Seeing the world on a cruise ship can feel like the adventure of a lifetime, but then reality hits when you come back to shore. But what if it was possible to live on a boat full time, especially a cruise ship? It’s obviously expensive, but there might just be a way around that. One couple has done it, and so can you with some planning. 

Life on the high seas 

According to Upworthy, a couple in their fifties has transitioned to living full time on a cruise ship. Well, that may be a little misleading. They’re not living on one specific cruise ship but bouncing from cruise to cruise as they travel around the world year-round.

So how can they afford this? Angelina Burk and her husband Richard manage this by checking deals through loyalty memberships. Their goal is to spend about $100 a night, which will make their annual bill about $36,500. That’s much cheaper than a mortgage rate.

This enabled the Burks to jump-start their new life on the water. They sold their home and now use the money they made to live full time on cruise ships. 

It did help that the Burks were very frugal before making this jump. They saved up their money so they could retire early.

See the world 

Is it possible for you to live on a cruise ship and see the world? If you plan accordingly, yes. Cruise ships travel all over the world. There are probably a few destinations they won’t visit, but that could be your vacation away from cruise ships if you need a break.

While it may seem expensive at first, as you need to have an income of at least $36,500 if you plan to follow the Burks’ example, there are some other factors to consider.

First, you don’t have to spend money on groceries due to the already available food. There’s also no need to cook, so this could be great for anyone who likes eating out.

Laundry and cleaning are taken care of as well, so you’ll never have to strip a bed again. You also don’t need a vehicle for transportation, so this will cut down spending, especially as gas prices continue to grow.

Then there’s the fact that you don’t have to worry about as many bills. Your water bill, utilities, repairs, and all the other drama that goes along with buying a house will be gone. And those rowdy neighbors will be gone in a week once you transfer to a new cruise.

I’m not into crowds

What if you like the idea of living on a boat but hate crowds? That can be an issue if you’re looking at cruise ships, but there are other options. 

Renting a large yacht is one such option. You can go in with a group of friends that you enjoy being around or even bring some extended family members along for the ride.

There are also small houseboats you could check out. By renting, you may have to deal with some repairs on your own while out at sea, and there won’t be anyone to take care of the laundry and cooking for you. 

However, houseboats often come with kitchen setups, so that shouldn’t be that big of an issue. 

So is life on the high seas for you? If you aren’t sure, a quick way to figure it out is to try a cruise or rent a boat for the afternoon. It’s certainly not something everyone would want to do, but it may just be perfect for you.