Three years ago, the Hennessys sold almost everything they owned, including their business and home, and now plan to sail around the world.
by Megan Harwood-Baynes, Digital Investigative Reporter @Meg Baines
Monday 25 December 2023 05:13, UK
John and Melody Hennessy plan to spend the rest of their lives cruising around the world, which they think could cost about half as much as living on land.
Three years ago, the couple from Florida sold nearly everything they owned, including their business and home, and bought a camper to travel across the United States.
But John, 76, got tired of driving, says Melody, 64.
Then he saw an ad on Facebook for Royal Caribbean’s 274-day cruise, and his journey to a permanent life at sea began.
The pair are currently cruising around the Dominican Republic as part of the latest in a series of long voyages that include Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific.
But they say that while their new life is more exciting, it’s also cheaper.
“There’s a phone bill, a boat bill, and a few credit card bills when we land, but that’s it,” says John.
“No more mortgage or house costs. No more car insurance, no liability insurance, no utilities. The list goes on. I’m sure it’s cheaper to cruise.”
“Now it’s probably close to half of what it was when I lived on land.”
For now, hopping from ship to ship, their lives are planned on a month-by-month basis and they’re booked through December 2024.
But soon they will be settled on the Villa Vi residential cruise ship – one of the first of its kind – where up to 30% of those on board will become permanent residents.
The ship will be sailing around the world every three years, primarily in warmer climates, but living in Villa Vi doesn’t come cheap.
Prices start at $99,000 (£78,000) for indoor cabins, while villas with sea views and balconies cost $249,000 (£198,000), not to mention monthly fees of almost $8,000 (£6,369). Don’t go.
They haven’t set foot in their new home yet, as the ship is still under construction, but a look at the digital renderings has given them a good idea of what to expect.
Larger than traditional cruise ship rooms, the guest living room includes a kitchenette and pull-down bed.
“We wanted to buy a cabin that we could design however we wanted, and we would probably be on board for at least 15 years,” says Melody.
Housed on a former Fred Olsen cruise line ship, Villa Vie Odyssey is currently undergoing a multi-million pound makeover and is due to launch from Southampton in May 2024.
”Every operator has its own unique world cruise,” says founder and CEO Mikael Pettersson.
“And they keep getting longer and longer. So why not push the limits and create the ultimate world cruise that never stops and just keeps going?”
Michael has a cruise background and is the former Managing Director of Life at Sea Cruises.
Life at Sea advertised a three-year voyage around the world, but the project was canceled before the ship set sail. Michael had withdrawn before the ship ran aground after raising concerns about the choice of ship.
“We learned so much from that experience,” he told Sky News.
So far, around 85% of residents are American, but Villa Vi has just signed its first British couple.
Those living on board the ship will be able to bring their families on board for free by paying a port fee, and a certain number of cabins will be reserved for their families.
A business center and private office will be set up, allowing digital nomads to work from anywhere in the world.
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Michael said almost half of the cabins are single people, and a third are business owners or people who can work from anywhere in the world.
The average age of the ships is nearly 60 years old, so residents have dentists and doctors on board for routine procedures. There is a hospital in case of more serious health concerns, and she also has a two-person morgue in case the worst happens.
Melody and John say their biggest problem on board is “too much luxury.” They try to walk as much as possible around the ship, sometimes walking eight miles on the day they arrive in port while exploring.
Ships stay in port a little longer, staying for 3-5 days at a time. Couples can also stay longer and later fly out to meet their new floating home.
John’s son is 54 and Melody’s daughter is 43, but they aren’t worried about losing touch.
Several of the cabins at Villa Vie are reserved for friends and family to visit, and itineraries are planned years in advance, with some family members already booking when to join, Melody says. he says.
And they don’t worry about getting bored.
“We’re just water people. We’re both boaters and we love being on the water,” Melody says.