In a bold move that defies convention, a Pennsylvania mother and her two young children have traded their traditional home life for an adventurous existence aboard a cruise ship. Jessie Trondeau, 40, has chosen to document this unique lifestyle online, sharing how she is raising her children amidst the ever-changing backdrop of global travel.
Trondeau recently shared with People magazine that her six-year-old son and four-year-old daughter are blissfully unaware of how unusual their lives are compared to most children their age. For them, the cruise ship is not just a temporary escape but a true home.
The family embarks on this maritime journey for six months at a time, a decision influenced by the fact that the children’s father, Krasimir, works on the ship’s crew. This arrangement allows the children to remain close to their father while experiencing the wonders of the world firsthand.
Despite their unconventional living situation, Trondeau ensures that her children receive a standard education, albeit with the added excitement of life at sea. Their days begin with breakfast, after which Trondeau dedicates two to three hours to homeschooling her children, blending the fundamentals of education with the unique opportunities their lifestyle provides.
While the ocean is their playground and their home, Trondeau is committed to providing her children with the foundational experiences of childhood, enriched by the extraordinary perks that come with living aboard a cruise ship.
A regular day for the family starts with breakfast, followed by Trondeau doing about two to three hours of schoolwork with the kids, according to the outlet.
She drops the children off at the kids’ club and gives the mother some time for herself before scooping them back up to swim in the pool and to eat dinner.
‘Almost every night we see a show,’ says Jessie. ‘And then we do books and bedtime.’
Jessie Trondeau, 40, documents her life at sea with her six-year-old son and four-year-old daughter and partner
The family spend six months at a time on cruise ship as the father Krasimir works as a crew member
On days the ship docks, the family gets together to explore destinations.
She describes family life at sea as ‘fun in an enormous amount of ways.’
Trondeau wrote on social media that as her child gets older, she’ll try to transition her family to ‘a more “normal” life!’
However, she added that for now, they are just taking things in stride.
The mother explained to People how even the children get asked questions about life on board, ‘for them, this is basically just home. They don’t see it as strange.’
Trondeau’s Instagram features many adventures with her, including excursions to places like Bermuda and St. Maarten.
‘I get seasick, but I’m the only one in my family who does,’ said Trondeau to the outlet.
She also mentioned that while many would believe that never having to cook would be a dream come true, she misses having the opportunity to make whatever she wants.
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The mother explained to People how even the children get asked questions about life on board, ‘for them, this is basically just home. They don’t see it as strange’
The mother explained that life on cruise ship comes with challenges such as getting seasick and noted that perhaps in the future when the children get older they would transition to ‘a more “normal” life’
In another online post, she explained that she is responsible for cleaning their room: ‘It is true that I don’t have to cook!’
‘That said – I do have to do/manage laundry, wash dishes (not many, but some!), vacuum and manage the tornado of detritus that seems to accrue around kids.’
‘I’m not complaining in any way!!! Life is good…but it comes with chores.’
A few comments on her posts criticize Trondeau for raising her kids on a boat, noting that there’s no stability.
The remarks appear not to bother her as she replied to one saying: ‘I agree! Stability is extremely important, and schedules/discipline are crucial’.
‘That’s why I’m so glad my children have such stable lives.’
