What Living On A Cruise Ship Is Really Like: Debunking Myths And Understanding The Reality

The first time I went on a cruise, it was a short 3-day trip, and I had the time of my life on the Arabian Sea. At first, I was skeptical about whether I should really go. After all, I’m someone who constantly brags about being a mountain person, and I didn’t trust being on water. But then I thought, pirates do it, so how hard can it be? Well, I was shocked to realize that staying on water can be fun too. Watching it shift shades or lap against the cruise ship was hypnotizing. Also, gazing at pristine sunrises and colorful sunsets that turned the sea’s surface into a mesmerizing painting left me with a strange sense of peace I didn’t even know I needed. I decided I would go on more cruises, but life happened, and I got busy. However, I was pretty shocked to learn that some people actually quit their lives on land and live permanently on ships. Recently, Jeff and Debb Knapp said they sold everything so they could live permanently on cruise ships. Bored Panda reached out to Jeffrey Knapp for an exclusive interview. Others have done it, too. But is it really worth it? We discuss all about it in the article below. Moreover, we also got in touch with Tori Carter. She and her husband, Kirk, sold their home in Ontario, Canada, in December 2022. They have lived a very unconventional retirement ever since, moving from ship to ship. Having sailed on more than 75 ships across 15 cruise lines, they’ve had plenty of opportunities to learn what works, what doesn’t, and what people don’t always consider before choosing this lifestyle. Read on for the brilliant, helpful insights from both couples! Photograph: courtesy of Jeff and Debb Recently, Jeff (54) and Debb Knapp (53) shared their story with The Guardian. After retiring, they sold everything and have been living happily on cruise ships. In fact, they even met on a ship, and Jeff also proposed to Debb on a ship. “At 54, I’m living my dream. Soon we’ll be heading to Europe, Mexico, and Bermuda, and I can’t wait. I hope our life on the water goes on forever,” Jeff mentioned. In fact, he told us that they are celebrating a massive milestone soon: their 1,000 Days at Sea, which will be live-streamed on November 7 at 7:00 PM EST on their TikTok @livingonacruiseship. While this lifestyle might sound astonishing, CNN reported that in March 2017, when cruising website Cruise Critic asked the question “Would you retire at sea?” in a poll on its website, 59% of respondents said they would love to retire at sea or at least try it for a couple of years (another 27% of respondents answered, “Maybe, if the price was right”). No wonder we hear stories of so many individuals and couples who are living just like Jeff and Debb. Some of them are John and Melody Hennessee from Florida, Angelyn and Richard Burk from the US, and the beautiful Canadian couple that we interviewed, Tori Carter and Kirk Rickman. For Jeff and Debb, the complete removal of daily friction was a big surprise. On land, so much time goes to home maintenance, cooking, grocery runs, vehicle upkeep, and errands. At sea, the incredible crew handles daily logistics, freeing up their time and focus to experience new cultures, travel, and connect with people every single day. Meanwhile, Tori and Kirk were surprised by how quickly life on a ship starts to feel normal. People imagine living on a cruise ship must feel like being on vacation every day, and while there are certainly wonderful aspects, it also becomes everyday life. The couple claims that you still have to deal with practical things, make decisions, manage your finances, and occasionally have a bad day. The difference is that your surroundings might be completely different when you wake up the next morning, they add. HECTOR ELIZALDE / Unsplash (not the actual photo) Tori also explained, “I’ve also been surprised by how little we actually miss having a traditional home. We thought we might miss our belongings more than we do, but most of the things we once thought we needed really weren’t that important.” However, they can’t deny that they had to give up certain things that were difficult to maintain in a confined, mobile space. The couple said that the biggest adjustment is accepting that you can’t take everything with you. They sold their home and most of their belongings, so now, their life is limited to what they can realistically manage while traveling. Tori advised that you have to be selective about what you buy because you have nowhere to store it. Cooking the way you might at home is also different when you don’t have your own kitchen, and certain routines become more difficult when you’re constantly moving. Jeff told us that they traded stationary land projects for experiential travel. He was in construction and flipped homes, while Debb worked for the state government and also flipped homes. Letting go of hands-on real estate renovations and property projects was a shift, but they traded that for exploring international cities, filming, meeting their community, and staying active on the ship. However, despite everything, Tori said, “We’ve gained opportunities that we wouldn’t have had living in one place. We can spend a day exploring a new destination, go hiking, or experience something completely different. For us, that trade-off has been well worth it.” The couple also says they sometimes think about what they have given up. They face inconveniences, difficult travel days, and times when they would love their own space or to stay in one place for a while. But despite everything, they wouldn’t say they regret their decision. After all, they consciously chose to prioritize experiences over possessions and enjoy their retirement now, rather than putting everything off until later. That doesn’t mean this lifestyle is perfect or that they’ll do it forever. If their circumstances or health change, they will adapt, but for now, they feel that the freedom and experiences outweigh the sacrifices. Getty Images / Unsplash (not the actual photo) The average American household spends $78,535 a year, according to the 2024 Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data. However, inflation was 3.4% in August 2026, meaning consumer prices were 3.4% higher than a year earlier. So the figures could be much higher this year. Meanwhile, Swan Hellenic, a luxury cultural expedition cruise line, claims that as of August 2026, a useful planning range for accommodation in many long-stay and continuous-cruising scenarios is roughly $50,000 to $100,000 per person per year (based on two people sharing). While speaking to Sky News, John Hennessee said, “We now have a telephone bill, a ship bill, and a few credit card bills for when we go ashore, but that’s it. We no longer have a mortgage or home expenses. We no longer have vehicle insurance, property insurance, or utility bills. The list goes on. We are certain cruising is cheaper.” Some cruise lines have also started offering permanent residences. For instance, Villa Vie offers homes on ships starting from $59,999. Since many people believe that living on a ship is cheaper than living on land, we spoke to Tori about it. She mentioned something very practical that people should really pay attention to. “Don’t assume you have to be wealthy to do it, but don’t assume it’s automatically cheaper than living on land either. You need to understand your budget, research the different cruise lines, and work out how to make the numbers work for your circumstances.” Getty Images / Unsplash (not the actual photo) She continued that living on a cruise ship doesn’t have to mean booking one expensive cruise after another. Tori believes that there are different ways to approach it, including repositioning cruises, longer itineraries, and carefully chosen sailings. She also noted that the key is figuring out what works for your budget and the kind of life you want. When discussing practical necessities such as mail, banking, or healthcare, our expert explained that you need to plan ahead and stay organized. They are Canadian, so they still have financial and administrative responsibilities back home. But online banking has made managing money relatively straightforward. They arrange to have important mail handled without needing to be physically present for everything. However, she said that healthcare and travel insurance require more thought. Tori commented that you need to understand what your insurance covers, where it applies, and what happens if you need medical attention in another country. You also have to consider your home country’s healthcare residency requirements. “These aren’t things you can simply ignore because you’re traveling. We’ve learned that this lifestyle is much easier when you have systems in place. You can live on ships, but you still have to manage the business of living,” she expressed. Speaking about the perks of ship life, Tori highlighted “freedom” as the biggest one. They don’t have a mortgage, property maintenance, a yard to look after, or all the responsibilities that come with owning a home. They wake up in different parts of the world, have their meals prepared for them, enjoy entertainment, and get to explore places they might never have visited otherwise. Yunus Tuğ / Unsplash (not the actual photo) She stressed that they can hike, experience different cultures, and see the world while they are still young and healthy enough to enjoy it. However, there are cons as well, and the biggest one, Tori mentioned, is that you give up a lot of control over your environment. “You don’t have your own kitchen, you can’t just pop out to run errands whenever you want, and you’re living in a relatively small space. You also have to work around ship schedules, port changes, internet limitations, and the occasional disruption. And despite what people might think, living on a cruise ship isn’t automatically cheap. You have to be smart about how you do it, particularly if you’re moving between ships frequently,” she added. She also mentioned challenges in maintaining relationships with people on land. When the couple told their friends about their retirement plan, most people found it a little unusual. People tend to ask a lot of questions about how they do it, whether it’s expensive, and whether they will eventually get tired of it. Some people think it sounds amazing, while others couldn’t imagine giving up their home and possessions. However, Tori thinks the important thing is that they based their decision on what they wanted their lives to look like, rather than what other people thought retirement should look like. Returning to the challenges, Jeff mentioned the shifting time zones. Tori echoed him and raised the same challenge. After all, when you’re moving between countries, spending days at sea, and following a ship’s schedule, you can’t always call someone when it’s convenient for them. She said you also miss some of the everyday things that come with living near family and friends. “You aren’t popping over for a visit or meeting someone for coffee. Technology helps, of course, but it’s not the same as being physically present. We’ve had to accept that maintaining relationships takes effort from both sides, and that we need to make time for the people who matter to us, even when we’re on the other side of the world,” she explained. Gilley Aguilar / Unsplash (not the actual photo) Jeff and Debb said they video chat often. Together, they have six adult children, ages 24 to 37, and five grandchildren, ages 4 to 14, and they pay for them to join them on a cruise anytime they want. They said that they’re actually super excited to have three of their children and three grandchildren sailing with them this November. The couple also stressed that they never get bored on a ship because there is always something to do. People often ask them whether they have gained weight, but Jeff said they haven’t. They eat far less processed food than they did, and they get in a lot of steps walking around the huge ships. He also explains that sharing a small cabin for so long has not created any difficulties between them. “Our minor disagreements usually come down to someone's tone of voice when they are tired or hungry. A few hours of rest or a good meal quickly fixes everything,” he told Express. While we are back to discussing perks, let me tell you what psychologists say about cruise vacations. They explain that while cruises may not suit everyone, they can meet some psychological needs. Experts added that cruises provide opportunities to socialize, relax, and get outside, all of which benefit mental health. Having shared that, I believe more research needs to be done about the mental health benefits of living on a ship permanently. When we asked Tori how her perspective on cruise travel changed since becoming a permanent resident, she said she started seeing cruises differently, as a lifestyle rather than an occasional holiday. She narrated that on a one-week cruise, you might not think much about the practical details because you’re on vacation. Arun Sharma / Unsplash (not the actual photo) However, she believes that when you’re moving from ship to ship, you pay much closer attention to the itinerary, the cabin, the food, the onboard atmosphere, the internet, the entertainment, and how each cruise line compares with the others. You also learn that not every ship or cruise line suits every person, she continued. “Some people want waterslides and constant activities, while others prefer smaller ships, interesting itineraries, and a quieter atmosphere. And you realize the advertised price isn’t necessarily the whole story. You have to look at what’s included, what extras you’ll pay for, and how the cruise fits into your overall travel budget.” However, one reason the couple loves this lifestyle is that they get to visit so many destinations. She also thinks the itinerary matters enormously. After all, a cruise isn’t just about the ship; it’s about where it takes them and the experiences they have along the way. Jeff also shared his perspective, stressing that the ship truly becomes a floating neighborhood and the crew becomes family. Looking ahead, they are expanding their horizons and plan to sail on the newest ships across all the major cruise lines to experience everything the industry has to offer. Annie Spratt / Unsplash (not the actual photo) As Tori wrapped up the interview, she shared some wise words for people considering adopting this lifestyle. She started by saying peeps should try it before committing. She suggested taking longer cruises, experimenting with different ships, and paying attention to what you enjoy and what drives you crazy. Jeff said the same thing and added that you should test the waters before selling everything. He advised booking a couple of back-to-back sailings in a standard stateroom for several weeks and treating it like ordinary daily life rather than a holiday. “Work, exercise, budget, and adapt to the compact living space. If you value flexibility and love discovering the world, it is a truly incredible way to live,” he summed up Meanwhile, Tori added, “A lifestyle that sounds wonderful in theory might feel very different after several weeks in a small cabin. Also, think about the practical details: healthcare, insurance, banking, mail, internet, relationships, and what you’ll do with your belongings. Those things matter just as much as choosing the right ship.” Finally, she said you shouldn’t wait for the perfect time if you truly want to do it. They made this decision because they wanted to experience the world while they were still healthy and able to enjoy it. “There is no guarantee that you’ll have the same opportunities later,” she summed up. Tori and Kirk run a YouTube channel, KirkToriStory, with over 14,000 subscribers. They talk regularly about what it’s actually like to live this way, the costs involved, different cruise lines and ships, and how to make this lifestyle work. They have built up a lot of real-world knowledge through their travels, and the channel is a resource for people who want to learn more. Well, if you can manage your finances and are willing to give up a few things, there’s no harm in trying this life. I will be honest with you, considering everything Tori and Jeff told us, I am almost tempted to give it a try and see if life on water is the one for me. You never know until you try it out, right? But the thrill of experiencing different places and cultures all the time definitely sounds like something I would sign up for, no marketing needed.