Cruise Ship Condominiums?

Ship ‘n Shore ‘n Sun ‘n Sea

Let’s start with a few statistics: most (84%) people want to retire close to water; most (71%) people over 40 like to take cruises, and many (40%) of those surveyed cite climate as the most important consideration in choosing a retirement location. Is there a place where we can turn these statistics into one tidy and affordable package? How about living on a converted cruise ship?

I had the opportunity to tour a "cruise ship condo". This is the concept: when you purchase one of the 100 staterooms (160 to 340 square feet), you also become a 1/100 owner of the ship. Prices range from $159,000 to $399,000 and there is also a monthly maintenance fee that entitles you to all meals on the ship, weekly housekeeping, local country club membership (golf and tennis), port fees and bus shuttles. Residents will determine the itinerary of the ship (monthly trips to the Bahamas, annual Central American and/or Caribbean cruises). The ship also offers 12 guest rooms (the staterooms that lack windows) for visitors – for free! – meals included. There will be a full-time nurse on board.

Is this type of lifestyle for everyone? The staterooms are compact, and although they may contain a microwave and/or small refrigerator, they will not have an oven or stove. So, if preparing your own meals is a passion, and you need lots of space in your residence, this won’t be the place for you. But, if you’d be happy to eat almost every meal out, are looking for a ready-made social group (the set-up would be ideal for singles), and like the idea of living on the water at an affordable price with a wonderful climate and amenities close by, and not leaving home while you do some traveling, then this is it!

Retirement Home or Cruise Ship Condo?  The average annual cost of living in an assisted living facility is over $30,000, not including the entry fee which could be over $100,000. Retirement communities which don't offer health care programs may have lower rent, but the waiting list can be long and the entry fees much higher.

Some smart seniors have invested their savings into a much more lively retirement, one 89-year old has spent the last nine years living on the luxury cruise ship RMS Queen Elizabeth 2.  In case of a medical emergency there are always physicians on board, all the food you can eat (light years better better than typical nursing home cafeteria) plus the opportunity to see the world, meet new people and have traveling companions. The cost for this particular ship is about $7,000 a month, making this retirement cost about the same, or cheaper than, many luxury retirement communities. 

Jan Cullinane Co-author, The New Retirement: The Ultimate Guide to the Rest of Your Life (Rodale, 2007)

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Reverie on the Ashley, Charleston SC

Reverie on the Ashley Offers Discovery Visit Tours of the Only Private Marina Condos in Charleston, SC

Reverie on the Ashley, Charleston’s only private waterfront condo and marina community, is offering Discovery Visits this spring. Packages include preferred pricing at the elegant Charleston Place hotel (as low as $179.00 a night), complimentary dinner at McCrady’s Restaurant, a complimentary carriage ride through downtown and a private tour of Reverie on the Ashley.

Charleston, South Carolina – April 6, 2009

Reverie on the Ashley, a waterfront condo community in Charleston, is hosting exclusive Discovery Visits this spring, offering prospective buyers the opportunity to tour the community and experience the lifestyle of Charleston for as little as $179.00 a night. Buyers can enjoy the full experience of life in one of America’s most beloved cities, recently named #2 in Condé Nast’s “Top 10 Travel Destinations” and the #4 “Best City in America” by Travel+Leisure Magazine.

Reverie on the Ashley offers the only private marina condos in Charleston, South Carolina. Just ten miles from downtown, Reverie rests on 32 acres of wooded waterfront real estate, featuring luxury riverfront condos with spacious interiors, high ceilings and large windows throughout. Every single residence at Reverie boasts a unique view of the Ashley, from private rooftop terraces or tiled patio balconies that all overlook the preserved wetlands and river.

Residents enjoy exclusive access to a private marina on the Ashley River, riverside pool and gazebo, scenic boardwalk and walking trails that wind through 22 acres of preserved forest and marsh. The private marina features 40 deepwater boat slips along one of the widest points in the river, offering access to downtown, Charleston Harbor and the Atlantic Ocean.

This spring, Reverie on the Ashley is hosting Discovery Visits for prospective buyers. The Discovery Visit package includes preferred pricing at the award-winning Charleston Place hotel and resort. Stay in the heart of downtown Charleston with rates as low as $179 a night Sunday through Thursday, and $279 a night Friday and Saturdays. The Discovery Visit package also includes a complimentary dinner for two at the world-famous McCrady’s Restaurant (up to $100) and a complimentary carriage ride through downtown.

During their visit, prospects will receive a private real estate tour of Reverie on the Ashley, with an opportunity to preview the deepwater marina, riverfront pool and boardwalk, and the last 8 residences left in Reverie’s latest release.

“Spring is the perfect time of year to visit Charleston and see the incredible beauty of this setting,” said Chuck Dennis, Director of Sales at Reverie on the Ashley. “With preferred pricing at one of Charleston’s most luxurious hotels, complimentary dinner and even a romantic carriage ride through downtown, this is truly worry-free living in one of America’s top destination cities. And with only 8 condos remaining in Charleston’s only waterfront marina condo community, we may not be hosting these visits for long.”

Request a brochure and reserve schedule your Discovery Visit today at www.reverieontheashley.com/discoveryvisit.

About Reverie on the Ashley

Surrounded by hundreds of live oaks, marshland and a preserved natural habitat, Reverie on the Ashley is a community of 88 luxury waterfront condominium homes situated on the Ashley River in North Charleston. It is conveniently located 15 minutes from downtown Charleston – and even less by boat. The North Charleston Performing Arts Center, the Charleston International Airport, and a brand new shopping district are just moments away. Reverie is one-quarter mile off of I-526 at exit 14, Leeds Avenue.
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Our Feature Community Four Seasons Charlottesville,  VA

Extravagant club house with a full time Activities Director.  Cyber café, fitness center, card tables, billiards room, library, sports TV area, bocce and croquet lawns, tennis courts, lake, gated entrance, indoor and outdoor pools and spa, putting green, five miles of paved walking trails, and more.  Nearby shopping.

For helpful information on Charlottesville and the surrounding areas, please visit my web site www.findhomesincharlottesville.com.
 

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