Tag Archive for: cruise residence lifestyle

They Sold Everything to Live at Sea. And They’re Not Looking Back.

What does it take to walk away from land life completely?

For John and Melody Hennessee, the answer was simple: sell the house, ditch the storage unit, leave the routines behind, and move onto a residential cruise ship full time. Because apparently some people don’t just take vacations. They turn the entire planet into their neighborhood. Humans are exhausting, but admittedly, this is pretty cool.

In the very first episode of the Live at Sea podcast, I had the chance to interview these two self-described pirates aboard Villa Vie Odyssey, and what struck me most wasn’t just the adventure. It was the commitment.

These aren’t people “trying out” cruising.

They are fully dedicated to living at sea.

And after talking with them for over 30 minutes while they cruised somewhere between Indonesia and Singapore, you realize this is not escapism. It’s a lifestyle. One they’ve intentionally built around freedom, exploration, community, and simplicity.

John and Melody spent years cruising the world before making the leap into residential cruising. They sold nearly everything they owned, combined three cabins into one custom-built floating home, and now wake up in a different country every few days. Their backyard changes constantly. Bora Bora one month. Tokyo the next.

What surprised me most was how grounded they were about it all.

They openly talked about the good and the bad of living at sea.

The incredible community.
The drama that inevitably comes with living closely with other people.
The challenge of downsizing your life.
The reality of rough seas.
The temptation to overeat and overdrink when your kitchen feels like an endless vacation buffet.

This wasn’t some polished travel commercial pretending life is perfect onboard.

It was honest.

And that’s exactly what this podcast is going to be about.

Live at Sea isn’t about fantasy. It’s about reality. The people actually doing this. The pioneers building a new kind of life while the rest of the world argues about mortgage rates and lawn maintenance.

One thing became crystal clear during the interview:

Residential cruising is no longer some weird fringe idea.

It’s becoming an industry.

And the people already living this life believe we’re only at the beginning.

That’s why we’re launching the Live at Sea podcast series with one new interview every single month featuring real people living life at sea around the world. The dreamers. The rebels. The retirees. The adventurers. The accidental pirates.

If you currently live at sea and want to share your story, reach out to us at hello@liveatsea.com. We’d love to interview you.

Because the truth is, more people are starting to ask themselves a dangerous question:

What if home didn’t have to stay in one place?

Live at Sea (Rent or Buy) Facebook Group: A Place to Rent, Buy, Dream, and Gawk

For many people, the idea of living at sea still feels like a fantasy. Waking up to a new horizon, spending weeks or months aboard a ship, and calling the ocean home sounds almost too good to be real.

But for some people, it is already happening.

That is why I created the Live at Sea (Rent or Buy) Facebook Group. It is a sister group to the main Live at Sea Facebook Group, and its purpose is simple: to give people a dedicated place to explore cruise condos, ship residences, and live-at-sea opportunities that are available for rent or purchase.

A lot of us are curious about what is out there. Some are seriously looking to buy. Others want to rent before making a bigger commitment. And plenty of us just enjoy seeing the different options, layouts, ships, destinations, and lifestyles that are becoming available. Let’s be honest, it is quite fun to gawk at all the possibilities. Humanity has turned “window shopping” into a full-time hobby, so we may as well do it with ocean views.

This group is designed for people who want to promote a unit for sale or rent, as well as those who are interested in finding one. If you have a residence, cabin, or cruise condo available, you are welcome to post it here. If someone is interested, the two parties can connect directly through private message and work out the details privately.

My wife and I recently bought a place on Avora Lumina, and we expect that we may rent it out from time to time. We also intend to rent Villa Vie when she reaches Europe. That experience made me realize there should be an easier place for people in this niche community to share listings, compare options, and connect with others who are interested in this lifestyle.

The live-at-sea movement is still young, but it is growing quickly. More ships, more ownership models, more rental opportunities, and more creative ways to live aboard are appearing all the time. Some people are looking for adventure. Some are looking for a more flexible retirement. Some want to see the world without constantly packing and unpacking. And some are just curious enough to follow along until the right opportunity appears.

The Live at Sea (Rent or Buy) Facebook Group is for all of those people. Join here now.

Whether you are ready to buy, hoping to rent, listing your own unit, or simply enjoying the view from your screen, welcome aboard.