To say Marty and Jessica Ansen are keen on cruising is an understatement.
Having recently completed 53 back-to-back voyages, racking up more than 800 days at sea, they’re back on board again and planning more adventures.
The Australian couple, both 78, embarked on Coral Princess in their local port of Brisbane on June 16, 2022, and sailed all the ship’s itineraries – including two round-the-world routes – before returning home in August 2024.
Three months later, they joined Crown Princess and will remain on board until November 13 this year. “If the ship wasn’t going into dry dock in Singapore we’d stay on,” laughs Marty.
“We will rejoin Crown Princess on her return to Brisbane on January 4, 2026, and we have now booked Princess cruises right through to September 2, 2027.”
What’s the attraction? For the Ansens, who have two daughters, five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren, it’s a sense of community.
Speaking from the ship, Jessica says: “Over the years we have met many crew members and have been blessed to be included as part of their family while on board. The crew continue to cross our paths on different voyages which gives us a sense of belonging – it is like having continual family reunions.
“Many passengers have also become close friends. Some we met on their first voyage and others we see time and time again. We enjoy the get-togethers and the reminiscing of past adventures and we plan for future cruises together. The time we spend with other guests – sometimes for three months or more – is truly wonderful.”
Marty adds: “When our ship is in Australia, we visit the ports where our children live to spend precious time with them, our grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
“When our ship is visiting other countries we catch up with family and the friends we have met at sea in places such as Ireland, Canada, Netherlands, Alaska and New Zealand.”
Favourite spots include the Greek Islands, Greenland, the Norwegian fjords and Alaska.
Marty says: “Cobh in Ireland is a special place because, when the ship docks there, the town welcomes us all warmly – they make it Australia Day and flags and memorabilia are displayed all over town. They have barbecues and markets, entertainment in the park and also great pubs with Irish music and singing.”
The couple, who celebrate 55 years of marriage in July, have no qualms about spending so long at sea. “It’s living the dream,” says Jessica. “Our beds are made, the dining options are endless and the entertainment is world-class. We never feel too far away from the news back home – we can keep track of what is happening via the stateroom TV or the internet.”
But they must miss something? “Being able to drive wherever you want to go whenever you like,” says Marty. “Life administration is sometimes hard to do when we are away for such long periods. Travelling through different time zones can also sometimes make it difficult to keep a track of the hours.”
For another long-time cruiser, Tim Hockey, residential ship The World has become such a home from home that he decided to continue living on board even after the heartache of losing his wife to cancer last year.
The 61-year-old retired financial MD says: “Lana and I enjoyed many lovely years on the ship and made wonderful friends. When we found out she was terminal, I told her I couldn’t imagine going back without her.
“She told me, ‘Give your head a shake, it’s the best possible place you can be – surrounded by our friends. And if you don’t go back on board, I’ll come back and haunt you!’.”
Now five years into his ‘residency’, Hockey divides his time almost equally between his floating home and being on land, catching up with friends and family, including his two sons in their thirties.
Hockey, from Toronto, says of his life at sea: “I love being part of an amazing community of like-minded adventure seekers. We get to socialise and embark on incredible journeys together in the most remote parts of the world.”
Asked for his advice to others considering living on a ship, he answers: “Jump in with both feet. See the world in the best way possible to travel – without schlepping luggage through airports, and packing and unpacking in hotels.”
The World has pioneered a trend, with other residential ships being planned to carry the super-rich in style, but the only other one to launch so far is the more affordable Villa Vie Odyssey, which set off on a world voyage from Belfast last October.
Speaking from the latest stop in Rio de Janeiro, passenger Steve Theriac, 53, says: “There’s nothing better than waking up in a new town or country every few days. Sure, we miss ‘home’ and certain home-made foods, but the trade-off is well worth it.”
His 54-year-old wife Angela adds: “Even with all the bumps along the way, we wouldn’t trade this lifestyle for anything.”
However, the Theriacs, originally from Florida but now at home – when not on the ship – in Nicaragua, aren’t intending to live permanently on Odyssey forever. Angela says: “After the first three-and-a-half-year circumnavigation we will most likely come and go, and rent out our room while away.”
Another keen cruiser who followed his dream is 33-year-old Fraser Porteous, from the Midlands, who took a sabbatical from his corporate job in IT to spend 10 months at sea.
In 2023, the vlogger behind YouTube channel Fraser At Sea sailed on 17 ships from nine cruise lines, with only a few nights in between on shore.
He says: ”I found the transition back to ‘land life’ so difficult initially. It felt strange to be at work again and suddenly my 10 months ‘at sea’ felt like a dream.
“While I was cruising, I did occasionally feel homesick, but then I was on a beautiful ship visiting new ports almost every day – it was so worth it.”