One savvy saver has shared how she can go days without spending a penny and explores stunning tropical islands while working on a Caribbean cruise ship as a performer
Basking in the sun while exploring the Caribbean, all without paying any rent or bills, sounds like a distant dream and a far cry from our life sitting at our desks in a jumper.
For Krista Jocelyn, she’s mastered the art of living a life of luxurious without forking out for the privilege. Giving a glimpse inside her life on board a Caribbean excursion, Krista revealed that she can go for days without spending a penny and calls it the ‘ultimate perk’ of her job as a cruise ship performer.
In her YouTube video that went viral, the dancer provided a breakdown of her “very limited expenses” and revealed that staying in a cabin means she doesn’t have to pay for water, electricity or even her washing!
“So we basically have no bills when we’re on board,” Krista shared with her 44K subscribers. As a result of this, she is able to “save a lot of money” while on board, all at the same time as taking in the breathtaking views of tropical islands like Grand Cayman, St. Thomas, San Juan, Bahamas, Jamaica, and Coco Cay.
When she’s not working, you may think that the YouTuber would be splashing the cash on a lavish day out, sipping pricey cocktails by the pool. Instead, she opts for more of a budget-friendly approach as she shared: “Most days of the are spent grabbing lunch off the ship or visiting a nearby beach.” She also revealed that once, by day six of her excursion, she had managed to spend just £4 ($5). However, the savvy saver shared that her expenses can vary from week to week.
Free meals are available for the cruise staff, but Krista shared that once a week, she’ll visit one of the speciality restaurants on board as the canteen rotation can “get a little bit boring”.
With plenty of choice from an Italian, a steakhouse or sushi, she is able to make the most of her 20% staff discount and spends around £40 ($50) per week on an enjoyable meal out. The performer will also spend money on food during time off the ship, as well as securing a few snacks and refreshments from the shop on board – noting that drinks are “cheap” at the staff bar.
Another perk on board is two hours of free Wi-Fi for staff, although Krista said that one of the biggest expenses for crew is buying more Wi-Fi, which costs £3.15 ($3.99) per hour onboard. In a clever move, Krista secured a second job at the Wi-Fi desk on the ship, meaning she gets 300 to 600 minutes every week – saving even more cash!
While people in the UK can spend from £20 to £100 per month on a gym membership, Krista gets to enjoy the gym onboard completely free. As a performer, she’s expected to spend at least five hours in the gym each week to ensure she’s ready for the shows. She estimated that, on average, per week, she spends just £160 ($200).
As her video went viral, it was flooded with comments as one reflected on their own experience: “The only thing I had to pay for was $8 (£6) per month for healthcare. That was it. I did however buy a lot of rounds in the crew bar.”
Another penned: “Krista, it’s your hard-earned money, you spend it however you please. You only live once, enjoy every moment of it that you can.”
