Couple plans life aboard luxury cruise ship after overcoming initial reservations

Travel adviser Estee Gubbay has successfully convinced her husband, Paul, a tech executive, to embrace the idea of living on a luxury cruise ship. Gubbay had been intrigued by this lifestyle for years but faced resistance from her husband due to his misconceptions about cruises.

“I have a travel agency, so I had heard about this concept about six years ago,” says Gubbay. “I thought it was the perfect lifestyle—but, at the time, my husband wouldn’t even set foot on a cruise. The last time I’d gotten him on a tiny boat was 30 years ago.”

Despite these challenges, Gubbay remained determined. “I’m the kind of person who goes big—if you’re gonna set a goal, set a big one,” she explains. Her efforts paid off after gradually introducing her husband to cruising through high-end river and yacht cruises.

“I worked on him for a good six years to get him to the point where he’s now really excited about it,” says Gubbay.

The couple has purchased a two-bedroom residence on the Storylines MV Narrative cruise ship. This vessel is marketed as a "wellness-centered residential community at sea" and is scheduled to sail in 2027.

“That way, I know exactly how much it will cost each month, and there’s so much that’s going to be included—especially the built-in travel,” she says.

Gubbay and her husband plan to make this their primary residence while maintaining homes in San Diego and Manhattan. The ship will provide them with various amenities including Wi-Fi for work purposes and space for their large dog.

“We’re getting in on the ground floor,” says Gubbay regarding their investment in real estate aboard the yet-to-be-built ship. However, she acknowledges potential risks involved due to construction timelines.

“Seeing the adventurous, interesting people who’d be on board with us was really exciting,” says Gubbay about Storylines' community-building initiatives like "Meet Your Neighbors" interviews.

The medical facilities onboard also offer reassurance: “There’s even a helicopter pad on the ship if you had to be transported," notes Gubbay.

Renderings reveal luxurious accommodations including penthouse units with two stories among other features designed for comfort at sea.