For most people, spending months travelling around the world on a luxury cruise ship sounds like an incredibly expensive dream.
But one woman has revealed how she gets to enjoy life at sea without paying for her accommodation or meals, although there are several surprising restrictions attached to the arrangement.
Christine Kesteloo, a content creator who shares her experiences on TikTok, spends extended periods living aboard cruise ships alongside her husband, who works as a Staff Chief Engineer.
Because of his position, Christine is permitted to accompany him onboard, allowing her to experience destinations around the world while enjoying many of the facilities available to paying passengers.
However, she has explained that being the spouse of a senior crew member comes with responsibilities of its own.
What are the four rules Christine must follow?
In a TikTok video discussing her unusual lifestyle, Christine revealed four restrictions that shape what she can and cannot do while living onboard.
The first involves gambling.
Although cruise ships frequently feature casinos where passengers can try their luck, Christine explained that she is not permitted to gamble while accompanying her husband.
She suggested that allowing the spouse of a senior engineer to win a large jackpot could create questions about fairness or potential conflicts of interest.
While ordinary passengers can enjoy the casino, Christine must avoid participating.
Why can't she be late returning to the ship?
The second rule concerns punctuality, particularly when the ship is preparing to leave a destination.
Christine explained that she must return onboard before the scheduled departure time, just like everyone else.
Despite her husband's senior position, the ship will not delay its departure if she is running late.
She also revealed that her husband could face professional consequences if he failed to return when required, as another crew member could potentially take over his duties.
For someone who spends months travelling between ports, this means carefully planning excursions and ensuring there is enough time to return before the vessel departs.
What is she forbidden from filming?
The third restriction is particularly important because Christine has built a substantial social media following by documenting her experiences at sea.
She explained that she cannot freely record other passengers or crew members, particularly during emergencies.
Situations involving medical evacuations, accidents or passengers going overboard are strictly off-limits for her content.
Christine said that even though such incidents might attract considerable attention online, protecting people's privacy must come first.
Her position onboard does not give her permission to document sensitive situations involving other people.
She can still share aspects of her travels, but must respect the boundaries associated with living alongside working crew members.
Why must she give up her place to paying passengers?
The fourth rule involves making space for guests who have paid to be onboard.
Christine explained that when certain public areas become crowded, she is expected to give up her seat or space for paying passengers.
This can apply to busy restaurants, lounges and other shared facilities.
She described the arrangement as a matter of courtesy, acknowledging that paying guests should receive priority over people accompanying crew members.
Although she enjoys many of the same amenities, her status onboard is different from that of a regular holidaymaker.
Does Christine really get everything for free?
One of the biggest advantages of Christine's lifestyle is that she does not have to pay for her cabin or standard onboard meals while accompanying her husband.
For someone travelling for months at a time, those benefits could represent considerable savings compared with booking a conventional cruise holiday.
However, not everything is included.
Christine revealed that she still has to pay for certain drinks, including soft drinks and alcoholic beverages.
She said she receives a 50 percent discount on those purchases, making them considerably cheaper than the prices paid by ordinary passengers.
The precise benefits and restrictions available to crew members' spouses can vary between cruise operators, ships and employment arrangements.
What is life like living on a cruise ship?
Christine's experiences offer an unusual insight into a lifestyle that combines elements of a permanent holiday with the realities of working life at sea.
While passengers might spend a week or two enjoying the facilities before returning home, people who live onboard for extended periods must adapt to the ship's routines and operational requirements.
That includes respecting crew responsibilities, maintaining appropriate boundaries with passengers and understanding that the vessel is a workplace as well as a holiday destination.
For Christine, the opportunity to explore the world alongside her husband comes with compromises that most holidaymakers never have to consider.
And although she cannot enjoy every privilege available to paying guests, the arrangement still allows her to experience a lifestyle that many travellers would love to try.
