Imagine waking up every day to the sound of waves, with new horizons just outside your window. That’s the life of Monica Brzoska, 32, and Jorrell Conley, 36, a couple who decided to ditch the traditional lifestyle and travel the world on cruise ships.
The couple met in 2015 while teaching in Memphis, Tennessee, and hit it off. After marrying in 2020, they embarked on a week-long cruise to Mexico, Belize, and Grand Cayman. And they were hooked. So, two years ago, when they were due to return from a Caribbean cruise, they had the wild idea to book consecutive cruises and keep sailing.
Living The Dream
After the first cruise, they were hooked and a string of cruises followed. They cruised to Puerto Rico and the Panama Canal, Costa Rica, and Turks And Caicos. But the pandemic put a pause on the seafaring duo’s fun.
“I was desperate to see the world,” said Brzoska. “When my dad Andrzej, now 68, needed a liver transplant in August 2022, my mum Lucyna, 60, said to me: ‘Don’t wait for retirement to follow your dreams. Do it now.’”
When the world opened up after COVID, the couple sold their possessions, quit their jobs, used their savings, and set sail. Now the permanently travel the world on cruise ships.
Living the Cruise Ship Life
Living on a cruise ship definitely has its perks. The all-inclusive nature means all their meals are taken care of. There are limitless entertainment options and so many activities to choose from.
“All my meals are cooked by chefs, and staff change my bedding,” Brzoska said. “I haven’t stepped into a kitchen or used a washing machine for a year.”
In the last 12 months, they’ve been on 36 consecutive cruises for just under $10,000. Their travels have taken them to Fiji, Greece, Japan, and Iceland, to name a few.
Ebbs and Flows
Having almost all of your needs met while sunning yourself to the gentle sway of the ocean seems like a dream come true. Brzoska admits it does come with one challenge – missing their families – but knowing they can easily catch a flight home if an emergency happens helps.
She noted it has been great for their marriage.
“Without the daily stresses of life, we rarely argued, but always told each other if we needed space or more time together,” she said. “We ensured we got dressed up for a date night each week at one of the fancier onboard restaurants.”
They enjoy activities together, or solo, and Conley is happy to spend his days watching TV and making friends with other cruisers.
How Do They Actually Travel the World on Cruise Ships?
The couple, who share their travels on Instagram, saved during the pandemic and then sold their car and possessions to afford their cruises. They rent out their three-bedroom Memphis home for extra income. Their pre-pandemic frequent holidaying also gives them access to great deals and perks.
They save on the cost of travelling by booking the cheapest cabins, taking advantage of deals, and opting for all-inclusive. All they need is whatever they can carry and some spending money.
“We’d earned access to some amazing offers,” Brzoska gushed. “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.”
Living on a cruise ship is something you mostly hear about older people doing after they retire. But this young couple decided to go for it and is making it happen for them. If I hadn’t seen Titanic so many times, I’d consider packing up and sailing the seven seas.
“In our old life, we’d have moments we called ‘glimmers,’ when everything seemed magical,” Brzoska said. “Now I feel like my whole life is a glimmer — it really is a dream come true.”
This couple has now visited dozens of countries, including Japan, Greece and Fiji. In the last 12 months, they have clocked up 36 consecutive cruises — often getting off one cruise ship at one part to jump onto another at the same port. #winning
