US couple breaks down the real costs of living on a residential cruise ship full-time and this is how it compares to the average American household

This American couple lives on a residential cruise ship full-time, and now they’re breaking down the costs so we know exactly what it takes to live in holiday mode full time.

Lanette Canen and Johan Bodin have frequently shared details of their life at sea via their YouTube channel.

It’s earned them a big following as more people flock to learn more about the cruise ship lifestyle.

But exactly how much does it cost?

Why more and more people are switching to a cruise ship lifestyle

Once upon a time, the dream lifestyle would have been to buy a massive mansion and live out your days there.

But if a new wave of influencer content is anything to go by, cruise ship residencies are the new hot thing.

More and more people are sharing their stories online and breaking down the costs that come with this way of living.

One American woman made this choice and has since been sharing candid views about her expenses.

For another woman in Tennessee, selling everything she owned to live the high life on a cruise ship was a dream come true.

But it’s not all sunshine and rainbows – one cruise ship resident got brutally honest about a side of the lifestyle that doesn’t get mentioned much.

But as the saying goes, information is power and everyone should feel informed when it comes to making such a big life decision.

Perhaps nobody has been more thorough about this than Lanette Canen and Johan Bodin, the hosts of YouTube channel Living Life on a Cruise.

This couple had a remarkable story

The couple, who originally lived in Hawaii, first fell in love with cruising when they went on their first European cruise back in 2022.

As they did more research into residential cruise ships, they decided to dive into the deep end.

They sold all the 31 cars they had in their rental car business, bought a cabin on board a ship, and set sail.

“[Some people] think we’re rich and we’re not at all,” Lanette told Supercar Blondie.

“We still work from the ship.”

While she owns an auto glass business back in Arizona, they also make money from their YouTube channel.

On this channel, they divulge practically everything about their way of life – and that includes money.

How much does it cost to live out at sea?

“The number one question we always get is ‘How much does it cost to live on a residential cruise ship?’,” Bodin said.

“We feel like we need to clarify all the options that are available.”

The first option on the table for aspiring cruisers was called ‘Standard Ownership’, in which a cabin was purchased for $99,000 and lasted for the life of the ship – with $4,000 in monthly maintenance fees on top of that.

This is what the couple ultimately opted for.

“We just wanted to spend as least as possible moving forward for the next 15 years,” Canen said.

“We spend [the rest] in ports and excursions and experiences, because those are extra on top of what you pay here” Bodin replied.

Then there was a five-year option which had an upfront cost of $60,000, and had $4,500 in monthly maintenance fees for a double occupancy cabin.

Solo cabins would come at a cheaper cost of $3,300 per month.

The third option up for grabs was a three-year ‘All Inclusive’ option, which was $100,000, but came with no maintenance fees.

“It comes out to about $91 a day per person for a three-year deal,” Bodin explained.

Endless Horizons was a lifetime deal which cost $350,000, but was good for the ship’s lifetime and had no maintenance fees attached.

And then there was the final option of short-term rentals, averaging costs of $125 per person per day.

“You can rent that short-term and then go back to do what you do, or you can [pay] rent towards a cabin purchase,” Bodin said.

“I think that’s a pretty good deal.”

Ultimately, the most important thing is that you choose the best deal for you and know what you’re getting into financially.

The average US household costs around $78,585 in a year, although there is variance here with regards to which state you live in.

Bodin and Canen themselves were living in Hawaii, the most expensive state in the country.

With housing and groceries 253 percent above the national average respectively, it’s no wonder the couple said their living costs halved when they set sail.

“We loved our life [In Hawaii]. It was paradise,” Canen said.

“I never thought we’d leave. Now we get to change countries every few days, and it’s even better.”