Today, we’ve got an intriguing story about a man who chose to live on a cruise ship instead of moving into a nursing home. Have you ever thought about what your retirement might look like? While many people end up in nursing homes or special residences for seniors, this man had a completely different idea.
When asked why he had taken four river cruises alone, his answer was quite surprising! Around two years ago, during a cruise on the Danube River on a luxury boat, I noticed an elderly man sitting by himself at the grand staircase in the main dining room during dinner.
We also saw that all the staff, including the ship’s officers, waiters, and busboys, seemed to know him well. Curious, I asked our waiter who the man was, expecting he might be the cruise line’s owner or something similar. However, the waiter simply said he had traveled with them on the last four cruises.
One afternoon, after leaving the dining room, we happened to make eye contact, and I decided to say hello. We started chatting, and I mentioned, “I understand you’ve been on this ship for the last four cruises.” He confirmed, “Yes, that’s true.” Puzzled, I asked, “Why?” Without hesitation, he replied, “Because it’s cheaper than a nursing home.”
So, instead of moving into a nursing home, he planned to spend his retirement on cruise ships. The average nursing home costs around 180 euros per day. With reservations, long-stay discounts, and senior discounts on cruises, it turned out to be more affordable. The benefits of living on a cruise are amazing:
– You can enjoy up to 10 meals a day, with fantastic food that’s much better than the bland meals at nursing homes. Plus, you can choose to dine at the restaurant or use room service for breakfast in bed.
– The cruise ship has pools, a gym, free laundry facilities, and nightly entertainment.
– They provide essentials like toothpaste, razor blades, soap, and shampoo for free.
– The staff treats you like a guest, not a patient, and they’re always happy to help.
– You get to meet new people every 7 to 14 days.
– If your TV breaks, a light bulb goes out, or your mattress is uncomfortable, they fix it and even apologize for the trouble.
– You get fresh sheets and towels daily, like in a top-notch hotel.
– There’s always a doctor on board.
The best part? You can travel to places like France, the Danube, the Rhine River, Budapest, and Vienna. The cruise company always has trips lined up. So, if you’re looking for me in the future, don’t search in a nursing home—find me on a cruise ship!
What do you think? While this might not be suitable for those who need extensive care, for those who are reasonably healthy and active, this retirement option could be fantastic.