Living on a cruise ship in retirement
The short answer
Some retirees string cruises together for months, and a few ships sell cabins as homes. Before you compare it with a retirement community, count everything: fares, tips, drinks, laundry, WiFi, flights home — and full health cover outside the U.S.Free guide2 min readUpdated September 2026
Two ways people do it
- Back-to-back cruises. Book one cruise after another on regular ships. You keep your home on land.
- Residential ships. A few ships sell or lease cabins as homes. These projects change often — check how long a company has been operating before you commit money.
What to count
- Fares
- Daily tips
- Drinks and specialty dining
- Laundry and WiFi
- Flights home for family events
- Medical care and evacuation cover
The health question
What the rules say
Medicare.gov: Medicare usually doesn't cover health care while you travel outside the U.S. Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands and American Samoa count as part of the U.S.
Source: Medicare.gov, checked September 26, 2026
Medicare.gov: Medicare drug plans don't cover prescription drugs you buy outside the U.S.
Source: Medicare.gov, checked September 26, 2026
MSC Cruises: The medical center can help replace some medications, but MSC cannot guarantee the exact medication — or an equivalent — will be on board.
Source: MSC Cruises, checked September 21, 2026
Rather talk it through? Kathryn Lyn answers the phone.
Call (239) 357-0814Loyalty perks for frequent cruisers
| Cruise line | What the line says | Checked |
|---|---|---|
| Holland America Line | Mariner Society — Star, Two-Star, Three-Star, Four-Star and Five-Star Mariner | September 21, 2026 |
| Princess Cruises | Captain's Circle — Gold, Ruby, Platinum, Elite | September 21, 2026 |
| Celebrity Cruises | Captain's Club — Classic, Select, Elite, Elite Plus, Zenith | September 21, 2026 |
| Royal Caribbean International | Crown & Anchor Society — Gold, Platinum, Emerald, Diamond, Diamond Plus, Pinnacle Club | September 21, 2026 |
| Norwegian Cruise Line | Latitudes Rewards — Bronze 1–19, Silver 20–44, Gold 45–74, Platinum 75–149, Sapphire 150–349, Diamond 350–699, Ambassador 700+ | September 21, 2026 |
| Carnival Cruise Line | Carnival Rewards — points and Status Qualifying Stars | September 21, 2026 |
Daily costs that add up on long stays
Daily tips
| Cruise line | What the line says | Checked |
|---|---|---|
| Holland America Line | US $18.00 per guest per day, or US $20.00 in a suite | September 21, 2026 |
| Princess Cruises | Crew Appreciation, charged daily by stateroom category | September 21, 2026 |
| Celebrity Cruises | $19.50 per guest per day inside, ocean view and veranda | September 21, 2026 |
| Royal Caribbean International | $18.50 per guest per day, or $21.00 in a suite | September 21, 2026 |
| Norwegian Cruise Line | No required or recommended tipping for general service | September 21, 2026 |
| Carnival Cruise Line | Added automatically to your Sail & Sign account each day | September 21, 2026 |
Laundry
| Cruise line | What the line says | Checked |
|---|---|---|
| Royal Caribbean International | No self-service laundry — washing, pressing and dry cleaning only | September 21, 2026 |
| MSC Cruises | Laundry Service Packages — up to 40 items per cabin per cruise | September 21, 2026 |
| Celebrity Cruises | Laundry packages, or pay per item | September 21, 2026 |
| Disney Cruise Line | Full service laundry, plus free 24-hour self-service machines | September 21, 2026 |
| Holland America Line | Full laundry and dry cleaning on every ship, for a fee | September 21, 2026 |
| Virgin Voyages | Full laundry service, but no self-service launderette | September 21, 2026 |
| Viking | Free self-service launderettes; laundry service free on some stateroom categories | September 24, 2026 |
| Cunard Line | Full laundry service for a fee, plus self-service launderettes | September 24, 2026 |
Common questions
Questions, answered.
The questions people ask most. Tap one to open it, or open them all and read straight down.
2 questions on this page
How much does it cost to retire on a cruise ship?
We do not quote a figure: it depends on the line, cabin, season and extras, and fares change. Add up fares, tips, drinks, laundry, WiFi, flights home and insurance for your own plan.
What cruise line is best for retirees?
For long stays, look at loyalty perks, laundry, and a calm ship you enjoy. See best cruise lines for seniors.