Want to live at sea? See inside a cruise ship that will circle the globe for three years and cost from $90,000 per person

The MV Gemini with Life at Sea Cruises. — MV Gemini with Life at Sea Cruises

Life at Sea Cruises will operate a three-year cruise around the world starting in November.
The cruise starts at $30,000 per person per year for a 130-square-foot interior stateroom.
See what life will be like aboard the roughly 30-year-old MV Gemini.

Travelers who have dreamt of living at sea can finally do so this November.

an outdoor lounge aboard the MV Gemini with Life at Sea Cruises. — Life at Sea Cruises

Life at Sea Cruises will give travelers the opportunity to spend three years on a cruise ship while sailing around the world. Pricing starts at $90,000 per person for the full itinerary.

The vessel will begin its globetrotting affair in Istanbul on November 1, but will also pick up guests in Barcelona and Miami.

Inside a cabin aboard the MV Gemini with Life at Sea Cruises. — Life at Sea Cruises

The ship has 400 cabins to accommodate up to 1,074 travelers. Throughout the three years, these seafarers will travel over 130,000 miles to 375 ports in 135 countries.

Along the way, they'll see all seven continents while visiting destinations like several of the Wonders of the World; Half Moon Island, Antarctica; Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; and Seoul, South Korea.

The business center aboard the MV Gemini with Life at Sea Cruises. — MV Gemini with Life at Sea Cruises

Most around-the-world cruises spend several hours or up to two nights at ports of call.

A lounge aboard the MV Gemini with Life at Sea Cruises — Life at Sea Cruises

But industry veteran Mike Petterson, the managing director of Life at Sea Cruises and the brainpower behind the new brand, said this isn't enough time to explore larger destinations like Beijing, China.

So instead, the Gemini will dock for up to seven nights in one destination.

This includes one week each in Shanghai and Singapore, which will also double as wet docks. If the ship has to head into a dry dock for repairs, Life at Sea passengers will be put up in a hotel.

Reception on the MV Gemini with Life at Sea Cruises — Life at Sea Cruises

Petterson conceived of Life at Sea before the COVID-19 pandemic and partnered with Miray International's Miray Cruises in late 2022 to turn this concept into a reality.

The pool deck aboard the MV Gemini with Life at Sea Cruises. — MV Gemini with Life at Sea Cruises

The new company will use Miray's cruise ship workers and the Gemini, one of its three ships.

Pool deck on the MV Gemini with Life at Sea Cruises — Life at Sea Cruises

Throughout the three years at sea, the Gemini will spend 288 overnights at different ports, averaging about two nights per destination.

A trip to any of these locations could cost the typical globetrotter hundreds or thousands of dollars in travel and accommodation fees.

However, passage on Life at Sea's Gemini will alleviate upfront costs for travelers by giving them the option to spread payments out over the course of three years.

But don't expect a glittering new hotel at sea with all the bells and whistles of a novel mega ship.

The upper-premium, 30-year-old vessel was refurbished last year. And the team is now spending an additional $10 million renovating the interior.

Think of the Gemini as a floating city with its own security, medical center, and offices with Starlink WiFi.

Outdoor lounge on the MV Gemini with Life at Sea Cruises — Life at Sea Cruises

Source: Life at Sea Cruises

No city would be complete without a jail and a morgue. Luckily (or unluckily) the Gemini has both.

Cruise lines like Royal Caribbean have seen record-breaking demand for giant cruise ships that can accommodate thousands of travelers.

Wonder of the Seas — Brittany Chang/Insider

Source: Insider

But Life at Sea is taking a more scaled-down approach to the floating hotel.

Seafarers will have access to typical cruise ship amenities, which include four lounges, a golf simulator, and a sundeck with a pool.

For meals at sea, passengers can dine at one of the two primary dining rooms, the restaurant on the pool deck, or order food anywhere on the ship using its app.

The food aboard the MV Gemini with Life at Sea Cruises. — MV Gemini with Life at Sea Cruises

But unlike the average cruise vessel, the Gemini will also have amenities like a robust business center and a hospital with a pharmacy and dentist.

Like any all-inclusive cruise, these extras — including hospital visits — won't come at an additional cost.

These around-the-world cruises are often booked by retirees.

But Petterson says Life at Sea is targeting an incrementally younger demographic: pre-retirees, generally people between 55 to 65 years of age.

The business center aboard the MV Gemini with Life at Sea Cruises.The business center aboard the MV Gemini with Life at Sea Cruises. — MV Gemini with Life at Sea Cruises

To accommodate the remote workers, the business center — which will replace the ship's casino — will have meeting rooms, offices, and a library.

Days at sea with no land in sight is inevitable for transoceanic itineraries: Travelers on the Gemini will have at least 300 of these sailing days.

To stave off boredom, travelers can spend their days around the ship's lounges, attending seminars and shows, or resting in their cabins.

Source: Life at Sea

The cheapest and smallest stateroom measures 130 square feet and starts at $90,000 per person for the three-year trip.

A rendering of a stateroom layout aboard the MV Gemini with Life at Sea Cruises — Life at Sea Cruises

Like any cruise ship, interior staterooms can feel dingy.

To prevent this, these cabins will come with screens that will display a live view of the ocean, creating a virtual "window."

For those looking to spend more cash, the most expensive cabin — a suite with a balcony — will run travelers nearly $330,000 in total.

A rendering of a suite layout aboard the MV Gemini with Life at Sea Cruises — Life at Sea Cruises

Source: Life At Sea Cruises

These staterooms pale in comparison to the over 1,000-square-foot suites on several modern cruise ships.

Icon of the Seas will debut the first Ultimate Family Townhouse. Spanning three levels, the perfect home away from home for families features an in-suite slide, a cinema space, karaoke, a spacious balcony, a private entrance to the ultimate family neighborhood, Surfside, and more. — Royal Caribbean International

Source: Insider

But according to Petterson, at least they're more affordable: "It's meant more for the mass market and retirees as opposed to doctors with trophy wives."

Travelers can either pay monthly or pay the entire three years upfront with the option to finance the payment.

A bar aboard the MV Gemini with Life at Sea Cruises — Life at Sea Cruises

However, they can't book shorter legs of the trip. It's all three years or nothing.

For those with commitment issues, there's also the option to divide travel with another passenger, taking turns spending time on the ship.

Three years without seeing friends and family can be a long time. Luckily, they're welcome as well.

They can either crash on a roll-in bed in a resident's stateroom, stay in a guest cabin, or stay in a passenger's stateroom while they are off the ship.

Reservations for Life at Sea's Gemini open on March 1.

Petterson says the company already has about 20 people who are ready to book.

A balcony aboard the MV Gemini with Life at Sea Cruises. — Life at Sea Cruises

Launching sales seven months ahead of the journey may seem risky for an industry that often relies on bookings a year in advance.

bar aboard the MV Gemini with Life at Sea Cruises — Life at Sea Cruises

Source: Insider

However, Petterson, a self-described "optimist," expects the ship will sail at an over 55% occupancy rate at any given time as world cruises have skyrocketed in popularity over the last two years.

Over the last few years, around-the-world sailings have been booking well despite the long-term commitment.

For travelers like retirees and remote workers, this extended life at sea promises peaceful afternoons and the opportunity to slowly travel the world with minimal planning.