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Ten years ago, newly divorced Sam Roberts stepped aboard a cruise ship for a fresh start. He hasn’t spent much time on land since.
The health benefits of vacations are well documented. A landmark meta-analysis published in the Journal of Occupational Health in 2009 found that vacations have a positive effect on health and well-being, with measurable reductions in exhaustion and stress.
For many, in an ideal world, life would be one long vacation. Unfortunately, reality isn’t quite like that, unless you happen to be Roberts, 36, originally from Sydney, Australia.
Ten years ago, he set sail on his first cruise. It’s proven to be the first of many, with Roberts estimating that he spends around 300 days a year living and traveling on cruise ships.
“In 2016, I got divorced from someone who was a lot older than me,” Roberts told Newsweek. “We met when I was 18 and they were 38. As a couple, we had done well, and a couple of fluke investments resulted in us having quite a bit to split up.”
Roberts invested some of his money in a house that needed major renovations. While work was being completed on the property, he decided to take a “big trip” to clear his head following his divorce.
“It was during the research phase that I saw the world cruise on the Sea Princess had space on it, was leaving shortly, and was a crazy-stupid deal,” he said. “I booked it without a second thought.”
Roberts had an amazing time and returned to Sydney refreshed. However, he quickly realized his life had been “truly easier” on the cruise, so within two weeks he had boarded a flight bound for Europe, where he embarked on a Mediterranean cruise.
That was quickly followed by another cruise that took him across the Atlantic to the Caribbean. Though he returned home to Sydney for Christmas, having truly caught the cruising bug, Roberts set about crunching the numbers.
He realized that if he planned carefully, he could set things up so he could go on cruises year-round. It took two years, but Roberts estimates that he now spends anywhere between $100,000 and $150,000 a year on cruises.
With his investments continuing to reap rewards, he reckons he has a budget of around $175,000, meaning he’s more than comfortable living the cruise lifestyle he’s become accustomed to.
Roberts says there are lots of benefits to his unique way of life, whether it’s having his every whim catered to or the wonderful variety of people he meets and befriends on his trips. He also loves the feeling of waking up each day somewhere new and enjoying meals with the best views imaginable (Roberts chose not to share any pictures of himself for the story but did provide some pictures of the breathtaking views and delicious food he gets to enjoy onboard).
“I also consider this the best education you can ever have. The perspectives and knowledge of wild and wacky things I’ve gained over the years are mind-blowing,” he said.
That’s not to say there are no downsides to his lifestyle.
“While I’m lucky that my family and friends come and visit, and I also know a lot of people who cruise almost as much as me and whom I cross paths with frequently, it does occasionally get lonely,” he said. “It’s hard to imagine being on a ship that might have literally 5,000 people on board and feeling lonely, but it happens.”
He also misses out on events back home and seeing the people he loves on a regular basis. It can be hard to get things like his favorite Thai food, for example. However, he’s made it a rule to always be home for Christmas.
Roberts knows his approach may not be for everyone, but he does have some advice for anyone who might want to follow in his footsteps. First, don’t make your first cruise booking a big one.
“Book three months of back-to-back voyages on a variety of different cruise lines to see which brand fits your personality and lifestyle,” he said.
His main piece of advice, however, is simple: plan, plan and plan.
“Use spreadsheets to create a calendar and build your year. You can then also share it with friends and family so they can see the itineraries they wish to join you on,” he said. “I’d also recommend finding a good cruise-specialist travel agent. Not only do they get better deals, but they also have insights and relationships with the cruise lines to help make things go as smoothly as possible.”
Roberts has no plans to change his cruise-based lifestyle anytime soon, but he knows nothing in life is permanent.
“The reality is life circumstances change, and my parents, who are now in their 80s, will need more assistance as they get older,” he said. “I might not do 300 days a year, but certainly 200 will be a minimum.”
He’s also hopeful of one day finding that special someone who might be willing to join him on his adventures.
“I am hoping that one day I’ll find a partner who either loves the sea as much as I do or is willing to compromise and spend a large portion of the year on board,” Roberts said. “But for as long as I’m physically capable, I’ll be cruising.”
Contact Newsweek editors on this story: Rebecca Flood and Dave Siminoff.
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