Retirement homes getting too expensive? This cruise is offering a permanent holiday instead

Villa Vie Residences, a global residential cruise line, is hoping to attract retired travellers with its permanent residence-at-sea initiative. 

Aboard the MV Odyssey, which has been sailing since October 2024, passengers can travel around the world, visiting 425 ports and 147 countries in three-and-a-half years. This includes more than 100 tropical islands, with extended 2-3 day port stays, offering a chance for deeper cultural immersion. 

Travellers can rent, own or lease a cabin for life with the Endless Horizons scheme, which lets them access home amenities and comforts while sailing. 

The cruise line has just launched its Golden Passport programme, which takes residential cruising to the next level by allowing passengers to live and retire permanently on the Odyssey. 

This lets travellers repeat the usual three-and-a-half-year journey on a loop, for as long as they like, as part of a floating community. 

"Life moves quickly, and the regret most people share is that they didn't travel the world when they had the chance," Kathy Villalba, CEO of Villa Vie Residences, said in a press release. 

“The Golden Passport makes that dream possible- and affordable- in a way the cruise and travel industries have never seen before.”

How much does it cost and what’s included?

The Golden Passport offers an age-tiered staggered pricing model, starting at $99,999 (€85,885.1) for passengers aged 90 and above, and going all the way up to $399,999 (€343,522.3) for travellers between 55 and 60. 

All packages include housekeeping, dining, internet, entertainment, annual medical check-ups, laundry and alcoholic beverages like beer and wine with meals. All fees, such as service charges and port taxes, are also included in the price. 

Travellers can invite friends and family on board for a $129 (€110.8) fee per day. 

While the Odyssey is the only ship owned by Villa Vie Residences at the moment, the cruise line has shared that the Golden Passport will be valid across its fleet, which could allow passengers to enjoy future ships, if any. 

“As people retire, one of their biggest fears is outliving their money. With the Golden Passport, that uncertainty disappears- one payment secures a lifetime of adventure,” Mike Petterson, founder of Villa Vie Residences, said. 

Delays and passenger woes

Although the Golden Passport scheme may be tempting to many, especially as housing and retirement community costs soar, some passengers may still be wary, due to the Odyssey’s past troubles. 

Before finally launching last October, the Villa Vie Odyssey round-the-world cruise faced multiple delays. The ship, which is more than 30 years old, went through a number of tests and checks for certifications of seaworthiness. It also needed many improvements and upgrades before being able to sail for three-and-a-half years. 

This led to hundreds of passengers being stranded in Belfast, Northern Ireland, for months, waiting for the ship to depart, amid multiple postponements. Euronews Travel spoke to one couple who went back to the US from Belfast, after months of waiting. 

Although the cruise line paid for passengers to visit several other cities at first, and covered expenses like hotels, this was stopped after some time, putting more strain on stranded travellers. 

Not quite ready to spend your whole life savings on a retirement cruise yet? Other cruise lines, such as Princess Cruises and Oceania Cruises, offer months-long cruises for a taste of extended life at sea.