Two sisters sold their homes and everything in them once they reached retirement age to fulfill their dreams of exploring the world on a cruise ship.
Jo Johnston, 69, and Elaine Durham, 63, took the opportunity to embark on their dream of spending most of their time on the ocean, especially being single and retired.
Together, they have spent more than 1,500 days at sea, although they do not always travel together.
“I kept doing longer cruises — 30 days, then 45, then 80 — and I learned I liked long stretches at sea,” Johnston said. Insider business information.
Johnston was the first to embark on this big life change and sold her home in 2014.
Jo Johnston, 69 (back) and Elaine Durham, 63 (front), took the opportunity to embark on their dream of spending most of their time on the ocean, especially being single and retired. They sold their homes and their equity to make it a reality.
Their current voyage is a 53-day round trip to Japan that began Sept. 1 from Gig Harbor in Washington (file image)
She told the outlet that all she kept were essential items, including financial records and some items with sentimental value that she keeps in a storage unit.
Durham followed her sister’s example in 2022 and held an estate sale in which she sold 98 percent of her belongings, except for some personal items and photographs of her children.
Durham told the outlet that the lifestyle is doable for her because she has been debt-free for 20 years and makes sure to do the numbers at the end of each year to stay on top of her expenses.
Johnston has a blog called Writer on deck where he writes about his sea voyages.
Her current voyage is a 53-day round trip to Japan that began Sept. 1 from Gig Harbor in Washington.
This was my third time going to Japan; On this trip he planned to visit 14 different Japanese ports, visiting iconic places such as Nagasaki and Osaka, where he toured their lush gardens and shrines.
Together, the sisters have spent more than 1,500 days at sea, although they do not always travel together.
Johnston has a blog called Writer on Deck where he writes about his sea travels.
A 53-day cruise on Holland America Majestic Japan costs $11,962, which includes taxes, fees and port charges.
The end of this year is full of sea voyages, which will last until May. The 69-year-old will cruise the Mediterranean in November and December, the Caribbean during the holidays and the 124-day World Voyage 2025.
The Mediterranean cruise costs around $5,200 for 42 days. The Caribbean Holiday cruise is a seven-day voyage starting at $999. For the luxurious World Voyage, prices start at $22,354.
The combined price of the other costs of his voyages on World Voyage 2024 and Ultimate Alaska comes to $33,853.
In total this year, minus the 2025 world trip, Johnston spent $52,000.
The 69-year-old sold her home in Plano, Texas, for $355,000, $4,000 less than the original asking price, according to public records.
If you spent the $52,000 you spent this year consistently over the nine years since you sold everything, that cost would equal $468,000.
But there is a way to avoid going over budget.
A 53-day cruise on Holland America Majestic Japan costs $11,962 – that includes taxes, fees and port charges. The trip includes a visit to 14 Japanese ports.
The combined price of the other costs of his voyages on World Voyage 2024 and Ultimate Alaska comes to $33,853. In total this year, minus the 2025 world trip, Johnston spent $52,000 (file image)
Although the base cost of all those trips would be $52,000, Johnson and Durham said they stretch their budget by earning and using loyalty benefits they’ve saved by exclusively using Holland America, even to the point of getting complimentary food and laundry.
Johnston even said that living on cruise ships is more financially efficient than maintaining a home.
‘There was a time when I had a big house with a pool and three cars. Without all that, I have a lot more money to spend on travel.”
Choosing less expensive rooms is another way Johnston saves money and opts not to purchase the ocean view.
On his trip from 2024 to AlaskaHe chose a stateroom that faced the ship’s tender rather than a stateroom with an ocean view and balcony. She wrote that it was a compromise to get some light in her room without paying a higher cost.
Although the base cost of all those trips would be $52,000, Johnson and Durham said they stretch their budget by earning and using loyalty benefits they’ve saved by exclusively using Holland America, even to the point of getting complimentary food and laundry.
Johnston wrote, “Sure, I’d prefer a terrace stateroom, but since this ship is pretty full, the upsell Holland America offered for it was more than I wanted to pay.” It is one of those commitments that allows me to spend most of the year at sea.
In a blog post titled The Economics of Cruising Economically, a year after selling his house, Johnston said, “if you want to cruise more while spending less on each trip, you can still have a good time.” Adopt the same attitude you have at home and consider the cost.
‘Explore the ports on your own. Avoid the casino (or budget just a little each day). Take a break from the Internet. Stick to water instead of soda once or twice a day.
‘Enjoy soaking in the jacuzzi instead of indulging in an expensive massage. And remember that you can save a lot for another cruise with the money you don’t spend on this one.’