Full Time Cruiser Exposes How Much It Costs to Live on a Cruise Ship

“I spend less than $2,000 a month to live on cruise ships full-time.”
That’s the jaw-dropping claim made by Lenel, a solo traveller who gave up everything – her job, her house, even her car – to start a completely new life at sea. While many assume this kind of lifestyle is reserved for millionaires or retirees with hefty pensions, Lenel’s story proves otherwise.

In fact, her May 2025 expenses came in at just $1,376, and that included a 16-day cruise, a stay in Barcelona, and travel across Vietnam. She’s showing that with a little creativity and a lot of courage, full-time cruising can be not only doable, but surprisingly affordable.

From Divorced and Jobless to Cruise Ship Living

Lenel’s journey didn’t begin with a windfall or a retirement plan; it started with a clean break. In early 2024, she got divorced, left her job, sold her house, gave away her car, and reduced her belongings to what could fit in a cruise cabin. “Everything I own is on this ship,” she says, with just a few boxes stored at her daughter’s place back in Georgia.

After testing out a few short cruises to figure out her next steps, she officially committed to life at sea on 4th July 2024, boarding Independence of the Seas on Independence Day. That wasn’t a coincidence. “Me being the independent person that I am now,” she joked. What started as a bold experiment quickly became a full-time way of life and one she plans to continue through at least the end of 2026.

What Full-Time Cruise Living Actually Costs

Lenel set herself a challenge before stepping onboard full-time: keep her total living expenses under $2,000 per month, and she’s stuck to it. That figure includes the essentials: cruise fares, port fees, taxes, gratuities, and basic living costs like toiletries or clothes. For most months, she also sets aside a $500 “spending money” budget for extras like a phone bill, casino play, snacks, or the occasional hair product.

Her main goal? Spend no more than $65 per day, and it turns out, cruise ships make that surprisingly easy. With food, entertainment, accommodation, and travel between destinations all bundled into one, she averages around $40 per day on cruise costs alone. “The average American pays more than that just for rent and utilities,” she points out, and they don’t get to wake up in a new place every few days.

A Real-Life Breakdown of May 2025

So, as an example, how did she actually do in May? Lenel spent part of the month cruising from New Orleans to Barcelona on Carnival Valor, then flew to Vietnam for a few weeks, and still kept her total living expenses under budget.

Here’s the full breakdown:

Expense	Cost (USD)
Cruise fare (16 days)	$173 (after $200 onboard credit)
Hotel in Barcelona (3 nights)	$419
Hotel in Vietnam (17 nights)	$0 (used IHG points)
Food (land-based days)	$57
Local transport (New Orleans bus)	$3
Total	$1,376

Despite being a more unusual month, she only took one cruise instead of her usual 3–5 — her expenses came out to just $36 per day. That’s nearly half of her budgeted $65/day. The key? Using travel reward points for free hotel stays and keeping non-essential spending to a minimum.

36 Cruises in 11 Months – What It Really Adds Up To

Since committing to the lifestyle in July 2024, Lenel has taken 36 cruises and spent 252 days at sea and the total cost of those sailings might surprise you. All in, she’s spent $10,089 on cruise fares, which works out to just $40 per day.

That $40 covers her room, all meals, entertainment, and transport between ports — essentially her full cost of living while onboard. When averaged out over the past 11 months, it’s the equivalent of spending just $917 a month for housing, food, and fun.

Not Just One Cruise Line

Unlike some full-time cruisers who stick with one brand for loyalty perks, Lenel hops between cruise lines to score the best deals. Her favourites are Carnival and Royal Caribbean, but she’s also sailed with Holland America and Princess.

She rarely stays on the same ship for long, sometimes just one sailing, other times up to two months. Her upcoming plans include a three-month stint on a single ship, which will be her longest stretch yet. She also takes advantage of repositioning cruises, like transatlantic or Panama Canal crossings, which often offer excellent value for longer voyages.

By staying flexible and shopping around, she maximises her days at sea without blowing the budget.

Not Always Smooth Sailing

While Lenel makes cruise life look easy, she’s the first to admit it’s not perfect. In other videos, she’s opened up about the downsides, from unreliable Wi-Fi to missing her family. With three children and five grandchildren back home, the distance can be tough.

There are also days when the ship feels small, routines get repetitive, or port stops blur together. And although she scores great deals, it takes planning and flexibility to keep costs down.

For a deeper look at the emotional side of cruise life, check out: Woman Who Gave Up Everything to Live Permanently on Cruise Ships Reveals the Things She ‘Hates’

Why She’s Not Coming Back to Land (Yet)

Lenel is currently booked through late 2026, and she’s not in any rush to stop. Although she says she could live on land again if she wanted to, for now, the sea feels like home. “I love this life right now and I’m going to do it as long as possible,” she says.

It’s not just about the destinations or the sunsets; it’s the simplicity. No rent. No utility bills. No grocery shopping. Her biggest daily decision? Whether to see the playlist production show before or after dinner. And that’s exactly how she likes it.

Can You Really Live on a Cruise Ship for Less Than $2,000 a Month?

Lenel’s story proves that full-time cruise life isn’t just a fantasy; it’s financially possible, even without a big retirement fund. By using casino offers, reward points, and smart budgeting, she’s carved out a lifestyle that includes housing, food, entertainment, and travel, all for less than many people spend on rent alone.

Of course, it takes flexibility, a minimalist mindset, and a bit of hustle. But if you’ve ever dreamed of ditching the bills and waking up in a new place every few days, Lenel’s journey might be the inspiration you need to ask: what if I could do it too?

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