A couple shares their unusual journey of completely leaving land-based life to live full-time on cruise ships after a chance trip changed everything.
The writer says they originally disliked cruises and even suffered from motion sickness, but decided to try one Caribbean cruise in 2019 after a friend offered it cheaply. Surprisingly, they found they did not feel sick at sea and instead enjoyed the structured, predictable routine onboard.
Over time, they became more comfortable with cruise life, returning again and again until it became a lifestyle. The routine of fixed meals, familiar staff, and scheduled activities actually suited them, especially due to their need for structure in daily life.
In 2024, after taking many cruises, they met their future partner onboard. The two bonded quickly over their shared love of cruise travel. Both were divorced, had grown children and grandchildren, and were ready for a different way of living.
Eventually, they both decided to give up their homes and most of their possessions, selling nearly everything to fund a permanent life at sea. They now live between cruises, traveling continuously and finding that it can actually be more affordable than maintaining a traditional life on land due to discounts and rising living costs.
The couple later got engaged and married while continuing their life onboard ships. They describe their lifestyle as simple, routine-driven, and freeing, with everything from meals to entertainment included in their daily environment.
They now plan to continue cruising indefinitely, traveling across multiple regions and sharing their life at sea, which they say feels more sustainable and fulfilling than their previous land-based life.
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