A retired couple booked 51 consecutive cruises because it was cheaper than a nursing home.

A retired couple booked 51 consecutive cruises because it was cheaper than a nursing home.

 

A retired couple  decided to spend their golden years taking 51 consecutive cruises because it cost less than a nursing home.

Marty and Jess Ansen began their relaxing journey in June 2022 when they boarded the Coral Princess, two years into Australia’s strict pandemic lockdown.

The great-grandparents spent the next year and a half exploring the magical world, dancing, enjoying delicious buffets, and making new friends along the way.

The Ansens have been aboard the 2,000-passenger cruise ship for more than 450 days and are expected to remain on board for two years.

 

In an interview with A Current Affair, Marty explained that he told his agent to book “whatever comes,” and that’s how they ended up on 51 consecutive cruises.The couple outlived many people on the ship, including the captain.

“The wheels are changing, but we remain on board,” commented Marty, while Jess added: “We welcome the different captains on board.”

Ren van Rooyen,  hotel manager on board the ship Coral Princess, confirmed that lovers the most engaged passengers they have.

“We always  joke that I go away and  come back and it’s like I see my family again, my mother and father, they are like my second mother and father on board,” said Van Rooyen.

The hotel manager shared that the duo had become “celebrities on board” as other people boarding the ship for shorter cruises had asked to meet  as their story had inspired many people in their home country.The couple enjoyed cruises for decades before embarking on their 450-day journey. It wasn’t until they realized it was cheaper than paying for a retirement home that they decided to make it their full-time life. Additionally, they  felt  they had missed out on several years of fun during Australia’s harsh lockdown.

Now they enjoy the benefits that  their current lifestyle brings, such as quality entertainment such as dancing and delicious meals included in the price of admission.

Speaking about the fun activities available, Jess told the outlet: “Where else can you go?”You go to dinner, you go to a show, you go dancing. There are all these activities throughout the day.”

Plus: Retirees start each day with an hour of invigorating table tennis and an open beer to sit on their balcony and enjoy the view.

 

They have also managed to forgo housework thanks to a team of housekeepers who clean their room daily. Marty joked that they had gotten so used to life at sea that “they wouldn’t know how to make a bed anymore because we haven’t done that in so long.”“So now we have to stay on board just to stay alive,” he joked. The Ansens will remain aboard the Coral Princess until June before landing on land for a few months.

The break is short, however, as Jess and Marty intend to take another year-long cruise aboard the Crown Princess.

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