A pair of partners opted to bundle up their simple small-city existence.
Wyoming
And embark on the journey of a lifetime — an opulent world cruise.
Paul and Lynn Montoya resided in Laramie—a town of approximately 31,000 people—and ran a bed and breakfast in Vedauwoo when they received an unexpected jolt that forced them to reconsider their situation.
COVID-19
During the pandemic, I aimed to experience all that the world has to offer.
“We recognized that we hadn’t explored the world while managing our business as we did in Wyoming,” Paul explained.
Cowboy State Daily.
We didn’t get around to traveling much until recently. Last year was the first time we visited Europe, even though we’re both in our 60s now, so we hope to see more of the world.
That’s precisely what they did – abandoning their home, loading a rented vehicle with their cherished belongings, and setting off on their journey.
Villa Vie ship Odyssey,
The initial global cruise sees travelers setting out on a voyage of approximately three and a half years circling the planet.
Cruises are frequently seen as costly, but for the Montoyas, they quickly discovered that their dream would not be more expensive than staying in Laramie.
Currently, the pair is relishing an extensive getaway costing around $80,000 annually since they boarded a cruise ship in April to sail through 147 nations, visit 425 harbors, and explore 100 tropical islands.
Their expenditure details encompass the price of their cabin, daily meals, leisure activities, cleaning services, washing facilities, and web access.
The most affordable cabin choice begins at $129,000 along with a monthly maintenance cost of $2,999 — which totals roughly $45,000 per year — for an individual to reside there.
For a pair of individuals, the charge is $3,999 or $57,000 annually, as stated by the
ship’s website
The occupancy duration could extend up to a minimum of 15 years if needed.
Even though the exact amount paid by the couple isn’t known, data suggests that the typical price for a house in Laramie stands around $378,258, as reported.
Zillow.
That’s something the Odyssey truly aims to achieve: making life more affordable,” Lynn explained to the outlet. “It’s akin to perhaps a retirement community, such as those designated for individuals aged 55 and above.
She proceeded to draw comparisons between their new way of life and those residing in two of the priciest areas in the US.
“If you’re residing in places like California or New York, I doubt you’d be able to find a rental apartment at this rate,” she commented.
‘To them, this might be a simple choice. For us, it’s the same way of life we enjoyed in Laramie, yet we get to explore the globe.’
She and her spouse aren’t required to remain in their cabins throughout their stay because they can step out for crucial family gatherings such as funerals or weddings.
They can choose to lease their cabin similar to how Airbnb rents out homes. Additionally, if they decide to part ways, they have the option of selling their cabin back to Ville Vie at a reduced price or putting it up for sale to a prospective buyer interested in owning a cabin.
The couple mentioned that their cabin is now valued at around $20,000 more than its original purchase price.
Considering this, Paul mentioned that he and his spouse have some ideas for the upcoming development of their cabin.
“If we pass away, our family could also claim inheritance rights to it. However, we’re optimistic that the property value will increase so much that we might be able to sell the cabin for at least what we originally paid, possibly even more if demand surges,” he explained.
The cruise provides flexibility in cabin payments through a pay-as-you-go option for those unable to cover the cost upfront.
The Montoyas encountered a man who has two cabins; one for his personal use and an additional one meant for rental purposes.
‘The way he operates now is by leasing both properties, and using the rent from these leases to cover his expenses aboard the ship,’ Lynn clarified.’
‘The person in question departed back in August, which means they have been engaged in that activity for quite some time now.’
Even though the cabins are budget-friendly — when compared to the expense of living on land in the US — the pair cautioned that there isn’t ample room to maneuver.
‘The usual size of a cabin tends to be around 200 square feet. It typically includes a bed and a desk, perhaps accompanied by a side chair and a compact bathroom,’ was their statement.
However, you can still personalize the cabins according to your preferences since the pair intend to make alterations to their area shortly.
Paul mentioned, “The construction team will be removing all the cabinets, and afterward, we’ll put up new wallpaper. Additionally, we plan to install our personal bed instead of keeping the current one.”
They can get back their bed when the ship docks in San Diego.
Although they have ensured their living quarters are cozy, the pair mentioned that they mostly hang out at the ship’s gym, business center, or explore ports engaging in enjoyable and distinctive activities.
The Montoyas recently had an opportunity to swim with wild dolphins in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, as they elaborated.
YouTube page.
They also
created their own website
To provide updates about their travels, including a list of all the locations they’ve visited and those still left to explore.
By Sunday, the pair had explored eight locations in Mexico, along with one each in El Salvador and Guatemala.
They still have plenty of locations left to check out, such as excursions to Hawaii, Canada, Washington, California, Alaska, Japan, and South Korea.
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