By Jack Cumming

A while ago, I wrote about the parallels between senior living in a CCRC and the novel idea for retirees to travel the seven seas together on a cruise ship. The example was a startup called Villa Vie Residences, which was selling cabins on a ship, the Villa Vie Odyssey, to people mostly age-eligible for senior living.

Originally, what made this venture interesting was all the troubles that the enterprise faced getting launched. It can be like that for senior living, in that unexpected dilemmas arise all the time that managements have to overcome. Not only were there parallels between the residential experiences of cruising for life, but there were also parallels for providers.

Once the Villa Vie Odyssey finally got underway and started visiting ports, I thought that the parallels would be over. Truth to tell, though, the fantasy of getting away for an indefinite period, sharing travel adventures with a group of friends, intrigued me. I’ve continued to follow the saga of the Villa Vie.

Recently, a shipboard YouTube couple from Appalachia, whose signature is how they pronounce the word “friends,” posted a video that I have to recommend to you. Here’s why.

  • It’s quite evident now that the “residents” on the Villa Vie Odyssey have settled into their new life, and it’s stunning how similar it is to living in a CCRC.
  • The video demonstrates how people can adapt to living much more simply in a tiny space if there are offsetting benefits that bring vitality to their lives.
  • These onboard studio apartments are dominated by beds, leaving one to wonder why marketing doesn’t provide a choice of a convertible sofa bed or a Murphy bed as an incentive for a quick decision.
  • The absence of minimum age requirements on the ship seems more like an attraction than a deterrent, which raises the question, “How do age requirements benefit senior living?”
  • One takeaway for me has been the observation that as time has passed, the onboard friendships are becoming more important for the residents than are the travel adventures.
  • The ownership option has proven attractive for many Villa Vie Odyssey residents and removes a barrier that many senior living enterprises — particularly not-for-profits — have to overcome.
  • Speaking frankly, my experience is that it’s more fun to experience vicariously watching these folks on their adventure than to be with them on their voyage.
  • It also answers something I’ve often wondered about, i.e., how do crew on a cruise ship endure months of seven-day-a-week labor while living in cramped quarters.

To watch a video that can give you a sense of the routine of life on a ship and a glimpse into how “residents” can make the most of their living quarters, click here.