For our parents’ generation, owning a second home was considered one of the ultimate retirement goals. A condo in Florida for the winter, a cottage in New England for the summer, or a place in the desert where the weather is warm and the pace of life is slower.
But some retirees are reconsidering
Between rising insurance premiums, property taxes, HOA fees, maintenance, and the possibility of unexpected assessments, owning a second home can become a financial responsibility that lasts long after the initial excitement of buying it wears off. For retirees who’d just rather be traveling, there’s another option, and it’s something that my husband and I have found ourselves doing since we hit Social Security age. We’re spending some of that money on cruise ships instead.
For many like us, it’s not necessarily about living at sea permanently. I talked to a couple of people living this lifestyle, and some are keeping their primary residences and replacing the traditional vacation home with longer cruises, back-to-back sailings, and the freedom to travel whenever and wherever they want.
For these travelers, the appeal isn’t just financial. It’s about having fewer responsibilities, more flexibility, and the opportunity to spend retirement doing something they’ve always wanted to do.
Related: Is Cruise Line Loyalty Really Worth It? 5 Perks I Rely On After 30+ Sailings
Rethinking the Second Home
Alexia Georghiou
Alexia Georghiou of the Knoxville Happiness Coalition s(hown above traveling with her mon on a Celebrity cruise in St. Lucia) has experienced some of those home ownership challenges firsthand. Georghiou previously owned a condominium in Florida but eventually sold it. Her experience left her reluctant to invest in another snowbird condo, particularly because of insurance costs and assessments from the condominium association.
Instead, she’s been cruising and is now considering a combination of cruises and seasonal rentals. With rental prices becoming more attractive in some Florida markets, Georghiou sees value in comparing the costs each year rather than committing to another property. For her, the goal is to remain flexible. Cruising provides accommodations, meals, entertainment, and many everyday services in one vacation price. It’s an approach that allows her to adjust her plans as prices and circumstances change.
Owning a Condo Vs. Full-Time Cruising
I sat down with a pad and pen and did an off-the-top-of-my-head budget, just to see if my idea of cruising vs. owning the second place would be worth it (note: these are not actual numbers, and knowing how much property is right now…especially where I wanted a place, I kept my numbers low, just to show the difference). Of course, expenses are based on where you live and the size of the house or condo you’d want.
These are hypothetical figures, not national averages, and actual costs could be considerably higher or lower. The example also excludes closing costs, furnishings, major repairs, special assessments, and the opportunity cost of the down payment.
That breaks down to roughly $94 a day just to keep the lights on and maintain the property—and that’s before factoring in major repairs, renovations, or unexpected assessments. But in today’s real estate market, it’s more likely that the mortgage and expenses would be double that if buying now.
And this doesn’t take into account any cost-of-living extras—including groceries, dining out, entertainment, gas, and daily transportation—which could easily add another $1,500 to $2,000 per month, pushing your actual total home-stay costs past $190 to $210 per day.
Now compare that with cruising
A couple booking a seven-night cruise for $1,800 total, including the fare, taxes, port charges, and gratuities, would spend approximately $257 per day. Ten cruises at that price would cost $18,000 for 70 nights at sea. That includes accommodations, most meals, entertainment, housekeeping, and transportation between destinations.
Of course, not every cruise is available at that price. Wi-Fi, specialty restaurants, beverages, shore excursions, parking, airfare, and other extras can increase the total. And unlike a second home, a cruise doesn’t build equity. Still, for retirees who would only use a vacation property for a few months each year, the comparison is worth making.
Longer Cruises vs. Vacation Home
For some retirees, the change isn’t necessarily about taking more cruises. It’s about taking longer ones.
Rebecca Forster, a USA Today bestselling novelist, and her husband have been cruising for more than 40 years. Her husband recently retired, although Forster says she isn’t technically retired herself. She’s simply “between” books.
The couple had considered buying a second home in La Quinta, California, a desert community approximately three hours from their primary residence. Many of their friends own properties there, and they liked the idea of spending time in a different climate. But after considering the expenses and responsibilities, they decided against purchasing. Even though they could have bought a property outright, maintaining another home didn’t appeal to them.
They also realized that spending time at a second property wouldn’t automatically provide a social life. They would need to coordinate visits with friends or establish a community there. And during the hottest months, they wouldn’t want to spend much time in the desert anyway. Renting out the property to offset expenses wasn’t something they wanted to do.
Instead, they’ve begun taking longer cruises. The couple recently returned from a 21-day Seabourn sailing that included 11 days at sea. They didn’t even feel the need to get off the ship in every port.
Forster particularly enjoys smaller ships carrying approximately 250 to 450 passengers, where meeting people and developing friendships can be easier than on a much larger vessel. Over the years, she and her husband have made lasting friendships with fellow passengers from around the world. The social aspect is an important part of the appeal for them.
Zipy Sandler
Rather than buying a second home and hoping friends will be available to visit, they can enjoy the company of other travelers in a relaxed setting. Forster also appreciates the service, excellent food, and ability to choose between exploring destinations and simply relaxing onboard. She acknowledges that cruise prices have increased significantly in recent years, and those increases have given the couple pause. But right now the advantages still outweigh the drawbacks for them.
As Forster explains, “The right cruise feels like a ‘second home’ without the headaches of owning one.”
Related: The Golden Rules of Stress-Free Cruising, According to a Lifelong Traveler
My Personal Journey
70+ traveler wearing a black dress, striped neck scarf, sunglasses, and a crossbody bag walking on a sunny cruise terminal dock.Zippy Sandler
I have been cruising for more than four decades, and for my husband and me the appeal is a combination of flexibility, affordability, and convenience. We have a home in Florida that is almost paid off. We live in an area without a separate city property tax, although county and other applicable taxes still apply, and our household expenses are relatively manageable. We have no intention of giving up our primary residence.
Instead, we’ve decided that purchasing a second home doesn’t make sense for the way we want to spend our retirement. “We already have a house that we love. Why would we want another one to take care of when we could be traveling instead?”
We spend at least half the year at home and use the rest of our time for cruises, other travel, and visiting family. Our Florida location gives us an important financial advantage as well. With several major cruise ports within driving distance, we generally don’t need to purchase airfare when sailing from Florida. That can save hundreds or even thousands of dollars over the course of a year, particularly compared with retirees who must fly to every departure port. It also makes shorter cruises and last-minute offers more practical.
We tend to be flexible about cruise lines, ships, cabin categories, and destinations as well. Sometimes an inexpensive inside cabin is enough. Other times, a balcony is worth the additional cost. And unlike owning a vacation home in one location, we can choose the Caribbean, Mediterranean, or another destination depending on the season and what interests us.
There’s also no pressure to travel simply because we are paying to maintain a second property. If we want to stay home for several months, we can. If we want to spend weeks at sea, we can book consecutive cruises.
That can save hundreds or even thousands of dollars over the course of a year, particularly compared with retirees who must fly to every departure port. It also makes shorter cruises and last-minute offers more practical. So, we have become flexible about cruise lines, ships, cabin categories, and destinations.
Sometimes an inexpensive inside cabin is enough. Other times, a balcony is worth the additional cost. And unlike owning a vacation home in one location, I can choose the Caribbean, Mediterranean, or another destination depending on the season and what interests me.
There’s also no pressure to travel simply because we’re paying to maintain a property. If we decide to stay home for several months, we can. If we want to spend weeks at sea, we can book consecutive cruises.
Related: I’m Over 60 and Rarely Get Surprised by Cruises—Then I Took a President’s Cruise
Loyalty Programs Can Make Extended Cruising Less Expensive
Zippy Sandler
For retirees who cruise frequently, loyalty programs can help offset some of the costs.
I am an Elite member of Celebrity Cruises’ Captain’s Club and have found that practical benefits are often more valuable than traditional loyalty gifts or exclusive events. Complimentary laundry, for example, can be very helpful on longer or back-to-back cruises. Instead of packing enough clothing for several weeks, travelers can use their laundry benefits to pack lighter. Depending on the cruise line and membership level, loyalty programs may also offer complimentary or discounted internet access, dining benefits, beverage discounts, and other savings.
Please note that the exact benefits vary, and some have limits or exclusions.
We have also taken advantage of status-matching opportunities when trying other cruise lines. MSC Cruises, for example, has a loyalty status match program for eligible travelers who already hold status with qualifying travel programs. While a match doesn’t guarantee identical benefits, it can make switching cruise lines more appealing. For frequent cruisers, those benefits can reduce expenses that might otherwise add up over multiple sailings.
However, reaching a higher loyalty tier shouldn’t be treated as a reason to spend more money than planned. The savings are most valuable when they come from travel someone already intends to take.
Related: How I Pack for a 5-Day Carnival Cruise With a Single Carry-On
Casino Offers Can Help, but Come With a Warning
Both of us spend time in the casino while on board, and we get great benefits from cruise casino promotions. My husband enjoys spending time in the casino, while I prefer exploring destinations, meeting people, and writing about my travels.
Last year, he had a significant casino win that, combined with subsequent casino offers, helped us take at least seven additional cruises where our out-of-pocket expenses were largely limited to taxes, port charges, and gratuities.
But I do need to warn those who think that this is a way to sail for free. Casino promotions are generally tied to gambling activity, and any complimentary cruise must be considered alongside the money spent or lost to qualify for it. Gambling losses can easily exceed the value of a cruise offer.
For travelers who already enjoy casino play, rewards may occasionally reduce the cost of future trips, but they should never be considered a guaranteed way to travel inexpensively.
Related: We Asked Travel Experts for the Best 2027 Cruises for Travelers Over 60—These 7 Made the Cut
What About Children, Grandchildren, and Family Visits?
One concern for us about spending a significant portion of retirement traveling is whether it means sacrificing time with family, as we have a grandchild. But cruising doesn’t necessarily have to replace family visits. That’s exactly why we keep our Florida home as a permanent base. We have an extra bedroom for guests and regularly travel to see relatives in New England or the kids (who just happen to live near one of the Florida ports).
Family members also visit us in Florida. This December, while we’re away on a cruise, my sister-in-law will be enjoying a Florida vacation at the house.
We also learned recently that our cruise loyalty and casino accounts can sometimes provide another family benefit. Because we maintain separate accounts, we occasionally qualify for two discounted stateroom offers on the same sailing. When the terms allow, that gives usan opportunity to invite our son, daughter-in-law, and grandson to travel with us while staying in separate cabins.
Additional charges and booking restrictions may apply, but the arrangement can make multigenerational vacations more affordable. For some families, spending money on shared travel experiences may be more appealing than maintaining a second property that relatives might only visit occasionally.
Related: I Cruise Every Month—Here Are My Secrets to Scoring Luxury Cabins for Cheap
The Convenience Factor
James D. Morgan / Getty Images
There are also everyday conveniences that can make cruising appealing, especially to retirees who no longer want to spend as much time managing household responsibilities.
Most cruises include daily housekeeping, meals in several dining venues, entertainment, and access to onboard amenities. There’s no grocery shopping, cooking, dishwashing, lawn maintenance, or worrying about who will repair a broken appliance.
I happily admit that housekeeping and cooking have never been my favorite activities. I much prefer having someone else prepare meals and make the bed. Forster appreciates the service and dining experience on smaller luxury ships, along with the opportunity to socialize with other passengers. These conveniences have real value, even if they don’t show on any financial comparison spreadsheet. Of course, they’re included in the price of the cruise, not truly free. But for retirees who value having fewer daily responsibilities, they can be an important part of the decision.
Would You Benefit From This Lifestyle?
Replacing a second home with cruising may make sense for retirees who already enjoy spending time at sea and prefer experiences over owning another property. It can be especially attractive for people who live near cruise ports, have flexible schedules, enjoy meeting other travelers, and are comfortable staying in a cabin for extended periods.
Those who already have a paid-off or low-cost primary residence may be in a particularly good position to experiment with longer trips. The strategy can also appeal to people who want to avoid the responsibility of maintaining two homes or who aren’t interested in returning to the same vacation destination every year.
For someone who enjoys visiting different places, the ability to change ships, itineraries, and cabin categories may be more valuable than having a permanent vacation address.
Cruising Isn’t the Right Choice for Everyone
Some retirees prefer the stability of returning to the same community every year. They may enjoy gardening, entertaining, having their own kitchen, or participating in local activities. Others may find that spending weeks in a relatively small cabin feels restrictive.
Medical needs are another important consideration. Cruise ships have medical facilities, but they aren’t substitutes for hospitals or ongoing specialist care. Travelers with chronic medical conditions, mobility limitations, or frequent medical appointments should carefully evaluate whether it’s practical to be far from their doctor for long periods of time.
Medicare generally provides limited to no coverage outside the United States, and medical evacuation or treatment abroad can be expensive.
There’s also the issue of rising cruise prices. Forster acknowledges that higher fares have already affected how she evaluates future sailings.
Related: I Was Panicking About a 2-Week Cruise With Only a Carry-On. Then, I Remembered My Cruise Loyalty Perks.
A New Way to Think About Retirement
Forster, Georghiou, and I all have different approaches to travel and different financial circumstances.
Forster and her husband prefer longer luxury cruises on smaller ships, where they’ve developed friendships and enjoy the service and social atmosphere. Georghiou, having already experienced the expenses of owning a Florida condo, is keeping her options open between cruising and seasonal rentals. We have chosen to keep our affordable Florida home while spending a significant portion of our retirement traveling, often using loyalty benefits and discounted cruise offers to manage costs.
None of us are suggesting that cruising is automatically less expensive than buying a second home. And none claim that everyone should spend retirement at sea. What we share is a preference for flexibility and a willingness to question whether owning another property is really the best use of money.
A second home may provide stability, familiarity, and the potential for appreciation. But it also brings expenses and responsibilities that continue whether the owner is there or not. Cruising offers something different: the ability to choose where to go, how long to stay, and how much to spend on each trip. For retirees who have spent decades maintaining homes, raising families, and managing everyday obligations, that freedom can be particularly appealing.
The question isn’t simply whether a cruise costs less than a second home. It’s whether owning another property is worth more to you than the experiences you could have instead. For a growing number of retirement-minded travelers, that’s a question worth asking before signing another mortgage.
Related: The Best New 2027 Cruises Built for Everyone From Kids to Grandparents
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