I convinced my husband to live on a luxury cruise ship — here’s why I think we made a great investment

Travel adviser Estee Gubbay had been dreaming of living on a luxury cruise ship for years, but there was only one problem: Her husband, Paul, a C-level tech executive, was very much not on board.

“I have a travel agency, so I had heard about this concept about six years ago,” says Gubbay. “I thought it was the perfect lifestyle—but, at the time, my husband wouldn’t even set foot on a cruise. The last time I’d gotten him on a tiny boat was 30 years ago.”

But Gubbay, the author of a book called “Your Travel Bucket List,” wasn’t ready to give up on ticking off an item on her own bucket list.

“I’m the kind of person who goes big—if you’re gonna set a goal, set a big one,” she explains. “So I put this on my vision board and started manifesting.”

She took baby steps to get her husband comfortable cruising—and to shatter his preconceived notions.

“He thought cruises were for retired people and that he’d get seasick or feel trapped on the boat,” she recalls. “But eventually, I got him on a very high-end river cruise, and he loved it.”

She then took him on another smaller yacht cruise, which he also loved—and he started to come around.

“I worked on him for a good six years to get him to the point where he’s now really excited about it,” says Gubbay.

Sealing the deal

Gubbay and her husband bought a two-bedroom residence on the Storylines MV Narrative cruise ship, which will set sail in 2027 and is being touted as a “wellness-centered residential community at sea.”

The ship’s 530 apartments are fully furnished and range from 237 square feet to 1,970 square feet, starting at $675,000 for a studio topping out at $8 million for a four-bedroom.

If that price is too steep for your budget, Storylines also offers residences for shared purchase—allowing up to four owners per unit.

On top of the initial cost, there’s an additional annual “all-inclusive” fee of $65,000 to $245,000 per unit—determined by the size and location of a residence and based on double occupancy.

Those annual fees will cover all meals; beverages; 24-hour room service; housekeeping; Wi-Fi; satellite television; laundry pick-up wash and fold service; spa services such as massages; fitness facilities; recreational and sporting equipment; an oceanside marina with direct water access and watercraft; a yoga studio; an art studio; activities and events; hobby areas, including a digital driving range; checkup and wellness visits with the onboard doctor; a personal trainer; nutritionist; and access to fresh-food gardens.

Gubbay likes that it’s an all-inclusive lifestyle.

“That way, I know exactly how much it will cost each month, and there’s so much that’s going to be included—especially the built-in travel,” she says.

Nomadic lifestyle with a twist

Gubbay and her husband are currently bicoastal, with homes in San Diego and Manhattan.

This will be their floating residence, in what she calls a “small town on the sea.”

“Everything you could want is within walking distance,” she says. “There are 20 restaurants on board. I love how I can just go down the elevator and access all these things.”

On the ship, the couple will have all the comforts of home, including Wi-Fi to get their work done. They’re even bringing their large dog along with them.

They’ll also have a Murphy bed in their second bedroom/office, so their two 20-something daughters can join them from time to time.

A sound investment

The Gubbays are residential real estate investors, and they view this as a golden opportunity.

“We’re getting in on the ground floor,” says Gubbay. “I think people really want to see this concept in action, and that it will take off. People will get used to the idea that you can work on board and take the luxury with you, while the travel comes to you.”

But this investment is not without risk. For one, the ship the couple bought their apartment on isn’t even built yet.

“It’s supposed to be ready in three years, and it could be longer,” Gubbay notes. “It’s just like if you were buying a house in a new model-home development. You have to take a risk that it’s going to come together.”

Community connection

Another aspect that sold Estee and Paul on this unique concept were the “Meet Your Neighbors” interviews that Storylines leads.

“Seeing the adventurous, interesting people who’d be on board with us was really exciting,” says Gubbay. “I’m a community builder and connector—and I’m thrilled about the community being built here. I don’t know how they cultivated such a great group of people who are ready to take chances and embrace change.”

She also gained peace of mind after hearing about the available medical facilities on the ship.

“There’s a mini-hospital on board with MRI equipment,” Gubbay says. “You’re out at sea, so if you have a stroke or a heart attack, you need to have good medical right away. There’s even a helicopter pad on the ship, if you had to be transported. It really has it all.”

And furry friends will have medical care too, with a vet on staff 24/7.

The renderings below reveal what rooms on the ship will look like.