Christine Kesteloo has been able to visit a whopping 106 countries and see some of the most amazing parts of the world thanks to the unusual place where she lives
A woman has shared her experience of living on a cruise ship – and all the benefits that come with it.
While many of us enjoy cruise holidays, have you ever considered making a ship your home? We often get a peek into life at sea through shows like Below Deck or Disney Channel’s Suite Life on Deck, and one woman insists it’s as enjoyable as it appears.
Christine Kesteloo has visited an impressive 106 countries and seen some of the world’s most incredible sights. She has gained fame online after offering a sneak peek into her life in a cabin on a cruise ship.
The mum, originally from the US, has enjoyed free food and accommodation every day for over 10 years. Christine, who used to work on ships as a cruise director, spends half the year living onboard and the other half in The Netherlands.
Thanks to her husband Pete’s role as chief engineer – a veteran cruiser of over 30 years – she enjoys various perks. Christine, who shares her cruise life on TikTok and has amassed over 980,000 followers, revealed that crew members’ spouses can stay onboard for free. Additionally, she receives a 50% discount on extras such as fizzy drinks, alcoholic beverages, onboard shops and the spa. She also gets a discounted rate on internet access.
Christine, who enjoys a life of luxury with her husband, spoke about their accommodation on the cruise ship, and said: “We live on a cruise ship. We always have the same cabin that is assigned to Pete’s position on the ship, and in my opinion, we have the best cabin in the whole entire ship.”
She further detailed her unique living arrangement: “While I live on the cruise ship I live as a guest but also as crew,” clarifying that she has nearly the same privileges as both guests and crew, with a few exceptions.
One restriction for Christine, despite her love for life at sea, is that she’s prohibited from gambling on board. She shared: “I am not allowed to sit at a slot machine and play my heart until I win because it would look a little weird if I, as the wife of the chief staff engineer, won like a big jackpot. So I am not allowed to gamble on the ship.”
Christine also mentioned that she has access to all areas designated for guests and can enter crew zones too, provided she wears a badge. She observed the protocol for disembarking: “When we get into port usually the guest get off first and then the crew usually get off about an hour after the guests and so I abide by that, I get off the ship about an hour after the guests get off the ship.”
She expressed her respect for the amenities available on the ship, acknowledging that she allows guests to enjoy facilities such as the pool, gym, spa, and sun loungers before she uses them herself.
Christine shared her onboard etiquette, saying: “I can use all of those guest amenities but I always play it with a rule of thumb.
“If the pool is packed, I make sure to get off and give the guests a seat, it’s just the right thing to do. I totally understand how to give guest the best time and I don’t think a crew member taking their seat is the right thing to do.”
She also addressed the common question about feeling odd “walking on land” after disembarking.
Christine revealed: “Pete has been at sea for 30 years and I’ve been at sea for 12 years and after all that time I literally don’t need to adjust to land legs vs sea legs, I don’t feel the difference. It doesn’t bother me anymore.”