Enigmatic Elderly Man Lives On Cruise Ship For Years, Cops Step In
She Would Do Anything
She had noticed the elderly man as soon as she stepped onto the ship. She had heard he kept to himself, and not many people knew much about it except that he had been living on the ship for years.
Two police officers boarded in search of the man once the ship was docked. That’s when she decided she would do anything to learn about this man and find out his story.
On A Cruise Ship
Escola Port
Jill Levine was a divorced mom to two children. Her children were away for a few weeks, spending time with friends, which meant Jill, who was also a reporter, got a much-deserved break on a cruise ship during the time the story took place.
She had no idea that her life was about it be changed forever. All it took was meeting one man.
An Introvert
The Second Angle
Jill had been looking forward to taking a vacation for months, and she thoroughly enjoyed the first few days away from the stress.
As an introvert, she had perhaps sought a job that allowed her to look at life from the observer’s perspective. She enjoyed going on vacation trips alone, people watching and seeing the situations they got themselves into. But things would be different this time.
An Old Man
The Journaylist
Jill instantly noticed the old man who was mysteriously among the ship’s crew. She often spotted him alone, wandering the deck. She had seen him most often walking about the deck at night.
The longer she watched him, the more it became clear he seemed to have a spot on the ship he liked most.
Stepping Into Another Ear
Shutterstock
He seemed to love the ship’s lounge, with its beaming lights and old-school decoration. Musical performances by artists who performed songs from the 50s and 60s added to the nostalgic, old-fashioned, classy air.
Walking inside felt like stepping out of a time machine, and Jill felt like she had been transported into another era. But that wasn’t all. There had been something else about the lounge that she noticed.
Uncomfortable
Cruise Fever
She found the man puzzling, always spotting him alone at the same table and staring into the unknown whenever she stepped into the lounge.
He sat so still he could be mistaken for the furniture that filled the lounge, and Jill often found herself feeling uncomfortable by the mysterious display. Questions filled her head every time she came across him.
Paying Rent
Wikipedia – Seven Seas Navigator
When she passed by one of the ship’s staff members, she asked about him. She wasn’t sure what the answer would be but didn’t expect this: “He’s been living on the ship for years. I’ve never seen him leave, and I’ve been working here for just five years.” They further explained that he lived as though it was a home like any other and even paid his rent.
They said that the cook told them how he had been living there for over the past decade. As amazed as Jill was, there was still more for her to discover.
More Questions
Public Domain
The staff knew very little about the old man except that he was polite. The man preferred his privacy and didn’t speak much about himself.
Jill was even more curious about the old man despite getting some answers. Why had he decided to live on a cruise ship of all places? It wasn’t long before the ship docked at Miami port which had her diving deeper into her investigations.
Conversation With Policemen
The Guardian
The ship had just been docked when two police officers climbed on board. They were talking to the old man when she spotted him again, but she was too far away to hear what they were saying. The officers left after a short while, and the old man watched them go.
She had been frightened by the sight of the two officers but knew now that she needed to understand this man’s story. Considering the police officers had left, she decided to make her way over.
She Approached Him
Forbes
She was cautious as she approached the old man but soon found he was friendly. He had easily welcomed her into his room, ready to share his story with her.
93-year-old Morton Wilson had spent the last 13 years living on the cruise ship. He had decided to do so after his partner had passed away. As he shared his story, Jill realized a lot had happened to him throughout his lifetime.
