For many people, the purpose of retirement is to sit back and enjoy life. A chance to see the world, take up new hobbies, explore what it means to simply exist without having to clock in.
So it’s almost no surprise that more and more retirees are finding themselves on cruise ships, where relaxation, adventure (and having someone else do your chores) are the name of the game.
Retired Australian couple can certainly attest to this when they have spent close to 500 days sailing around the world on their 51 back-to-back cruises.
Marty and Jess Ansen, from Australia, have enjoyed cruising holidays for decades. However, the two were forced to stay put on dry land when the coronavirus outbreak brought the industry to a halt.
The elderly were desperate to get back out on the water, and when the time finally came, they never wanted to leave it again.
In June 2022, Jess and Marty boarded the Coral Princess ship to enjoy indulgent buffets, entertainment and table tennis matches.
More than a year on, they’re still there.
“Eventually I said to my agent, ‘Look, whatever comes, book it’ and that’s how it got to be such a long cruise.”, Marty told A Current Affair.
Jess and Marty ended up booking 51 back-to-back cruises, staying on board longer than anyone else on the ship – even the captain.
“The wheels change over but we stay on board,” Marty said, while Jess added: “We welcome the different captains on board.”
According to Ren van Rooyen, the hotel manager on board the Coral Princess ship, Jess and Marty are the most dedicated passengers they have.
“We always make a joke that I go away and I come back and it’s like coming to see my family – my mum and dad again – they’re like my second mum and dad on board,” Van Rooyen said.
Onboard the ship, Jess and Marty get all of their meals included, as well as the benefit of daily housekeeping in the bedroom.
The breakdown has left Jess and Marty convinced that their cruising lifestyle is cheaper than being in a retirement home. In addition, they also make strong connections with the staff members on board.
Last month, the crew surprised Jess on board for her birthday.
Some tourists are ready to go back to dry land after just a week on a ship, but Jess and Marty have come up with a daily routine to keep them healthy and entertained.
The pair start every day with an hour of table tennis together.
“We do it together and we have a lot of fun.”, Jess said.
The great-grandma added that the games make for the perfect exercise ahead of a day of enjoying the cruise’s buffets.
With more than 450 days of none-stop cruising under their belts, Jess and Marty have said they’d keep the trips going for the rest of their lives, if they could.
The pair are truly living the dream!
Sources: UNILAD, upworthy.com
