Photo: depositphotos.com

You might consider checking into a Marriott and not a retirement community or assisted living facility for your future living arrangements. The average cost for assisted living care is about $275.00 a day and checking reservations at the Fairfield by Marriott the rate was about $79 a night when you combine a long-term stay discount and senior discount. Breakfast is included, and some hotels have happy hours in the evening as well. That leaves $196 a day for lunch and dinner in any restaurant you may want, and even have option for room service. The hotel may provide a spa, swimming pool, a workout room, a lounge and washer dryer, laundry, gratuities, special TV movies, shampoo, and soap.

And add in approximately $5 to $10 in gratuities per day and the staff will be standing by to help you. There may also be city bus stop out front (or nearby) and a possible hotel shuttle service, and seniors can ride for free. On Saturdays or Sundays, one has the option to meet other nice people, by calling a church bus. And, for a change of venue, you could take the airport shuttle bus and dine at one of the nice restaurants there in the gallery/concourse level.

Checking in to your hotel residence

It can take many months to be admitted into a pleasant, assisted living facility. Marriott Hotel will take your reservation at any hour. And you will never be restricted to the same hotel or location as you can move from Marriott-to-Marriott hotel, and from city to city. If you have an interest to see Hawaii, the local Marriott would be happy to have you. There is also maintenance if you have, a lightbulb out, or a mattress needing replacement, the Hotel staff will fix almost everything, and apologize for your inconvenience.

The Marriott has security and daily room service (after Covid-19). If you fall and break a bone, Medicare may pay for the medical visit, and Marriott may upgrade you to a suite for mobility purposes. You will not have to worry about visits from family. The family will be pleased to visit you, and probably check in for a mini vacation.

Living on a Cruise Ship and Sail the World

For a change of scenery, one can even live on a cruise ship. This alternative could also be less expensive than an assisted living or nursing home facility while providing some of the same perks and benefits. Living on a cruise ship could be a lower-cost way for seniors to take advantage of similar amenities to those provided by assisted living facilities. There are all-you-can-eat meals, a swimming pool for low-impact exercise, regular companionship, educational lectures, entertainment, and even access to on-board doctors and nurses in the cruise ship medical center.

Spending a day or more in each port, one can take in on the most beautiful scenery on in the world, with plenty of leisure time to explore the cultures and customs at the cruise ships ports-of-call. One can lavishly enjoy the sights and wonders of the world from a new cruise residence.

Your Home at Sea

The world's largest private residential yacht offers a global adventure like nothing else on Earth. Each of the 165 Residences aboard The World is your private Home, bringing its owners on a journey of endless discovery and unrivaled immersion.

Cruise Resident Costs

Cruise ship living is an attractive alternative for seniors because, in many cases, the costs of cruising are lower than the costs of an assisted living facility. Average costs for an assisted living facility are about $3,750 per month or more. The nightly cost of a cruise average around $100 to $150 per night. Not all ships allow full-time residents onboard, but many cruise lines make accommodations for seniors who want to become long-term passengers and remain on the same ship for months or even years at a time.

For example, a resident owner of The World, one can join an international community of adventurers from 20 or more different countries. Together, you can have an ownership share on this Cruise Ship, with a voice in charting the ships itinerary across the sea, ocean, and continent. At each landing, at each port, can have new experiences.

There are regular social activities aboard the ship, including games and entertainment. Cruise ships also have onboard pharmacy services as well as medical centers with doctors and nurses. The Medical staff is typically on-call 24-hours daily for emergencies, and ship healthcare facilities on most major cruise ships are largely comparable to ambulatory care centers, with X-rays and medical labs as well.

While there is a cost to obtain medications or use the services of the ship's infirmary, healthcare services may not be included at an assisted living facility, either. Medicare pays for covered services provided on cruise ships if those services are obtained within six hours of a U.S. port. Seniors could also choose to purchase medical travel insurance to cover both the costs of treatment aboard the ship and more costly services, such as helicopter transport to a U.S. hospital in case of a serious medical emergency.

— Source: depositphotos.com— Source: depositphotos.com
— Source: depositphotos.com

The Ocean views

In summary, these hotel and cruise ship retirement living ideas may be ideal for many entering their prime and active retirement years. These Lodging and cruise ship options may provide exciting options to become global citizens, at least for a while.

Acknowledgment: this paper is sponsored by the GloMed.Education website https://glomed.education/.

Bibliography

Fred DeMicco
Northern Arizona University