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A former plumber has swapped leaky pipes for life on the high seas, now making a splash as a cruise ship musician earning $50k annually while visiting 40 countries.
Jack Nolan, 33, described his previous plumbing job as “boring” and “unfulfilling” but since setting sail in 2016, he’s been singing to a different tune, pocketing $4,214 a month.
By day, he explores breathtaking destinations like Australia, Iceland, and Canada, and by night, he entertains guests with his vocal and guitar performances.
Jack opened up about his unique lifestyle, noting that despite performing most evenings, he enjoys free days for exploration, not to mention the financial perks of no rent or bills and complimentary meals.
Having already experienced wonders such as Greece’s Acropolis, Rome’s Colosseum, the Great Barrier Reef, Hobbiton in New Zealand, and Iceland’s Blue Lagoon, Jack expressed his enthusiasm: “Not many jobs will let you see so many countries and experience so much culture.”
He added, “We also don’t pay for rent or food which is great – as they are two of life’s biggest expenses.”
Reflecting on his pre-cruise days, Jack recalled feeling unfulfilled by his post-university career in plumbing, stating: “Plumbing doesn’t feed my soul the same way that music does and it doesn’t fulfil me. I wanted to travel the world and I hadn’t travelled by that time.”
Trevor, 67, encouraged his son to secure a reliable trade, which led Jack through three years of fitting bathrooms and retail work.
Reflecting on those days, Jack shared, “I was living for the weekend. I still often worked Saturdays too. I was burned out and ultimately knew I didn’t want to do that job for the rest of my life.”
A turning point came in 2016 when a former colleague from a wedding gig reached out. The friend, a drummer, needed a guitarist for a new band.
Jack jumped at the chance, saying, “I told him I’d love to do it, and from there we recorded a promo video in sent it to agents, and we landed our first gig on a ferry in 2016.”
The band’s break came with a proper cruise contract, leading to more opportunities. Jack recalls, “We then found another agent who found us a real cruise contract. After that, we were offered more jobs on different ships and I was so excited. The ships went to places like the Caribbean and I had never been.”
In addition to performing, Jack earns extra cash onboard by hosting art auctions, making £20 an hour. His life now includes rapid travel, “I loved the ancient Acropolis in Greece and the Colosseum in Rome,” he said.
He also recounted adventures such as visiting Vancouver, Jamaica, and bungee jumping in Auckland. Currently docked in Palma, Mallorca, Jack mused, “Visiting Vancouver, Jamaica, and bungee jumping off the Auckland bridge, were some other highlights. Today we are in Palma, Mallorca – tomorrow we could be in France. Each day we wake up in another country.”
Jack, a seasoned sailor, reveals that relationships between crew members are not prohibited and are actually “very common” but they can lead to tension on board. He likens the experience to living in university dorms.
He elaborated: “Even though we are older than uni students, it gives that vibe because we have these small rooms and we are next door to each other. We live with people we don’t even know in such close quarters. You need to let off steam and decompress at times.”
During his time at sea, Jack has witnessed plenty of extraordinary incidents. He points out that maritime law requires them to assist anyone in distress at sea.
He recalls seeing “loads” of vessels in trouble – crew members often rescue individuals and bring them aboard for assistance.