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Life on cruise ships is no longer just a tourist experience: more and more people are considering it as a permanent residence. With real estate prices soaring, lifetime rentals or purchases of cabins on board are becoming an attractive alternative to traditional shore life, according to experts at Tengri Travel.
According to Villa Vie Residences, demand for this type of accommodation is growing. The company announced the construction of a new luxury ship, working title Project Lumina. The ship is being designed from the ground up as a residential vessel, offering passengers fully private apartments designed for continuous residence rather than short-term stays.
Ocean view cabins start at approximately $540,000, while more spacious options, such as a suite with a balcony, will cost around $900,000. The company clarifies that various ownership options will be available: purchase, long-term lease, or lifetime license.
The new ship will be the company's flagship and complement its existing vessel, Odyssey, which operates a "nonstop global cruise." Its itinerary covers more than 425 ports in 140 countries and spans three and a half years. The company promises to reveal details about Project Lumina's design, name, and itineraries at a later date.
Villa Vie Residences noted that permanent ship living is currently popular primarily among affluent Western retirees, but experts believe the audience is expanding. Middle-aged individuals see this option as a way to optimize expenses and combine work and travel. Some note that living on a ship can sometimes be cheaper than maintaining real estate in major cities.
Earlier, in 2022, Storylines implemented a similar concept by launching sales of apartments on a cruise ship that was sailing around the world.
