Retired teacher plans to live on a cruise ship for the next 15 years, says it’s still cheaper than California

NBCLA

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For many retirees, a cruise is a once-in-a-while indulgence, but for 77-year-old Sharon Lane, it’s now home.

In June, the retired teacher from Orange County moved into a cabin on the Villa Vie Odyssey, the world’s first perpetual cruise ship, according to NBCLA and CNN.

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“Not only was it affordable to me, it would actually cost me less money to live here like this, have everyone taking care of me instead of me taking care of everybody," she told NBCLA. Prior to this, she was renting a home in the Laguna Woods retirement village.

Her unconventional move highlights how the cost-of-living crisis in some states has spiraled out of control and why more retirees should consider moving to save money.

Cheaper than California

Unlike a typical cruise, the Villa Vie Odyssey is a residential cruise ship. Rather than booking a short trip, customers purchase an entire cabin on the ship, which has an estimated lifetime of 15 years, according to CNN.

Lane used her life savings to purchase an inside, windowless cabin, for which prices start at $129,000. She also has to pay $3,000 in monthly fees. This includes food, soft drinks, alcohol at dinner, Wi-Fi, medical visits, entertainment, weekly housekeeping and bi-weekly laundry.

“All the chores you do in life? Done!” Lane told NBCLA. “If you put your to-do list on a piece of paper and you cross off anything that wasn’t a fun activity, then you end up with the life we have now.”

Not only is this convenient, but it may be cheaper than living in the Golden State.

The average rent for a one-bedroom apartment in Laguna Woods, where Lane was formerly living, is $2,500, according to Zumper. This means it’s possible Lane’s monthly expenses would have been higher than her cruise cabin.

However, as she gets older, she may need more assistance with daily tasks and medical care. Villa Vie Odyssey also only provides typical medical and emergency care services, not daily care. It’s unclear if perpetual cruises can adequately provide for evolving needs.

Read more: Rich, young Americans are ditching stocks — here are the alternative assets they're banking on instead

Should you consider a move too?

Relocating could be the best way to save costs in retirement, but you don’t need to book a cabin on a never-ending cruise to do so. Moving to a new state with a lower cost of living is a more conventional approach.

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States like Missouri, Wyoming, Tennessee and Arizona can offer lower taxes, cheaper real estate and affordable living costs, according to the Institute of Financial Wellness.

A Place for Mom says median independent living costs for assisted living can be as low as approximately $2,250 per month in some states, which is much lower than the $3,500 needed to live in California.

You could also consider moving to another country to unlock a more comfortable retirement. According to the International Living’s Global Retirement Index for 2025, Panama, Spain and Malaysia are some of the top options for American retirees.

But don’t overlook the emotional side — being near family and friends often matters just as much as money. If your social circle is a top priority, the move may not be worthwhile.

Preparing for a comfortable retirement

For those who get easily sea-sick or are otherwise nervous about spending years in a brand new location, there are other ways to save costs in retirement.

Consider first and foremost maximizing your retirement accounts. With Priority Gold, you can invest toward your retirement with a gold IRA, which combines the tax benefits of an IRA and the inflation-hedging benefits of investing in gold.

When you make a qualifying purchase with Priority Gold, you can also receive up to $10,000 in silver for free. If you’re curious if this is the right investment for you, you can download their 2025 guide on investing in precious metals for free.

If you’re interested in investing in real estate for your retirement, Arrived lets you invest in rental homes and vacation rentals, without the headaches of being a landlord.

Arrived’s real estate investments are curated and vetted for their appreciation and income potential. Backed by world-class investors like Jeff Bezos, Arrived makes it easy to fit these properties into your investment portfolio regardless of your income level.

Their flexible investment amounts and simplified process allow investors to take advantage of this inflation-hedging asset class without any extra work on their part. You can get started with just a $100 initial investment to see if Arrived is right for you.

If you’re wary of the rising cost to buy a home, but don’t buy into a cruise ship solution either, another way to take advantage of the real estate market is through Homeshares, which provides accredited investors access to the $34.9 trillion U.S. home equity market.

Historically, this has been the exclusive playground of institutional investors. But now, with a minimum investment of $25,000, investors can gain direct exposure to hundreds of owner-occupied homes in top U.S. cities through Homeshares’ U.S. Home Equity Fund — without the headaches of buying, owning or managing property.

Homeshares offers risk-adjusted target returns ranging from 12% to 18%, and can be an effective, hands-off way to invest in owner-occupied residential properties across regional markets.

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This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.

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