Featured Image Credit: Debra Kilgore
Topics: Community, News, Travel, Cruise ship
Gerrard Kaonga
A woman is expecting her retirement to be a great adventure as she confirms she has just spent millions on a home on a cruise ship that sails the world.
When it comes to retirement, many opt for living in the same home or moving to a retirement home, but an Arizona woman has more wild ideas.
63-year-old Count Debra Kilgore has just bought a $1.9 million home for her retirement.
Now, you would be forgiven for thinking she has brought a rather lavish mansion or some other rich person home, but that isn’t the case.
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Instead, Debra opted to buy a home on a cruise ship that sails the world, with the added benefit being that the residents actually vote on where it sails to next.
Speaking to Realtor, Debra also noted that she is doing this alone, something she has always found 'easy' since growing up as an only child.
She said: “I’m really looking forward to being on the ship by myself.
“You can go anywhere you want, and not worry about what someone else wants to do.
“Traveling alone allows you to be flexible. You don’t have to stick to a plan. You can explore a destination at a different level by going off the beaten path and experiencing places that locals may recommend.”
Debra also explained that while she enjoys her alone time, living a cruise ship doesn't mean she will be lonely.
“You have a choice to be around others, to be involved in activities, to be in groups or not,” she said. “I’m not someone who worries about going off on my own when the ship is in port.”
The mother (and grandmother) of two is long divorced, and also explained that she does travel with one companion: her nine-year-old dog, Choo Choo Bella.
Speaking about the dog's travels, she added: “She has been to Canada, all the Hawaiian islands, and most of the continental U.S.
For their upcoming grand adventure, where she bought her new home, Choo Choo Bella and Debra will be aboard the Storylines’ MV Narrative, a residential cruise ship scheduled to depart in 2027.
And before you ask, pets are allowed - in fact, there is even a vet aboard the vessel.
Back in 2022, after seeing an article about the cruise ship, Debra put down a $10,000 deposit on a one-bedroom, 1.5-bathroom $1.9 million unit, called RU-3 on the 12th deck of the 18 it has.
The MV Narrative boasts 530 furnished apartments, which range from 237 to 1,970 square feet.
Thinking ahead of her new home, Debra added that she 'loves the water' and 'hates the cold', so she's mostly looking forward to seeing the Mediterranean, the South Pacific, the Greek islands, and the Galapagos Islands.