34 Cruises in One Year: Life at Sea, Reflection, and Finding Balance

By my rough count, I’ve spent more than 225 nights onboard cruise ships this year—but calculating the exact number would probably require a Florida-style recount.

It’s just as wild to live it as it probably is to read it. What’s even harder to believe is how quickly the year has gone by. It feels like yesterday I was ringing in New Year’s Eve onboard the Carnival Paradise. And here I am now—fresh off my last cruise of the year and having spent the last seven nights in an Airbnb in San Juan, Puerto Rico before flying to Austin, Texas to photograph Jay and Will’s wedding on New Year’s Eve.

How It All Started: One Question That Changed Everything

Looking back even further, New Year’s Eve is where this travel life truly began.

For those of you who’ve been following along from the start, you know that a single question—“Would you go?”—completely changed the trajectory of my life.

And the irony doesn’t stop there.

April 8, 2026 is the final date of travel I currently have booked. Coincidentally, that’s also the exact date the Main St Charmer sold in 2025—making me officially “homeless” for the first time.

If I don’t start figuring out what happens after April 8, 2026… I really will be homeless.

Now, three years removed from that original question, I find myself needing a new one. A new purpose. A new direction.

Gratitude, Growth, and the Reality of Life at Sea

This past year has exceeded anything I ever imagined as a kid from the Yoop. I still catch myself pausing in disbelief, eyes welling up as I reflect on everything I’ve seen—not just in the past year, but 2025’s journey has been beyond my wildest dreams.

That said, this journey hasn’t been all sunshine and smooth seas.

Life—whether land-based or floating in the middle of the ocean—still comes with struggle. I’m incredibly thankful this year is ending the way it is. My sailing aboard the Brilliance of the Seas has been spectacular and, honestly, exactly what I needed.

It’s been a reminder of just how good cruise life can be.

I’ve had a lot of alone time the past two weeks, met some amazing new people, and—most importantly—reconnected with many of you. Those conversations have meant more than you know.

Highlights from This Sailing

• Tortola, British Virgin Islands (a first for me)

• A return to my favorite nude beach in the world in Antigua

• More time in the gym this week than I’ve probably spent all year combined

Despite being surrounded by food and excess, my body has never looked better—and that’s done wonders for my mental health. I feel motivated again. Grounded. Proud of the progress.

Choosing Balance as My Word for 2026

I’ve never been big on “word of the year” trends or cheerleader-style motivation. I do believe in vision boards—but for me, 2026 is about balance.

Balance between:

• Travel and stillness

• Work and rest

• Alone time and meaningful connection

I’ve started missing everyday life: cooking, cleaning, grocery shopping… even laundry. At the same time, I’m not ready to return to a traditional lifestyle.

The path forward looks like slow travel—spending weeks or even months in one place—combined with cruising. Likely back-to-back sailings, on the same ship, in the same cabin. A rhythm that allows both exploration and stability.

Work, Community, and What Comes Next

I also need better balance professionally.

2025 wasn’t my most productive year in mortgage lending, and I’m deeply thankful that booking travel for clients helped fill that gap. Moving forward, I want to be more intentional about how I work—no matter where in the world I am.

And finally, there’s balance in relationships.

My cruise family is incredible, and many have become close friends. But there’s a real exhaustion that comes with constantly meeting new people and rarely having consistent physical presence in anyone’s life.

FaceTime, Snapchat, Facebook, and Instagram help—and a sincere thank you to those of you who make time for me. It matters more than you know.

Looking Ahead

2026: Balance.

I feel good.

I feel grounded.

I feel ready.

Cheers + Happy Holidays.

Cole

Over and out. Sunny Sweeney style (IYKYK)

Want the full story?

Many of the reflections I share in my blog come from a year of solo travel across all seven continents. In my book, Filling My Bucket: A Year of Solo Travel Across Seven Continents, I go deeper into the moments that shaped me—the freedom, the loneliness, and the lessons that only come from being constantly in motion.

Explore Filling My Bucket at Books by Cole

Cruise family reunions

San Juan Puerto Rico

Food

Caribbean