Jeff and Debb Knapp have traded their land-based life for permanent living on cruise ships, spending £7,500 a month on a tiny 28-square-meter suite. They haven't spent a single night on land in over two years and are booked solid until April 2028.
Why they say it's cheaper
The couple, both in their mid-50s, switch between different Celebrity Cruises ships on back-to-back itineraries. They claim this lifestyle is cheaper than owning a home, as they avoid mortgage, rent, utilities, car payments, auto insurance, property taxes, vehicle repairs, and grocery bills.
“Instead of cramped quarters, we see it as living in a luxury suite where our living room expands to include the entire ship, the ocean, and a new destination outside our balcony almost every single morning,” Jeff told creatorzine.com.
Life on board
Despite the tight quarters, Jeff says arguments are rare: “Our minor disagreements usually come down to someone's tone of voice when they are tired or hungry. A few hours of rest or a good meal quickly fixes everything.”
They save money by avoiding everyday purchases like groceries, use onboard doctors for medical needs, and arrange routine appointments during port stops. Travel visas and entry requirements are tracked around their changing itineraries.
Jeff said: “People constantly ask if we ever get bored but honestly, there is not even enough time in the day to do everything available to us. We have not been bored a single day since we met.”
How they met
The couple met by chance on the Celebrity Ascent in February 2024, both traveling solo. They struck up a conversation at the ship's cafe and discovered a shared love of cruises. At the time, Jeff and Debb had 90 cruises booked combined, with many identical future itineraries.
Jeff proposed on the Celebrity Beyond in April 2025. They legally married in Miami that June and held a second wedding on the same ship in November.
Dreams and family
Living at sea had been Debb's dream since her first cruise in 1995. She worked for the Washington State government and flipped properties for nearly three decades to achieve it. Jeff, a former craftsman, had avoided cruises due to seasickness but was won over by modern ships.
Both were teenage parents, and together they have six adult children and five grandchildren. They stay connected via video chats and live streams, and sometimes family members join them on cruises.
The couple shares their lifestyle through their The Ship Show content brand, offering tips and costs of living aboard cruise ships.
