Onkaparinga Hills house sale to fund cruise for top Beatles fan visiting 200 ports from Rome to Australia

Big dreams require big decisions and this musician and avid traveller has just made a huge one.

Stephen (Big Steve) O'Donnell is selling his house, packing up his Beatles collection, packing his ukulele and living on a cruise ship for a year. Picture: Brett Hartwig

Stephen O’Donnell is planning to sell his Onkaparinga Hills house to fund life on the high seas, with plans to jet to Rome in business class before boarding a cruise ship that will stop at a phenomenal 200 ports in 371 days.

His deposit has already paid for the $99,000 cruise that will take him to seven continents to see a host of intriguing world wonders from the Northern Lights in Norway, to ancient ruins in Greece and searching for the Big Five animals living in Kruger Park, Africa.

The 63-year-old former painter, nicknamed “Big Steve”, is planning to sell his house to pay for the trip in 2026 but will sensibly buy a far smaller abode to keep his extensive Beatles collection safe until he returns from the Explorations by Norwegian ship.

“I’m packing the ukulele,” the former Beatles tribute band member who has previously performed at the Adelaide Fringe Festival, says.

“I love the karaoke, I love the old Beatles songs and my two favourite (karaoke songs) are ‘I saw her standing there’ and ‘Hey Jude’.”

Stephen (Big Steve) O'Donnell is selling his house, packing up his Beatles collection, and living on a cruise ship for a year. Picture: Brett Hartwig

Luckily, Mr O’Donnell does not suffer from seasickness or ‘cabin fever’ and is readying himself for a year of on-board cruise ship entertainment that includes the karaoke, theatre productions and quiz nights during his long trip.

The avid traveller has already visited many countries around the world including during about 25 cruises and lists one cruise around Australia and another aboard the Arcadia from Los Angeles to Adelaide among his top picks.

This upcoming cruise is by far the longest but Steve thinks there will be plenty to do across the ship’s 13 levels, including pools, a cinema and restaurants.

After leaving Rome it will take him through Europe to Africa, to Thailand, Japan, Australia and Canada.

On day 371, Mr O’Donnell will disembark in Southampton in England before flying home from London.

“I love cruising … and life’s too short, you have got to do what you have to do, I’ve had some bad things happen in the past but I’m in a good head space and haven’t had a drink for two years now,” Mr O’Donnell says.

“I’m hoping I’ll meet someone, ideally it would be nice to meet someone before the cruise, it’s two years away before it leaves but I would have to meet the right person, they would have to like going on cruises.”

Originally published as Onkaparinga Hills house sale to fund cruise for top Beatles fan visiting 200 ports from Rome to Australia