For many, the idea of living full-time on a cruise ship sounds like something out of a dream—no dishes, no commuting, and waking up to a new ocean view every morning. But for Christine Kesteloo, it’s everyday life.
A former cruise director turned content creator, Christine now spends six months a year at sea with her husband, a staff chief engineer. On TikTok, she shares a behind-the-scenes look at cruise life, from cozy cabins to far-flung ports.
Having worked in the industry and now living it day in and day out, Christine has seen nearly everything cruise life has to offer. But despite the perks of endless travel, she admits there’s one guest behavior she just can’t get past. She’s witnessed a lot—but this particular habit still makes her cringe every time.
Meet Christine: The Woman Who Lives on a Cruise Ship
Christine Kesteloo’s life at sea started long before she became a familiar face on TikTok. She worked for years as a cruise director, gaining firsthand experience with the ins and outs of ship life.
Now, she shares that world with nearly three million followers under the username @dutchworld_americangirl, where she shares travel stories, behind-the-scenes moments, and the everyday reality of living on board.
She sails with her husband, who works as the ship’s staff chief engineer, and together they always stay in the same cabin—one she proudly calls the best on the ship.
It’s not just a home base; it’s where she balances cruise life with running her own business, Dune Travels. Between ports, Christine manages her work and content creation right from her cozy cabin.
“I’ve been to 109 countries,” she says. “I don’t pay for petrol, food, laundry, or even making my bed.” For Christine, cruise life “feels like a constant vacation,” and she says it keeps her energized. She loves meeting guests and fans—but also values quiet time in her cabin to recharge between adventures.
It’s Not All Champagne and Sunsets
Cruise life might seem glamorous from the outside, but Christine is quick to admit it’s not all sunsets and room service. There are definitely some trade-offs that come with living at sea. One of them is avoiding the ship’s casino—not because she isn’t tempted, but because winning could raise eyebrows. “It would look a little weird if I… won a big jackpot,” she admits.
She’s also mindful of the guest experience and tries not to get in the way. If the pool is crowded, she’ll skip it to make sure passengers have space to enjoy themselves. It’s a small gesture, but one that shows she understands the balance between being part of the crew family and sharing the ship with thousands of vacationers.
And while she’s embraced the floating lifestyle, there are still a few things Christine misses from life on land. Top of the list? “A crisp McDonald’s diet coke,” she says without hesitation. She also misses the simple freedom of driving and the ease of a strong, reliable internet connection—luxuries that aren’t always guaranteed at sea.
One day, she hopes to have a cat, but for now, that dream is on hold. “It’s just not practical in a ship cabin,” she admits. Instead, she and her husband unwind by watching funny animal videos together in their cabin, making the most of their downtime between ports.
She’s Seen a Lot on Cruise Ships—But This Makes Her Skin Crawl
Christine has seen a lot during her years at sea, but there’s one habit from fellow passengers that still makes her cringe. “As far as gross [parts], I don’t like when guests go to the buffet directly after the gym, don’t wash their hands,” she told Unilad.
It might seem like a small thing, but to Christine, sweaty hands touching shared utensils at a self-serve buffet is a recipe for germs—and it’s not just about personal preference. Having worked on ships for years, she knows just how fast illness can spread when hygiene slips.
Despite handwashing and sanitizing stations being placed at buffet entrances, she’s still seen people breeze past them like they’re optional. And it’s not just Christine who notices—crew members and frequent cruisers get just as frustrated when others ignore these basic courtesies.
This isn’t about being overly fussy, she says—it’s about keeping everyone on board healthy, especially in such close quarters. While Christine genuinely enjoys meeting guests and sharing ship life, moments like these remind her how small lapses in hygiene can ripple through the entire ship.
Is It Really That Bad? (Spoiler: Maybe Yes)
Cruise ships already have a reputation for being breeding grounds for germs, and Christine’s complaint taps into a broader concern that many cruisers share: hygiene. In close quarters with shared dining spaces, gyms, and restrooms, one person’s careless habits can affect hundreds.
Norovirus outbreaks, for example, have been repeatedly linked to poor handwashing—especially in buffet areas where everyone touches the same serving utensils. One online commenter even described buffets as “petri dishes of bacteria,” which might sound dramatic, but isn’t far off when basic hygiene gets ignored.
That said, Christine is quick to push back on the idea that cruise ships are inherently unsafe. “Most of the ‘myths’ you have heard about cruise ships are wrong… Cruising is safe,” she told Unilad.
From her experience, the problem isn’t the ships themselves—it’s how people behave while on board. The safety measures are there, including hand sanitizing stations and crew monitoring; it’s just a matter of whether guests actually use them.
Think you know buffet etiquette? Before you grab that extra plate of shrimp, here are 26 things you should absolutely never do at a cruise ship buffet.
Is She Right? The Internet Can’t Decide
Christine’s comment about unwashed hands at the buffet definitely struck a nerve online, and the reactions came in fast.
Some questioned how she could even know. “How does she know they haven’t washed their hands?” one person asked, while another joked, “Is she seeing people having a wee over the side?
Others turned the spotlight on buffets themselves, with one commenter warning, “You’re going to get urine/feces and sweat of someone else mixed in with your food.” Another added, “Cruise buffets need signs telling gluttons to pile food no higher than 10 inches.”
While some took a jab or two at Christine personally, others felt she had a point. “I’ve seen guests argue about washing hands,” one person shared, while another chimed in, “If you knew how filthy those ships were…” Clearly, her comment hit a nerve and got people talking—whether they agreed with her or not.
Land on the Horizon? Christine’s Future Plans
Christine and her husband have no plans to slow down anytime soon. They’re already booked on a string of back-to-back voyages, including a 91-day journey through Australia, Hawaii, and the Vanuatu Islands, followed by another “legendary” 91-day cruise to Antarctica.
For now, Christine says they’re in no rush to return to land, as long as her husband is still working and they’re both enjoying ship life. That said, the idea of settling down eventually has started to cross their minds.
After so many years afloat, she admits it would feel strange—but also exciting. When that time comes, she’s looking forward to some of the everyday things she’s gone without: adopting a cat, driving to the store, and finally having reliable Wi-Fi at home.
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