So you’ve finally received the golden handshake. Going to work five days a week is no more. Your time has now become your own. Isn’t this what you’ve been working towards your entire life – retirement? For some, it is the start of a whole new exciting life. It can also mean travel in retirement for many and pursuing new hobbies and interests.
Although my husband and I are officially retired from work, I still manage to fill my days with some form of work. I occupy myself with volunteer work for a charity, hold a position at my Bowls Club, plus write here on my blog. Without these interests, I would go insane.
Our travel plans have been put on hold over the past two years due to Covid-19. We are now ready to travel again. I mean to say our bucket list is still there and ready to be ticked off!
Once retired, many Australians choose to travel within their own country, embarking on a big lap in a caravan or motorhome. In some cases, retirees sell up their homes, buy a four-wheel drive and massive caravan, or large motorhome. Sometimes these grey nomads keep travelling until they’re no longer able. In other words, they “spend the kid’s inheritance”, commonly referred to as “skiing”.
Other Australians, who prefer to retain their family homes, set off on “adventure before dementia” and plan overseas trips. These overseas trips vary from taking group travel tours, to ocean cruises, river cruises, or self-drive tours. However, most people over the age of sixty increasingly prefer travel abroad to be organised for them. So they seek the assistance of travel agents or book a group travel tour, ocean or river cruise online.
However, there is a practical alternative to taking month long overseas trips or tours. Instead of returning from a demanding travel itinerary trying to cram in as much as possible feeling exhausted. There is a way to see the world and tick off all those bucket list destinations without the arduous schedule.
I have recently heard about a new way to travel the world that takes the hassle out of organising a complex itinerary, with all the planning done for you. Residential Cruises aren’t entirely new but are taking the world by storm.
For retirees, it ticks all the boxes. Your travel bucket list ticked off because residential cruises travel around the world visiting 115 countries. The ease of boarding a luxury ocean liner with your own choice of accommodation, only need to unpack your suitcase once, and having everything provided. All meals, some drinks, entertainment, organised activities and use of amenities aboard the ship are included. Plus free WiFi, some shore excursions, port transfers, daily room cleaning, and medical practitioner consultations.
A residential cruise with Victoria Cruises Line travels around the world taking 27 months to complete the journey. The difference between this cruise and a normal cruise is that these ships stop for up to five days in each port. So this means you get more time to explore the port city and surrounding towns and attractions.
The minimum rental period aboard the residential ship is six months up to unlimited months. The cost can be as low as $133 US per day. I doubt whether you could travel the world for any less than this price unless you were backpacking!
There are two ships in the Victoria Cruises Line fleet – Victoria Majestic and Victoria Amazing. Both ships were extensively re-furbished in 2020/21 and offer all the facilities and luxuries that you would find on a regular ocean cruise.
There are many benefits associated with travel for seniors, and people over the age of 60 years. The one that comes to mind first is retaining physical activity assists with healthy ageing. But other benefits include:
Gone are the days of retirees typecast as grey-haired, inactive seniors that sit around drinking tea all day and playing Bingo once a week. Today people over the age of sixty, are physically active, eat healthy food, love to dine out and socialise, attend events, and travel regularly. I would say that we’re all trying to live our best lives well into our golden years.
There are many options when it comes to retirement living. These include staying in your family home, downsizing to an apartment, living in a retirement village or an over fifties lifestyle community, and aged care homes.
However, now there is a new alternative to retirement living. That is embarking on a residential cruise. Living on a Victoria Cruises Line ship is comparatively less expensive than living in a retirement residence, or even a home with all the additional costs of daily life. So why not consider your options and look at how a residential cruise could be life-changing for you!
For more details on a residential cruise see my article HERE
