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Travel the World Aboard Your

Luxury Residential Community at Sea

Global Travel from the Comfort of Home

March 15, 2022 00:00:00

• 20 Restaurants & Bars
• 10,000 Book Library
• 800L Micro Brewery

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Live on an all-inclusive

Cruise Ship

Travel the World from the Comfort of Home

Averaging three days in each port, you have ample time and options to explore the cultures and customs beyond our ports-of-call. Or simply enjoy the most beautiful scenery on the planet from the comfort of your new home aboard Storylines exclusive around the world cruise ship .

Living an all-inclusive life aboard Storylines means exactly that. Our living fees start from just $2,152 per person per month - lower than living costs in most major cities worldwide.

Chart your day the way you want, with activities to keep you as active or relaxed as you choose to be. Yoga on deck? A deck chair and a book? Dine in or out under the stars and dance, or dream the night away. That’s the beauty of writing your own story.

Friends and Family

Friends and family of Storylines residents are welcome! Invite a friend for a month, your children for a week, or make eternal memories with your grandchildren for a whole summer. Should you wish, Storylines will even manage renting your residence for you while you are away.

Travel the World

Circumnavigating around the world every three-and-a-half years means you have time to savor the sights and sounds of UNESCO world heritage sites, off-the-beaten-path destinations and all the wonders of the world.

The Ultimate Travel Lifestyle

You can now travel the globe from the comfort of home, experiencing the ultimate travel lifestyle. Unpack once. You're home...and you're traveling around the world. You can have it all. Work onboard and discover offshore tax benefits. Learn in a truly global classroom. Enjoy the adventure - it's all part of the Storylines luxury global lifestyle.

Living on a Mega-Yacht

Living on a megayacht means never having to cook or clean again. It means exotic destinations are your afternoon strolls. When you live on a circumnavigating yacht, you wake to ever-changing views of the most beautiful places in the world and you travel the world with like-minded adventurers in an ultra-exclusive global community.

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Travel the world without leaving Home ®

With only 165 Residences aboard The World , each has its own unique story. Residences range from elegant Studios to spacious Three-Bedroom Homes – each of which may be customized to suit your specific preferences and tastes. Regardless of the layout you choose, your Home aboard The World will be unlike any other on the planet. It is your comfortable haven providing everchanging views, and your launching point for unforgettable daily adventures as you explore every corner of the globe.

Travel to your Home aboard The World is defined by unparalleled simplicity and ease.  Leave your suitcase behind as you return to your private Residence, complete with your personal art, your clothes, and even your wine collection. Once on board, you can expect the highest standards of anticipatory service, from housekeeping and personalized concierge services to tailored wellness programs and bespoke dining experiences. Welcome to the most extraordinary Home you will ever own.

• Three-Bedroom Residences

Your expansive Three-Bedroom Residence welcomes you, your Guests, and any Resident neighbors you entertain with an inviting foyer that opens into vast living spaces awash in fresh ocean air and natural light. With a state-of-the-art gourmet kitchen, three full bathrooms, and a vast private veranda, there is no better place to begin and end each day of your incomparable adventure.

Three-Bedroom Residences range from 1,666 – 3,242 square feet / 154.8 – 301.2 square meters.

• Two-Bedroom Residences

Your spacious Home at sea has a configuration and an interior design aesthetic all your own. The World’s Two-Bedroom Residences match and surpass the comfort and style you would expect from any landbound luxury vacation house. Enjoy a full-sized kitchen, spacious living and dining areas, en-suite full bathrooms, and ample veranda space.

Two-Bedroom Residences range from 1,106 – 1,391 square feet / 102.8 – 129.2 square meters.

– Resident

Ocean Studio Residences – One and Two Bedroom

In The World’s  One- and Two-Bedroom Ocean Studio Residences you’ll enjoy the intimacy of a studio with added space for relaxation or for Guests to join you on the Journey. Share breathtaking views from your private veranda or meals made with fresh local ingredients in your kitchenette.

Ocean Studio Residences range from 580 – 888 square feet /53.9 – 82.5 square meters.

• Ocean Studios

When you choose Ocean Studio ownership aboard The World , you enjoy elegant simplicity without compromising on the sophistication of beautiful contemporary design and sumptuous comfort. Each of these single-room Homes is a stylish sanctum at sea, defined by flawless service and boasting a stunning ocean view from a private veranda.

Ocean Studios range from 290 – 846 square feet / 26.9 – 78.6 square meters.

Ready to learn more?

Determine whether life aboard The World is the right fit for you. Talk to one of our Residential Advisors today to learn more about this unique lifestyle, details of upcoming Journeys and Expeditions, and ownership opportunities.

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You Can Now Buy a Vacation Home on a Cruise Ship Sailing Around the World

Your life can be an endless cruise.

For most people, sailing the world is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. But for a few lucky travelers, an endless journey circumnavigating the globe could be a reality.

When Storylines' first residential cruise ship launches in 2024, it will feature 547 fully furnished residences available for purchase to globe trotters who would like to live, work, and play while exploring the world. Most of the one-to-four-bedroom homes, ranging from 237 to 1,970 square feet, feature balconies and can be customized in a coastal or contemporary style. While the onboard residences are in the $1 million to $8 million range, there are also a number of homes available for as little as $600,000 on a 24-year lease basis.

And just like with all high-end cruise ships, the 741-foot long, 98-foot wide MV Narrative will feature many amenities keeping homeowners busy and entertained.

Three pools with sundecks will ensure guests can soak up plenty of Vitamin D, while an outdoor running track, gym, yoga studio, and golf simulators will cater to sports and workout enthusiasts. Since wellness is a central part of the experience and the community's values, the onboard medical clinic will offer a list of wellness services, including weight loss, anti-aging, immune therapies, detox treatments, and nutrition planning. The ship even has a pet exercise area so four-legged passengers can stay active and healthy, too.

And with 20 dining options and bars, foodies can rest assured that their every culinary need and preference will be satisfied. The ship also has its own microbrewery and a solar-paneled, soil-less garden which will supply its eateries with fresh ingredients and craft beer. A zero-waste farmers market will also be available, offering local products. Other fun amenities aboard include a library, a marina with watercraft access, a movie theater, an art studio, and a bowling alley. The Narrative has been built with sustainability in mind. The ship runs on liquid gas, which is more eco-friendly than conventional fuels.

"Many people love global travel experiences but they don't love the logistics, planning, air travel, jet lag, and living out of a suitcase. Storylines takes the hassle out of international travel so that people can focus on exploring, adventures and cultural experiences. At the end of a long day discovering a new exotic location, they can come home to friends and familiar surroundings and sleep in their own bed," Storylines co-founder, Shannon Lee, wrote in an email.

Of course, being part of a cruise community is mainly about travel and experiencing the world. The ship's three-year voyage, beginning in 2024, includes all six continents. Residents will have several days to explore each destination and fully immerse themselves in the local culture.

"Storylines attracts people who actively get involved in local communities and enjoy world cultures. We like to say 'exotic destinations become your afternoon strolls' because the overall experience is really about exploring the world while still having all the comforts of home," added Lee.

And on this ship, the concept of exploring the world from the comfort of your home just hits different.

Related Articles

You Could Permanently Live at Sea on This Residential Cruise Ship

The vessel will navigate the globe indefinitely, and residences start at $1 million..

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The 547-room ship will set sail in 2024.

Courtesy of Storylines

After a few days of living the high (seas) life aboard a luxury cruise ship, spending time exploring exciting port towns and sampling the all-inclusive restaurants and amenities onboard, you might consider what it would be like to stay on the ship forever.

Sure, you could book a room on a round-the-world sailing , but even then, you’re not really living on a cruise ship.

One residential cruising company, however, is working toward making a permanent seafaring life a viable option. In late 2024, the Croatia-based cruise company Storylines is slated to launch a new residential ship, dubbed MV Narrative , where people can purchase an apartment onboard and sail indefinitely.

The floating community will feature 547 residences, including fully furnished studios with Murphy beds (at 237 square feet), one- to four-bedroom apartments, and two-story penthouses (that range between 1,378 and 1,970 square feet each). The outright purchase price for one of the accommodations starts just shy of $1 million and will go up to $8 million. Like any other home, the residences can be rented out or sold in whatever manner the owner chooses. A select few abodes are also listed for 24-year leases (starting at $600,000, or roughly $25,000 per year). After the initial purchase or lease price, each unit will also be charged a yearly fee, ranging from $65,000 to $200,000, to cover meals, amenities, and maintenance. But once onboard, residents would only need to open their wallets for food, experiences, and trinkets during their time ashore—most everything onboard will be covered by the fees (with the exception of things like premium alcohol, certain medical and veterinary services, childcare, and items from the onboard store).

A one-bedroom cabin aboard MV Narrative

While it’s not an entirely new idea— The World residences at sea has been sailing since 2002, and Somnio , a residential yacht liner, is expected to set sail in spring 2024—it’s currently the least expsensive option for those who wish to live at sea. ( The World and Somnio ’s smallest accommodations have an estimated starting price of $3 million and $11 million , respectively.)

Storylines was founded in 2016 and is run by Alister Punton and Shannon Lee, two men who previously worked in land-based real estate and construction projects. Per the website, MV Narrative is intended to be more a lifestyle choice and less of an extended vacation. As such, Storylines notes that it will interview potential residents to determine whether they’re a fit for the community.

The plans for the MV Narrative include 20 restaurants across 18 decks, a 10,000-book library, three pools, a garden, a bowling alley, a fitness area with a running track, and a microbrewery. The ship will also house some services not commonly found on other cruise ships due to the nature of its offering, such as a post office, hospital, school (for grades up through 12), bank, and office spaces, to make it feel more like an actual city, just at sea. There will also be outdoor pet exercise areas in case residents want to bring their four-legged friends along for the ride.

The vessel is slated to begin its 1,000-night maiden voyage in late 2024. During that initial nearly three-year-long sailing, the ship will visit six continents and will stop at various ports for one to five days at a time.

One 88-day sample itinerary shows the cruise slowly working its way around most of Italy’s coast over the course of a month, including three days in Rome, four days in Palermo (Sicily’s capital city), and single days in San Leone, Sciacca, and Marsala, among other ports. From there, the ship would spend a few days each in Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, and Albania, before doing a 24-day deep dive into Greece, and then heading to Turkey. Along the way, there would be “Residents Choice” days, where those aboard could vote on where they’d like to go by using a special phone app for residents.

The slow travel schedule, the company states on its website, is part of its sustainable travel initiative, as being in the harbor for days at a time and going shorter distances between stops burns fewer fossil fuels. Other elements include waste-to-energy tech, growing vegetables in the hydroponic garden, and committing to only using biodegradable or reusable items instead of single-use plastics.

How To Live On A Cruise Ship – Top Tips For Life At Sea

By: Author Mona Marks

Posted on Last updated: October 14, 2023

Categories CRUISE PLANNING , LEARN , ONBOARD EXPERIENCE

Most humans never experience what it’s like to live at sea, as 99% of us are land dwellers to the core. A few trendsetters have altered the reality of normal living by packing up their life on land and moving it to a cruise ship on the sea. Cruise ship living is a concept that’s picking up momentum. How to live on a cruise ship starts with proper financial planning, additional health insurance, and awesome deals from cruise liners. Keep reading to learn how your ocean-living dreams can become a reality.

How To Live On A Cruise Ship – Take A Cruise Ship Test Run

Permanently living on a cruise ship might sound glamorous and exciting. And it could be the best decision you’ve ever made but also the wrong one. You should take a trial run at extended cruise ship living before making a decision so that you can confirm if your “living on a cruise ship” dream is for you.

Book long trips (more than 3 months at a time) on different cruise liners, mix them up with different cruise itineraries and immerse yourself in life at sea. 

Rope In The Help Of A Cruise Specialist

When you have decided that you want to spend large amounts of a year cruising the world, it’s time to rope in the experts. A cruise specialist can add some value to your experience regarding the following: 

• One-on-one personal customer service
• Assisting in finding the right accommodation
• Helping to choose the perfect cruise ship
• Access to discounted bookings regarding extended cruise travel
• Added amenities such as onboard credit, free specialty dinners and drinks vouchers, airport transfers, and complimentary shore excursions
• Ensuring that special promotions during your trip are applied to your fare

Cruise companies such as The Cruise Web offer innovative packaged plans (Seniors at Sea) tailor-made for active and independent seniors looking to retire on a cruise ship. After a cruise specialist has assisted you in finding the best cruise liner option with the best price package available, it’s time to draw up your budget with the help of a financial planner.

Brainstorm With A Financial Planner

You will need to get your financial ducks in a row. Brainstorm with a financial planner about what you can afford to spend per day, week, or month, and see how those numbers fit with your cruise specialist’s quotes. If you’re looking to retire on a cruise ship, a full retirement income plan that includes taxes should be implemented.

Cost Of Permanently Living On A Cruise Ship

The most important factor when living on a cruise ship is the cost. The overall cost of living on a cruise ship is determined by many factors, such as the following:

• The cruises you book (Caribbean cruises work out the cheapest, whereas European and Alaskan cruises are the most expensive)
• Which cruise ship line do you choose to live on (Mass, premium, or luxury lines)
• Type of accommodation (Inside cabins are cheap but small, whereas balcony rooms are expensive but come with a view)
• Cruise Line loyalty program and perks
• Taxes, port fees, and gratuities (inescapable expenses)
• Cost of shore excursions

The average person spends approximately $212 per day on a cruise ship, which includes boarding, food, and entertainment. Your available daily budget should be close to this amount if you want to live successfully on a cruise ship. 

Purchase A Permanent Residence On A Cruise Ship

One method of living on a cruise ship is to book multiple cruises on one specific ship or move from ship to ship within a cruise line, using different itineraries. For example, there’s a Royal Caribbean Super Cruiser who has essentially sailed for the past 20 years on various Royal Caribbean ships and spends only about two weeks a year on land!

If your finances allow it, another option is to buy property on a residential ship or an available cabin on a cruise ship.

Storylines is a private residential ship selling 547 at-sea residences (1-bedroom to 4-bedroom residences, 2-story penthouses, and studios) ranging from $400,000 to $8 million, which excludes yearly maintenance fees. Living fees start at $2,152 per month, depending on the residential unit, which is lower than what you would pay in most major cities and comes with a host of all-inclusive living perks.  

The world is a residential cruise ship that offers 165 private residencies with prices ranging from $2 million to $16 million, excluding annual ship fees. This luxurious residential cruise ship offers residents culinary delights prepared by Michelin-star chefs, an enrichment program featuring world-renowned experts, a spa and gym facility , and a host of sporting activities.

Utopia 

Utopia is a luxury cruise ship that sells permanent residencies totaling 190 units, which range from 1,400 to 6,500 square feet. The prices range from $4 million to $36 million per unit. Luxury retail shops, spas and salons, and all sorts of luxury amenities are expected on board.

Work While Cruising

Today, many people have the opportunity to work remotely from their homes. Technology has changed how we work in the last couple of decades. With access to WI-FI aboard cruise ships, nothing stops you from working online, making cruise ship living a reality for most digital nomads.

One of Royal Caribbean International’s most famous long-term cruisers, Mario Salcedo , works from the top deck of all the ships he sails on. Nicknamed “Super Mario,” Salcedo has been living on various Royal Caribbean International cruise ships for over 20 years.  

Mario budgets between $60,000 to $70,000 per year to maintain his life at sea. Booking consecutive yearly tours in advance, staying in cheaper indoor cabins, and not leaving the ship when stopping at a port help him to stay within this budget. Salcedo manages investments for his private clients to fund his stay.

Protect Yourself With Private Health Insurance

Medical facilities found on most cruise ships feature basic medical equipment used for treating basic medical emergencies in the short term, such as defibrillators, x-ray machines, and all sorts of medicine. A medical team consisting of at least one doctor and two nurses is on call 24/7. However, they typically are not set up to provide chronic medical care.

If you’re on chronic medication, you will need to get the prescriptions filled by your doctor before you board the ship. Suppose you have serious health ailments that often require a trip to the hospital for check-ups and treatment. It would be best if you run the scenario of permanently living on a cruise ship by your regular physician.

Full-service hospitals are found at ports only, which can be few and far between when cruising. Retirees using Medicare health insurance are often not adequately covered in a medical emergency and unforeseen medical expenses. Typically, Medicare’s coverage dwindles when members are out at sea or more than 6-hours from the US. 

The smartest option, even if it’s more expensive than standard US insurance plans, is to invest in private health insurance, which includes evacuation insurance. Most cruise line offer insurance that is inclusive of medical coverage. You may also have options through a variety of private insurance carriers.

If you’re paying with a credit card, remember to call your credit card company to inquire about the travel insurance they offer and what it covers in a scenario where you live on a cruise ship. Ask your travel specialist for recommendations and put the question to your financial planner.

Pros And Cons Of Living On A Cruise Ship

All life decisions come with pros and cons. Living on a cruise ship has both, and we need to highlight a few of them before you sell your land home, say emotional goodbyes to the family, and put the pets up for adoption. 

Pros Of Living On A Cruise Ship

Traveling the world

Can be cost-effective compared to other retirement options 

Exciting shore excursions

No utility, gas, or grocery bills

No monthly home or car payments

Constant menu of activities and entertainment steps away

Opportunity to meet new people

Attentive staff available to serve you daily 

Renting out your property to receive passive income

Cons Of Living On A Cruise Ship

Leaving friends & family behind

Additional private health insurance required (including evacuation insurance) or cruise liner insurance that includes emergency medical coverage  

Gaps between cruises lead to additional costs (hotel, flights, transfers)

Cruise liners not equipped for assisted living (you need to be heal

Have to monitor your diet as food on cruise ships often include fine dining and rich foods

Potential loneliness

You will have to store or sell extra possessions 

Shore excursions can be costly

Closing Thoughts

How to live on a cruise ship may seem like a fantasy, but with a little planning, insurance, and guidance from a financial planner and cruise specialist, you can make it your reality!

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I live and work remotely from a cruise ship 300 days a year. It's helped my social life and costs just as much as an apartment — here's how I do it.

• Ryan Gutridge started working remotely from a Royal Caribbean cruise ship in 2021.
• Since then, he's spent almost every week on the same cruise ship.
• Gutridge says 300 nights on a cruise ship is neck-and-neck with what he pays to keep his apartment.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Ryan Gutridge, an IT professional who spends more than 300 days a year on a cruise ship. It has been edited for length and clarity.

I've been told I'm crazy for trying to live full-time on a cruise ship , but it's not just for retired people.

I work in IT as a cloud-solution engineer for a cloud-solution provider and started working from home in 2012. But because of the pandemic, my team was able to work from home and access the data they needed from anywhere.

At that time, cruise lines hadn't announced when or if they were coming back. I thought that if they returned, I'd want to try taking my job with me on a short cruise. I wanted to see how the WiFi would work and if I could access some elements of my job with heavy security.

That summer, in 2021, I booked two four-night cruises on Royal Caribbean's Freedom of the Seas , and went on both in September. Everything worked great, and since then, I've been on a cruise pretty much every week, except for a few weeks due to the holidays.

I've been to CocoCay and Nassau in the Bahamas more than 70 times each over the last two years

The ship does the same route twice a week, and both stops are on the same cruise. I primarily cruise on the same ship, but I've done cruises on larger ships too.

I do meetings in the morning and afternoons, but I can also go to lunch and socialize or meet people at the gym. I've even met people that I stay in contact with and that have come back and cruised on this ship with me multiple times since.

Working from home was isolating. I don't have kids or pets, so it's easy to become somewhat introverted, but cruising has really helped and made me a lot more social.

If you want to cruise full-time, you have to get your financial house in order

Think about your strategy. It's about coming up with a transition plan — it doesn't happen overnight.

I wanted to really look at the cost of cruising full-time before I began. I have a spreadsheet that automatically records all my expenses, which helps. I also set a budget every year. This year, my base fare budget is about $30,000, and last year when I started really looking at the numbers and evaluating how much base fare I paid to be on a ship for 300 nights, I found it was almost neck-and-neck with what I paid for rent and trash service for an apartment in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Now, because I cruise so often with Royal Caribbean, I've moved up in its loyalty program

My drinks and internet are free. If people are going to do something like what I do, I recommend trying different brands because they all offer something different. But once you commit to one, you should stick to it so you reach those loyalty levels .

Related stories

I found that Royal Caribbean has, by far, the most valuable benefits to me — discounts, free internet, and free drinks. The highest loyalty level for Royal Caribbean is the "Pinnacle" level, which I will reach after exactly two years of cruising on this ship.

Because of the loyalty program, I'll actually spend less money cruising this year than I did last year, even though I cruised more.

If you have a phone that's two or three years old, you're going to struggle on a ship

I read Reddit boards and Facebook groups, and the biggest complaint I see from people is that their phones or device don't work as well as they expect. The two biggest reasons are that people don't update their operating software before getting on a ship or they don't have WiFi calling set up on their device, which is a must.

I understand people don't want to spend the money, but if you have newer equipment, it tends to work a lot better.

To get good WiFi , you also have to explore the ship and find where the WiFi works the best. I often work from the top deck of a lounge that's not open during the day, so it essentially becomes my office space, which is great because it's very quiet.

Keeping up a healthy and productive lifestyle on a ship requires personal discipline

Mondays through Fridays, on the ship, I do the exact same routine I'd do on land. I work, eat healthy, and go to the gym.

On the weekends, anything goes, but during the week, I stay diligent about finding healthy food options that are available on the ship. I stay away from desserts, and I absolutely don't drink sugary drinks. If I drink alcohol at all, I save it for the weekend because come Monday morning, it's back to work and back to being responsible.

When I first went on cruises, I was also testing if I could have a nice work-life balance

I spend about 20% of my time on land to go to the dentist and the doctor and to visit with some friends — but most of the time, I'm cruising. When I'm cruising, I spend about 90% of my time on board and about 10% in port because, during the week, I'm working.

Unless it's a port I haven't been to before, or it's one I really enjoy, I remain on the ship — even on the weekend sailings. When we are at a location I enjoy, I use a day of my PTO from my job and enjoy the day away from work.

I have a strong relationship with the crew on this ship. It's become a big family, and I don't want to rebuild those relationships on another ship — I joke that I have 1,300 roommates.

Eventually, I'd like to get rid of my apartment

I've scaled back my cruising budget for next year because of inflation, but by 2025 I'd like to get rid of my apartment, sell my car, and purchase a scooter that I'll store at a friend's garage. When I'm home, I'll have groceries delivered, and if I need to go somewhere farther away, I'll be happy to just take an Uber or Lyft.

Sometimes I get tired of going to the same port , but it's been an interesting experience, and I'm still loving it. Most of the time, I'm so busy that I don't even notice we're at the same place — I just know I'm not in an apartment staring at the wall. I'm stress-free.

If you live or work on a cruise ship and would like to share your story, please email [email protected].

Watch: The rise and fall of the cruise industry

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Why You Should Consider Living On A Residential Cruise Ship

T ravel is another way to add excitement and flair to your life. For some people, they fit traveling in when and if they can. However, for others, traveling is a lifestyle that goes beyond a temporary vacation. In fact, some travelers are dedicating their lives to living on the sea. 

Residential cruise ships are becoming more popular. Initially, the luxury sea complex The World was the only option for those looking to live on the ocean full-time. However, in 2024, a new company called Storylines will launch its own vessel with 547 residential units for those who want to call a cruise ship home for extended periods.

“What a typical cruise line might do in one month or three weeks, we will take three to four months to do,” Storylines founder and CEO Alister Punton told CNN. 

Living aboard a residential cruise ship has a plethora of perks that avid travelers love. In addition to the all-inclusive lifestyle that comes with cruising, access to a close-knit community, more reasonable pricing, and daily exploration are making some consider residential cruise ship living as a viable option.

Everyday Is An Exploration 

Like a traditional cruise, residential cruise ships still dock at ports across the globe. This makes adventure and exploration a regular occurrence for those living on the ships. The World has a variety of expeditions for residents to choose from. From exploring Antarctica to cruising the Kimberley in Australia, there’s a destination for every lifestyle. 

Traditionally, travelers would have to book a vacation to experience an out-of-town adventure. Residential cruise ships provide nonstop thrills both on and off the ship. In addition to scheduled stops, Storyline will also offer “residence choice” stops where those abroad can pick where the ship goes next.

Some Cost Less Than Buying A House  

The World has been operating residential cruise ships for 20 years. However, the luxury complex comes at a steep ticket. According to Insider, it’s difficult to secure a unit aboard vessels and travelers should expect to pay at least $2 million for the extended cruise. With Storylines setting sail in 2024, travelers will have a cheaper option for residential cruise ship living. 

“With a full outright purchase, the resident owners get a perpetuity clause, which means they are able to roll over into a new residence on a future ship without an additional purchase, making this a long-term investment,” Punton said.

The new company will offer units starting at $400,000 for outright purchases. There will also be a limited number of units available for lease according to CNN. Other companies like Villa Vie Residences will offer residential cruise ship units for as low as $100,00 which is cheaper than buying a house in some American cities.

Another Option For Retiring Travelers 

Millennials are getting older. Retirement age seems closer with each passing birthday. Whether millennials like to admit it or not, it’s time to start making plans for retirement and residential cruise ship living could be an option for some. 

Extended cruise ship living is a viable option for millennial travelers who still want to see the world once they retire. Everything is all in one place and travelers could spend the rest of their lives exploring different destinations and cruising the sea. This eliminates the hassle of planning trips in your senior years and consolidates everything you need into one location out on the ocean.

How to retire on a cruise ship

As I approach retirement age, the thought of retiring on a cruise ship has crossed my mind. Okay, who am I kidding? It's a daily obsession.

Retirement living is generally broken into three phases: the active healthy phase where you are fully independent, the phase where you need some assistance with meals and household chores, and the phase where you need a far greater level of care. Cruise retirement life obviously suits the independent phase, but it also closely resembles the assisted living option most people consider on land.

Both cruise ships and retirement communities include food, lodging, utilities, housekeeping and social gatherings, plus enrichment activities like guest lecturers, movies and art, computer or dance classes. Add to that the ability to travel the world without bothering with airplanes and hotels, and it makes sense that many people view living on a cruise ship as an ideal retirement plan.

For cruise news, reviews and tips, sign up for TPG's cruise newsletter .

But how do you go about it? Clearly, you can live on a cruise ship — any good travel agent will happily book you on a year's worth of cruises at a time. But there's no "How to Retire on a Cruise Ship" guidebook to help you make informed decisions about the cost and feasibility of living out your golden years at sea.

What is the best way to go about full-time cruise ship travel? What other considerations should be taken into account? I dug in with some good old-fashioned research to see where that led me. Here's what I learned about how to retire on a cruise ship – and whether it's a good idea.

What does it cost to retire on a cruise ship?

When it comes to a retirement budget, commercial independent and assisted living facilities that provide extras like meal plans, housekeeping services, activities and transportation start on average around $60,000 per year per person, or $164 per night. (Obviously, this pricing will vary based on where you live, inclusions and luxury levels.) I set out to determine if retiring onboard a cruise ship could match (or beat) what's available on land, so I compared facilities with amenities and payment structures closest to what you could get on a cruise ship.

Retiring on a traditional cruise ship

While negotiating with cruise lines for a lower fare on a long-term arrangement is possible in many cases, I found that even without any special deals with the cruise line, I could book 52 back-to-back seven-night Caribbean cruises from Miami on Carnival Cruise Line 's newest ship, Carnival Celebration , for around $43,000 per person in an inside cabin. That's around $118 per person per night. (Think carefully whether you can stand to live year-round in a windowless room.)

Shopping for Carnival's cheapest cruises on older ships, I could get the average below $50 per person per night in inside cabins and around $110 in balcony cabins, including port taxes and fees. That means your cruise fare could be as little as $18,250 per person per year. Unfortunately, the fare is not your only cost to consider.

You would need to budget for flights between ports and occasional hotel stays if you decide to return home or swap ships. Plus, there are tips for staff to consider, which can total thousands per person during the course of a year.

All that puts the minimum for a couple or a single traveling alone (which requires single supplement charges in double occupancy cabins) just over the $50,000 per year mark.

Related: Best cruises for seniors who love to travel by sea

Obviously, there's no upper limit to how much you could spend on retirement on either land or sea, but here are some examples of what I found: A year on Cunard 's Queen Elizabeth in a balcony stateroom would run about $64,000 or $175 per night per person. A year onboard P&O Cruises' Britannia in a balcony cabin could be arranged for roughly $53,000 or $145 per night per person. Both options would allow you to see a great deal of the world.

By contrast, a year onboard a luxury cruise line like Silversea, Seabourn or Regent Seven Seas will cost a minimum of $200,000 per person ($548 per person per night). The good news about that price is that cruising on those lines includes things like tours, gratuities, alcoholic beverages and most specialty dining, as well as laundry.

Retiring on a residential ship

An alternative to sailing on a traditional cruise line through your retirement years is to buy or lease a cruise ship cabin on a luxury residence ship. The most well-known of these is The World, but there's been recent buzz about startup company Storylines and its residence ship, MV Narrative, which is set to launch in 2025. Victoria Cruises Line is also planning to turn two refurbished vessels into residential ships for long-term living, with a proposed launch in spring 2023.

Ownership simplifies a few things logistically, and your only additional costs are likely to be port expenditures and/or travel when you opt to leave the ship. You might also be able to rent out your cabin when you aren't using it, helping offset the cost of your cabin.

Storylines, for example, is selling staterooms either for the life of the ship or for quarterly seasonal shared ownership. Twenty-four-year lease options are also available. In addition to the initial purchase or lease cost, residents will pay an all-inclusive living fee per person per month that covers food and beverages, housekeeping, laundry, Wi-Fi, and, of course, fuel for the ship.

How does this option compare, pricewise? To purchase a 237-square-foot inside cabin with a virtual window for the life of the ship costs $1 million on average. A twenty-four-year lease is around $650K. Storylines also charges an additional all-inclusive living fee to cover onboard services (food, housekeeping, Wi-Fi, etc.); for an interior stateroom, this mandatory charge is $2,586 per person per month, based on double occupancy, or $62,064 annually for two people living together. Purchase prices for a one-bedroom, 1.5-bathroom unit averaged $2.7 million, with $111,000 in living fees.

For purposes of comparing the costs to traditional cruise ships, the living fee in the inside cabin on MV Narrative is $85 per person per night and the one-bedroom suite is $152 per person per night. These figures are in addition to the upfront costs of buying or leasing.

If you can invest in ownership or lease of a stateroom, your cost per night (beyond your purchase or rental price) can be lower than cruising traditionally. However, as MV Narrative is not yet under construction and is not slated to be built at one of the main cruise ship-building yards, you'll definitely want to talk to an advisor about investing your retirement savings in a startup company that has not yet brought a product to market.

What's so desirable about retiring on a cruise ship?

We talked about what's included on the ship and the potential of retiring for the same or even less than what you'd expect to pay for land-based retirement accommodations. That may be enough incentive for some, but what else makes retiring on a cruise ship an attractive choice?

For many, it's travel itself. Changing scenery every day can be an inspiring way to live. Even an option that visits the same ports over and over might be more appealing than staying at home for some people.

Simply not having to worry about grocery shopping, meal preparation or home maintenance tops most people's lists of retirement goals, and all of those would fit into a cruise ship retirement. Avoiding weather extremes is another retirement priority. It's possible to plan your retirement cruise itinerary to ensure you are always headed away from cold and snow.

The atmosphere on board a cruise ship is another plus. It's a whole other vibe from your average senior living facility. Whichever ship you choose is likely to be filled with people excited to be on board. That attitude can be infectious. Being surrounded by young people, not just folks of retirement age, can also make cruise ship life more appealing.

Related: Which cruise brand is right for you? A guide to the most popular lines

Living on a cruise ship presents the opportunity to meet new people. In some cases, it would be a shipload of new faces every week or two. Imagine how many new friends you could make in a year. Some cruisers make friends with crew members on every cruise they take. The opportunity to stay onboard and foster those relationships for long stretches might be irresistible.

Then there are people who enjoy being in the company of others, while maintaining nothing but passing interactions with them. Even an introvert might find the social scene of a cruise ship a better arrangement than a more solitary retirement scenario.

What might make you think twice about living full-time on a cruise ship?

For some, the best part of retirement is spending time with family — especially the grandkids. Cruise retirement doesn't rule that out, but it does make it a bit more complicated. It's hard to be the type of granny who can frequently babysit when you live on a cruise ship, potentially thousands of miles away from where the grands live. If your family wants to visit you, they'd have to pay for cruise fare for everyone.

The same holds true for developing lasting relationships. Passengers and crew come and go on ships, so your relationships will be fleeting. Retired singles may find it difficult to find the next love of their life floating around the Caribbean on a ship full-time. For introverts, it can be exhausting to continually make the effort to meet people.

If you prefer the company of animals to people, you're out of luck. In most cases, you can't take pets with you on a cruise, so that can be a drawback for many retirees.

Related: Are dogs allowed on cruise ships? These are the cruises that allow pets

A feeling of confinement is tops on the list of reasons people I talked to said they couldn't retire on a cruise ship. Even on a large ship, you can only go where it goes, plus the room you call your own is likely to be far smaller than what you are used to. There's a certain loss of freedom, but that's common with many forms of retirement living.

Plus, the cabin you book might not be designed for senior living, the way apartments at a retirement home or senior living community would be. You'll also have fewer options for cable TV plans and phone calls and Wi-Fi costs will be pricier than on land.

Though cruise ships have a medical staff, they aren't equipped to handle serious health issues. You'd have to manage prescription medications from a distance for long periods of time, and schedule time off the ship for routine checkups. Any medical emergencies might require you to be airlifted from the ship, and the distance to the nearest hospital could be quite far.

Related: Do cruise ships have doctors, nurses, medical centers or hospitals?

And in most cases, you won't be able to rely on Medicare for your health coverage while out of the country. For that, you'll need a travel or ex-pat health insurance plan, with costs ranging from around a hundred per month to thousands, depending on your coverage specifics. Plus, your cruise retirement could be cut short at any point by health issues. They won't hesitate to kick you off the ship if you need more appropriate care on land – and then you'd need to quickly find a new place to live while suffering from medical concerns.

Besides the health aspect, you'll always need to have a solid backup plan. Things like mechanical breakdowns, disaster-related shutdowns and cruise line business decisions can drastically affect your plans — more so than in most land-based living situations. You would need annual travel insurance as well as enough available money to cover hotels and transportation from almost anywhere on the globe.

How to start planning for a cruise ship retirement

Taking an extended cruise is a good first step toward deciding if you want to make cruising a more permanent retirement option. I met a woman last year when I cruised on Royal Caribbean's Grandeur of the Seas who was in the planning stages for the cruise line's 274-night world cruise. This woman was testing out several storage products she hoped would make life easier on her extended cruise. From drawer organizers to under-bed rolling plastic bins, she was traveling with things most weeklong cruisers would never think of.

She was also working on boosting her loyalty status with Royal Caribbean . There are perks available to the highest loyalty levels that would save money when retirement time arrives. Complimentary laundry tops the list of valuable perks at the top levels on the mainstream lines, along with spa treatments and specialty restaurant meals, Wi-Fi discounts and free or discounted cruise nights. Even luxury lines like Silversea and Seabourn offer top loyalty members discounts and free nights.

The higher your status when you retire, the more perks you start out with – though you'll quickly climb through the loyalty ranks if you sail on the same line for an entire year.

The woman I met was using low-cost solo cruises (which earn double points) on Royal Caribbean's smallest ship to boost her status point total. Status is shared with domestic partners or spouses living in the same household, regardless of whether they went on the same number of cruises. Other ways to boost status would include taking advantage of double points offers like the one Celebrity Cruises is running this year on European cruises or by cruising in upper-level suites.

Related: A beginner's guide to cruise line loyalty programs

Initial steps toward cruise ship retirement might also include selling one's home (or preparing it for becoming a rental), disposing of excess possessions and re-homing pets. You will also want to consult with a financial advisor to help with residency laws and money management that might allow you to cruise even longer into retirement.

Bottom line

Retiring on a cruise is an intriguing possibility, whether you book a year's worth of back-to-back cruises on a traditional cruise ship or purchase a floating apartment on a residential ship. Either way, retirement at sea comes with both advantages and disadvantages. While you will have the opportunity to explore the world and meet lots of new people, you may find yourself missing the people you left behind.

The financial aspects, particularly when it comes to health insurance, are likely to be tricky, requiring careful planning with expert advice. And you'll need a backup plan should your health at some point prevent you from remaining on board.

The best plan is to plan well ahead, starting with a few long cruises to make sure it's a good fit. Many of the steps you would take in planning for a world cruise would be the same things you would do to pave the way for a full cruise ship retirement. Once you're convinced you're cut out to cruise year-round for years on end, you can begin to make the arrangements to dismantle your old life on land and build a new one at sea.

Planning a cruise? Start with these stories:

• The 5 most desirable cabin locations on any cruise ship
• A beginners guide to picking a cruise line
• The 8 worst cabin locations on any cruise ship
• The ultimate guide to what to pack for a cruise
• A quick guide to the most popular cruise lines
• 21 tips and tricks that will make your cruise go smoothly
• 15 ways cruisers waste money
• The ultimate guide to choosing a cruise ship cabin

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You can actually take a nude cruise on board a Norwegian ship

• Published: May. 06, 2024, 1:09 p.m.
• Edward Pevos | [email protected]

Passengers on board this upcoming cruise may be able to fit everything they need into just one carry-on bag. An 11-day nude cruise is being offered for next year on board the Norwegian Pearl.

The “ Big Nude Boat 2025 ,” as it’s being called, is being offered in partnership exclusively between CruiseBare.com and Norwegian Cruise Line. It sets sail to and from Miami, Florida from February 3 through February 14, 2025.

The Pearl holds 2,300 passengers and will visit a private island as well as Dominica, St. Lucia, St. Maarten, San Juan and Martinique. A cruise experience like this is different, but not all that uncommon. It’s similar to booking a corporate retreat cruise, LGBTQ cruise, or a music festival at sea.

“Full ship charters are popular because it’s essentially a takeover of the ship. The group can customize the experience, including the entertainment, programming, dining and even clothing rules,” Jim Carey, owner of Cruise Holidays told MLive. “On a charter, you’re going with all like-minded people. Everybody who signs up for this is fully aware of the theme and you can’t purchase it directly through the cruise line.”

There are a few rules passengers must comply with on board the Big Nude Boat 2025. Nudity is allowed when the ship is at sea unless an announcement has been made to the contrary. However, when the ship is docked in port, all passengers must be dressed throughout the whole ship, including balconies, until the ship leaves port.

Clothing is required in all dining rooms. Bathrobes don’t count. A clothes-free buffet will be offered on the pool deck. And passengers must sit on a towel or some article of clothing when bare bottomed anywhere on the ship.

No photographs, videos or electronic images of any person may be taken without their consent, whether nude or clothed. There will also be no photo zones located around the pool and in dance venues.

Prices start at $2,000 per person for an inside state room.

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'Come and go as you please': Here's how overnight cruise stops work

If you've ever sailed on a cruise , you know there's no grace period from the ship leaving the dock. But on a recent cruise, it was nearly 5 p.m. when I was heading out on my first shore excursion.

I caught an evening show at San Francisco's magic speakeasy The Magic Patio and when I returned to the port, Princess Cruises' Discovery Princess ship was lit up for the evening, glowing in the Bay.

The sight was a rarity because we'd normally be sailing away by that time, our host explained over the loudspeaker on the bus. But that night, the ship served less as a means of transportation than a floating hotel during our two-day visit.

While many cruises stop only for a day, some itineraries include overnight stays that give guests more time to explore and see destinations from a new vantage point.

"One of the common gripes for cruising is you don't really get to experience the destination if you're only there for X number of hours," said Jared Feldman, owner of travel agency Jafeldma Travel. "The cruise lines' answer to that is, 'Well, let's stay overnight.'"

What are the benefits of overnight cruise stays?

For starters, travelers don't have to feel rushed to return to the ship before it leaves. "You're able to really experience what the port has to offer in terms of nightlife," Feldman said.

Tillie and Joseph L. James Jr., luxury travel advisers who co-own Tillie James Travel, said longer stays allow them to arrange unique experiences for their clients, like private museum tours or dinners at local restaurants. Cruise lines may offer nighttime excursions as well.

Some activities may be even better after dark, like perusing Christmas markets . "It's so beautiful to see them at night," said Tillie. "During the day, you can go walk through those, but during the nights, when everything's lit up and you smell all the food, it's just a wonderful experience."

Those kinds of stops are becoming easier to find, too, according to Feldman. He noted an uptick in itineraries featuring overnights over the past two or three years.

"It's a growing trend," he said.

Do I have to stay on the cruise ship during an overnight stay?

Not necessarily. Feldman said cruise ships typically leave the gangway open all night for guests. "You can come and go as you please," he said. "And if you want to go out and, let's say, party until 3 in the morning, you can do that and then come back."

You can sleep in without missing out too. Most ships also don't leave for their next destination until late afternoon or evening, giving passengers nearly a full second day in port.

On my cruise, knowing I had extra time in San Francisco, I didn't feel pressured to cram everything into one day. The ship offered a nice home base after the show, and I grabbed a quick bite to eat on the way back to my cabin.

What cruises have overnight stays?

Travelers are more likely to find overnights on itineraries that feature "some of your larger destinations where there's just so much to do, people want to get immersed," Feldman said, like Athens, Rome, or Southampton, England.

Looking for cruise deals? Here's why they may be harder to find

Some lines market their sailings with a particular focus on overnight stays, he added, such as Princess, Azamara, Silversea Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises . Longer itineraries, like world cruises that can sail for months at a time, may also feature more overnights as they have more time to fill.

And having even just one extra day can shift the hop-off, hop-on dynamic of a cruise. "You're like, 'Oh, I don't have to be back by any certain time. I don't have to be back until tomorrow,'" said Feldman. "So, it kind of changes your perspective of how you can approach a port."

Nathan Diller is a consumer travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Nashville. You can reach him at [email protected].

Cruise ship worker accused of stabbing 3 people with scissors on board vessel bound for Alaska

Authorities say a cruise ship worker from South Africa has been arrested in Alaska’s capital city after he was accused of attacking a woman and two security guards with scissors on board the vessel

JUNEAU, Alaska -- A cruise ship worker from South Africa was arrested Tuesday in Alaska's capital city, accused of attacking a woman and two security guards with scissors on board the vessel, according to authorities.

The U.S. attorney's office says the man is charged with assault with a dangerous weapon within maritime and territorial jurisdiction. Online court records do not show an attorney for the 35-year-old man.

According to an affidavit from FBI Special Agent Matthew Judy, the man was recently hired by a cruise line and joined the ship, the Norwegian Encore, in Seattle on Sunday. The ship set off that day for a weeklong trip with scheduled stops in Alaska ports, including the capital of Juneau, and British Columbia.

The alleged incident happened west of Vancouver Island, British Columbia, as the ship was sailing to Alaska. According to the affidavit, during the 'late evening" Sunday, ship personnel saw the man trying to deploy a lifeboat, and he was taken by security to a medical center for an evaluation.

While there, he “became irrational and attempted to leave,” and “physically attacked” a guard and a nurse, the affidavit states. He ran into another room, where he grabbed a pair of scissors and stabbed a woman who was being examined, as well as two guards who tried to intervene before being subdued and held in a “shipboard jail,” the affidavit says. None of the injuries were considered life-threatening.

The ship arrived in Juneau on Tuesday, when he was arrested by the FBI, the U.S. attorney's office says.

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Ukraine war latest: Situation in Kharkiv 'dire' - as parts of Vovchansk 'fall to Russia'

The UN says it is "deeply concerned" about the plight of civilians in northeastern Ukraine, as Ukrainian troops are forced to withdraw from parts of a key town in the region. Submit your question on the war for our experts to answer below.

Tuesday 14 May 2024 12:46, UK

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• Blinken arrives in Kyiv on unannounced trip
• Parts of Vovchansk fall to Russia - reports
• Dozens of homes damaged in Belgorod attack
• Big picture: Everything you need to know about the war this week
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• Who is Andrei Belousov, Putin's new pick for defence minister?
• Live reporting by Bhvishya Patel

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The world taking its "eye off the ball" led to the position we see in Kharkiv today, defence secretary Grant Shapps has said. 

Speaking at the Sea Power Conference today, the minister reiterated the UK's complete support for Ukraine, saying Russia winning would be "unimaginable and unacceptable".

He said: "I've heard repeatedly, including said to me by [Ukraine's] President Zelenskyy, which is that without Britain, they wonder whether they would still have been in this war at all."

He listed the UK's commitments to Ukraine, and criticised the world for having taken its "eye off the ball" recently.

"The amount of time it's taken to get the rest of the funding through has directly led to the position we see in Kharkiv today," he said.

He added that he did not think the situation was "fatal", however, and said it was "an important lesson to the world not to lose attention about Ukraine".

Ukraine must develop the "strongest possible democracy", Antony Blinken has told officials during a working lunch in a pizzeria in Kyiv.

The US secretary of state said it was "imperative" that fighting corruption in the country continues along with fighting Russian aggression. 

He also said it was important Ukraine developed "the strongest possible democracy" that reflects its citizens and attracts investment.

Mr Blinken's visit follows the approval of a long-delayed foreign assistance package for Ukraine by Congress.

The package sets aside $61bn (£48.1bn) in aid for Ukraine, much of which will go toward replenishing badly depleted artillery and air defence systems.

Russian troops have captured the town of Buhruvatka in Ukraine's Kharkiv region, the defence ministry reports, according to Reuters.

The claim comes hours after Russia's TASS  news agency reported the western and northern parts of Vovchansk in Ukraine's Kharkhiv region had fallen (see post at 9.21am).

Sky News cannot independently verify these battlefield claims.

Russia's supreme court has rejected an appeal by Kremlin critic Vladimir Kara-Murza against his 25-year jail sentence, according to Reuters. 

The prominent Russian opposition figure, who has both Russian and British passports, was arrested near his Moscow home in April 2022 and convicted of treason by a court in April 2023.

He has repeatedly condemned Russia's war in Ukraine, criticised Vladimir Putin, and lobbied for Western sanctions against Moscow.

In his appeal, Mr Kara-Murza had argued that he had committed no crime and was convicted solely for exercising his right to free speech by expressing public opposition to Mr Putin and the war.

"This whole case is based on the denial of the very concepts of law, justice, and legality," he said in a written submission to the court.

"But it is also based on a crude, cynical forgery - an attempt to equate criticism of the authorities with harm to the country; to present opposition activity as 'treason'. But there is nothing new in this, either; it is what every dictatorship does."

Evacuations are under way in the town of Vovchansk, in the northeast Kharkiv region.

Local officials fear that Vovchansk's fate may mirror that of Bakhmut and Avdiivka, Ukrainian cities where fierce fighting forced Ukrainian withdrawals.

The Kremlin's forces are aiming to exploit Ukrainian weaknesses before a big batch of new military aid for Kyiv from the US and European partners arrives on the battlefield, according to analysts.

Six children have been rescued from the Russian-occupied Kherson region, the area's governor Oleksandr Prokudin has said. 

Mr Prokudin said on Telegram the children - one girl and five boys - were "rescued from the camps of the Russian occupiers".

The Save Ukraine organisation worked on the rescue mission, he said.

"It was an extremely difficult rescue mission with delays at roadblocks and intimidation," the governor said.

"Fortunately, all the children are safe now. Doctors and psychologists work with them."

The children were aged between five and 12.

The UN has issued a statement on the ongoing situation in the northeast Kharkiv region.

In a statement, the office of the UN high commissioner for human rights said it was "deeply concerned at the plight of civilians in Ukraine, particularly in the Kharkiv region" as Russian forces step up attacks.

"This assault has seized more Ukrainian territory, triggered further displacement and potentially threatens Kharkiv," the statement reads.

Data from the UN shows that since the latest incursion by Russian forces on 10 May at least 6,000 people are believed to have fled or been evacuated from areas on the border and many have reached the city of Kharkiv.

At least eight civilians have been killed and 35 injured in the Kharkiv region since last Friday.

"In the Kharkiv region, the situation is dire, as fighting intensifies," the UN office said.

"Colleagues in Kharkiv report air raid sirens sounding almost constantly and hearing explosions in the border area and in the city itself. 

"Reports indicate that in the northeastern border city of Vovchansk, where there has been significant destruction, heavy fighting is continuing. 

"Several hundred civilian residents out of a population of some 3,000 prior to 10 May are believed to still be there."

The head of Ukraine's military intelligence agency has said the situation in the Kharkiv region is moving towards stabilisation but that Russia may send in more reserves in the coming days.

Russia's military had also stationed small assault units near Ukraine's northern Sumy region, GUR agency chief Kyrylo Budanov told Ukrainian TV.

Earlier, the TASS news agency reported the western and northern parts of Vovchansk in Ukraine's Kharkhiv region were now under Russian control (see post at 9.21am).

Ukraine's military said the situation in the town was under control but it had to withdraw to new positions near the village of Lukyantsi.

Vladimir Putin's appointment of Nikolai Patrushev as his aide, which forms part of his cabinet reshuffle, appears to be a demotion, our  international affairs editor Dominic Waghorn   says.

Waghorn says Patrushev, who was moved from his role of secretary on the security council to make way for Sergei Shoigu, is a "colourful and rather sinister character".

"He is the ideas man behind the direction Vladimir Putin has taken his country in," he says.

"He seems to believe in any conspiracy theory that is going. He can buy into paranoia about the way the world is treating Russia, with delusions of grandeur about the restoration of the Russian empire.

"He's put a lot of thoughts and ideas into Putin's head over the years."

Waghorn says Western observers "will be relieved" he's been taken away from that position and it "looks as though he's been put into a position where he has been demoted to an adviser role".

"He's still  in a position where he can influence Putin but he won't have control over intelligence gathering," he adds.

"The apparent demotion will be encouraging to observers in the West."

But Waghorn also notes that it looks as though Mr Putin "is getting his act together".

"Bringing about a reshuffle might give him a bit more reality with the way in which he views the world - that may or may not be a good thing," he adds.

The western and northern parts of Vovchansk in Ukraine's Kharkhiv region have fallen under the control of Russian forces, the TASS state news agency reports.

Ukraine's military has said the situation in the town of Vovchansk is under control but it had to withdraw to new positions near the village of Lukyantsi due to heavy Russian air strikes.

Street fighting is ongoing in the town, TASS reports.

The embattled town of Vovchansk, in northeast Ukraine, is where Kyiv's troops are locked in intense battles with the Russian army.

The town, whose pre-war population of 17,000 had dwindled to just 2,500 before Russia renewed its ground assault last week, has emerged as a focus point for Russia.

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