This is the story of Sharon Lane, a retired woman who has settled on the Villa Vie Odyssey, a ship specially designed for long stays. This former teacher has decided to leave everything behind and embark on an adventure, claiming that living on a cruise ship is cheaper than living in California. “I refuse to spend my later years sitting in front of the television,” she told the media.
The American sold her house and used her savings to finance her life at sea
Sharon Lane paid an initial price of around €110,000 for her interior cabin and an additional monthly fee of approximately €1,700, which covers accommodation, meals, utilities, entertainment, and essential medical care. The American sold her house and used her savings to finance her life at sea for at least 15 years. In June, the retired foreign language teacher from Orange County moved into a cabin on the Villa Vie Odyssey.
The Villa Vie Odyssey entered service in September 2024 and is billed as “the first permanent round-the-world cruise ship.” At 180 meters in length, it can access smaller ports than typical mega-cruise ships. The Villa Vie Odyssey is a residential cruise ship. That means customers don’t book short trips but purchase a cabin on the ship. Those who purchase long-term cabins on the Odyssey do have the option to sell. In such a situation, Lane would need to get a good price and consider senior housing. The median monthly cost of assisted living in California is $5,561, according to some sources.
“Being on the deck of a ship makes me happy”
For Lane, this lifestyle represents a more stimulating option than staying on land: “Being on the deck of a ship makes me happy.” Her itinerary includes 425 destinations in 147 countries, representing nearly 75% of the world’s nations, with two-day stops in each port.
With today’s pace of life, it’s more than understandable that some people don’t want to spend the rest of their lives sitting in front of the TV and instead of living, they survive. Lane’s story adds to other similar cases of people who have preferred to sell everything and go on a world cruise. Today, many people can afford to take a trip from time to time and see new places, but perhaps 20 or 30 years ago, it wasn’t so common. Therefore, there are older people who retire without ever leaving the city where they grew up. This can be a good option for checking off their to-do list.
“In 15 years, I’ll be ready for a nursing home… or maybe not”
“Compared to the cost of living in Southern California, this is a bargain, says Lane. The protagonist of this story used her life savings to purchase an inside, windowless cabin, for which prices start at $129,000. She also has to pay $3,000 in monthly fees. This includes food, soft drinks, alcohol at dinner, Wi-Fi, and medical visits. Entertainment, room service, weekly housekeeping, and bi-weekly laundry are also provided at no additional charge.
“In 15 years, I’ll be ready for a nursing home… or maybe not,” Lane explains. She says that when time passes, she might decide to simply move to another cruise ship; she’ll decide that later. For now, she’s enjoying her days on the ship. “When the weather’s nice, I’ll be on deck. And when the weather’s not so nice, I’ll bundle up and be on deck, too, because that’s my happy place. You can stand, you can sit, you can chat with people, you can read a book. You have the ocean breeze, you have the ocean air,” she says.
