This US Couple Sold Everything To Live And Travel On Cruise Ships
Forget the daily commute and the cubicle grind. Monica Brzoska and Jorell Conley, a couple from Memphis, Tennessee, have traded in their 9-to-5 jobs for a life at sea – but not as sailors! They've discovered a unique and budget-friendly way to travel the world: living full-time on cruise ships.
Monica, a former teacher, and Jorell, previously employed in sales, craved adventure but worried about the cost. Through meticulous planning and taking advantage of deals, they've managed to cruise for most of the year on a budget of less than $10,000 annually.
“All my meals are cooked by chefs, and staff change my bedding,” said Brzoska to The Sun. “I haven’t stepped into a kitchen or used a washing machine for a year.” The former teacher had met her husband in 2015, and tied the knot in 2020. And it was in 2023 that the wandering couple bid adieu to a life on land and set sail on the seas. “I was desperate to see the world,” the report quotes Brzoska saying. “When my dad Andrzej, now 68, needed a liver transplant in August 2022, my mom Lucyna, 60, said to me: ‘Don’t wait for retirement to follow your dreams. Do it now.’”
They decided to extend their week-long Caribbean cruise into a permanent vacation, and have in the last year, been on 36 consecutive cruises — often disembarking from one watercraft to jump on another at the same port. "We'd earned access to some amazing offers," Monica shared. "If we chose the cheapest cabins, our savings from the pandemic would allow us to book eight months of cruising for $9,989.19-some trips paid for in full, others with deposits."
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Financial responsibility goes hand-in-hand with their adventurous spirit. By renting out their Memphis home, they generate a steady income stream that helps cover their basic living expenses while cruising. Life onboard provides most meals and entertainment, eliminating a significant portion of their daily expenses. Monica says goodbye to cooking and laundry, enjoying the convenience of shipboard life.
Living the Dream with a Few Trade-Offs
While their lifestyle sounds idyllic, it's not without adjustments. They live out of suitcases, forgoing the comforts of a permanent home. Family time may be limited, and itineraries are dictated by cruise schedules.
Despite the trade-offs, Monica and Jorell wouldn't trade their life for anything. They've explored multiple continents, experienced diverse cultures, and created lasting memories. “In our old life, we’d have moments we called ‘glimmers,’ when everything seemed magical,” she said. “Now I feel like my whole life is a glimmer — it really is a dream come true.”
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