A US couple who sold all their belongings three years ago to pursue their dream of sailing around the world say it is cheaper than living on land. John and Melody Hennessee, a Florida couple, have sold their home, business and most of their belongings to travel the world in 2020, according to the New York Post.
The couple initially bought a camper to travel across the United States. However, when Mr. Hennessee got tired of driving, they decided to take to the sea. The couple saw a Facebook ad for a Royal Caribbean cruise that lasted 274 days and 9 months and jumped at the opportunity.
They quickly registered their names on the board and have since traveled all over the world. So far they have traveled to Australia, New Zealand and various parts of the South Pacific and are currently navigating around the Dominican Republic. They say it's cheaper than the landlocked life they lived before.
''We now have a phone bill, a shipping bill and a few credit card bills for when we go ashore, but that's it. We no longer have a mortgage and no housing costs. We no longer have car insurance, property insurance or utility bills. The list goes on. We are sure that cruising is cheaper. Right now it's probably almost half of what it was when we lived on the land,” Mr. Hennessee said Sky News.
The pair usually dock at their destination and explore for three to five days at a time. They are fully booked with travel through December 2024 and will soon board the residential cruise ship Villa Vie.
Notably, the Villa Vie Odyssey is an all-inclusive cruise ship that offers permanent homes, with approximately 30% of passengers becoming full-time residents. It will depart from Southampton in May next year.
''We wanted to buy a cabin so we can design it the way we want. It will be a home for us, probably for at least 15 years on the ship. We're just water people. We are both water sports enthusiasts. We love being on the ocean,” said Melody Hennessee.
Not only the Hennessees, Angelyn and Richard Burk, also from America, sold their house for a life at sea after a freak accident ten years ago. They said CNN that their cost of living before retirement was £59,000 a year. They claimed it dropped to just £27,000 after the move.