Woman lives on cruise ship for €250 a week

A woman left her corporate job to live full-time on a luxury cruise ship for just €250 a week – and here’s how she did it.

For most people, cruising the high seas is a rare treat – a once-in-a-lifetime escape featuring sun decks, fancy dinners, and a few obligatory piña coladas. But for one woman, it’s just another Tuesday. Literally. Read on to find out how she did it.

This modern-day nomad has ditched the 9-to-5 grind, packed up her land life, and set sail – permanently. Since January 2025, she’s been living full-time aboard a Princess Cruise Line ship, paying a modest €250 a week for the privilege. That’s about €1,000 a month – less than the average rent in many major cities – with all meals, drinks, Wi-Fi, and stunning ocean views included.

Full-time cruising for €250 a week? One woman proves it’s possible and she’s starting a movement

‘It turns out, using a cruise ship as your home base is cheaper than living on land,’ she explained on her YouTube channel Living On Cruise Control. ‘I don’t know any other way to travel with absolutely everything included for this price.’

That includes a private cabin with housekeeping, a rotating menu of gourmet food, on-board entertainment, internet access, and, of course, the ever-changing scenery. You might call it ‘all-inclusive’ living – with a splash of saltwater.

And this isn’t some midlife holiday fling. Her itinerary is fully mapped out until 2027. That’s two full years of continuous cruising – planned to the last port.

Compared to sky-high rents and ever-rising utility bills on land, life at sea looks surprisingly savvy.

So how did she pull it off?

Simple: she crunched the numbers, sold the land life, and set sail.

For €250 a week, she gets a private cabin, all-you-can-eat dining, drinks, Wi-Fi, housekeeping, and million-dollar sea views – no council tax, no commute, no gas bill.

She swapped spreadsheets for sunsets and mapped out her floating life until 2027.

Cost of living crisis?

Now she’s documenting it all on her YouTube channel Living On Cruise Control – and proving that the smart money might just be offshore.

Cruise ship living: the rise of floating cities and full-time travellers

The sea is calling – and millions are answering

According to the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), over 36 million people went on a cruise in 2024 – more than ever before. Popular destinations include the tropical charms of the Caribbean and the cultural gems of the Mediterranean, but some adventurers, like our YouTube sailor, are taking things several nautical miles further.

It’s not just about the destinations, either. Life aboard today’s cruise ships offers a kind of floating city experience, complete with spas, gyms, cinemas, and even job opportunities. (Yes, some long-term cruisers take up part-time remote work from their cabins. Wi-Fi willing, of course.)

Why more digital nomads and retirees are swapping rent for life at sea

Sea change or sea madness?

While the idea of replacing expensive rent with a cabin and a buffet might sound mad to some, it’s increasingly being explored by digital nomads and retirees looking to stretch their pensions without sacrificing comfort.

And frankly, when land life means windowless flats, endless commutes, and utility bills you need a spreadsheet to track, is living at sea really that outlandish?

For now, this enterprising cruiser is proving that it’s possible to go off the deep end – and still stay afloat.

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