After selling their home and moving onto a cruise ship full time, one couple says the biggest surprise has been just how busy life at sea actually is.
Johan Bodin and Lanette Canen chose to swap a conventional home for permanent life on board the Villa Vie Odyssey, a residential cruise ship built around a multi-year world voyage that markets more than 400 destinations.
They’ve been sharing that experience through their YouTube channel, Living Life on a Cruise, where they post regular updates about day-to-day ship life, work routines, and the destinations they visit.
In one video, Johan reflected on how much ground they’ve covered since setting off.
“57 countries and 190 ports so far”
“it’s been an amazing experience.”
Before committing to the lifestyle, the couple assumed port days would be the exciting part, while long stretches at sea might feel slow or repetitive.
That expectation turned out to be wrong. After nearly two years living on board, they say they’ve found themselves with more to do than ever.
Lanette said they are ‘never’ bored, explaining:
“We’re honestly busier now than we were living on land. Between visiting new ports, creating content, and working remotely, there’s never a dull moment.
“Sea days are packed with activities too, but we usually spend them catching up on work and editing videos. We actually find ourselves wishing for more sea days!”
Johan has also spoken about how their early concerns disappeared once they experienced the rhythm of cruise life for themselves.
“We thought when we started this that we would be bored on sea days, and you can tell there’s lots of stuff to do.”
“Now we actually feel they’re more relaxing days where we can catch up on YouTube videos and other things that we kind of ignore when we’re out exploring in port.”
While the lifestyle may sound dreamlike, it comes with a substantial price tag. The couple have previously stressed that they are ‘not rich’, even as they continue documenting the realities of full-time life at sea.
They have also gone into detail about the costs involved, while noting that they are not formally connected to the company operating the ship.
Villa Vie Residences currently says its residency options on the Odyssey include a flexible rental option, permanent cabin ownership, and a lifetime access package, with starting prices that vary by program and cabin type.
The company’s site says the most flexible option starts at $124 per person per day, while permanent residency begins at $119,999 and lifetime access starts at $349,999.
That means the exact price depends on whether someone wants to rent, buy a cabin for the long term, or pay once for lifetime access, as well as the type and location of the residence.
The ship’s official program also includes meals, Wi-Fi, housekeeping, entertainment, and onboard amenities, which helps explain why the couple describe sea days as productive rather than idle.
The lowest-priced option starts at $99,000 up front for a cabin, with residents then paying about $4,000 per month to cover onboard living expenses such as food, cleaning, and laundry.
There is also a five-year package with a lower initial cost of $60,000, although the monthly fees are higher at $4,500 for double occupancy and $3,300 for single occupancy.
For those willing to spend far more, the company also offers the ‘Endless Horizons’ package.
That option gives buyers the lease on a cabin for the full lifespan of the ship, with no added maintenance charges on top.
The catch, of course, is the price: the package comes in at $350,000 altogether.
Still, according to Johan and Lanette, boredom is clearly not part of the deal.