A woman who has turned a cruise ship into her home for half the year has shared some intriguing insights about her unique lifestyle, including the amazing benefits and certain restrictions she faces. Christine Kestello spends six months annually living at sea, enjoying a life many might dream of, with no rent to pay and complimentary meals onboard.
Currently residing in Vancouver when not at sea, Christine transitions to life onboard where she enjoys many of the amenities available to passengers but with a few exceptions. On her TikTok channel, Christine delves into the specifics of her maritime life.
@dutchworld_americangirl We live on a cruise ship and join us for date night! #datenight #cruise #cruiselife #livingonacruiseship #weliveonacruiseship #food #eating @Holland America Line
Although she relishes many of the ship’s facilities, Christine occupies a unique middle ground, not fully a crew member but also not just a guest. “My husband is Staff Chief Engineer, I’m a former Cruise Director, but now I’m a content creator and I’m travelling the world and telling you all about it,” she explains. “So one of the main things that you need to know is living on the ship with my husband, I am considered service staff – so I’m basically crew and guest at the same exact time and I can do anything that guests do, except for a couple things.”
While food is generally free, some upscale dining options are not covered. Christine also enjoys complimentary shore excursions, where she often plays a host role, enhancing guests’ experiences at various ports. However, not all expenses are covered: Wi-Fi and shopping, for example, come at her own cost, albeit sometimes at a discounted rate, and she tips her room steward as well.
But living on a cruise ship does come with its set of prohibitions. Christine highlights a significant restriction: “The first thing that I cannot do is gamble. No, that means bingo, I can’t go to that either, because it would look a little weird if I did gamble.” This rule helps maintain the professional integrity and distinction between crew and guests.
Further illustrating her secondary status to paying guests, Christine recounts a recent experience: “Last contract, when I was on board, it was the last day of the cruise, and I had an appointment to get my hair done, but this lady desperately needed to get a haircut. So the hotel director called me, and he’s like, ‘Chris, can you give up your appointment?’ and I’m like, ‘Absolutely’, because guests come first on the ship, always.”