Couple Spends 500 Days At Sea After Booking 51 Back-To-Back Cruises
A retired Australian couple have spent 500 days at sea after booking 51 back-to-back cruises. But, it's not just for fun and frolic, there's logic to it. Read on to know why.
What's happening?
Marty and Jess Ansen began their 'living at sea' life post COVID when they boarded the Coral Princess. In the subsequent year and a half they spent their days dancing, eating, making "friends for life" and seeing the world.
The great-grandparents have stayed on board Princess Cruises¨ 2,000-passenger cruise for more than 450 days ！ longer than most of the crew, including the captains ！ and expect to stay onboard the ship for two years.
The couple joke that they welcome the captains onboard rather than the other way round. Marty and Jess have become like "celebrities onboard", according to manager Ren van Rooyen.
Others joining the ship for shorter cruises request to meet the duo, whose story has been inspiring people in their home country for the past 455 days.
When and where did the voyage begin?
After a long two years of strict COVID-19 lockdowns in Australia, they began their journey on June 16, 2022. They have yet to stop, booking a total of 51 trips so far.
And, why?
The couple claim that living life at sea is cheaper than a retirement home.
The retirees have been cruising for decades, but decided to go full-time after the Covid pandemic. Having felt like they missed out on several years of fun amid the strict Australian lockdown, they hatched a plan to spend their days on holiday.
"Eventually I said to my agent, 'Look, whatever comes, book it' and that's how it got to be such a long cruise," Marty said. The duo have all of their meals included in the ticket price, and manage to skip daily chores thanks to a team of onboard staff who clean their room.
They say that the lifestyle is cheaper than them checking into a retirement home.
How does their day look like?
They start each day playing ping pong, and enjoy cracking open a couple of beers to sit on their balcony and take in the views.
In the coming weeks the couple will be sailing around Hawaii. They still has a further eight months aboard the Coral Princess before they disembark for a few months on dry land. The break is a brief one however, with Jess and Marty then planning to embark on a year-long cruise aboard the Crown Princess.
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