What it’s like to live on a cruise ship for two months

Traveling as is Travel + Leisure’s new column where we talk to travelers to find out what it’s really like to travel the world. Christianne Klein, a TV anchor and host of FoodFamilyTravel.comThe couple, along with their daughter Livia (then six), packed their lives and spent two months living aboard Regent Seven Seas Cruises’ Explorer. They documented their journeys in the series “Life Over Seas.” Here is her story…  

Since I was a kid, I’ve been on cruises, mostly in Mexico and the Caribbean. I love it. As my family had also taken vacations in Europe, I was able to relate to the Mona Lisa and Tower of London when I learned about them at school. It was important for me to share these experiences with Livia because I knew they were a great way to learn.

We were on cruises as a family The longest trip we had done was a little over a week. I heard that people lived on board ships. My husband and I homeschool our daughter and both work remotely. Why not extend our time and move aboard a cruise ship? We could work while at sea and explore the world when we arrive at port.

So, I contacted Regent Seven Seas Cruises I asked if it was possible and they said yes. We stayed for three legs – two of which lasted about two weeks, and another closer to three. I thought I had come up with a brilliant, new idea, but I was shocked to find out that 167 people were also doing it.

If you take a two-week trip and travel halfway around the planet, you have six days to feel like you can function. We were able to spend almost two full months away from home. We started in SydneyThe’s went around Australia And through New ZealandWe were in Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, and Rotorua. We were in Auckland Wellington Christchurch Rotorua. 

Then we went back around Australia, going up to Cooktown, Darwin and where we saw the jumping crocodile. We then travelled through Indonesia to Komodo Island where we saw Komodo Dragons in the wild. Then we went to Surabaya, and then on to a place that is difficult to reach. Bali. before heading to Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia, and ending up at Singapore. 

The fact that all the excursions are included in the price was a major reason we chose Regent. This allowed us to plan the lessons for our daughter. She would love many of these eco- or animal-based adventures as well as cultural encounters. I wanted to show her how different people live around the world, yet how similar we are.

We have talked about Antarctica It was amazing to see how dry the area is. Fiordland National Park is only glacier runoff. We walked through rain forests and learned about the different types—an Australian rain forest is significantly different from something in Indonesia, where there’s tropical heat. From extreme cold to heat, we experienced it all. This was an alternative way to learn, as it is not possible with a book. We were able show her the physical object. 

She is obsessed with animals. She had asked me about dinosaurs before, and if there were crocodiles on Earth when dinosaurs roamed the Earth. These beautiful birds, which look like dinosaurs, were cassowaries. She noticed that the claws of these birds looked similar to velociraptors. It’s amazing what a 6-year old can notice. One time, she asked abruptly about the gestational period of penguins. This caught us all by surprise.

What made it so special was that we were all learning with her. I’d also never seen a real cassowary. It was a lot to take in, and the best way for us to digest it all was by taking journaling—not just for our website, but for us, too. Livia learned so much in a very short time. I am sure that she will retain a great deal of this information for the rest of her days.

Naturally, I was worried about her being so far away from her family and friends. It didn’t cause any problems. She became friends with everyone on board. Her best friend was even the son of the captain. 

She also FaceTimed friends at home. It was adorable to watch her ballet friend ask about the animals and things she did. She told Livia that “it’s not the same” without her. It’s a moment you experience as a mother or father when hearing that. Livia then told her friend she was able to observe white tigers as well as clouded-leopards. 

Livia told her at one point: “You must try escargot.” You will love it! That was the last thing I expected to hear her say. It was on the plane that she found it and now she eats it daily. She loves it. The chef at Regent was gracious enough to share this recipe with me for her birthday. Compass Rose With us, we’ve made it to home.

We felt like we were on holiday for the first two-weeks of our journey. We unpacked everything and filled the space on board with our daughter’s toys when we first arrived. We felt at home. We live in the Explorer. We became friends with the crew as well as other passengers. We were exactly where it was that we should be.

I thought I’d miss cooking but the food served on board was fantastic. Also, I realized I had more time to spend on self-care or work, since I was no longer cooking, running errands, and taking my daughter from one activity to another. This extra time is built in for you. 

We would spend the time going to high-tea, exploring the ship, listening to music and getting dressed up for the dinner. My husband enjoyed spending time on our balcony or in the gym.

Also, we had time to do spontaneous things. We stayed an extra day and went to Sydney to watch “Jesus Christ Superstar”. We were mistakenly in Melbourne at the time of the Australian Open. We got to watch my husband, who is a big fan. [Novak] Djokovic play—and win.

Each day was an adventure. The Singapore night safari was a surprise every day.

When we watched our daughter run up and down the tiny streets of Surabaya and have fun with other kids, whether in Sydney or Indonesia, and play together, it made us realize the importance travel. It was cool to see that people all over the world wanted the same thing.

To be a parent, have these experiences, and see the world through my daughter’s eyes—it wasn’t just educational for her, it was also a huge learning experience for us. It was interesting to see her change, what she had learned, and the confidence she gained. 

My daughter refused to leave our home on the last night. I had to comfort her until 3 in the morning. You wonder that as a mother or father. How will my child react when it’s all over? It was equal parts heartbreaking and powerful. We’ve established in her a love for travel, seeing the world,  meeting new people, and having these experiences that we were able to create together as a family.

Enjoy their adventures on FoodFamilyTravel.comKeep an eye out for “Life Over Seas: The Seaquel,” which will be released soon.