For years, a 23-year-old has lived on and off cruise ships: "It's been the worst time of my life."

Payton Martin, a 23-year-old Oklahoma native, grew up dreaming of working and living on a cruise ship after her family went on many cruises and sparked her fascination with them.

Martin reveals to CNBC Make It that he has always been curious about the hidden aspects of events and what occurs behind closed doors.

In the summer of 2021, Martin was preparing for a family cruise that had been postponed multiple times due to the pandemic. This trip made her realize that the time to pursue her dream was now.

"Martin had always considered working aboard a cruise ship but never thought it was possible for himself. However, after the pandemic, he realized that life is short and anything can happen at any time, so he applied for a job as an entertainment host aboard a Carnival cruise."

During her transition from guest to crew member, Martin discovered the vast array of job and opportunity options available for individuals interested in working aboard a ship. A brief examination of Carnival's careers website reveals listings for a photographer, a baker, a wiper, a bar server, and many more.

Martin was offered a job as an entertainer aboard the Carnival Horizon ship in October 2021 and began working in January 2022 after completing extensive training. She left college to take the job.

Martin says, "I wanted to travel the world and meet people. I left school because it wasn't going anywhere, and I'm only young for a certain amount of time, so this was the time to try something new."

Martin was flown to Palermo, Italy by Carnival to board the ship. She shared a cabin with a coworker, and the cost of room and board was covered under her contract. Although she didn't have to pay for rent or food, Martin says it was understood that she should give a weekly tip to the person who cleaned their cabin.

From January to July, Martin was a member of Carnival's entertainment team, which performed on six- and eight-day cruises originating from Miami.

During a week-long cruise on the Carnival Pride, Martin encountered Salvatore Giglio, a 31-year-old second electro-technical officer.

Giglio asked for her Instagram after two weeks of chance encounters with Martin, who stopped to pay her a compliment.

In October 2022, a month after meeting, the two "linked their IDs," meaning they went to HR to obtain authorization to reside together.

"One week on board is equivalent to one month on land, as we spend a lot of time with people, live together, work together, and have dinner together. This definitely speeds things up," Martin remarks.

Giglio's cabin, a one-bedroom, became Martin's new home. With ample space, it accommodated a full-size bed, a couch, a desk, and four small closets.

Eventually, Giglio moved to a different ship while Martin remained on the Carnival Pride and continued residing in the one-bedroom cabin alone.

Martin's contract ended in December, so she flew back to Oklahoma before joining Giglio on the ship he was working on as crew family instead of a crew member.

Giglio's contract ended after four weeks, and she stayed aboard. Afterward, they traveled between visiting Martin's family in Oklahoma, sightseeing in Los Angeles, and seeing Giglio's family in Italy.

Martin says, "We hadn't fully engaged yet and had only just met, but we knew it was something serious. We were still trying to figure it out."

In June 2023, after seven months of dating and traveling the world together, Giglio proposed to Martin, who had resigned from her position as an entertainment host with Carnival in March.

In November, Giglio renewed their contract to work on the Carnival Pride, where they initially crossed paths.

Over 20 destinations, including Honduras, Dominican Republic, Spain, England, France, Croatia, Turkey, Malta, Greece, and Portugal, have been visited by Martin during her time aboard cruise ships.

Martin enjoyed her time as a member of Carnival's crew but also appreciates the flexibility of being a guest again: "I'm not done sailing, but I missed being with my family," she says.

"If an opportunity presented itself and I wasn't away for extended periods, I would likely seize it, but currently, I'm observing the outcome."

The couple is currently residing in Italy and constructing their own apartment above Giglio's parents' house. Their goal is to finish the project by May of the following year. The aim is to spend as much time as possible in both the U.S. and Italy.

Martin values family time, whether it's with his family in the US or his Italian family in Sicily. He is content when he is with either of them.

Working on a cruise ship is a great opportunity for anyone, says Martin, as it allows you to work hard while also traveling and exploring the world.

"Discovering my full potential required stepping out of my comfort zone and learning about my bravery and courage."

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