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Many people have decided the cost of holidaying long-term was less than the cost of living in New York City. Picture: iStock
SAMANTHA Martin, a publicist, wraps up her workday by sending one last email, shutting her laptop — and heading up to the lido deck, where she’ll recharge by the pool while her co-workers finish up in their inner city office.
The 46-year-old is one of many New Yorkers who have discovered the joys of living and working on a cruise ship, for weeks or months at a time.
Contrary to the stereotype of cruise aficionados being retirees, people in their 20s, 30s and 40s have embraced this lifestyle as a way to see the world and take a break from NYC’s crushing cost of living, the New York Post reports.
“I run my own company, so I can check in with my office once or twice a day to put out fires,” Martin said.
“When I’m at sea, it’s similar to when I’m at the office. I call into a conference call, and a client won’t know I’m thousands of miles away.”
Living on a cruise ship is firming as an attractive financial option for city couples. Picture: SuppliedSource:Supplied
She said it also boosts work-life balance. “I [used to] see so many people [on trips] on their laptops and think, ‘How sad.’ Now I think it’s great. It’s a reality of our lives that we’re never able to fully disconnect. So why not combine work and fun?”
So far, she and her husband, Andre Neyrey — a restaurant consultant who is also able to work remotely much of the time — have taken 10 multi-week cruises and have a four-month, around-the-world voyage planned later this year.
Although a global trip carries a luxe price tag (tickets for a 119-day cruise on MSC Cruises World Cruise start at almost $23,000 per person), it’s not pricier than staying at home, if you’re working.
In Manhattan, the average cost of a two-bedroom rental is nearly $4000 ($A5400) a month, or about $133 ($A179) a night — and that’s before gym fees, food delivery services and happy-hour meet-ups.
A luxury cruise costs $142 ($A191) a day, with food and entertainment included.
John and Heather Widmer, both 35, have spent 84 days on ships in the past two years. The married couple now consider themselves “digital nomads” — they travel non-stop and do not have a permanent address — and work remotely with clients all over the country on market research strategies.
They’ve found that life on a cruise ship can be less expensive than even a hostel.
“Last year, we cruised across the Atlantic for $159 ($A204) each [total] for a 13-day trip that even included alcohol,” said John.
Enterprising New Yorkers — or at least those willing to bend the rules — can make money by renting out their city homes while on the high seas. Actor Jennifer, 31, sublet her East Village one-bedroom last year when she cruised from Manhattan to Nova Scotia. (She requested her last name be withheld because her landlord forbids such subleases.)
Many people have decided the cost of holidaying long-term was less than the cost of living in New York City. Picture: iStockSource:istock
“The cost of the cruise was about $65 ($A87) a day for [me and my boyfriend], but we charged $200 ($A269) a night for our apartment,” she said.
Martin and her husband, who own an Upper West Side townhouse, are in the process of renting out the pad for their future extended trip. “It’s going to save us money, and we’re going to see the world,” she said.
Many new cruisers report that passenger age is dropping. That’s partially due to bargains, but also because ships are expanding Wi-Fi capabilities and offering millennial-friendly extra-curriculars, including skydiving, nightclubs playing hits from the 1990s and spin classes.
Even young families are in on the trend.
The Facebook group, Home Schooling on a Cruiseship, has almost 200 members who swap tips for educating kids on sea voyages.
John Widmer warned there are potential drawbacks. “The Wi-Fi is often expensive, and it’s not always fast,” he said. “So I’ll save work that doesn’t require an [immediate] internet connection — spreadsheets and data analysis — for the cruise.”
As for Martin, the plan for her upcoming, around-the-world voyage is to check in with her office twice a day, then relax.
“My favourite is when the ship docks somewhere I’ve already visited,” she said.
“One time, we were on a ship that docked in Rome. I’ve been there a million times. So everyone else gets out, and it’s just me and my husband on the ship.
“It’s the perfect antidote to New York life.”
This article originally appeared on the New York Post and was republished with permission.