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Retired at sea: Why one woman spends 10 months a year cruising the world

Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up 'This is not a vacation,' Johnston says, 'This is life.' Advertisement The Johnston sisters are not alone in trading in land-based retirement for a life at sea. Interest in months-long, globe-trotting cruises is rising among travelers with enough free time (and deep pockets) to make it happen. The cruise industry has responded, offering more long-range cruises with increasingly varied itineraries. Royal Caribbean's Ultimate World Cruise, a 274-day voyage that gained some TikTok notoriety, was the longest voyage in the industry to date. But nearly every major cruise line now offers long-range cruises to a growing audience, and they're expanding their rosters. Advertisement In addition to the Grand Voyages, Holland America has also added a new category of Legendary cruises, with sailings ranging from 25 to 53 days. These cruises include popular voyages like the 27-Day Amazon Explorer, round-trip from Miami, and the 35-Day Voyage of the Vikings, round-trip from Boston. The Regent cruise ship Seven Seas Mariner in 2020. Ben Margot/Associated Press Regent Seven Seas has unveiled its longest cruise to date, sailing in 2026. The 154-day A Viking ocean ship in Sydney, Australia, an overnight destination during a World Cruise. Alastair Miller Viking currently offers nine world cruise options, from 121 to 180 days, including the 180-day Advertisement World cruises tend to sell out fast, so travel advisors recommend Viking's World Voyage III will journey around the world in 170 days, visiting 41 countries with 82 guided tours and overnight stays in 18 cities. Pictured here, a map of the route and ports of call planned for the new Viking World Voyage III itinerary for 2026-2027. 'Because world cruise itineraries can be very popular, we always recommend planning as far out as possible,' says Richard Marnell, Viking executive vice president of marketing. 'We are already selling space on our 2026 departures.' So, what's it like to spend 120+ days at sea? We caught up with Johnston at the start of her 53-day Majestic Japan cruise (a 'warm-up' to the two longer world cruises she's taking this year) to ask about her life on the ship, and her tips for long-range cruising. Don't you miss family and friends? 'What's the difference if you head to a condo in Florida or Phoenix for the winter?' Johnston says. But she admits that staying connected with her land-based family and friends takes more planning and work. 'I have to work at staying in touch with everyone,' she says. She schedules meetups well in advance, timed for when she's not cruising, and sometimes joins conversations via Zoom. She also writes a daily blog, posting comments and pictures of where she's been and her life on the ship. But she's also built a community of friends that she connects with on sailings. 'There are a lot of repeat cruisers. I've run into a lot of people and crew that I've met on past cruises,' she says. 'I've made a lot of friends, and they've become like family.' Advertisement Jo Johnston, a veteran long-range cruise passenger, poses with a chef aboard Holland America, her preferred cruise line. Pamela Wright Does it ever get old? 'We're exploring new places almost every day!' she says. 'It never gets old.' Not only are there new ports and off-ship excursions, Johnston says, but there are also a slew of extracurricular activities, on-board lectures, daily entertainment, and clubs (i.e. painting, arts and crafts, bridge, and music) to join on the ship. 'The days take on a rhythm,' Johnston says. 'I try to do several excursions and use the at-sea days to catch up with stuff like laundry, reading, blogging, and just relaxing.' How do you not gain weight? 'I actually lose weight on cruises,' Johnston says. 'The first thing I do when I board a cruise is head to the fitness center to weigh myself.' She keeps a list of what she drinks and eats, so she's carefully watching her diet, but says that it's easier to lose weight on board than at home. 'There's so much variety and a lot of healthy meal options offered on the ship,' she says. 'When I get home, meeting up with friends at restaurants, is when it gets hard.' Why Holland America, why not switch it up? 'It's largely itinerary driven. I like the destinations and ports that they visit.' Johnston says. 'I have one rule, and that's not to repeat experiences, and they offer lots of variety.' Johnston also likes re-connecting with former shipmates. 'I'd say about half the cruisers on long-range voyages are repeat customers.' And loyal cruisers get perks, like discounts on beverage packages, specialty restaurant surcharges, and on-board purchases, along with special receptions, priority boarding, and free laundry services — a big one for long-range cruisers. Advertisement What about costs? 'I'll either run out of money or life at some point,' Johnston quipped. But she watches the money closely, keeping an Excel-style spreadsheet detailing daily expenses. She estimated that her world cruises cost around $50,000 each. She looks for ways to save, planning her day carefully, and attending welcome parties and happy hours to save on beverages. She also books an inside cabin. 'You're mainly in your room to sleep, and there are lots of places to get outside on the ship.' Any other tips? 'Book your cruise in advance as much as you can,' she suggested. 'You'll have more time to save for it and more time to research ports to plan what you really want to see and do.' Bon Voyage, Jo! Diane Bair and Pamela Wright can be reached at