'The World' in AlaskaWhen, assuming you live long enough, you are faced with the decision, assuming you get to choose, where you'll spend your twilight years, where would you rather go: a nursing home or a cruise ship? The theory is that it's actually cheaper than a nursing home, the food is far superior and you're treated better.
Actually, a cruise ship would be a better alternative to assisted living (rather than a nursing home), which is apartment-style living without the home maintenance chores and the obligation of cooking and cleaning for oneself. For more intensive care (as required for dementia, for instance), something like the hospital ship operated by Project Hope would be required. And while the idea started out as a joke, at least one website, FuturePundit has taken it on as a possibility.
The idea has enormous appeal for me, having recently spent some time with my mother, first in assisted living and then in a nursing home.
The comparisons mentioned above specifically listed rates and amenities of Princess cruise lines, but there's also a residential cruise ship called The World that might be the perfect option. This vessel, on which all the staterooms are purchased like real estate, travels the world and you can live there full time or just when the current destination appeals to you. When you've made your last journey, you have something to leave your heirs, and they can fight over it or turn it into a family timeshare.
The only thing that gives me pause is that I can't find a price list for the suites, which range from the 30.6 sq ft studio unit to the palatial 3000 sq ft 3 bdrm, 3 ba.
And you know what they say: "If you have to ask, you can't afford it."