Would you live on a cruise ship?
Some may dream of setting sail on an endless vacation, while others can't fathom being stuck at sea for more than a week or two.
However, for Laura, a traveler in her mid-50s, the idea of living full-time on a cruise ship wasn’t just a fantasy — it became her reality in January 2025 after she left the "corporate grind" behind.
"I'm on an adventure to travel the world, living boujee on a budget...[to] pursue a lifestyle of full-time travel where cruise ships are my home base," she explains in a recent YouTube video shared to her channel Living on Cruise Control.
From the beginning of 2025 through March 2027, 95% of her travel plans are cruise-based, meaning life at sea will soon become her new normal.
Laura has already been on 13 cruises this year, mostly with Princess Cruises. However, she also spent 12 nights aboard Holland America Line's Rotterdam sailing through the Panama Canal.
In her YouTube video, she explains why she decided to trade a traditional land-based lifestyle for a floating home.
Cost
"The first reason, and to me one of the biggest reasons, is cost," she says, "I have been able to figure out how to travel on cruise ships as [my] home base being less expensive than it is to live on land."
Though she doesn't dive into the specifics of her deals, she claims she is paying less than $200 per week to cruise full-time in mini-suites with everything from Wi-Fi to drinks and gratuities included.
Plus, because she recently became an Elite cruiser within Princess' Captain's Circle, her laundry onboard is free. In essence, all her chores, from cooking to cleaning, are taken care of.
The only bills she is responsible for are her cell phone and health care. "I don't know of any other way of traveling the world where everything is included," Laura remarks.
Read more: Are cruises all inclusive?
Safety
Laura is a female solo traveler. Although family and friends plan to join her on specific sailings, especially in Europe later this summer, she's alone for the majority of her travels.
As such, it was crucial that she feel safe in her new lifestyle (and home!). Between the abundance of cameras on the ships and the friendly cabin stewards who frequently check in on her, she says she’s found a sense of security that lets her enjoy the cruise without being on alert 24/7.
"You still need to be careful when you go into ports [and be] aware of your surroundings as you would in any city," Laura adds, "But for me, as a solo female traveler, I feel safe behind closed doors, safe when I go to dinner, and safe when I go on excursions into these particular cities and countries."
Read more: I took my first solo cruise. After 7 nights, here are the pros and cons of cruising alone
Comfort
Between the comfortable bed, bathtub, living room area, and beautiful verandah, Laura is traveling in style in her mini-suite. She shares that the balcony is a nice spot to sip on morning coffee.
However, the great thing about cruise ships is that the comfort extends beyond the cabin. She says, for instance, "There are so many places to just go read a book [and] relax."
Plus, she's never forced to interact with other passengers. While there are plenty of opportunities to mingle, she's never forced to strike up small talk if she isn't in the mood.
Read more: Little-known cruise bed upgrade that's worth asking for
Health and wellness
While living on a cruise ship full-time, Laura is focusing on prioritizing her health and wellness. This year, she says she's already lost weight and become healthier thanks to the amazing gym and fitness classes onboard. Not only that, but she's learned Tai Chi!
Aside from fitness and meditation classes, her overall lifestyle is more active on cruise ships. "It's impossible to exist on a ship, in my opinion, without getting at least 10,000 steps a day," she confesses.
After breakfast, she says she's usually hit around 3,000 steps, but it can be more depending on the day. For instance, taking the stairs instead of the elevator is an easy way to boost her step count. She also walks a lot in the ports of call.
Many think of cruise food as indulgent and heavy, but Laura says she’s learned to make mindful choices that support her health goals, focusing on protein like grilled chicken and seafood. Egg white omlettes are her go-to every morning, too.
Stress-free travel
"You can travel without the stress of an airport and going through security...and checking in and out of a hotel," Laura asserts.
As such, she loves back-to-back sailings. In her video, she was on her fourth back-to-back sailing aboard Enchanted Princess and had spent over 30 days aboard the 3-year-old ship.
"I just find airplane travel so much more inconvenient now when I can travel on a cruise ship and [hang] out, [sleep], [be] entertained, [and go] out to a nice dinner, as I'm moving from city to city," she says.
Read more: I've been on nearly 30 cruises. Here are 8 big mistakes passengers make
Activites & entertainment
If you've ever been on a cruise ship, you know just how hard it is to be bored. Even though Laura has been on the same ship for over 30 days, she hasn't run out of activities and entertainment.
From live music to production shows, dancing, Bingo, and crafts, there's enough variety to keep each day exciting, rather than fall into a mundane routine.
Because there are so many activities going on at once, she claims it's hard to do everything.
Meeting new people
Like Laura, one of my favorite parts about cruising is meeting new people that I otherwise wouldn't have met. I often joke that I have extended family around the world now!
During her solo travels thus far, she sat with a family from Myrtle Beach during dinner. They got along so well that they've continued to talk, even after the family disembarked!
Read more: I spent 35 days traveling alone on cruise ships. There are 5 things I would have done differently
Elizabeth Wright
Elizabeth graduated from New York University's Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute with her M.A. in Journalism in May 2023. Growing up, she traveled frequently with her family and fell in love with cruising after sailing on the Oasis of the Seas during her freshman year of high school. Having sailed on over 30 cruises across different lines, including Royal Caribbean, Carnival, MSC, Margaritaville at Sea, and Princess, she loves sharing her insight and expertise on all things cruising!
