I talk about that in my video that I just released this morning. SO GLAD you mentioned it here in the comments. Thanks for watching and I hope you'll consider subscribing! :)
"There is no unhappiness like the misery of sighting land (and work) again after a cheerful, careless voyage."
- Mark Twain
Can't wait for a cheap single option..cheers
I posted a solo cruise one just last week. Wanted to make sure you saw it. I was kind of saddened by the prices Royal gave for solo though. I'm going to keep looking for better options for you. Though I still hope you'll check it out. Thanks for watching, and I hope you'll consider subscribing!
I definitely want to see what the cost would be for a single person
Solo cruising is coming up next! So be sure to subscribe so you won't miss it! Thanks so much for watching! :)
1 of 3 subs love this idea ...keep it up
Thank you so much for subscribing! :)
UK citizens do NOT tip, that might upset the crew a bit.
Holland American has a round the world cruise for 110 days. For a lot less money
5 day cruises at a time?
Yikes - they're not all five-days. LOL But yes, I agree - I'd prefer to do longer cruises when I do this, even though turnaround day isn't that bad when you're doing back to back cruises. Thanks for watching, and I hope you'll consider subscribing!
I don't really want to retire on a ship but while I'm still active I want to spend a month or so onboard. And then maybe the queen Mary for a trip across the pond. I'm disabled, took 9 years to get to this point. Don't want to waste it!!
B2b cruises are a good way to go. We have done this multiple times. If you’re flying to the home port you can kill two birds with one stone so to speak. We also have gone b2b and a cruise on a different ship or a different cruise line. If you can get the same room on a b2b it’s a bonus as you don’t have to pack up and unpack. Usually to get the same room it is best to book early and these days it means really well in advance. We did a b2b2b all in tne same room on the Celebration in its first season.
Interesting
Thanks for watching, and I hope you'll consider subscribing!
I would like to see one of for solo traveler, doing six months in Europe/med 😊. Then six months somewhere else.
Solo cruising is coming up next! So be sure to subscribe so you won't miss it! Thanks so much for watching! :)
Maybe Royal Caribbean would provide a discounted price for kind of thing.
Sadly, they rarely do - but yes, ALWAYS check with them because you never know. And they will give discounts sometimes for military or things like that. But if you book this often, you will get a ton of perks because of their loyalty program (you'll eventually get things like free drinks and free laundry, etc.) So that's something, anyway. :) Thanks for watching, and I hope you'll consider subscribing!
Yikes! Most seniors I know wouldn't be able to afford this 'bare bones' lifestyle!
It IS pricey!
Who in their right mind would ever chose an ‘inside cabin?’ You can’t be serious! 😅
I know. I'd love to cruise in a balcony cabin always too. I posted a video a couple weeks ago that just does balcony cabins. So be sure to check it out. Thanks for watching, and I hope you'll consider subscribing! :)
I am one of those ‘ not in my right mind’ people. Yep, serious!
@@robertvanover8378 me too. 😅 We don't spend much time on the room so no reason for balcony.
New subscriber very informative video
Thank you so much for subscribing! :)
Wow, if you are suggesting over 10k a month excluding insurance etc, not sure what your personal budget is. Let's get realistic there are better alternatives that you should suggest
It's definitely not cheap in my book either. But it sure is compared to that Icon of the Seas! :) I am looking for some cheaper options to highlight though. Thanks for watching, and I hope you'll consider subscribing!
also start a you tube chanel dedicated to the experience , how toos, hacks, life, problems = income to offset the cost. also may make it a bit tax deductable. you talk me into it!!
Great ideas!
We cruise comped because we gamble!
As you get more points, you would also get free drinks and discounted/free cruises, reduced internet, other perks.
Also can get free drinks/cruises through the Casino program to bring costs down.
Wife and I have considered doing this to a degree once retired, but incorporating transatlantic and transpacific into the mix. the prices for these longer cruises is significantly cheaper - and would bring pricing down even more.
Ex: Taking 13 day transatlantic this Nov and is $1,350 Total fare for 2 people in Oceanview room. Includes taxes / fees with 4 stops in Spain and Portugal.
About $50/person/day. (not including gratuities, internet or drinks)
If you purchase 100 shares of stock, you can also get on board credit for every cruise - anywhere from $50 - $250 per cruise depending on length of cruise.
Plus other potential OBC if you have a good travel agent.
Good video, subscribed to see what else you can come up with.
SUCH good points! Love the stock idea. I forgot about that one. Thank you for sharing these ideas with others! I just now posted one that does a transatlantic. And thanks for watching. I hope you'll consider subscribing!
Do you have to disembark at the end of each cruise?
Yes. It is a requirement to disembark and then reembark through port customs. The cruise line needs to know how to account for their passenger manifest.
That's my question also. If you're in the same room...for a year...can you just stay there?
In USA when I went on back to back cruises on Oasis of the Seas I had to disembark for an hour in port then straight back on. Think this was a US customs rule. They then gave me a free lunch in the Italian restaurant (this was 10 years ago so may have changed).
However on Celebrity Edge in Europe 2 years ago we just stayed on the boat, but no free meals.
My parents pay $84K a year to live in a top end retirement home. I can’t see cruising getting cheaper than that.
No. You are allowed to stay on the ship.
Compare Island Princess
Many basic retirement apartments are $10,000 a month…
Was the $114k for 1 or 2 people?
2 people! Thanks so much for watching, and I hope you'll consider subscribing! :)
@@CruiseNewsNetwork I did subscribe 😄
Why 5 day cruises and what about the days in between cruises?
Hi! Thanks SO much for watching! :) Actually, all the weeks are in there, making up a very long back-to-back sailing. So there are no days in between sailing. If you watch the video again, you’ll see I didn’t register them in the order of the calendar. Instead, I mostly went in the order of the different sets of itineraries because it’s faster that way since I don’t have to keep searching for the proper week. For example, I went through all the Eastern Caribbean sailings at once, then tackled the Western. As I did them, I wrote them on a sheet of paper along with the price, and I put THOSE entries in consecutive order so that I could make sure there weren’t any gaps. I’ll DEFINITELY do my next video in the order of the calendar year instead, because I can see how that would be confusing to a viewer! I’m new to this and honestly stunned and so happy that people are actually watching it. THANK YOU for pointing out how this looks on your end. It really helps. And thanks for watching! Hope you’ll consider subscribing!
Get rid of the back ground music so I can understand you. It really is fore ground music that makes your narrative hard to hear.
How sweet to hear you say that because I honestly always hated my voice and thought I NEEDED background music to make it tolerable. :) Thanks for watching, and I hope you'll consider subscribing!
Would love Togo on a cruise. Just to much any,ore.
but what happens when your favorite retirement vessel is RETIRED???...
Oh no! Which vessel was it?
If you don’t mind sub par food I guess that’s ok
And a lot of carbs, too, right? :) Thanks for watching, and I hope you'll consider subscribing!
Maybe the Navigator of the Seas would have some better deals
I'll check them out! Thanks so much for commenting, and I hope you'll consider subscribing! :)
New subscriber
Yay! Thank you!
Hmmmm
These aren’t back to back cruises
There are gaps, days, between cruises.
I like the research you did. Interesting.
Hi! Thanks SO much for watching! :) Actually, all the weeks are in there, making up a back-to-back sailing. If you watch the video again, you’ll see I didn’t register them in the order of the calendar. Instead, I mostly went in the order of the different sets of itineraries because it’s faster that way since I don’t have to keep searching for the proper week. For example, I went through all the Eastern Caribbean sailings at once, then tackled the Western. As I did them, I wrote them on a sheet of paper along with the price, and I put THOSE entries in consecutive order so that I could make sure there weren’t any gaps. I’ll DEFINITELY do my next video in the order of the calendar year instead, because I can see how that would be confusing to a viewer! I’m new to this and honestly stunned and so happy that people are actually watching it. THANK YOU for pointing out how this looks on your end. It really helps. And thanks for watching! Hope you’ll consider subscribing!
Thanks for explaining. Excited to see you other videos?!