For many, the dream of homeownership is a cornerstone of life.
But for Jeff Knapp, the rising cost of living and the allure of the open ocean proved a more compelling prospect.
He and his wife, Debb, have completely abandoned life on land, selling their properties to embrace a permanent existence aboard cruise ships – a lifestyle they claim is more affordable than maintaining a traditional home.
Knapp, 54, once considered cruises “stupid” and was plagued by seasickness.
“I’d grown up by a lake and loved water, but even a one-hour ferry trip left me feeling nauseous,” he explained in a column published by The Guardian.
The idea of being “trapped on a ship for a week or more seemed like a terrible idea.”
However, a last-minute opportunity in 2019 changed everything.
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Jeff Knapp and his wife, Debb live permanently on cruise ships. Source: TikTok/ @livingonacruiseship
A friend offered him a Caribbean cruise for a mere few hundred dollars.
Armed with travel sickness patches and pills, Knapp reluctantly embarked.
To his astonishment, he discovered he wasn’t seasick.
“That was the moment I fell in love with cruise life,” he recalled.
Beyond the unexpected freedom from nausea, Knapp, who lives with severe Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, found the structured routine of ship life incredibly beneficial.
“A cruise is perfect for this; I was able to eat the same meals at the same table with the same waiting staff, and every activity was scheduled and predictable.”
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The couple have been on over 50 cruises together. Source: TikTok/ @livingonacruiseship
By 2024, Knapp had completed 20 cruises, never tiring of the experience.
It was on one such voyage that he met Debb, a woman who shared his new-found passion, and then some.
Debb, also 52 and divorced, had already undertaken more than 150 cruises.
At 51, she had made the radical decision to retire, sell all her possessions save for what fit into three suitcases, and live full-time on cruise ships.
She cherished the freedom and the opportunity to explore the world.
Their connection was immediate and profound.
They even got married on one. Source: TikTok/ @livingonacruiseship
“Debb and I sat talking and laughing for three and a half hours,” Knapp said.
With six children and five grandchildren between them, they quickly realised they had found something special.
The fact that Debb no longer lived on land didn’t deter Knapp.
He had already booked five back-to-back cruises himself.
Soon after meeting Debb, Knapp returned to his home in New Jersey, put it on the market, sold most of his belongings, and purchased a diamond ring.
The proposal, however, required patience.
After Debb expressed disinterest in a ring he’d seen in a ship’s gift shop, Knapp commissioned a custom design, knowing it would take months to create.
The couple say living on sea beats living on land by mile. Source: TikTok/ @livingonacruiseship
In the interim, he booked himself onto the same 50 cruises Debb had planned.
Their families, surprisingly, were not taken aback by their unconventional choice.
“Neither of our families thought it was strange that we were now living full-time on cruise ships,” Knapp stated.
The financial rationale was compelling: “With our savings we were able to fund our life on-board, which, thanks to loyalty discounts and the rising cost of living, is cheaper than our life on land.”
From good food, entertainment to gyms with ocean views, sea life offers everything the couple desires. Source: TikTok/ @livingonacruiseship
Finally, in April last year, the bespoke ring was ready.
Knapp proposed on the dancefloor, with the ship’s photographer capturing the moment. She immediately accepted.
A legal ceremony followed in June on a Miami Beach, and five months later, the captain of their current cruise ship officiated a formal wedding.
The couple now share their adventures on TikTok, addressing common questions about their unique lifestyle.
They dismiss concerns about weight gain, noting they eat less processed food and get ample exercise walking the vast ships.
Arguments in their 23-square-metre cabin are resolved with a rule: “neither of us can leave until we’ve sorted things out.”
As for contagious illnesses, Knapp remains unconcerned, believing such stories are often sensationalised.
“At 54, I’m living my dream. Soon we’ll be heading to Europe, Mexico and Bermuda, and I can’t wait. I hope our life on the water goes on for ever,” he said.
English (US) · 