77-Year-Old Woman Who Lives Full-Time On Cruise Ship Explains Why It's Actually Cheaper Than Staying On Land

A retired teacher has made it clear she’s completely happy with her decision to sell everything and live out her golden years aboard a cruise ship.

Sharon Lane, who used to teach high school foreign language classes, recently took the plunge and booked what many would call the adventure of a lifetime.

Now 77 and retired, she traded her life in a retirement community for a brand new one at sea, choosing the cruise lifestyle instead of staying put on land.

For most people, such a huge change in lifestyle might take weeks or even months of careful thought. But for Lane, the decision was a quick one—she says it only took her about 10 minutes to decide to go for it.

And it’s not just her who’s excited. She said her kids and grandkids were all fully supportive and ‘on board’ with her plan to live on the ocean.

Before this big move, Lane lived in places like Los Angeles and San Bernardino. Most recently, she was in a well-known retirement community in Orange County, California, enjoying a quiet life before choosing to shake things up.

The retiree has said her family has supported her massive life changing decision NBC4

Speaking to NBC Los Angeles, she shared: "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."

Lane has now signed on for the cruise ship’s entire 15-year journey. She purchased an interior villa aboard the Villa Vie Odyssey, which is being marketed as the world’s first never-ending cruise experience.

While she didn’t share the exact amount she paid, the cruise company said that a one-time fee for a villa like hers comes in at around $129,999. It’s not a small investment, but it covers a lot.

People who live full-time on the ship can pay monthly fees starting as low as $3,000. That monthly cost includes nearly everything—meals, wine and beer, housekeeping services, laundry, WiFi, daily entertainment, and full access to the ship’s facilities and amenities, according to Villa Vie.

Lane is intending to stay on the cruise ship for its entire 15 year journey NBC 4

Lane also shared: "All the chores you do in life? Done! 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."

In a chat with CNN Travel, she opened up even more about her decision and how it’s completely changed her life for the better.

She said: "I'm finally able to do what I've wanted to do for years. I buy the cabin, I live in the cabin, and that's it. And then there's no end."

Villa Vie is being promoted as the only residential cruise option that’s affordable enough for long-term living. And with the rising cost of both buying and renting homes on land, this kind of lifestyle could become even more appealing to people looking for a new way to enjoy retirement.