Couple book 51 back-to-back cruises because it’s cheaper than paying for retirement home

A retired couple have taken an extreme measure to save money on their retirement.

Marty and Jess Ansen from Australia realised that they could actually save money on their retirement by avoiding going into a retirement home.

Although that may seem pretty obvious, it's what they did instead of a retirement home which is the catch.

The pair had always enjoyed going on cruises together, and realised that they would actually spend less by simply booking 51 cruises back-to-back rather than going into a retirement home.

Given how expensive cruises are, this says a lot about how extortionate proper social care is when, not just one cruise, but 51 of them works out cheaper.

The pair were forced back on dry land during the Coronavirus pandemic, and were desperate to get back out to sea.

In June last year, they boarded the ship Coral Princess ship, where they can enjoy indulgent entertainment, buffets, table tennis matches.

Now, more than one year later the couple are still going.

Marty told A Current Affair: "Eventually I said to my agent, 'Look, whatever comes, book it' and that's how it got to be such a long cruise."

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In the end, they booked 51 back-to-back cruises, meaning they would stay on board longer than anyone else on the ship - including the captain.

"The wheels change over but we stay on board," Marty said, while Jess added: "We welcome the different captains on board."

Ren van Rooyen is the hotel manager on board the Coral Princess ship, and said that Jess and Marty are the most dedicated passengers they have.

"We always make a joke that I go away and I come back and it's like coming to see my family - my mum and dad again - they're like my second mum and dad on board," Van Rooyen said.

All of their meals are included in the cruise, and also daily housekeeping in their bedroom.

This left the pair convinced that cruising will work out cheaper than paying for a retirement home.

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They can also build strong connections with staff on board.

Last month, the crew surprised Jess on board for her birthday.

Some guests might be ready to get back onto solid ground after a week, but not Jess and Marty.

The pair have also come up with a routine to keep themselves entertained and healthy.

They start every day with an hour of table tennis together, with Jess saying: "We do it together and we have a lot of fun."

The great-grandma added that the games make for the perfect exercise ahead of a day of enjoying the cruise's buffets.

With more than 450 days of non-stop cruising under their belts, Jess and Marty have said they'd keep the trips going for the rest of their lives, if that was possible.