According to reports, a 77-year-old retired teacher from California has retired her home for life at sea 🌊✈️ Sharon Lane moved onto the Villa Vie Odyssey — the world’s first perpetual cruise — saying it’s actually cheaper than living in California.She boarded in June and plans to stay for the full 15-year journey, which will visit 425 destinations across 147 countries. Lane paid around $129K for her interior villa and says she’s finally living the carefree life she’s always dreamed of: no chores, no to-do list — just travel and peace.
A California retiree sailed into the next stage of her life when she traded in her home in a retirement community for the open seas, where she’ll reside for the next decade.
Sharon Lane, a former high school foreign language teacher, purchased an interior villa aboard the Villa Vie Odyssey, the world’s first perpetual cruise, since she claimed it was cheaper to live at sea than remain in the Golden State.
Sharon Lane stands in front of the Villa Vie Odyssey before boarding on June 16, 2025.NBC 4 LosAngeles
“Not only was it affordable to me, it would actually cost me less money to live here like this, have everyone taking care of me instead of me taking care of everybody,” Lane told NBC Los Angeles.
“All the chores you do in life? Done!” said Lane. “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.”
Villa Vie is marketed as the “only affordable residential cruising option offering this lifestyle.”
Lane traded in her home at a California retirement community for an interior villa aboard the cruise ship.NBC 4 LosAngeles
An inner villa aboard the ship complete with two separate beds and a television.NBC 4 LosAngeles
The ship’s design allows the vessel to travel across oceans and navigate inland waterways and rivers, according to the Villa Vie website.
Odyssey is scheduled to sail on a three-and-a-half-year cycle, visiting 425 destinations in 147 countries.
Amenities aboard the ship include entertainment lounges, clubs, a library, a fitness center and a spa.
Residents have access to Wi-Fi, bars, a pickleball court and a pool.
Lane spent her life savings on the long-term excursion and plans to remain onboard for the ship’s entire 15-year journey.
“I’m finally able to do what I’ve wanted to do for years,” she told CNN Travel. “I buy the cabin, I live in the cabin, and that’s it. And then there’s no end.”
Lane spent her life savings on the long-term excursion and plans to remain onboard for the ship’s entire 15-year journey.NBC 4 LosAngeles
People stand on the top deck of the Odyssey during sailing.NBC 4 LosAngeles
The ship had planned to set sail in May 2024, but problems with the rudders and gearbox forced a delay on the initial embarkation.
Passengers who had already purchased rooms onboard were forced to live on the docked ship in Belfast, Northern Ireland until October.
The delays meant some passengers have spent months living on the docked cruise ship — with no sail date in sight.
The Coral Club, the ship’s “go-to venue for late-night entertainment.”NBC 4 LosAngeles
A dining room aboard the ship.NBC 4 LosAngeles
