Is Cruise Ship Living a Cheaper Option for Seniors Than Assisted Living?

For many seniors, there may come a time when the daily burdens of maintaining a household become too much to handle. For those seniors who are still in fair health, the traditional option is to pick up and  move to an assisted-living facility. These institutions allow seniors to remain mostly independent, but provide help with medications, transportation, housekeeping, entertainment, and meals. The greatest drawback to this option is the exorbitant cost.

For 2017, the average cost for one of these facilities exceeded $45,000 per year. This can be difficult for seniors, many of whom exist on a fixed budget, to afford. An unorthodox alternative that few consider is the fabulous life offered aboard a cruise ship. An individual can stay on a ship for fewer than $100 per night. For couples, the price is more, but there are many additional discounts available for those travelling in pairs. In total, such a stay is almost $10,000 less than an assisted-living facility. In addition, cruise ships offer amenities very similar to those found in an assisted-care home. So, for seniors who are unable to live independently but are not in need of the intensive services of a nursing-home, life on a cruise ship may be a viable and more enjoyable alternative.

See Christy Bieber, Is Cruise Ship Living a Cheaper Option for Seniors Than Assisted Living?, The Motley Fool, October 3, 2017.

Special thanks to Jim Hillhouse (Professional Legal Marketing (PLM, Inc.) for bringing this article to my attention.