Retired Australian Couple Taking Back-To-Back Cruises Share The Toughest Part Of Ship Life
Of course, when you think about it, the ‘worst’ part of being on what is basically a never-ending vacation is still far from miserable. But even with all the perks of ship life, Marty and Jessica admit there are little challenges that come with it, proving that every silver lining has at least a small cloud attached.
The couple first set sail on June 16, 2022, boarding the Coral Princess in Brisbane, Australia. From that day forward they embraced every single itinerary the ship offered, which included not one but two full round-the-world cruises, ultimately adding up to an impressive total of 53 separate trips.
Just three months later they were already stepping onto the Crown Princess, where they plan to remain on board until November 13 of this year.
It’s safe to say the pair are more than just casual cruise fans—they’ve built their lives around it.
Jessica said one of the best parts of this lifestyle is becoming part of the extended ‘cruise family.’
Many of the crew members they meet pop up again on future voyages, and over time, passengers often become much more than acquaintances—they turn into close friends.
Marty was candid about one of them, saying: “[I miss] being able to drive wherever you want to go whenever you like.”
Even so, the couple said they wouldn’t trade their lifestyle for anything. They’ve already gone ahead and booked Princess cruises all the way through to September 2, 2027. And when they compared the costs, they found that living on cruises actually worked out cheaper than choosing to stay in a retirement home.
Another upside is that they still get to see their loved ones. Whenever the ship docks in Australia, they catch up with their daughters, grandchildren, and even great-grandchildren. And while traveling the world, they also reconnect with friends and other familiar faces they’ve met along their journeys.
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