Cruising into her golden years, Sharon Lane, a 77-year-old retired high school foreign language teacher from California, has embraced a life of adventure by moving permanently onto a cruise ship. Choosing to trade her retirement community in the Golden State for the endless journey of the Villa Vie Odyssey, Lane has begun a 15-year voyage across the globe. Her decision was not just motivated by wanderlust — it was driven by practicality.
She claims that life at sea is not only more exciting, but also more affordable than staying put in California. For Lane, this isn’t a sudden impulse but the realization of a dream long in the making. As she stood proudly in front of the Odyssey on June 16, 2025, ready to embark on this new phase, she declared her enthusiasm for a lifestyle free from mundane responsibilities. “
All the chores you do in life? Done!” she said. “If you put your to-do list on a piece of paper and you cross off anything that wasn’t a fun activity, then you end up with the life we have now.” That philosophy sums up her bold transition to a lifestyle many might consider unconventional — but for Lane, it’s the fulfillment of a lifelong goal.
An Affordable Life of Luxury
Sharon Lane’s new home, an interior villa on the Villa Vie Odyssey, is a modest but fully equipped cabin with two beds and a television. Despite being an interior space without windows, the villa is part of an extraordinary offering: a permanent residence on a ship sailing to 425 destinations across 147 countries on a three-and-a-half-year loop. For Lane, this isn’t a vacation. It’s home — a floating, ever-moving one that promises new sights and cultures at every port.
The cost of such a lifestyle? Surprisingly reasonable when compared to the ever-increasing cost of living in California. The interior villa requires either a one-time payment of $129,999 or a monthly fee of around $2,999 for solo travelers.
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While this might sound steep, it includes room, meals, housekeeping, Wi-Fi, access to amenities like entertainment lounges, fitness centers, spas, libraries, a pickleball court, bars, and even a pool. In California, similar amenities in a retirement community would likely cost more, especially when factoring in healthcare, groceries, home maintenance, and transportation.
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Villa Vie Odyssey markets itself as the only affordable residential cruising option, designed specifically for those who wish to combine travel and retirement. Its infrastructure allows it to navigate both vast oceans and narrow inland rivers, offering a level of versatility and reach that appeals deeply to seasoned travelers like Lane. The company’s ambition to redefine retirement aligns with Lane’s personal goal: a carefree life of exploration where everything is taken care of and new experiences await at every horizon.
A Dream That Survived Setbacks
Sharon Lane’s journey to realizing her dream wasn’t without obstacles. The Villa Vie Odyssey had originally planned to launch in May 2024, but technical issues with rudders and gearboxes led to a significant delay. Passengers who had already paid for their cabins were forced to live aboard the docked ship in Belfast, Northern Ireland, for months.
The ship finally set sail in October 2024 — only to return to port just hours later due to incomplete paperwork. These hiccups could have discouraged many, but Lane’s resolve remained unshaken. Despite the initial setbacks, the ship resumed its planned global route.
Since boarding in June 2025, Lane has already sailed to Vancouver and journeyed north to Alaska. She now looks forward to an upcoming transpacific voyage, with planned stops in Japan and Taiwan. Each destination adds another page to the travel diary of her retirement, making her life one of constant movement and wonder — a far cry from the monotony that can sometimes come with conventional senior living.
For Lane, the choice to commit her life savings to this 15-year journey wasn’t just about finances or sightseeing. It was about liberation — the ability to chart her own course, literally and figuratively. Speaking to CNN Travel, she said, “I’m finally able to do what I’ve wanted to do for years. I buy the cabin, I live in the cabin, and that’s it. And then there’s no end.” Her words reflect a sense of contentment and freedom that many retirees strive for but few fully achieve.
Redefining Retirement Living
The Odyssey can accommodate 650 passengers across eight decks, forming a floating community of global citizens who share a desire to escape the ordinary. Unlike traditional cruise experiences that last a few days or weeks, this perpetual cruise offers stability with the thrill of constant discovery. Residents are not just passengers — they’re homeowners, community members, and adventurers rolled into one.
This kind of residential cruising is part of a growing trend among retirees who are looking for more than bingo nights and TV lounges in retirement villages. They seek culture, cuisine, and camaraderie that comes from shared experiences and world travel. For many, the idea of living in one place no longer holds the same appeal it once did. The world has become more accessible, and retirees like Lane are taking full advantage of that reality.
Life onboard the Odyssey is not only about luxury and leisure — it’s about meaningful connection and simplicity. The daily worries of cooking, cleaning, or commuting are replaced with leisurely dinners, breathtaking sunsets, and spontaneous conversations with fellow residents. With a routine governed by destination ports and ship activities rather than doctor appointments and grocery lists, the cruise offers a rejuvenating lifestyle that feels young at heart.
Lane’s story is already inspiring others to consider alternative forms of retirement. Her choice stands as a testament to the evolving nature of aging — one where the later years are not seen as a winding down, but as a fresh beginning. With fewer responsibilities and a wide ocean of possibilities, Lane is sailing not just across continents but into a future shaped by her own design.
As she continues her voyage aboard the Villa Vie Odyssey, Sharon Lane’s cabin becomes not just a room on a ship, but a symbol of courage, reinvention, and joy. Her story reminds us that it’s never too late to rewrite life’s script, even if that means setting sail into the unknown — because sometimes, the best way to find home is to never stay in one place.