I’ve spent a year living full-time on a cruise ship – it’s way cheaper than renting a house & I get free stuff too
IF you dream of travelling the world on a cruise ship, it could be cheaper than renting a house.
One man who decided to leave everything behind to move on a ship was 48-year-old Kevin Martin from Missouri.
The former lawyer and military adventurer decided to ditch a nine-to-five job in 2019, and started documenting his cruising life on YouTube.
Kevin decided to spend a year living on a cruise ship and broke down his monthly expenses to show how it can be more affordable than you think.
During March 2024 alone, he visited St Kitts, St Lucia, Barbados, Grenada, Grand Cayman and Aruba, among other places.
And during his cruising year, he spent time on MSC, NCL, Princess and Royal Caribbean cruises.
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For his entire March month he spent a total of £1,615, and of this amount, £1,080 was spent on accommodation and the inclusive buffet dinners on board.
On top of this, he spent £85 on his phone, £42 on insurance and £19 on health care.
Due to his veteran status, he was able to get credit to spend on the ship, and he was also savvy when it came to finding cruise deals that included extra perks.
Kevin added just £22 extra on meals outside of the package offered on board.
After his year was up, he said he would absolutely do it again, but for a maximum of three months away at a time.
He would also switch up the cruise liner he was travelling on for a change of scenery.
He shared: “About a month on a ship is the sweet spot, maybe a little bit more – 45 days or six weeks or so.
“I plan on integrating cruising into my travel plans in the future… I hate flights. I loved my year on cruise ships.”
His favourite cruise was the Fire and Ice cruise, which travelled from Fort Lauderdale in Florida to Halifax, Canada.
Meanwhile, he also recommended the Icelandic cruises he’s done too.
How much Kevin spent to live on a cruise ship
KEVIN spent £1,615 for his month living on the high seas.
The cost included:
- Accommodation & inclusive meals – £1,080
- Extra food – £22
- Phone – £85
- Insurance – £42
- Healthcare – £19
Kevin was also amused by some of the people he encountered on his cruising year.
He revealed: “I saw a guy at the buffet taking shrimp – not fried shrimp, those peeled shrimp, frozen and you dip them in cocktail sauce.
“I saw a guy taking handfuls of those shrimp and putting them in the pockets of his cargo shorts. His pockets were bulging with these shrimp, then he left the buffet. I thought that was hilarious.”
And while he is sometimes disturbed in his room by people walking past loudly after drinking, it doesn’t bother him most of the time.
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One of his top tips for people looking to do a long-term cruise is to find a liner that makes it easy to do laundry, preferably self-service so it is cheaper.
Kevin’s next tip is to look at cruise rewards programmes to make sure you get perks that suit you, such as discounted wifi and free drinks.
Cruise ship that is 'cheaper than a mortgage'
VILLA Vie Residences is selling rooms onboard for £82,000 - which is cheaper than some mortgages.
The buoyant housing estate will set sail from Southampton and will do a lap of the world every three and a half years, docking in 420 ports in 147 countries across all seven continents.
Permanent cabins on the cruiser can be brought outright and prices start at £82,180 and rise to a whopping £205,120.
For those who aren't confident in their sea legs there is also the option to pay as you go and join the trip for short segments - this costs £73 per day.
Guests onboard the flashy floater will be treated to live entertainment, multiple dining options, several pools and a business centre with "high speed internet" where they can work from home.
They will also be a fitness centre, golf simulator, and cooking classes available to all onboard the vessel.
Additional monthly fees start at £1,441 per person to cover onboard food, drinks and services such as 24/7 medical support, housekeeping, and a bi-weekly laundry service.