Embarking on a serene and seemingly never-ending voyage, a retired couple, Marty and Jess Ansen, have opted to sail through their golden years by enjoying a whopping 51 consecutive cruises, finding it a surprisingly economical alternative to residing in a retirement home.
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The couple, drenched in the warmth of their adventurous spirits, set sail on the Coral Princess last June, two years subsequent to Australia’s rigid pandemic lockdowns. For the following eighteen months, these great-grandparents have been immersing themselves in the bewitching charm of various global destinations, swaying to melodious tunes during dances, relishing in bounteous buffets, and weaving beautiful friendships on their journey.
Securing residence on a 2,000-passenger cruise ship, the Ansens have spent over 450 days at sea, with an expectation to remain onboard for an anticipated two years. Marty, in a conversation with A Current Affair, illuminated their spontaneous spirit, noting he instructs his agent to secure bookings for “whatever comes”, leading to their impressive string of 51 successive cruises.
Outlasting even the ship’s captain, the couple has become a stable fixture on board. Marty cheekily noted, “The wheels change over but we stay on board," with Jess chiming in, "We welcome the different captains on board."
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Acknowledging their commitment, Ren van Rooyen, the Coral Princess ship's hotel manager, affirmed that the couple is undeniably the most devoted passengers they've welcomed. He jovially remarked, "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 also pointed out that the couple has evolved into “celebrities onboard”, with other passengers, embarking for shorter voyages, often expressing a desire to meet them, inspired by their story that has sparked interest and admiration back in their homeland.
For decades, the Ansens were cruise enthusiasts before commencing their epic 450-day journey. The pivotal realization that cruising was financially less burdensome than a retirement home prompted them to convert it into their permanent dwelling. This, coupled with a desire to reclaim several years of enjoyment lost to stringent lockdowns, became the catalyst for their oceanic adventures.
Today, their lifestyle is peppered with an array of perks including engaging entertainment, succulent dining options, and activities, all bundled in their ticket price. In Jess's words: "Where else can you go? You go for dinner, you go to a show, you go dancing. Through the day, you have all these activities."
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The elderly adventurers commence each day with an hour of spirited ping pong, followed by leisurely sipping beers on their balcony, absorbing the panoramic vistas. With a team of housekeepers maintaining their room, Marty humorously admitted they’ve become so acclimatized to nautical life that they “don’t know how to make a bed because we haven’t done it for so long".
He lightheartedly added, "So now we have to stay on board just to stay alive."
In the ensuing weeks, the Ansens will be navigating the waters around Hawaii. With an additional eight months on the Coral Princess, they will then briefly disembark for a terrestrial hiatus. Nevertheless, this interlude is fleeting, as Jess and Marty are poised to embark upon another year-long aquatic adventure aboard the Crown Princess.