I’m escaping Britain’s cost-of-living crisis… by going on a three-year all-inclusive cruise that costs £180,000
With higher taxes, rising interest rates and pressure on the cost of living, you’d be forgiven for wanting to escape it all.
Adam, in his late 40s, has come up with an inventive solution to escape the hectic pace of life: he books a three-year cruise.
In November, he will embark on the trip of a lifetime from Istanbul, visiting places all over the world, from Shanghai to Montego Bay in a 1,000-day adventure.
Speaking to MailOnline, he said he decided to make the journey after several setbacks, including a broken relationship and health issues.
He said, “I’ve been through a few life-changing events lately.
“I kind of thought ‘I’ve had enough of this’.”
Adam leaves his hectic life behind for a three-year cruise around the world
He will set sail on Miray International’s MV Lara ship operated by Life At Sea Cruises for a journey of more than 1000 days
On board, Adam has access to a range of facilities from golf to live entertainment
Adam’s itinerary takes him to 382 destinations in more than 140 countries on seven continents
Cabins on Miray International’s MV Lara ship, run by Life at Sea Cruises, start at £60,000 a year, including seven wonders of the world.
But Adam claims he can live at sea for three years for the same price it would cost him to live at home.
He says that when he first saw the offer, he thought it might be a scam when he found the offer while browsing online.
“When I saw it I thought, is this a scam? Around the world for three years?” he said.
With a tour of 382 places, Adam told MailOnline that he really wanted to visit Deception and Half Moon Islands in Antarctica.
“I’ve always dreamed of going to Antarctica,” he says.
“If you were to take a trip to Antarctica on your own, you would spend thousands of dollars,” he said.
The medical engineer believes that living at sea for three years could cost him the same or less than staying at home given the rising cost of living
An onboard gym is available on board as well as spa treatments for an additional charge
“I was thinking I get to go to all these places, including Antarctica.
“And the other unique thing about this cruise is that we’re going to places that are hard to get to by plane.”
However, it doesn’t necessarily have to be a long vacation: Adam tries to arrange with his work that he can do his work on board the ship in the designated business center with high-speed internet.
He also hopes to complete his dissertation for his master’s degree in business administration on board.
But he joked that it would mean no more commuting or running errands.
“I don’t have to do my weekly shopping on Friday,” he said cheerfully.
My bed is made, my clothes are washed.
‘They say you can do things yourself, but why would you?
‘Everything is taken care of. It’s like living in a hotel.’
On board, Adam is treated to a hot breakfast each day, plus complimentary soft drinks including tea and coffee and alcohol included with dinner.
There is even entertainment, including live shows, and housekeeping is taken care of.
And if that wasn’t enough, he can also enjoy the onboard gym and spa, as well as the cinema.
He also gets access to medical consultations, but has to pay extra for medicines and any treatments.
But will he get lonely with more than a thousand days at sea and only return to the UK on November 1, 2026?
Adam tries to arrange it so that he can work aboard the ship, saying he will complete his master’s thesis at sea as well
Adam says he’s looking forward to not having to do the weekly Friday shop at sea
No, says Adam, who lives alone at home. He says his girlfriend can visit him on the ship for up to 30 days four times a year, all included in his package, if they pay port fees and taxes.
The more than 1,200 passengers are also free to disembark and re-board the ship at various destinations if they want to stay longer and explore somewhere.
‘Inhabitants, as we are called, are not tied to the ship. What I mean by this is that if we choose to go on some kind of land trip, we can do that too and meet the ship at another destination,” says Adam.
“And of course, if you have an emergency at home, for example, you can disembark, go do what you need, and then re-board the cruise later.”
With almost everything included in his multi-year vacation, he even thinks he can make a saving compared to his day-to-day living expenses.
According to the Office of National Statistics, the average UK household spends a whopping £528.80 on food, energy, housing, transport and leisure – all adding up to £27,497.60 a year.
‘It’s like living in a hotel’ – housekeeping and cleaning are included, and passengers can have their clothes laundered once a week
Passengers are treated to a hot breakfast and alcohol with dinner each day
With higher gas and electric bills in the fall and winter, these costs are likely to rise.
Adam’s diesel car in Bristol earns him £9 each time he enters the city’s low-emission zone.
But when cruising, Adam will be protected from Britain’s high inflation, as he paid a flat fee for his trip.
He said, “Think road tax, grocery shopping, bills.
‘Add to that the stealth taxes that this government is introducing,’ he adds, ‘no wonder nobody wants to earn anything, because everyone is thrown into higher tax brackets.
“We just keep robbing people.” , he concludes.