Woman who sold all belongings to live permanently on cruise ship shares how much it costs her per month

Holidays always feel like they're over too soon, but one woman from the US decided to turn her life into a permanent vacation by selling all her belongings and living on a cruise ship full-time.

Speaking from on board Carnival's Valor cruise ship during a two-week stint from New Orleans to Barcelona, she explained how she lives a life of luxury for a surprisingly low cost, offering up a full breakdown of her monthly outgoings.

Cruise ships have become pretty popular over the years as a quick and easy way of visiting lots of different countries at once without having to worry too much about travel, food or accommodation.

While those of you seeking an all-inclusive trip might find yourself paying a lot of hidden costs, the premise of having your food put in front of you while you travel the world and stay in first-class cabins does sound pretty fantastic at first, so long as you can get used to the terrifying reality of what the ships are like at night.

But some people enjoy it so much that they decide to stop paying ridiculous rent prices and bills, instead deciding to rent out accommodation full-time at sea, something US woman Lynnelle has been doing for nearly a year now.

On her popular YouTube channel Poverty to Paradise, she shares monthly costs with fans and explains exactly how she's able to enjoy and afford this life of luxury.

Why she lives full-time on a cruise ship

After a couple of cruises Lynelle decided to stay full-time (Getty Stock)

Lynnelle was going through a divorce and after a few months living with her daughter in Georgia, she went on her first cruise in March 2024 as she considered what to do next.

She decided to start her new life of independence on Independence Day (4 July) on Royal Caribbean's Independence of the Seas cruise ship, committing to cruising full time. She decided to sell everything including her home, car and 99 percent of her possessions so that she could afford to spend all her time at sea.

The more time you spend there, the cheaper it becomes, as she has amassed plenty of vouchers over the past 11 months living on board, and her monthly costs look far more achievable than a one-bed flat in London might.

How much does it cost per month to live on a cruise ship?

Thanks to some pretty great loyal customer bonuses, Lynnelle managed to spend just $373 (£274) on her most recent Carnival cruise, which took her from New Orleans to Barcelona from the end of April to mid May.

Even more impressively, she received $200 (£147) of that back in onboard credit, meaning she spent just $173 (£127) for 16 days on a cruise ship - which is basically the cost of a weekly shop in the UK these days.

While she did end up paying over $400 (£290) on a hotel in Barcelona for just three nights, she managed to spend a grand total of $0 on a hotel in Vietnam for much of May thanks to more of those pesky points.

Lynelle's monthly budget for May (YouTube/poverty to paradise)

Lynnelle suggests that she went on vacation from her normal vacation, which included her flight to Vietnam and other expenses like takeaway food and a driver to show her around, which is why her monthly spending was over $4,000 in May.

However, when it comes to her cruise living, she spent just $1,376 in May, which goes to show just how affordable it can be when you know how to make the most of points and vouchers. Where do I sign up?