Buy A Cruise Ship Guide

In 2008, Chris Willson made headlines by purchasing a —the Aurora —after finding it listed on Craigslist.

The story of buying a cruise ship ranges from tech developers finding vintage vessels on Craigslist to retirees trading their suburban homes for permanent cabins at sea. The Craigslist Captain buy a cruise ship

: Secondhand ships from the 1970s or 80s occasionally hit the market for $3 million to $10 million , often requiring significant overhauls to meet modern safety standards. Key Considerations for Prospective Buyers In 2008, Chris Willson made headlines by purchasing

: It reportedly appeared in the James Bond film From Russia With Love and helped inspire The Love Boat . Key Considerations for Prospective Buyers : It reportedly

: While the purchase price was relatively low, Willson has since spent over $1 million on its restoration, working 10 hours a day to preserve its 85 cabins and three decks. Retiring Into a Cabin

: A mid-sized ship (2,500 passengers) starts around $600 million , while giants like Allure of the Seas can cost upwards of $1.5 billion .

: A 293-foot vessel originally built in post-war Germany.