Innovative new concept caters to active baby-boomer retirees
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla., June 29, 2009 — Oceanic Retirement Communities of America (ORCA) has started taking reservations for a program that will allow seniors to own a condo on a private residential cruise ship that also provides both the Independent and Assisted Living accommodations typically found in land-based facilities.
"People retire to Florida for three things mainly … warm sunshine, golf, and the water," states Mel Medina, President of ORCA. "This is a unique package that provides for all that plus a wellness capability."
The ORCA Lifestyle Cruising Program will provide the healthcare aspects of traditional retirement facilities on private resident-owned cruise ships to be home ported in various coastal Florida cities. Seniors would enter the program just as they would a typical Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC) with a nominal entrance fee and subsequent monthly Residents' Care fees, but would live aboard the cruise ship until eventually health issues would necessitate their moving into a skilled nursing facility ashore. The big difference is this. Unlike a CCRC, on an ORCA ship, you actually OWN your residence like a condo. Upon passing, it actually reverts to your estate. The heirs can sell the stateroom or keep it for their own use by renting it out until they are 55 and ready to retire and move aboard themselves.
The first ship will enter service sometime late Summer or early Fall and will take frequent cruises to the Bahamas and Central America.
"This is an ingenious concept that fosters the active and adventurous senior lifestyle so demanded among the retiring baby boomers," says Medina, who also owns a major Central Florida home healthcare company.
Enrollment pricing in the ORCA Lifestyle Cruising Program varies from $259-499,000 for 2 people. Monthly Residents' Care Fees are about the same or a little less than conventional retirement facilities. The fee covers all expenses of operating the ship including fuel, crew, housekeeping, medical center, insurance, cruises, port fees, maintenance, and all residents' meals. The owners will live aboard the ship in typical cruise ship size staterooms which are about the same size as conventional land-based facilities but with a twist … This retirement community has a night club, martini bar, library, elegant dining room, spa, workout room, putting green, shuffleboard, 12 guest cabins, and 6,000 sq' of sun deck. The staterooms have large flat-screen TVs, WiFi, room phones, and are fully furnished.
"All things considered we think most retiring baby boomers and seniors will rather move onto a beautiful ship whose view changes frequently rather than sit in a typical shore-bound facility that lacks the ambience of moonlight on the open sea," concluded Medina.
For more information or to make a reservation, call Carlos Gil toll-free 1-866-WIL-CRUZ (866-945-2789). The company's website is http://www.condoships.com.
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