NEW ERA: Zachary Biss, a 29-year-old musician from St. Petersburg, Florida, has recently completed a unique move across the Atlantic Ocean by taking a two-week transatlantic cruise from Tampa to Lisbon, Portugal, challenging the traditional approach of flying when relocating internationally.
Biss, who made his living performing at local bars and restaurants, cited escalating homeownership costs and health insurance premiums in the United States as primary factors driving his decision to uproot and start fresh abroad. Despite owning a house in Florida since 2019, he noted, “The bills kept going up” with utilities doubling, pushing him to consider alternatives for a better quality of life and financial stability.
The couple chose the cruise option after months of planning. Unlike standard flights, the transatlantic crossing allowed unlimited luggage—a major benefit for the musician who traveled with his guitar and multiple suitcases for himself and his girlfriend, Marina. The trip included stops in the Bahamas, the Azores, and Porto before arriving in Lisbon, spanning over two weeks and costing $2,500, which is more than flying but included food, lodging, and scenic nautical comfort.
“Flying would have been restrictive and brutal with jet lag,” Biss explained. The cruise handled time zone adjustments smoothly by rolling clocks forward incrementally over six days at sea, easing the transition to European time.
As a self-employed person, Biss encountered burdensome US health insurance costs, with premiums running about $360 monthly—an amount friends living in Portugal pay annually, he revealed. Beyond affordability, Biss praised the slower, more human pace of life in Portugal. “People here really take a moment each day,” he reflected, highlighting cultural contrasts with America’s “rush, rush” mentality.
The move is still fresh, and the Bisses haven’t sold their Florida home yet, but Biss emphasized the emotional turbulence common to big relocations. “The first night on the ship, we both started crying — it’s scary moving to another country.”
For Americans weighing relocation, Biss’s transatlantic cruise story is a stark reminder that moving abroad by sea can offer unique benefits. Not only is it an adventure, but it alleviates typical flying constraints while delivering an immersive experience that sets a new tone for international resettlement.
With US homeownership costs soaring and health insurance premiums punishing self-employed workers, this approach could gain traction among Americans seeking lifestyle and financial relief. As this trend develops, it’s worth watching if more South Carolinians and people across the US will consider cruise ships as part of their moving toolkit.
Biss’s story sheds light on broader shifts pushing Americans to rethink where and how they live—especially under economic pressures that are intensifying nationwide in 2026.
