What Residential Cruising Is
Residential cruising is making a cruise ship your permanent or long-term home as you travel the world. Unlike a standard vacation, this lifestyle is built around living at sea in a residential unit, with the ship stopping in new ports for several days at a time. For travelers who want to see the world without uprooting their lives for each new destination, it offers the comfort of having a fixed "home" with the daily adventure of new surroundings.
Residential cruising involves purchasing or leasing a private residence on a ship designed for long-term living. Unlike traditional cruises with short itineraries and rotating guests, these ships:
- Sail continuously or on multi-year global routes
- Offer private apartments ranging from studios to multi-bedroom suites
- Feature amenities like restaurants, gyms, libraries, spas, and even business centers
- Foster a stable onboard community of residents
- Allow residents to vote on itineraries or port stops in some cases
It's a lifestyle for digital nomads, retirees, adventurers, and anyone craving a home that moves.
Comparison of Residential Cruise Options
| Company | Ship Name(s) | Status | Ownership Model | Price Range | Notes |
| The World | The World | Operational | Full ownership | $2M - $!5M | Ultra-luxury, invitation only |
| Villa Vie | Villa Vie Odyssey | Operational | Ownership, rental | $129K+ | 3.5-year global itinerary |
| Utopia | Utopia | Planned 2025 | Full ownership | $3.9M - $36M | Delayed several times |
| Storyline | MV Narrative | Planned 2027 | Ownership, lease | $625K - $10M | Delayed several times |
| Ocean Residences | Njord | Planned 2027 | Full ownership | $8M+ | Science/philanthropy focus |
| Crescent Seas | Navigator Insignia | Planned 2026-27 | Full ownership | $650K - $10M | Refurbished ships from Regent/Oceania |
| Somnio | Somnio | Planned 2027 | Full ownership | $20M+ | Still in design phase |
| Life at Sea | N/A | Failed | Lease | ~$30K a year | Cancelled just before launch |
🚫 What Residential Cruising Isn't
- A series of short-term vacations: You're not hopping on a two-week itinerary that repeats endlessly. Residential cruising is about long-term living, not vacationing.
- Constant passenger turnover: Unlike standard cruises where thousands of new guests arrive every few weeks, residential cruising fosters a stable community of long-term residents.
- Limited travel loops: You're not stuck seeing the same ports over and over. Residential cruise ships often follow multi-year global routes.
- A cramped cabin lifestyle: It's not about squeezing into a tiny stateroom. Some residential ships offer suites and apartments designed for full-time living.
- Rush-rush sightseeing: There's no pressure to cram in excursions. Residents often vote on destinations and durations, allowing for deeper exploration.
Looking at the above information, it's easy to see why we selected the Villa Vie Odyssey to cruise fulltime on. $$$ It's currently the only option for us "regular" folks.
We're currently scheduled to embark on the Odyssey in February 2026 in Sydney, Australia. We're aware of the controversy on the risks of residential cruising. We feel the risk is low, especially since the Odyssey has now been sailing for over a year.