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11 months ago
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A COUPLE who sold all their belongings to live on cruise ships managed to cut their living expenses in half with the radical new lifestyle.
John and Melody Hennessee plan their schedule for the trips years in advance and intend to spend the rest of their lives on the water.
John and Melody Hennessee plan to spend the rest of their lives cruising around the world
They’re planning on moving onto a ship full time in 2024
AlamyThe pair, from Florida, sold almost everything they owned in 2020 to pursue the nomadic lifestyle.
They sold their home and business and travelled around the US in a motorhome.
But John, 76, got fed up of driving constantly.
Then the couple saw a Facebook ad for a cruise that lasted 274 days, 9 months, and jumped at the opportunity.
In their latest stint, Melody, 64, and John are making their way around the Dominican Republic.
They have travelled to Australia, New Zealand, and the South Pacific during their years sailing around the world.
It’s also cheaper than the landlocked life they led before.
John told Sky News: “We now have a telephone bill, a ship bill, and a few credit card bills for when we go ashore, but that’s it.
“We no longer have a mortgage or the expense of homes.
We no longer have vehicle insurance, property insurance, or utility bills. The list goes on. We are certain cruising is cheaper.
“Right now it is probably close to half of what it was when we lived on land.”
They usually dock for a few days in ports on their trips when they can explore for three to five days at a time.
“We are just water people. We are both boaters, and we love being on the ocean,” Melody said.
The couple plan by the months and work their way from ship to ship.
They are fully booked with trips until December 2024.
And soon they will be boarding a residential cruise ship where up to a third of the passengers live there full time.
The Villa Vie Odyssey ship, fairly innovative in its approach, will circle the world every three years and mostly follow the sun.
One of its cabins start at £78,000 but one with a view of the ocean is £198,000.
On top of that is a costly £6,369 monthly fee.
John and Melody haven’t tried out the Villa Vie yet, but have been shown images and plans for the final result.
Those that live onboard will have access to a kitchenette and a pull-down bed in their living room so that guests can stay with them.
Melody said: “We wanted to buy a cabin so we can design it how we want. It’s going to be home for us, for probably a minimum of 15 years on the ship.”
The Villa Vie Odyssey will set off from Southampton in May next year, after millions of pounds have been poured into its refurbishment.
Founder and CEO Mikael Petterson said: “Every operator has its own world cruise.
“And they just get longer and longer and longer.
“So why not push the envelope and create the ultimate world cruise where you don’t stop and you just keep going?”
John and Melody aren’t the only ones who made the bold decision to up sticks and live on a ship.
Angelyn and Richard Burk, also from America, sold their home for a life at sea after a freak accident ten years ago when their belongings “went up in flames in a moving truck”.
Now, they live a life of luxury travelling all over the world – enjoying a retired couple’s dream.
They told CNN that their cost of living before their retirement was £59,000 a year.
They claimed after the move it dropped to just £27,000.
The pair have travelled the world together
They’ve visited Australia, New Zealand, and the South Pacific
The Villa Vie has kitchenettes for those who stay on board for years at a time
There is a choice of bedrooms with balconies or without
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