The Truth About Living On Cruise Ships Full-Time
- Tori Carter
- Apr 25
- 4 min read
What if your “home” changed every few days… and your backyard was the ocean?
That’s exactly what it is like for us. We sold our house in Canada, packed our lives into a couple of suitcases, and stepped into a lifestyle most people only experience for a week at a time. What started as a bold experiment turned into over three years of full-time cruise living — and let’s just say… it’s not all buffet lines and sunset selfies.
This blog pulls back the curtain on the REALITY of living at sea — the good, the unexpected, and the moments that completely changed our lives.
🌊 Why We Sold Everything to Live on a Cruise Ship
At some point, we asked ourselves a question most people avoid:
"What are we actually waiting for?”
So we stopped waiting.
We sold our home, simplified our lives, and designed a lifestyle built around:
Freedom of time
Predictable costs
Constant travel
Zero home maintenance (goodbye snow shoveling 👋)
We have a YouTube Channel that I would love for you to subscribe to, so that you can REALLY get ALL of the information about our lifestyle of living on cruise ships.
In these videos, we break down the numbers, the risks, and the surprising truth about whether cruising can actually cost less than living on land.
💸 Is Living On Cruise Ships Actually Affordable?
Here’s the part that shocks most people:
In many cases… yes, it can be.
But—and this is a big one—it depends entirely on:
How you book
Which cruise lines you choose
Your flexibility
Your willingness to think differently
We share real numbers, real strategies, and where people get it completely wrong.
🔄 How We “Cruise Hop” Around the World
One cruise ends in the morning… and another begins the same day.
No hotel. No stress. No wasted time.
Just luggage, logistics, and a bit of strategy.
This is one of the biggest “behind-the-scenes” pieces people never see — and it’s one of the reasons we can sustain this lifestyle long-term.
Here is another Cruise Hopping example...
🏡 Where We Stay Between Cruises
Spoiler: It’s not always hotels.
We’ve found ways to stay in beautiful homes around the world… often for a fraction of the cost (or sometimes free).
👉 Watch: Where We Stay Between Cruises (Home Exchange Explained)
This is one of our favorite hacks — and one that makes this lifestyle far more flexible than people expect.
❤️ The Moments That Changed Everything
Not every story at sea is glamorous.
Some moments redefine everything.
Our engagement story didn’t happen the way you’d expect… and neither did what followed.
👉 Watch the Mini-Series:
This series captures the real emotional side of this lifestyle — the highs, the heartbreak, and how quickly life can shift… even in the middle of paradise.
😲 The Surprising Truth About Living at Sea
After 3+ years onboard, we’ve seen what most cruisers never will.
And honestly?
Some of the biggest surprises aren’t what you’d think.
👉 Watch: We Lived on Cruise Ships for Over 3 Years — Surprising Truths
From unexpected challenges to things no one talks about publicly, this video dives into the raw reality of full-time cruising.
⚠️ Is This Lifestyle Right for YOU?
Let’s be real for a second:
This lifestyle is NOT for everyone.
It requires:
Flexibility
Emotional resilience
Comfort with constant change
A willingness to live differently
👉 Watch: Could YOU Cruise Full Time?
We break down who thrives in this lifestyle… and who probably wouldn’t.
📅 The Year That Changed Everything
Not all years are created equal.
2025 completely shifted how we cruise, how we plan, and how we think about this lifestyle long-term.
👉 Watch: Our 2025 Year in Review — The Year That Changed Everything
This is where experience meets evolution — and where we refined our approach to make this lifestyle even more sustainable.
🚨 What We Wish We Knew Before Starting
If we could go back and tell ourselves a few things…
We would.
This is the kind of advice that can save you:
Time
Money
Stress
And a few rookie mistakes you really don’t want to make
🌍 Final Thoughts: This Isn’t Just Travel — It’s a Lifestyle
Full-time cruising isn’t a vacation.
It’s not a break from real life.
It IS real life — just redesigned.
Some days feel like a dream. Some days feel completely normal. And some days challenge you in ways you never expected.
But if there’s one thing we’ve learned, it’s this:
👉 You don’t need to follow the traditional path to build a life you love.
🎥 Watch the Full Series
If you’re curious about what it really looks like to live at sea full-time, these videos will give you the full picture — not just the highlight reel.
Remember, we are the couple who are ACTUALLY living this lifestyle. Please watch our YouTube channel, and ask your questions there! We will do our best to answer your questions about living on cruise ships. Thank you so much!
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