| Imagine a floating retirement home that includes | | | | and family (includes meals) |
| accommodations for two with ocean view, all meals, | | | | - Cashless Casino for recreation when ship is docked, |
| co-ownership in a cruise ship, a membership to a Golf | | | | but boosts up to authentic gaming casino when at sea. |
| and Country Club, monthly Bahamas cruise and annual | | | | - Access to ship laundry |
| cruise to the Caribbean. Sound too good to be true? | | | | - Shuttle bus for shopping, events and site seeing |
| Now offered by Waterfront Lifestyles International, this | | | | - Staterooms have flat screen TV's, telephones, and |
| is the latest concept for Florida's seniors. The | | | | high-speed internet access |
| retirement community is a luxury cruise ship, complete | | | | - All rooms are outside units with large windows |
| with dining room, cocktail lounges, night club, library | | | | - Monthly cruise to Bahamas and annual cruise to the |
| Internet cafe, spa, fitness room, cigar bar, shops, | | | | Caribbean |
| medical center, sun deck, hot tub, casino and | | | | - Membership to local Golf & Tennis Country Club |
| shuffleboard. The ship is located in Cape Canaveral | | | | - Parking |
| with proximity to Orlando and famous central Florida | | | | - Storage facilities |
| attractions including Disneyworld, Sea World, Universal | | | | Costs range from about $2500 to $5,500/month for |
| Studios and the space launches. | | | | two people including meals and weekly housekeeping. |
| Residents actually own a 1/100th share of the ship that | | | | Actually pretty reasonable, when you consider the |
| includes stateroom for two, meals and use of ship | | | | cost of a retirement home is usually much higher for |
| facilities. Similar to a condo, they pay a maintenance | | | | one person. An average seniors home may be |
| fee proportionate to the size and cost of their | | | | between $1,000 and $3,000/month for one person, or |
| stateroom (range from 125-330 square feet). | | | | from $6,000 to $8,000 for upscale facilities. |
| This fee goes toward the ship's operating expenses. | | | | Investors can even put off purchasing until they retire, |
| Since you are not purchasing real estate, the sale will | | | | and rent in the meantime. Residents are also permitted |
| not be subject to property taxes, or closing fees. The | | | | to rent out their staterooms, but only for a minimum |
| members actually form a Homeowners Association to | | | | one year lease. |
| make decisions about the ship's maintenance and | | | | After viewing their brochures, if you're still interested, |
| monitor fluctuation of monthly fees. The ship is | | | | leave a refundable $10,000 deposit to hold the |
| currently referred to as "Alegria", but the Homeowners | | | | stateroom that most interests you, and you can board |
| Association will have the final say in its name. Profit | | | | the ship and view the facilities first hand. If it's not what |
| from the shops, bars, casino and spa go back into the | | | | you're looking for, the deposit is totally refundable. |
| maintenance fund to subsidize the operating budget. | | | | Alegria the first cruise vessel being offered by |
| Ship Amenities include: | | | | Waterfront Lifestyles, but they hope to add additional |
| - Weekly housekeeping | | | | ships in Tampa, Jacksonville, Palm Beach and |
| - 12 guest cabins available for free stays for friends | | | | Sarasota. |