Teachers Retire at 32 to Live on Cruise Ships for $10K/Year

Monica Brzoska and Jorell Conley proved you don't need to be wealthy or wait until you're 65 to retire to your dream life.

The couple, both former teachers from Memphis, Tennessee, took their first cruise together in 2016 and immediately fell in love with life at sea. By March 2023, after Monica's mother encouraged her not to wait for retirement following her father's illness, they decided to turn their cruise hobby into a permanent lifestyle.

The math was surprisingly simple. By choosing the cheapest cabins and stacking deals from Carnival Cruises, they booked their first eight months for under $10,000 total. That's roughly $1,250 per month for accommodation, food, entertainment, and travel to destinations around the world.

Monica was 32 and Jorell was 36 when they quit teaching, sold most of their possessions, and set sail. They rent out their three-bedroom Memphis home, which generates enough income to cover their cruising costs and then some.

The couple has now completed over 106 consecutive cruises and visited more than 45 countries. They've explored Japan for its culture, Greece for its history, and Iceland because it felt like being on Mars. Recent stops include Amsterdam, the UK, Germany, and Belgium.

Sunny's Take

What makes this story so heartwarming isn't just the adventure itself. It's how Monica and Jorell discovered that removing everyday stresses strengthened their relationship in unexpected ways.

They never cook, clean, or do laundry. Entertainment happens every night, from comedy shows to dance clubs. New friends board with each cruise, and date night happens weekly when they dress up for a nice meal together.

"Without the daily stresses of life, we rarely argued, but always told each other if we needed space or more time together," Monica shared. The all-inclusive nature of cruising means they rarely open their wallets, creating a genuinely stress-free lifestyle.

They're not alone in this choice either. More couples and retirees are discovering that permanent cruising can cost less than nursing homes or retirement communities, with infinitely more excitement and connection.

Their story carries a powerful reminder: you don't always have to wait for someday to start living the life you want.