For most, retirement is a far-off idea. You expect to have to work and scrimp and save, so you can make it after you stop being an employee.
From retirement homes to senior-living apartments, the options can seem a bit on the boring side. So when a newly-retired couple decided to step out into the next chapter in their life, they knew they didn’t want to miss the thing they loved most – traveling.
Not by plane, not by car, the pair said – by cruise ship. Multiple cruise ships, that is.
While acknowledging that the idea sounds lavish, Angelyn Burk, 53, and her husband, Richard, said with the right planning, anyone could find a way to live like this.
Angelyn said she took her first cruise in 1992. She told 7News that from that point on, she knew how she would spend her time and it wasn’t going to be on land – but on the water.
Angelyn Burk, and her husband, Richard, pose in front of one of the many ships they have lived on since retiring. Photo by the Burks
So in 2021, the Burks decided to give up their life on land. They told reporters that on average it costs them $100 per night, depending on which cruise line they take, as well as how many cruise points they have. “Cruise costs vary quite a bit, our goal is to average about $100 per night, for the couple, or less across an entire calendar year,” Richard said.
“Our original plan was to stay in different countries for a month at a time and eventually retire to cruise ships as we got older,” Angelyn said. But once she sat down and looked at their budget, she knew they could try and retire sooner.
“We love to travel and we were searching for a way to continuously travel in our retirement that made financial sense,” she said. She scoured the internet for deals and loyalty programs to help them save money. Then, looking at what they could sell their home for, the pair decided to take the plunge.
We have been frugal all our lives to save and invest in order to achieve our goal,” Angelyn said. “We are not into materialistic things but experiences.”
From onboard entertainment to free meals on the ships, Angelyn said that the couple travels relatively stress-free. “It is leisurely travel without the complications of booking hotels, restaurants, and transportation while staying within our budget,” she said.
The couple have so far been to Europe, around the Adriatic Sea, and took a 51-day trip from Seattle, Wa., to Sydney, Australia. They’ve managed to sail to Singapore, Italy, Canada, as well as Iceland, with more destinations planned.
“We don’t plan to permanently live on land in the future,” she said.
Angelyn’s Tips For Cruise Ship Living
- Make sure you enjoy being at sea.
- Sign up for loyalty programs, and look for deals online.
- Make sure to be open to multiple dates for traveling, and stick close to the same areas when you can to save money traveling to other cruise ships.
- Book the rooms that are the cheapest.
- Don’t purchase drink packages.
- Watch your budget. Don’t spend money onboard, and instead save it for the experiences you can have off-ship.
- Don’t worry about overpacking. You can purchase what you need on the ship, if you find something is missing.
