Is Living on a Cruise Ship Right for You?

By Chris and Michael from ChartingOurCourse.com

Is Living on a Cruise Ship Right for You?

Life at sea isn't just for vacations anymore. For a growing number of people, including us, Chris and Michael, a cruise ship has become a full-time home. Swapping a land-based apartment for a cozy cabin on a ship means waking up to a new destination, leaving the chores to the crew, and embracing a life of adventure. But what is it really like to live in a cruise ship cabin? We're pulling back the curtain to give you an inside look, from our personal experience and what we’ve learned.

How Do You Make a Small Cruise Cabin Feel Like Home?

One of the biggest questions we get is about space. Our cabin, while comfortable, is certainly a lesson in maximizing every square inch. A video we shared on our YouTube channel, which you can see at https://youtube.com/@dchiddengems is a great example of the clever storage solutions we've come up with. It's all about thinking vertically and using every nook and cranny. For example, we use the space under our bed for luggage and larger items, which instantly frees up the main living area. This kind of creativity isn't unique to us; according to an article on Cruise Critic, many full-time cruisers use organizational hacks like magnetic hooks for walls and over-the-door organizers to make their space more functional.

What Are the Best Ways to Maximize Storage in a Tiny Cabin?

The key to a tidy, joyful living space is smart storage. We've discovered a few tricks that make a huge difference:

• Go Vertical: We've found that hanging organizers and magnetic hooks are a game-changer. Since most cabin walls are metal, these hooks are incredibly strong for hanging hats, bags, and even our pop-up laundry hamper.
• Utilize Under-Bed Space: This is the perfect spot for suitcases, shoes, and any other items you don't need daily.
• Declutter Ruthlessly: A mantra for anyone living in a small space! We regularly review our belongings and only keep what we truly need and use.

For more inspiration on making the most of a small space, check out our related blog post on living small, a topic we know well: https://chartingourcourse.com/charting-our-course-blog/vvblog-cabin-life-tips

What Are the Biggest Challenges and Joys of Full-Time Cruising?

Living on a cruise ship is not without its challenges. According to a realestate.com.au article, some of the hurdles include a lack of personal space, the potential for noise, and seasickness, especially for those in higher cabins. For us, Chris and Michael, the trade-off is more than worth it.

Our personal joys include:

• No Chores: We never have to cook, clean, or worry about paying utilities. That frees up our time for what we love most: exploring new places, creating content for our DC Hidden Gems YouTube channel, and simply relaxing.
• A Built-in Social Life: We are surrounded by new people and have opportunities for fun activities, which is a huge benefit of residential cruising.
• Constant Travel: Waking up in a new city or country every few days never gets old. It's the ultimate dream for any traveler.

As an article from Tips For Travellers points out, some people are even finding that it can be more affordable than land-based living in high-cost cities! It's an interesting financial comparison, and according to Reddit user putselling, living on a cruise ship for a month was cheaper than renting in Boston.

How Do You Manage Work and Personal Life on a Ship?

We each have our own designated workspace, which is crucial for maintaining our routine. As seen in our video, we use our desks for everything from editing videos to managing finances. It's a structured and quiet space where we can focus on our work. We also prioritize having time to ourselves for activities like reading and language learning, ensuring we have a healthy work-life balance even in a shared space.

When it comes to staying connected, we use the ship's Wi-Fi. While it's not always lightning-fast, it's more than enough for our work and for keeping in touch with family.

We've found that with a little bit of planning and creativity, living on a cruise ship can be an incredibly rewarding and joyful lifestyle. It’s an adventure we wouldn’t trade for anything.

Sources:

• Dark side of living on a cruise ship exposed - realestate.com.au
• The Dark Side of Living on Cruise Ships: By Those Who've Done it! - Tips For Travellers
• How I Saved Money by Living Full-Time on a Cruise : r/financialindependence - Reddit
• How to Retire on a Cruise Ship [and 5 Essential Tips] - Riverbend Wealth Management
• 8 Ways to Store More Things in Your Cabin - Cruise Critic
• Why Some Travelers Are Living On Cruise Ships Full-Time (And How Much It Really Costs)

What's one thing you would miss most about living on land if you were to move onto a cruise ship full-time?