Living in a floating condo on a riverboat

We talked about this after seeing the video on CNN and thought it was interesting but would get dull after a while. We have always talked about getting a houseboat and cruising down the Mississippi.

I wonder if they can really sell out the boat? If they don't, the HOA fees would be sky high (and they already looked pretty high to me!)
 
I also saw the show on TV. The ship looked empty and sterile, and the passengers/residents seemed a bit bored. I wouldn't turn down that gourmet food, though.
 
I can stand 7-10 days on board. After that, I would want to walk other than around n circles. We also like to cook. Eating out gets boring really fast.
 
I read an article a while back about the same kind of idea, but in individual boats. Just a more affordable way to life downtown in big cities like NY and LA. Somewhat interesting.

This big floating barge/cruise ship idea sucks IMHO. I remember back when my mother did a tour around the world in the QEII. There were some who live on the ship for long periods of time (6 months to two years) and my mother described them as bored rich people without friends and family. This one seems to be focused on bored middle class people without friends and family :(

So this would not appeal to me for the same reasons I don't go on cruises and I don't stay in resorts. I just prefer doing my own thing and I would feel like a prisoner in those types of facilities.
 
I've always been interested in one of those European river cruises. It seems like a great way to visit the older parts of a number of cities without constantly packing and unpacking.

I'm less interested in American cities because I've visited more of them. I live in the midwest so many of these ports are just another midwestern city to me.

But, I could see it for one year. It gives my wife a chance to stay in and do her thing while I walk around. (I wonder if there's a place onboard to store a bicycle) If there were a proven resale market, I'd look to see if the numbers work out. As a new venture, way too expensive.
 
That thing looks like a great big barge and not really something I could imagine calling home. I'll have to pass, but that will just give more opportunities for others wanting to live aboard the barge. :LOL:
 
They always say boats are just holes in the water where you throw your money. Don't know that I'd want to be responsible for paying HOA fees tied to such a thing.
 
Intruiging to me. I like the idea of moving around to different cities. I would assume though that it is not constantly on the move and would dock at a given city for a week or two at a time?
 
Ugh! Looks horrible. Where's the freedom and fun in that. At least when you move into a retirement community on land you can come and go as you please, travel where you want, etc. Here you go where they go, see what they want you to see. Like an endless sightseeing tour.
 
Way too big. I'll stick with something simpler, and more LBYM.

tifi-redneckhouseboater.jpg
 
Sometimes people like their home even if it floats. It might get old. I think it depends on the person. I could see doing it for a year or so then moving back to land.
 
We went up to see the world's fair Expo 86 in Vancouver Canada and when I tried to book a room I was given the option of a Flotel. They tried to explain it to me but I was not interested. We stayed at the Westin on the water. When we went for a walk we saw all of these strange looking floating hotel rooms docked everywhere. I guess they needed extra capacity for the event.

I passed then and still feel the same way.
 
skyvue said:
Intruiging to me. I like the idea of moving around to different cities. I would assume though that it is not constantly on the move and would dock at a given city for a week or two at a time?
Click to expand...

Here's a pdf with a sample itinerary. I was surprised at the number of different stops - they say 155 over the course of a year. http://rivercitiescondos.com/media/pdfs/annual_cruise_route.pdf

Their wording is "overnight stops" so they must travel during the day. On this idealized day they are moving from 8 am to 11 am. A typical day aboard River Cities
 
This would not be for me but, if you are at all interested in the notion read Shantyboat or Shantyboat journal by Harlan Hubbard. These books and a couple of manhattans are enough of an escape for me.
 
There was a time in my life

when I thought I would like to live on a boat for a year. Someone already mentioned this, living in a large city on the water - convenient, unique, less expensive perhaps.

As time passes I realize that is one dream that I'll have to pass on as an adventure. As a permanent living arrangement :) I don't think so. For the same reasons others have mentioned - boring and would feel like a prisoner...besides, where would I be without my cats?

Having always been a city girl I'm still amazed at myself how quickly and favorably I've taken to the country. I live in our childhood home (LONG story) at the end of town, at the end of a dead-end street, tucked between two streams at the bottom of a hill - all this and only 45 km from the capital city, Budapest. My cats have never been happier, I'm learning gardening and the air is fresh. This year I'm planning to start a crop of asparagus and perhaps learn to make cheese as there are still a few producers in the village with cows.

Plan for the long term and always remain flexible. Life is constantly changing.
 
This is a similar idea to "The World" cruise ship that was launched maybe 5 years ago. For a couple of million $ you get a 1200sq foot suite. The ship constantly travels the world staying in port for periods up to a week or two. There would also be pretty hefty fees to pay ongoing.
Sounded pretty good to us at first but we agreed that it would get pretty boring pretty fast. I suspect the whole idea has taken a bit of a hit due to the financial crises. The river boat sounds even less appealing.
 
I did some checking into this and it turns out that you can buy a 2/4/6/12 month ownership. For us a 2 month deal may be good, it costs $54.6k with a $1600 HOA. I could see doing January and February tooling around the warmer part of the country. They are sending me the info. Doing that and the RV'ing thing around north America for a few months and then hanging around MA in the Summer sounds fun. FYI New England has very nice summer.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

N
Reverse Mortgage
Replies
9
Views
473
old medic
O
N
Wisdom needed- Downsizing Renting vs Buying
Replies
15
Views
827
meleana
M
G
Condo vs. Co-Op as a Second Home? Pros and Cons
2
Replies
47
Views
2K
G-Man
G
H
Floating Rate ETF's?
Replies
2
Views
391
pb4uski
pb4uski
Qs Laptop
  • Locked
Watched "Some Kind of Heaven" about The Villages. Any Other Similar Videos?
Replies
20
Views
3K
braumeister
braumeister

Latest posts

Back
Top Bottom