Tennessee couple who retired in their 30s to live permanently aboard cruise ships reveal total cost after 8 months
Published on Feb 17, 2026 at 6:14 PM (UTC+4)
by Henry Kelsall
Last updated on Feb 17, 2026 at 9:38 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Amelia Jean Hershman-Jones
A Tennessee couple, who retired in their 30s to live on cruise ships for the rest of their lives, has revealed the full cost after just eight months.
Monica Brzoska and her husband, Jorell Conley, decided to sell virtually everything they had, ditch the 9-5 grind, and go and live full-time on cruise ships.
It might sound unusual to some, but this couple had a dream of doing so and living life as if they were incredibly rich.
You might be wondering how much this all costs, and thankfully, the couple has revealed what this lifestyle set them back.
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How much does it cost to live on a cruise ship?
It was a family crisis that led them to where they are today.
Brzoska revealed her dad needed a liver transplant in August 2022.
“My mom, Lucyna, 60, said to me: ‘Don’t wait for retirement to follow your dreams. Do it now’,” she said.
So the couple had the blessing of Brzoska’s parents to embark on their luxury adventure.
It took the couple a bit of time to work out just how much it would cost them.
The pair revealed that they managed to get it down to less than $10,000 a year.
As they had a week-long cruise in the Caribbean booked for March 2023, they decided not to come back.
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The pros and cons of living on cruise ships
There are multiple pros and cons to living this lifestyle.
Brzoska said that it’s been a freeing experience, with nothing for the couple to plan.
Husband Jorell Conley loves to watch TV on board the ships and make new friends with the passengers.
There is also the bonus of seeing so much of the world while on a cruise.
Living like this does come with a couple of downsides.
The couple has admitted they miss family and friends, and at some point, it might become unaffordable.
But equally, life is too short, so doing what they do ensures they can see so much of the world.
Living on a cruise ship all the time probably isn’t for everyone.
However, for this couple, it seems like it is the perfect life for them.
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Henry joined the Supercar Blondie team in February 2025, and since then has covered a wide array of topics ranging from EVs, American barn finds, and the odd Cold War jet. He’s combined his passion for cars with his keen interest in motorsport and his side hustle as a volunteer steam locomotive fireman at a leading heritage steam railway in England.
