Cruising into retirement: One couple’s choice to spend their golden years at sea

Retirement usually conjures images of putting your feet up and enjoying some much-needed downtime, but for one adventurous couple, their golden years have a distinctly different backdrop.

Marty and Jess Ansen have chosen an unconventional path to spend their retirement years, living full-time on a cruise ship, and exploring the world one port at a time aboard the Coral Princess. The couple’s story serves as a testament to the allure of adventure, the embrace of wanderlust, and the pursuit of lifelong dreams.

Marty and Jess decided to ditch the traditional retirement playbook and set sail on a journey of a lifetime in June last year and haven’t looked back since, having spent 455 consecutive days enjoying their unique retirement lifestyle.

“It’s our lifestyle,” Jess told A Current Affair. 

“Where else can you go (to have this)? You go for dinner, you go to a show, you go dancing. Through the day you have all these activities. I love the hula dancing and the ballroom dancing.”

 

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Marty revealed that they are “on board longer than anybody else”.

“The wheels change over but we stay on board,” he joked.

“We welcome the different captains on board.”

They usually begin their day at 5:30am with a one-hour game of table tennis before enjoying the sunrise together.

“We do it together and we have a lot of fun,” Jess revealed.

Social media was quickly buzzing with admiration for the couple’s choice with many coming together to applaud the pair’s retirement lifestyle.

“You bloody champions, what a way to live out your senior days hey. Im envious of you both. Enjoy you pair of beauties,” one person wrote.

“Love it. Good on them.”

“They are living my dream!” another commented.

“That’s an awesome retirement plan.”

The duo is set to enjoy eight more months on board the Coral Princess before making landfall for a brief break. Afterward, their voyage continues as they embark on a year-long cruise aboard the Crown Princess.

Want to head to the seas? Travel at 60 — our dedicated travel agency for over-60 travellers — has a huge range of Princess cruises on offer. Browse them all here, or phone 1300 414 198 for a friendly chat about your next adventure.