23-Year-Old Living Her Dream Aboard Cruise Ships: “It’s Been the Best Time of My Life”

Payton Martin, a 23-year-old from Oklahoma, has been living her dream life aboard cruise ships for several years now. From a young age, Martin loved going on cruises with her family and fantasized about working on one. That dream became a reality after the COVID-19 pandemic when she realized that life was too short to hold back.

In 2021, Martin applied for a job with Carnival Cruises, leaving college to work as an entertainment host aboard the Carnival Horizon. She enjoyed the experience of living aboard a cruise ship, and in her role, she got to travel to over 20 destinations, including Spain, Croatia, Greece, and many more.

During her journey, Martin met Salvatore Giglio, a second electro-technical officer, while working on another Carnival ship, the Carnival Pride. Their romance blossomed, and after a month of dating, they decided to “link their IDs” to live together on the ship.

Despite the intensity of shipboard life and relationships, Martin says it’s been an incredible experience. The couple traveled the world together, spending time with their families in Oklahoma and Italy. After seven months of dating, Giglio proposed to Martin in June 2023.

Now, the couple is back in Italy, working on building their own apartment above Giglio’s parent’s house. While Martin loved her time on cruise ships, she’s currently enjoying the flexibility of being closer to her family.

Martin encourages others to consider working on a cruise ship, saying it was a transformative experience that pushed her out of her comfort zone and allowed her to discover her inner courage and bravery.

For Martin, her cruise ship adventures have been filled with travel, love, and personal growth—proof that taking risks can lead to the best times of your life.