Home Ship Home

Come aboard with a couple of regular world cruisers.

- Fran Golden

FOR LINDA WEISSMAN, 70, AND HER retired orthopedic surgeon husband, Martin, 76, home away from home is on the oceanliners of Cunard Line. The Michigan couple resides on a Cunard ship for a third of each year, sailing world cruises, sometimes with added days. Since 2007, they’ve spent some $1.5 million in the process, with more cruises planned.

“It’s how we get away for winter,” Linda says.

PERSONAL TOUCHES _The couple chooses a cruise based on their preferred east to west routing (which they say is easier in terms of time adjustment). Linda has a special affinity for Queen Mary 2, though they’ve also spent time on Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth.

“People say ‘What do you do on a ship for four months?’ I say ‘I live here, it’s my condo,’” she says. “Everybody knows me. It’s kind of like the bar on Cheers. Everybody knows my name.”

The Weissmans’ Queens Grill Suite comes with access to dining in the private Queens Grill Restaurant, which is reserved for suite guests. The category they book comes with a bedroom and living room area, large bathroom, balcony, and butler service. Linda adds homey touches as well. In fact, she says that she and Cunard keep photos of how she likes the suite to look.