A FLORIDA man lives on a cruise ship for approximately 300 days every year – despite paying rent for his own apartment back on land. 

The cruiser claims his nautical lifestyle costs him nearly the exact same amount as his apartment rent and additional service fees. 

Ryan Gutridge has been working remotely from a Royal Caribbean cruise ship since 2021. 

Since then, the IT professional has insisted that the typical vacation lifestyle has remained more cost effective than remaining state-side.

In an essay for Business Insider, Gutridge revealed he sets a cruising budget every year to determine how many days he can remain on the boat. 

For 2023, that budget was around $30,000. 

“…[L]ast year when I started really looking at the numbers and evaluating how much base fare I paid to be on a ship for 300 nights, I found it was almost neck-and-neck with what I paid for rent and trash service for an apartment in Fort Lauderdale, Florida,” he wrote. 

Next year’s budget is expected to be scaled back slightly due to inflation. 

However, that isn’t stopping him from taking additional measures to ensure he can get back to spending the majority of his year on the cruise ship in 2025. 

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By then, Gutridge says he plans to get rid of his Florida apartment, sell his car, and purchase a scooter to store at a friend’s garage. 

“When I’m home, I’ll have groceries delivered, and if I need to go somewhere farther away, I’ll be happy to just take an Uber or Lyft,” the cruiser said. 

Currently, when he is on land, Gutridge said he spends around 20% of his time attending doctors appointments and visiting with friends. 

But most of the time, he’s on the boat. 

Even when he is onboard the cruise, he spends most of his time onboard as he is still remotely working. 

By spending hundreds of days on the cruise ship each year, Gutridge has come across many budget-friendly perks that save him even more money. 

Since 2021, he has consistently cruised with Royal Caribbean, which he says has “the most valuable benefits.”

Specifically, Gutridge said his drinks and internet are free. 

“Because of the loyalty program, I’ll actually spend less money cruising this year than I did last year, even though I cruise more.” 

For those curious about trying out the nautical nomad lifestyle, Gutridge advises trying out different brands to find which one works best for you. 

“Think about your strategy. It’s about coming up with a transition plan — it doesn’t happen overnight.”