Cruise ship resident confides in distaste for unsanitary behavior frequently observed among fellow travelers
Living Full-Time on a Cruise Ship: A New Lifestyle Choice
Christine Kesteloo, a marketing professional and the mind behind Dune Travels, has chosen to make her home on a cruise ship. For the past six years, she and her husband have been living aboard the Villa Vie, a cruise ship that has traveled to 109 different countries.
Living full-time on a cruise ship like Villa Vie comes with its unique advantages and costs. The upfront costs for accommodation can vary significantly. Couples can expect to pay anywhere from around $5,000 for a double room with a window view, up to $11,000 for a suite, though prices may differ based on deals and the cruise line’s pricing.
Once settled, daily expenses can be relatively modest. One couple reported spending approximately $1,462 per month, excluding occasional excursions, phone bills, and extra shopping in ports. Additional costs might include maintenance or service fees charged monthly by the cruise operator, though these amounts can vary.
The costs, however, include many amenities that are bundled with the accommodation fees, making the lifestyle closer to all-inclusive resort living. Residents on Villa Vie pay $3,000 (£2,200) a month for all their expenses, including meals, beer, wine, WIFI, laundry, activities, and access to facilities.
For Sharon Lane, a retired teacher, the move to a cruise ship was a practical decision. She found that her maintenance fee for living expenses on Villa Vie was less than her previous rental cost.
Despite the occasional longing for a crisp McDonald's Diet Coke and a decent WiFi connection, Christine Kesteloo enjoys her lifestyle and finds it feels like a 'constant vacation'. She appreciates not having to pay for petrol, food, make her bed, do her laundry, or clean her room.
Christine Kesteloo debunks the myth about drinking water on cruise ships. She assures that the water onboard is safe and of high quality.
For now, Christine Kesteloo and her husband plan to continue their cruising way of life for at least the next couple of years. However, Christine might disembark her cruising lifestyle when her husband retires.
Christine Kesteloo regularly shares glimpses of her life and travels on her TikTok page @dutchworld_americangirl. If you're intrigued by the idea of living full-time on a cruise ship, Christine's account offers a fascinating insight into this unique lifestyle choice.
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- A new trend in lifestyle choices is showcased on Christine Kesteloo's TikTok account (@dutchworld_americangirl), where she shares glimpses of her life living full-time on the cruise ship, Villa Vie.
- While there can be high upfront costs for accommodation on cruise ships like Villa Vie, ranging from around $5,000 to $11,000 for a double room, daily expenses can be relatively modest, such as the $1,462 per month reported by one couple, excluding incidental expenses.
- For those interested in sustainable living, some cruise ships, like Villa Vie, offer a lifestyle that includes amenities like meals, WiFi, laundry, activities, and facility access for a flat monthly fee of $3,000 (£2,200). This makes living on a cruise ship closer to an all-inclusive resort experience.
