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This Cruise Ship Is Making It Possible For Digital Nomads To Live At Sea – But What’s The Catch?

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A cruise ship might not seem like the ideal home for a digital nomad. With small cabins and notoriously bad internet service, it can be hard to imagine living aboard a cruise ship for any length of time, much less getting any work done. But Miray Cruises is launching a brand new kind of ship to do just that.

Their MV Gemini ship is being remodeled to become a long-term floating home geared towards remote workers. The ship will set sail in the fall of this year and will visit every continent throughout its journey, taking along over 1,000 lucky passengers.

Onboard Amenities

The company has gone to great lengths to adapt the ship to meet the needs of digital nomads. Along with high-speed WiFi throughout, the ship is equipped with a full-scale business center, offices, meeting rooms, and a business library and lounge. There is also a 24-hour hospital with medical visits at no extra cost. Passengers will be treated to more spacious cabins and onboard community-building initiatives for a more comfortable long-term experience.

Due to the extended nature of the cruise, there will also be longer stops at various ports throughout the journey. With 208 overnight stops out of the 375 planned ports, guests will have more time to explore onshore.

In addition to these welcome changes, passengers can expect all of the typical cruise amenities, such as a swimming pool, wellness center, sundeck, auditorium, spa, and salon.

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Where Will It Go?

A better question might be, “Where won’t it go?” The ship is set to embark on a 130,000-mile journey, stopping at hundreds of ports along the way. There are 135 countries included on the itinerary, spanning all 7 continents. It is the ultimate around the world sailing trip.

The ship will stop at several ports throughout the Caribbean, sail the entire coastline of South America, up the west coast of the United States before hitting both Hawaii and then Alaska, and then over to Asia. It will then make stops in Japan and South Korea before continuing throughout Southeast Asia, then around Australia and New Zealand. Finally, it will pass India, loop the entire coastline of Africa, then make its way up to the Mediterranean and Europe.

How Much Does It Cost?

Cruises can range from very affordable to quite expensive, depending on the location, amenities, and level of luxury that you desire. You might think a cruise around the world would lean towards the expensive side, and for that, you would be both right and wrong. The Life at Sea Cruise is not a cheap vacation. However, taking all factors into account, it could come up to less than your life at home.

The lowest-priced room, a standard inside cabin at 130 square feet, comes up to $30,000 per person per year. That’s around $2500 a month, which is lower than the average rent for major U.S. cities like Los Angeles and New York.

It’s also not much more than what many remote workers already pay for coliving or digital nomad groups that move around month to month. On top of all that, this is meant to be both long-term and all-inclusive, so there are no grocery bills, utilities, or other similar costs people typically spend in their home country.

Prices do vary by cabin, with the largest being a 322-square foot balcony room at $110,000 per person for the year. The prices are more ideal for couples, but single travelers do get a small discount – 15% off the double occupancy rate. Financing options are available, but a pretty hefty downpayment of $45,000 is required. Although the monthly rate could be enough for some to handle, the downpayment might be a dealbreaker.

What’s The Catch?

The cost, itinerary, and amenities seem very straightforward. However, there is one very big catch. Travelers must commit to the entire journey – not one, not two, but three years. Yes, the ship will sail for a solid three years, and passengers are expected to sign on for the whole time. Though there is an option to split your cabin with other passengers (somewhat like a timeshare), even one year aboard a cruise ship is a huge commitment for most to make. Another drawback is that the Life at Sea sets sail from Istanbul on November 1, 2023, leaving very little time to get your affairs in order.

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March 6, 2023
Another Italian Town Is Offering Money To Move There, But What’s The Catch?
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We’ve all read the headlines – “Beautiful town in Italy is paying people to move there” and “Houses in this Italian village are selling for $1.” But what is behind these seemingly too-good-to-be-true offers? Are they real, and if so, why do these amazing deals pop up so frequently? What’s the catch?

Presicce, Puglia

Earlier this week, officials from the town of Presicce, located in Puglia, announced they will pay outsiders up to $30,000 to move there. Should you start packing your bags?

About The Area:

This beautiful town is located at the southern tip of the heel of Italy’s boot, and along with the neighboring town of Acquarica, it is home to around 9,000 residents. Historically known for its highly productive and renowned olive oil industry, Presicce has been referred to as the “city of green gold.”

Hidden under the town center is an elaborate system of olive mills that tourists can still visit today. The town is surrounded by olive groves and cycle and hiking trails and is about a 15-minute drive to the coast.

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The Fine Print:

In order to qualify for the payment, you’ll have to move to Presicce, purchase an abandoned home in the town’s historical center, and renovate it, if needed. While Americans are permitted to buy property in Italy, they will need to sort out the appropriate visas in order to stay longer than 90 days or look into becoming an Italian Citizen.

The $30,000 sum will be split in two, with one part given to help pay for the home and the other intended for renovations and refurbishment. Eligible houses are determined by local authorities and must have been built prior to 1991

Why Are They Doing This?

In short, Presicce’s population is declining, and officials are hoping this incentive will breathe new life into the town and give a boost to the local economy. Only half of the town’s 9,000 residents live in the historical section, and this incentive will hopefully revitalize the dwindling center.

Speaking to CNN, local councilor Alfredo Palese said, “There are many empty homes in the historical center built before 1991 which we would like to see alive again with new residents. It is a pity witnessing how our old districts full of history, wonderful architecture and art are slowly emptying.”

Other Places In Italy With Relocation Incentives:

Sardinia – $15,000

The beautiful Italian island of Sardinia is trying to lure new permanent residents to its smaller towns in an attempt to reverse a population slide. What’s the catch?
- Move to a Sardinian town with a population of fewer than 3,000 people
- Put the $15,000 towards renovating a home
- Live there full-time
- Register Sardinia as your permanent residence within 18 months
Candela – Up To $2,000

This central Italian town is offering different amounts based on the size of your family- the more people, the more money you receive. What’s the catch?
- Move to Candela
- Rent a house
- Have a job that pays over $7,500/year
Molise – $25,000

The region of Molise, located east of Rome, has 106 villages in need of more people. Officials are hoping a cash incentive can help repopulate these small towns. What’s the catch?
- $700/month for up to three years
- Need to commit to starting a small business to boost the local economy
- Must be between 18-40 years old
Calabria – Up To $29,000

Calabrian officials hope that their “active residency income” project will boost the economy of Southern Italy and help out small communities that are under threat of even more devastating population loss. What’s the catch?
- Payment made over three years
- Must relocate to a village with less than 2,000 residents
- Must commit to starting a new small business or taking over an existing business
- The maximum age is 40
- Must relocate within 90 days of application
$1 Homes

In 2008, a town in southern Sicily made headlines when the mayor announced they’d be selling off homes for as little as $1. Since then, 34 other Italian towns have followed suit with similar programs. Yes, there are homes for sale for next to nothing, but the costs can quickly add up, as most homes on offer are in need of significant restoration and can come with additional expenses like closing costs, translation services, and taxes.

Is It Worth It?

Italy often makes headlines for incentivizing tourists and potential new residents to join them in an attempt to revitalize their numerous small towns and villages. These creative incentives are certainly worth a shot for Italian municipalities. If successful, many towns could be saved from dying out, but it is likely too soon to know how well these programs are working.

From a new resident’s perspective, there will be many factors to consider when taking up one of these offers. While the increase in remote work makes rural living more accessible to many, there will also be unique challenges for those who choose to move to one of these small towns.

Many do not have great internet connectivity, and some towns have little opportunity to make a living locally. Language barriers, limited social life, and isolation are all factors to consider before jumping on one of these offers.

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November 25, 2022
What’s It Like Traveling To Canada Right Now
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Last Updated 5 hours ago

Since Canada simplified entry rules for tourists as of April 1^st, the nation looks to recover over two years of lost tourism, finally welcoming back visitors with fewer restrictions. As both the rules at the border and local mandates, such as mask-wearing, have been loosening – Canada expects to welcome more foreign arrivals this spring – especially American neighbors from the south.

This article will take a look at Canada’s most recent entry rules, what local restrictions are like in some of the most visited areas, and what foreign tourists can expect this spring.

Canada’s Updated (and easier!) Entry Requirements

Yes, foreign international tourists are welcome to enter Canada, but with a few rules in place.

As of April 1, 2022, the government of Canada removed the requirement for fully vaccinated arrivals to show proof of a negative pre-flight test, either a 1-day antigen or a 72-hour PCR test. Yes, all foreign arrivals will have to be vaccinated in order to enter Canada, only Canadian citizens or residents are permitted to return home unvaccinated.

Here is what tourists can expect when entering Canada this spring
- Download and fill out the ArriveCan app within 72 hours of arrival in Canada
- Upload proof of being fully vaccinated to the app
- Know there is a possibility of being randomly selected for a PCR test on arrival
Tourists should be aware of two things from the above list
1. if they are randomly selected for testing at land border crossings or in airports, they do not have to quarantine while waiting for results of their test.
2. The ArriveCan app will ask if the traveler has a 14-day quarantine plan, should their arrival test be positive.
What’s considered fully vaccinated? The definition of fully vaccinated in Canada means you’ve received the full course of your dose (2 for Pfizer, Moderna, etc, and 1 for J&J) at least 14 days before entering. At this time, Canada does not require a booster and does not have an expiry timeline on the first full course.

Canada’s Inter-Provincial Travel Rules

While there are no current restrictions on traveling from one province to another, foreign visitors might be surprised to learn that all passengers must show proof of vaccination to get on a plane, train, bus, or ferry, even domestically. Canada is one of the only countries in the world with such a mandate, and it’s been in place since October 2021 with no news of being removed.

Since all tourists must be fully vaccinated to enter Canada anyway, this rule won’t really hinder any domestic travel plans, but it’s good for visitors to be aware of the rule so they can show up prepared. Bring your proof of vaccination with you, and be ready to show it, in almost every situation of transportation.

Mask Rules Across Canada

Most provinces and municipalities have removed indoor mask mandates throughout the entire country.

Ontario, British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Newfoundland, and Manitoba have all removed their indoor mask mandates. However, a rule to wear a mask on public transit, or in high-risk health care settings (like a retirement home for example) may still be in place.

Quebec, Prince Edward Island, Northwest Territories, and Nunavut still have some sort of indoor mask mandate in place.

Foreign tourists should be aware that the official government site states all international tourists should wear a mask indoors, regardless of local mandate removals, for their first 14-days inside the country.

Vaccine Passports inside Canada

Throughout the second half of 2021 and into the start of 2022, many provinces within Canada were requiring patrons of cinemas, restaurants, shopping centers, and many other indoor spaces to show proof of vaccination to enter.

As of April 2022, almost all internal vaccine passport programs have been scrapped. Again, foreign tourists still have to be fully vaccinated to enter the country, but the removal of the checkpoints to enter stores and eateries makes for a much easier vacation.

Traveling to and from Canada

As of April 2022, there are now more flight routes in operation to and from Canada than the country has seen since 2019. Major Canadian airlines WestJet and Air Canada have very successfully reinstated popular international routes, and have even added new ones due to higher than expected demand. Other international airlines have also started increasing the number of flights to Canada, especially since the easier test-free entry rules recently came into place.

International tourists will not have an issue finding many flight paths to and from Canada.

Cruise ship travel just returned to Canada in April 2022, with the first ship docking in Victoria, BC on April 9th.

Occupancy Rates

Hotels in Canada, while just starting to recover, still have much lower occupancy rates than in 2019. Many cities are still ranging in a 20% to 45% lower occupancy rate in 2022 than in the same month period in 2019.

This is good news for tourists who want to see top tourist cities in Canada without the record number of crowds in pre-pandemic years.

Is Canada welcoming to foreign tourists right now?

Yes, international tourists are now being encouraged to visit Canada.

However, throughout 2020 and 2021, the majority of Canadians were very pro border rules, pro-vaccine passports, pro masks, and at times, quite anti-travel. Early on in the pandemic, travelers were widely perceived as being irresponsible and were not welcomed by many outside the tourism industry. Now with the government having officially removed most border and internal rules, the majority of Canadians are once again ready to accept foreign visitors and travel abroad themselves.

Tourism providers and tourism-based industries have been vocal with a pre-travel message over the past few years and have been advocating on the safe return of tourism to Canada is possible and very greatly needed. Not only those in the tourism industry, but also small business owners and entrepreneurs, are very keen to see a rebound in tourism from coast to coast.

Read More:

Travel Insurance That Covers Covid-19 For 2022

New Airline Connecting Canada To The United States And Mexico

U.S. State Department Lowers Travel Advisory Risk For Canada

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Disclaimer: Current travel rules and restrictions can change without notice. The decision to travel is ultimately your responsibility. Contact your consulate and/or local authorities to confirm your nationality’s entry and/or any changes to travel requirements before traveling. Travel Off Path does not endorse traveling against government advisories
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April 11, 2022