Retired Couple Pays $2.5 Million To Live On A Cruise Ship

Mike Soroker, 80, always felt a sense of longing for more while living on dry land.

Despite having taken only four cruises with his wife Barbara, 75, and thoroughly enjoying each one, the adventurous retirees decided to make a bold choice:

Purchasing a condo on a cruise ship to spend their remaining years sailing the world.

Mike Soroker/LinkedIn

However, the couple will have to exercise patience as their new floating abode, Storylines’ MV Narrative, is currently in the construction phase.

It is set to set sail in 2026, provided everything unfolds as planned. 

Storylines/Website

Once the 530-cabin ship is completed, it is slated to spend three years leisurely circumnavigating the globe, making frequent stops and allowing for extended stays in each port.

“Relaxing adventure” is the vibe the open-minded octogenarian is after, he recently told Business Insider.

“We’re not going to be pressured to run to every place around the world. But we want the chance to see these places, while we’re still alive and healthy enough to enjoy. That’s probably the number one thing we’re most looking forward to,” Soroker said.

Mike Soroker/LinkedIn

To kickstart their dream lifestyle, the Sorokers made an initial down payment of $60,000. This payment ensured their ownership of a 720-square-foot cabin on the 18-deck ship, MV Narrative.

Their $2.5 million investment provides them access to a luxurious environment featuring three pools, 20 restaurants, a microbrewery, and an impressive 10,000-volume library.

According to Mike, the Sorokers anticipate incurring an additional annual cost of approximately $130,000 for maintenance and service fees related to their ownership of the cruise ship condo.

“We worked all these years, building ourselves up,” he said. “It’s time to reap the rewards.”

Mike Soroker/LinkedIn

Expressing their enthusiasm for the upcoming adventure, Mike mentioned his keen interest in exploring the Middle East and witnessing the beauty of Antarctica.

On the other hand, Barbara is particularly looking forward to revisiting Asia, a region she has enjoyed spending time in before.

However, beyond the allure of travel itself, what truly captivates the Sorokers is the prospect of forming new connections and friendships during their global journey.

Mike emphasizes that the opportunity to make new friends, an experience they have cherished on previous voyages, is what intrigues them the most.

Mike Soroker/LinkedIn

“We love it. We are talkers,” he said. “We love sitting at a restaurant, turning to the table next to ours, and talking to them. We’ve made fast friends. When you’re on a ship, it’s the same kind of folks there for the same reason.”

Despite receiving the full support of their family, with Mike mentioning that his two children in their fifties "love it" and are eager to ensure they can visit the couple on the ship, there are definite hurdles to overcome, especially at the couple’s age.

“We want to make sure we can still get access to medications. So initially, we might be on land 30% of the time. I contacted my insurance companies to see how I can live on the boat. I’ve been in touch with the doctor who’s going to be on the boat,” the go-go golden-ager told a reporter.

In preparation for their new seafaring lifestyle, the couple has decided to sell their New York apartment. They plan to utilize their Boca Raton home as a temporary base.

Although being at sea is considered their "long-term goal," Soroker emphasizes that there's no need to hurry. 

The ship is still under construction, and there's always the possibility of unexpected challenges arising in the meantime.

“Some folks like myself who have already put money down, of course, want to know how secure that is.”

”If it falls apart, I’m not worried. Storylines basically said that worst case, you get your money back,” he said.

”When we built our dream house … it took us three years. So, I don’t worry about timelines. I just hope that I’m still alive.”

Not that he’s planning on going anywhere.

“Each year that goes by, I just feel younger. My wife and I have a great partnership. I feel like we can do almost anything. I’m very, very lucky.”