OK, being serious for you WantoSail. The Merchant
Marine isn't a bad way to go. The most common way is as mentioned above, work hard, save your money, and
cruise. The
route I took was after cruising, I wanted a job at sea. 4 years at a maritime academy (your young, I did it in my 40's), and your new skills and
license will be desperately needed in off shore drilling, generally one month on, one off. I had a couple of colleagues that held the same position and were each other's relief. Both into
power yachts so they went in together and bought a mini mega yacht around 100'. Worked out well, as each had it to themselves for their entire time off and one of the perks for working as a
marine officer aboard a drill ship (rig) is the company pays your transportation from anyplace in the world.