Anchors aweigh!

Marty and Jess Ansen, two spirited great-grandparents from the land down under, have embarked on a nautical odyssey of epic proportions.

With an insatiable thirst for adventure and a desire to shatter the confines of conventional retirement living, they’ve set sail on an extraordinary journey.

Their saga? A cruise extravaganza spanning 51 voyages, encompassing more than 450 days (and counting) at sea, aboard the magnificent Princess Cruises’ Coral Princess.

Their motivation? Believe it or not, these free-spirited wanderers opted for a prolonged sea voyage as a cost-effective alternative to the trappings of a retirement home. In the wake of two years of COVID-19 lockdowns in Australia, the couple, with wanderlust coursing through their veins, cast off from the shores of normalcy on June 16, 2022.

“Eventually, I said to my [travel] agent: ‘Look, whatever comes, just book it,'” Marty quipped to A Current Affair, encapsulating the carefree spirit that fuels their maritime lifestyle. Their claim that cruising the world for two years is more affordable than a retirement home has turned more than a few heads.

According to Jess, “It’s our lifestyle,” and a lifelong passion that led them to make the ultimate commitment to their seafaring dreams.

In their floating paradise, life is an ever-revolving carousel of activity. From twilight twirls on the dance floor to delectable dinners and the luxury of a maid to tidy their quarters, the Ansen’s cruise existence is the epitome of high-seas heaven.

For Marty and Jess, the Coral Princess has become their home away from home, where they’ve indulged in pastimes like ping pong and the sumptuous ship’s buffet.

“Where else can you go where you go for dinner, you go to a show, you go dancing?” Jess inquired. “Through the day, you have all these activities.” Her penchant for ballroom and hula dancing finds its rhythm on the ship, while Marty revels in forging “lifelong friends.”

“Now, we don’t have to wash up anymore, or make the bed,” Marty rejoiced. “We don’t know how to make a bed because we haven’t done it for so long, so now we have to stay on board just to stay alive,” he jovially quipped.

Their daily rituals start with a spirited game of ping pong, followed by balcony beers that complement breathtaking sea vistas. The Ansen’s buoyant spirits have turned them into cherished shipmates, adored by both the crew and fellow passengers.

“Everyone knows them around the ship; they’re basically celebrities onboard,” exclaimed the ship’s hotel manager, Ren van Rooyen.

As their fame grows, the Ansen’s final curtain call on the Coral Princess is just eight months away. But their globetrotting journey won’t end there. The couple intends to hop aboard the even larger Crown Princess for another year of aquatic adventures.

Their familial connections? Unwavering. Whenever they dock near their loved ones’ abodes, reunions become joyful pit stops.

“It’s a wonderful life,” Marty exclaimed, encapsulating the magic of their maritime escapade. A life that defies tradition, casts off societal norms, and sails into the horizon, riding the waves of limitless possibilities.