A cruise ship might not seem like the ideal home for a digital nomad. With small cabins and notoriously bad internet service, it can be hard to imagine living aboard a cruise ship for any length of time, much less getting any work done. But Miray Cruises is launching a brand new kind of ship to do just that.
Their MV Gemini ship is being remodeled to become a long-term floating home geared towards remote workers. The ship will set sail in the fall of this year and will visit every continent throughout its journey, taking along over 1,000 lucky passengers.
Onboard Amenities
The company has gone to great lengths to adapt the ship to meet the needs of digital nomads. Along with high-speed WiFi throughout, the ship is equipped with a full-scale business center, offices, meeting rooms, and a business library and lounge. There is also a 24-hour hospital with medical visits at no extra cost. Passengers will be treated to more spacious cabins and onboard community-building initiatives for a more comfortable long-term experience.
Due to the extended nature of the cruise, there will also be longer stops at various ports throughout the journey. With 208 overnight stops out of the 375 planned ports, guests will have more time to explore onshore.
In addition to these welcome changes, passengers can expect all of the typical cruise amenities, such as a swimming pool, wellness center, sundeck, auditorium, spa, and salon.
Where Will It Go?
A better question might be, “Where won’t it go?” The ship is set to embark on a 130,000-mile journey, stopping at hundreds of ports along the way. There are 135 countries included on the itinerary, spanning all 7 continents. It is the ultimate around the world sailing trip.
The ship will stop at several ports throughout the Caribbean, sail the entire coastline of South America, up the west coast of the United States before hitting both Hawaii and then Alaska, and then over to Asia. It will then make stops in Japan and South Korea before continuing throughout Southeast Asia, then around Australia and New Zealand. Finally, it will pass India, loop the entire coastline of Africa, then make its way up to the Mediterranean and Europe.
How Much Does It Cost?
Cruises can range from very affordable to quite expensive, depending on the location, amenities, and level of luxury that you desire. You might think a cruise around the world would lean towards the expensive side, and for that, you would be both right and wrong. The Life at Sea Cruise is not a cheap vacation. However, taking all factors into account, it could come up to less than your life at home.
The lowest-priced room, a standard inside cabin at 130 square feet, comes up to $30,000 per person per year. That’s around $2500 a month, which is lower than the average rent for major U.S. cities like Los Angeles and New York.
It’s also not much more than what many remote workers already pay for coliving or digital nomad groups that move around month to month. On top of all that, this is meant to be both long-term and all-inclusive, so there are no grocery bills, utilities, or other similar costs people typically spend in their home country.
Prices do vary by cabin, with the largest being a 322-square foot balcony room at $110,000 per person for the year. The prices are more ideal for couples, but single travelers do get a small discount – 15% off the double occupancy rate. Financing options are available, but a pretty hefty downpayment of $45,000 is required. Although the monthly rate could be enough for some to handle, the downpayment might be a dealbreaker.
What’s The Catch?
The cost, itinerary, and amenities seem very straightforward. However, there is one very big catch. Travelers must commit to the entire journey – not one, not two, but three years. Yes, the ship will sail for a solid three years, and passengers are expected to sign on for the whole time. Though there is an option to split your cabin with other passengers (somewhat like a timeshare), even one year aboard a cruise ship is a huge commitment for most to make. Another drawback is that the Life at Sea sets sail from Istanbul on November 1, 2023, leaving very little time to get your affairs in order.
