86-year-old Lee Wachtstatter isn’t your ordinary cruise passenge, more than a decade ago, not long after the death of her husband, she decided to sell her five-bedroom Florida home and  instead of downsizing, she opted for something far bigger – relocating to a cruise ship, where she’s remained ever since.

This is the idea of living out your later and possibly last few years on a luxury cruise ship rather than in a retirement home

She estimates that her “stress-free, fairy-tale” lifestyle will cost her $164,000 (£108,000) this year, which covers the cost of her single-occupancy cabin, meals in premium restaurants, gratuities and a variety of activities including ballroom dancing with cruise hosts and needlepoint classes

“I can see the attraction. You have the crew looking after you, and with each cruise another set of potential friends comes on board. It’s also a very cost-effective way to live as all your food, heating, and so on, is included in the price. Plus you get to travel.”

An old lady passenger had just completed The world cruise on board Sea Princess travelling the globe with access to a luxury interior State room, meals, housekeeping and access to medical services –  when asked about it this she said –

”A typical Nursing Home costs £200 a day, you can cruise for £135 a day

This guarantees almost 24 hours a day dining and up to 10 meals a day of fantastic food – not hospital food – plus snacks and self service beverages in the buffet

I can have Room service and breakfast in bed every day of the week

I can take daily exercise is as many as 3 pools and a state of the art gym with no membership fees

I can enjoy entertainment and quizzes and Broadway shows every night!

I can do ballroom dancing, play bridge and meet new people every day of the cruise along with a spa, beauty salon, computer center and cultural activities – everything I could ever need

I get to use the Laundry facilities and have my clothes washed and pressed for a small charge and have clean sheets and towels every day – without even asking!

I have a constant supply of free toothpaste, soap and shampoo!

If something is broken or a light bulb needs changing the maintenance man comes to fix it and apologise for the inconvenience

You are treated like a guest not a patient and for $15 a day gratuities the staff treat you like royalty

There is always a doctor on board – if you fall in a nursing home and break your hip you are treated in a hospital, if you break your hip on a Princess cruise they will upgrade you to a suite for the rest of your life!

If you want to see South America, The Panama Canal, Tahiti, Australia, New Zealand, Asia there will be a ship ready to go and when you die they just dump you over the side NO CHARGE!!