A woman in her sixties from New Jersey decided to make a fresh start. She sold her house, dealt with a large amount of debt, and now works on cruise ships, enjoying a completely new lifestyle.
Sue Barr shared in her personal essays and interviews how years of owning a home, raising a child on her own, and struggling financially led her to a major life shift – one that eventually took her around the world with a camera.
I recently read a really fascinating story about Barr – it was spread out across articles in Business Insider and the Daily Mail. He also wrote a personal piece for PEOPLE magazine where he talked about both the amazing parts and the tough challenges of being a sailor. It really gave me a good look into what life is like out on the water!
So, I’ve lived in the same house in New Jersey for almost 20 years now – it’s where I really built my photography business and raised my son on my own. But when he grew up and moved to Orlando, things just… changed. It felt like a big shift in my life, you know?
She explained in a Business Insider article that after years of urging someone else to pursue their dreams, she realized it was time to focus on her own.
“Overwhelming” debt led to a drastic decision
Barr told the Daily Mail that her financial difficulties were largely due to the costs associated with her house.
She explained that she really wanted to travel, but she was stuck because she could never save enough money. Every time she managed to put a little aside, it didn’t seem to make any real progress – it felt like a never-ending cycle.
When her furnace broke down, it changed her plans. She had been saving for a trip to Costa Rica, but ended up using the money to fix the furnace instead.
“That was the moment I realized it was time to sell the house,” Barr told the outlet.
Inspired by a friend who worked as a wine expert on a cruise ship, she quickly started looking for jobs on cruise lines.
I began looking for jobs on cruise ships, and after a while, the online system started showing me positions for Master Photographers. That’s when I decided to apply, she explained.
In a Business Insider article, Barr explained that a luxury cruise line offered her a job, but she needed to pass a medical exam and functional assessment to get a Seafarer Certificate first.
“At my age it was humbling, but I passed,” she wrote.
Not long after, she boarded a flight to Sydney to begin her first assignment.
After just six months, I’d traveled to three different continents and was in the best shape of my life. I could finally smile genuinely, something I hadn’t done in decades. I also felt less burdened by money, and a long-lost sense of inspiration returned. For years, I’d been weighed down by possessions and commitments, holding me back from starting a new, creative phase of my life.
Barr acknowledged that adjusting to life on a ship wasn’t easy. She explained that the crew worked extremely long hours trying to meet strict deadlines, and that keeping passengers happy often meant the crew’s own well-being was overlooked.
She also detailed cramped crew quarters and constant noise disruptions.
Man, taking a hot shower in that place was a gamble. It almost always set off the fire alarm – this super high-pitched screech that echoed everywhere. And the worst part? It would just keep going and going, sometimes for over an hour! Seriously, you’d be left with your ears ringing and totally stressed out.
Even with those difficulties, Barr says she’s still happy she made the changes to her life.
She explained to Business Insider that she’d released all the things that used to weigh her down. As a result, she felt a newfound sense of freedom – the freedom to be creative, explore the world, and genuinely smile again, using her camera to guide her way.
Barr advised those thinking about working on cruise ships that it’s demanding and requires a strict routine. However, she said it can be a good way to get back on your feet financially if you’re okay with a simple lifestyle and limited personal freedom.
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2026-02-10 20:49