6 former landlubbers who abandoned life on land for cruise ship living

For some people, home isn’t a house or an apartment – it’s a cruise ship living in a cabin with an ocean view.

A growing number of adventurers are swapping mortgages and daily commutes for buffet dinners, theater shows, and endless sunrises over the water.

Whether they’re young retirees, digital nomads, or lifelong dreamers, these people have abandoned traditional land life to chase a new horizon.

Here are six remarkable stories of people who truly made the ocean their permanent address.

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1. Tennessee couple who retired in their 30s to live on a cruise ship

Monica and Jorrell decided to cash in on early retirement, not with a cottage in the countryside but by booking back-to-back cruises.

In just eight months, they managed 36 voyages for under $10,000 – all while renting out their Memphis home to fund their sea-going lifestyle.

For them, the ocean became both playground and retirement plan.

2. Lynelle: The YouTuber who lives full-time on cruise ships

Known for her channel Poverty to Paradise, Lynelle ditched land life to sail indefinitely.

Spending just $40 a day, she’s mastered the art of budget cruising while her content pays the bills.

Her story proves you don’t need millions to embrace the open sea.

3. Laura’s ‘cruise control’ life until 2027

Laura, creator of Living on Cruise Control, boarded a Princess Cruise ship in January 2025 and doesn’t plan to step off until March 2027.

With a mini-suite costing around $1,000 a month, with meals, Wi-Fi, and entertainment included, cruise ship living is cheaper than rent in most big cities.

For her, stability means the gentle roll of the ocean.

4. Sharon Lane: The 77-year-old California woman who sold it all

At an age when most people are slowing down, Sharon Lane chose to speed up her dreams.

She traded her retirement lease in California to move onto the ‘Villa Vie’ cruise ship permanently.

With everything – food, cleaning, laundry services – covered, she found the sea not only more exciting but also more affordable.

5. John and Melody’s perpetual cruise ship living

This Florida couple traded their belongings for an eternal vacation.

They’ve booked voyages into 2024 and are preparing to board the Villa Vie Odyssey – the world’s first cruise ship designed for permanent residence.

Their adventure is proof that sometimes the best long-term investment is in sunsets, not stocks.

6. Mario Salcedo: The man who has lived at sea for 23 years

‘Super Mario,’ as he’s known, has been living aboard cruise ships for more than two decades.

His floating life includes fine dining, daily swims, and the comfort of a global community.

His advice? Start small with a short cruise before committing to life adrift.

For these modern-day seafarers, ‘home’ is less about where you dock and more about the freedom to keep sailing toward the next sunrise.

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