Pensioners book 51-back-to-back cruises as they claim its cheaper than staying in a care home
A retired couple have spent nearly 500 days on back-to-back cruises after finding it was cheaper than paying for a care home
A Current Affair
A retired couple have spent nearly 500 days on back-to-back cruises after finding it was cheaper than paying for a care home.
Marty and Jess Ansen booked 51 cruises in a row and have been travelling around the globe since June 16 last year.
The married couple boarded the Princess Cruises's Coral Princess 452 days ago - longer than most of the crew, including the ship's captains.
After living under strict lockdown restrictions in Australia, the pair decided to spend their days on holiday.
The married couple boarded the Princess Cruises's Coral Princess 452 days ago - longer than most of the crew, including the ship's captains
A Currrnt Affair
Before retiring, Jess said they enjoyed cruises and after planning multiple vacations, found that it would be more convenient for them to live on board for two years than pay for a care home.
Marty said: "Eventually, I said to my agent, 'Look, whatever comes, book it' and that's how it got to be such a long cruise."
Jess added: "It's our lifestyle. Where else can you go where you go for dinner, you go to a show, you go dancing?
"Through the day, you have all these activities."
While Jess has been spending her days hula dancing, Marty has instead spent his time making "lifelong friends" out of the other passengers.
"Now, we don’t have to wash up anymore, or make the bed," he told A Current Affair.
"We don’t know how to make a bed because we haven’t done it for so long, so now we have to stay on board just to stay alive. It's a wonderful life."
Hotel manager Ren van Rooyen explained that the couple have become celebrities among the crew.
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While Jess has been spending her days hula dancing, Marty has instead spent his time making 'lifelong friends' out of the other passengers
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He said: "Everyone knows them around the ship, they’re basically celebrities onboard."
They have another eight months onboard the Coral Princess.
At the end of their 51-cruise booking, they will take on another year-long trip on the company's Crown Princess, a bigger ship boasting 1,531 cabins, more than 10 restaurants, a casino and a cinema theatre.
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