Forget the traditional street address. Picture waking up every morning on a ship that slowly circles the globe. For a small group of remote workers and retirees, the dream to live on a cruise ship for good is turning into a real plan. However, it is still a tiny market, and one of its pioneers has just stopped sailing.
These vessels are not holiday cruises. Instead, they work like floating condominiums: residents buy or lease private suites, work from oceanfront lounges, and visit a new country every few days. Of course, life at sea does not solve everything on land. You still need an address, a tax residence, and health cover, as our guide to why Italy has no digital residency explains.
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Storylines: A Future Cruise Ship to Live and Work On
Storylines plans to launch MV Narrative, a residential ship designed for remote professionals. The project focuses on green technology and long-term community building. On paper, residents will work with Starlink internet from quiet lounges and private offices, while hydroponic gardens grow fresh food at sea. Before you plan to live on a cruise ship and work from it, though, check that your employer allows work from abroad, because several countries are scaling back remote work.
However, the ship does not exist yet. The company has postponed its delivery several times, and industry reports now point to 2027 or 2028. As a result, anyone who buys today is investing in a project, not in a home they can move into.
Homes range from studios to multi-bedroom suites. In 2023, the company quoted prices from about $1 million to $8 million, and the figures have changed over time. In addition, a monthly fee is due to cover dining, housekeeping, and medical care.
How do you apply? First, the Storylines website shows the planned deck layouts. Next, candidates complete an interview with an advisor. Finally, before placing a deposit, applicants go through a background and financial check.
Villa Vie Residences: Operations Suspended
Until recently, Villa Vie Residences was the cheapest way to live on a cruise ship. Its ship, the Villa Vie Odyssey, offered a 3.5-year world voyage across 147 countries. The company listed cabins from about $130,000, while monthly fees started at around $2,000 per person.
However, on 27 October 2026 the company suspended operations in Sihanoukville, Cambodia. According to the Boston Globe, about 200 residents had to leave the ship with only a few hours’ notice. Many of them had sold their homes or spent their savings on a cabin. Villa Vie now has 60 days to restructure or find new investors; otherwise, the ship will go up for sale.
For this reason, buying or leasing a Villa Vie cabin carries a high risk until the company’s future is clear. If you already own one, keep every contract and payment receipt, and follow the company’s official updates.
The World: The Original Ship to Live On
Sailing since 2002, The World is the original residential mega-yacht. Unlike a regular cruise, it is a ship where owners live full time. With just 165 residences, it works as a private community for very wealthy owners, anchoring in remote polar waters and iconic cultural capitals.
Apartments cost from about $2 million to over $15 million, according to press reports, plus substantial annual fees. Yet wealth is only the entry requirement.
In fact, getting a home here follows an invitation-only route. Press reports say there is no open online application. Instead, an existing owner must nominate you, and the residents then review new members and vote on them.
Before You Live on a Cruise Ship: Check the Risks
The Villa Vie case shows that a home at sea depends on a single company. Therefore, before you sign, check who owns the ship, what protects your money if operations stop, and what happens to your cabin if the owner sells the ship.
If you prefer a home that cannot sail away, our guide to buying a second home in Italy as a non-resident covers the rules on land.
Ultimately, floating communities offer a radical alternative to land-based expat routines. Yet the safest way to live on a cruise ship is to check the company as carefully as the cabin, and to pick the right ship, budget, and contract.
