Posted on 04/21/2025 11:50:42 AM PDT by ChicagoConservative27
A woman who lives on a cruise for free for half the year has revealed all the perks that come with it – and the one “weird” thing she can’t do.
Christine Kesteloo, who is originally from the US and lives in the Netherlands when she’s not sailing, has visited a whopping 109 countries and counting.
The 44-year-old doesn’t cook, clean, make her bed, do laundry or pay for food, and it’s all thanks to her husband Pete’s role as a chief engineer for the Holland America Line cruise company.
Christine, who documents her life at sea for her almost one million TikTok followers, revealed crew members’ spouses can stay on-board for free.
Perks include a 50% discount on extras such as soda, alcoholic beverages, on-board shops and the spa, and a discounted rate on internet access, according to UK publication the Mirror.
(Excerpt) Read more at nypost.com ...
yes, but don't have a "health emergency" on board a cruise ship - I have heard their medical rates are outrageous.
We went on our first and last cruise two summers ago. I could not imagine being cooped up on a cruise ship forever. Ugh.
It would be like being forced to live at Disneyland the rest of your life.
“yes, but don’t have a “health emergency” on board a cruise ship - I have heard their medical rates are outrageous.”
That’s why you buy travel insurance.
Pass
Or a Vegas casino....Ung
“...I am not allowed to gamble on the ship,”...
That’s not weird, just common sense..............
Yes but if you die onboard, free ice cream for the rest of the passengers.
TLDR:
She’s not alloewd to gamble onboard. (It is offered)
No pets.
Her cabin, shared with her husband, is very small and bare bones. It doesn’t say, but is sounding maybe 250sq/ft.
It is free, but everything has a price.
The wives of ship’s officers are accommodated. The spouses of assistant waiters etc. are not.
> free ice cream for the rest of the passengers
Yeah. They have to make room in the freezer to store your stiff until the ship gets back to home port.
Happened to a guy I knew. Let’s just say that by the time his body finally made it back home, it was not an open casket funeral.
He and his wife would go on three to four cruises every year for free. I have no idea what sort of accommodations they had, but they must have been okay as they seemed to enjoy them. I thought that would be a really nice “job” to have. I don't recall if they paid him or not, but I suppose they must have.
Cruise ships are vacation spots. They are NOT assisted living facilities. Cruise lines do not like it when people try to grow old and die on their ships. They do not have the facilities nor the expertise to care for someone in that stage of life.
It’s a small world.
We lived in an RV for 2 years while traveling this great country. ours was less than 250sq/ft. That encompassed the bathroom (toilet, sink and shower) and a kitchen with a refrigerator. You learn how to maneuver and dance around each other.
“I have heard their medical rates are outrageous.”
Hubby got sick on a Princess ship February 2020, just as WuFlu began to rear its head. The South African medical crew was amazing! They were extra attentive because of possible Covid.
Anyhow, we don’t know the cost because travel insurance took care of it 100%.
Also, on cruises we’ve met people who have retired on cruise ships. They “hop” among ships depending on itineraries. Seem pretty happy. Very happy, actually.
Our longest cruise was 15 days. I couldn’t live on a ship, though.
I had to fly to Vega a couple weeks ago. My wife picked my up in a rental SUV and we drove to Death Valley for a few days.
Just BEING in the airport for an hour gives me the creeps. Ugh is right!
Don’t ever gamble on the ship. Ask to see its maintenance records before boarding.
We saw a guy drop dead in the dance floor once. Crew rushed in, scooped him up, took him away, as of it were choreographed. The music never stopped; some people in the floor didn’t know it had happened.
Very sad. He was with a singles group, so was alone.
Six years active with the USN. no thanks.
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