Abby Stacey, a 23-year-old data analyst by day, has taken on a captivating side project that she hopes will soon become her full-time career. Operating her YouTube channel, 'The Life of a Cruiser', Stacey dedicates her weekends and evenings to producing engaging content centered around the world of cruising. Through her videos, she aims to challenge common misconceptions held by her peers about vacations at sea while simultaneously using the revenue from her content to fund her future adventures on the water.

Stacey's passion for cruising is evident; she has embarked on an impressive 53 cruises, predominantly with Royal Caribbean, where she has achieved the esteemed Diamond Plus status. Over the past year, she has averaged approximately eight voyages annually, many of which are delightful weekend getaways that keep her spirit of adventure alive.

While she does occasionally opt for budget-friendly inside cabins, Stacey admits that she typically enjoys a more luxurious cruising experience. "I definitely do not travel budget-friendly," she explained. Her cruising repertoire includes a variety of upscale accommodations from MSC, Celebrity, Princess, and Royal Caribbean, where she prefers suites reminiscent of first-class air travel, as she notes, "it's like when you fly first class, you just can't go back."

Looking ahead, Stacey estimates that her cruising expenses for 2024 will sum up to around $5,000 for 10 sailings and a total of 41 days at sea. Although she refrained from disclosing the exact earnings from her YouTube channel, she indicated that her various brand partnerships and affiliate collaborations generally cover her cruise-related expenses, allowing her to maintain a cruising lifestyle while creating content.

The vacation industry often promotes the idea of affordability, but Stacey adopts two clever strategies to finance her adventures: savvy play at onboard casinos and her emerging YouTube channel. Out of her ten voyages last year, she was able to enjoy four of them at no cost thanks to casino points accrued during her travels. The remaining trips included family outings and those funded by the income generated from her YouTube videos.

The world of cruising offers numerous perks for frequent travelers who engage in gaming at onboard casinos. By accumulating points through gambling, cruisers can enjoy benefits such as complimentary drinks, internet access, and even future cruise opportunities—essentially making cruising more accessible and enjoyable. This is a tactic Stacey learned from her cruise-loving parents, who introduced her to the world of cruising when she was merely seven months old. Once she reached the legal gambling age, she quickly adopted this strategy, aiming to maximize her cruising experiences at the most economical cost.

Now, at 23, she boasts having participated in ten casino-comped cruises since turning 21. However, a challenge arises with new ships, as these perks often do not apply to the latest vessels. Despite this, she has already experienced Royal Caribbean's newest ship, Utopia of the Seas, three times since its launch in July 2024.

Stacey views her travels not merely as vacations but as prime opportunities to create valuable content for her audience. Each sailing serves a dual purpose—allowing her to explore the seas while generating material for her channel. In a way, it resembles the model of a startup CEO who reinvests earnings back into their business to foster growth.

Stacey launched her YouTube channel in 2023, coinciding with the start of her full-time job. Within the first year, she successfully monetized her content, yet with just below 2,000 subscribers, she sees her work as a passion project for now, aiming for it to evolve into a full-time pursuit in the near future.

Determined to create informative and engaging videos, she emphasizes her goal: "My biggest aim is to bust the myth surrounding cruising, demonstrating that there is a cruise ship for everyone, no matter your age, background, or interests." Her YouTube channel features an impressive array of content, including ship walkthroughs, cabin tours, and detailed dining reviews. She cleverly alternates between showcasing both newer and older casino-comped ships, as well as luxurious versus budget accommodations, targeting a diverse audience.

While she has yet to cruise with Carnival, it remains on her bucket list due to the content potential it presents. Stacey reflects on her rapid growth in the content creation space, stating, "Despite being young, I think I've done a decent job of showcasing my expertise in this area. I've only been creating content for a short time, but I'm thankful for the growth I've witnessed in these few years."

With her eyes set on going full-time with her channel, she remains optimistic about making that dream a reality. "I think it can happen," she said, embodying the spirit of an ambitious creator ready to set sail into a successful future.