Woman who lives full-time on cruise ships shares how much it costs her
Published on Jun 29, 2025 at 10:25 AM (UTC+4)
by Molly Davidson
Last updated on Jun 25, 2025 at 2:00 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Kate Bain
What if you ditched rent, bills, and your 9-5, and lived full-time on cruise ships instead?
Lynelle has done exactly that. And she’s set herself a clear financial target: keep her living costs under $2,000 a month.
In May 2025, she smashed that goal – spending just $1,376 total for her cruise, hotels, food, and transport.
She broke it all down in her latest video on the Poverty to Paradise YouTube channel, and it’s going viral for good reason.
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Breaking down the costs of living at sea
Lynelle left her house, car, and nearly all her possessions behind to live full-time on cruise ships from July 4, 2024.
In just under a year, she’s taken 36 cruises, spending 252 days at sea and spending an average of $40 a day.
“I love this life right now, and I’m going to do it as long as possible,” she said.
Lynelle’s travel budget is tight by design: $2,000 a month, or roughly $65 a day – covering everything from food to housing.
In May, she came in well under that, spending just $1,376 – or about $36 a day.
That included a 16-day Carnival Valor cruise from New Orleans to Barcelona, which cost just $173 after onboard credit.
She then spent three nights in a Barcelona hotel ($419), and the rest of the month in Vietnam – using hotel reward points to pay nothing out of pocket.
Her only other costs? $57 on food and a $3 local bus pass. Yes, really.
YouTube is paying for the cruise ships
Lynelle originally planned to live off savings, but her YouTube channel has taken off thanks to her infectious lust for life.
In May, she made $6,300 from ads, memberships, and fan contributions, which was more than enough to fund her life at sea.
“I’m just letting that nest egg grow and… watching my YouTube income to see if it’s going to continue to cover all of my expenses,” she said.
She’s literally being paid to cruise. Living the dream.
Across 11 months, she’s spent an average of $917 per month on cruise fares.
That’s far less than rent, utilities, and food for most people – and she gets ocean views, included meals, and nightly shows.
She’s already booked through the end of 2026, with plans to spend 90 days straight on a single ship.
Her cruises are paid for. Her hotels are free, thanks to IHG points. And YouTube is footing the bill.
This is more than living the dream – Lynelle has found the cheat codes to life. And she’s doing it for less than your rent.
Follow her life on the water over on her channel, Poverty to Paradise, or watch the video below:
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Molly Davidson is a Junior Content Writer at Supercar Blondie. Based in Melbourne, she holds a double Bachelor’s degree in Arts/Law from Swinburne University and a Master’s of Writing and Publishing from RMIT. Molly has contributed to a range of magazines and journals, developing a strong interest in lifestyle and car news content. When she’s not writing, she’s spending quality time with her rescue English staffy, Boof.
