In mid-June, 77-year-old Sharon Lane boarded the Villa Vie Odyssey at the port of San Diego, California. "I've been waiting for this moment for years," Lane said. "Not for a few weeks' vacation, but to live the next 15 years of my life on this ship, on a continuous journey across the oceans."

The American traveler checks in on the cruise ship. Photo: Sharon Lane

The American traveler checks in on the cruise ship. Photo: Sharon Lane

The Villa Vie Odyssey is not a typical cruise ship. It's a "residential cruise ship," where passengers purchase cabins much like apartments, with a 15-year lease. Lane used her entire savings to acquire a small, windowless cabin in exchange for a life free from cooking, cleaning, and laundry. She chose a cabin near the bow to better experience the movement of the waves.

Each month, she pays around 3,000 USD for fixed costs, including food, beverages, wine with dinner, Wi-Fi, basic medical care, housekeeping, and laundry. Lane noted that not having to shop for groceries or do laundry was a relief and commented that the cost of living on the ship is much lower than in California.

The Villa Vie Odyssey, chosen by the American traveler as her home for the next 15 years. Photo: Liam McBurney/PA

The Villa Vie Odyssey, chosen by the American traveler as her home for the next 15 years. Photo: Liam McBurney/PA

The Odyssey has about 450 cabins, with a maximum capacity of approximately 500 residents. According to Villa Vie Residences, over half of the passengers are single and hail from the US, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. They are all travel enthusiasts willing to give up a stationary life for an open-ended journey.

In addition to artistic performances, the ship hosts a knowledge-sharing forum where former scientists, officials, and even Nobel laureates give presentations. At each port of call, passengers can participate in optional local excursions for an additional fee.

The Odyssey's journey was originally scheduled to begin in mid-2024 but was delayed for four months in Northern Ireland due to safety certification requirements. This resulted in the cancellation of some stops, such as the Galapagos Islands, the Falkland Islands, and Antarctica, due to adverse weather or strict technical requirements.

Villa Vie Residences CEO Mikael Petterson acknowledged that they are "doing something no one has ever done before," so encountering challenges was inevitable.

To compensate for the missed destinations, the company has added a special itinerary for next year, including Antarctica and Greenland (a Danish island). The ship will remain in Ushuaia, the southernmost point of South America, for a month to allow for weather-related adjustments.

Lane considers herself fortunate to have boarded after the initial complications. "I'm at an age where I don't want any more complications in my life," she shared, expressing her desire for simplicity and peace.

Before the Odyssey, Lane had booked a spot on a startup cruise project and waited three years for its departure. However, the project collapsed, leaving her and many other passengers stranded. Lane had already spent money, sold belongings, and terminated her lease, only to end up in a nursing home, a place where she never felt she belonged.

Now, Lane wakes up early every morning, goes out on deck to breathe in the sea air, and admires the vast ocean. At 77, she doesn't know how much time she has left, but she wants to fully enjoy the next 15 years. For her, the sea has become her true home.

Tuan Anh (CNN)