American woman details her 13-year life aboard cruise ships, from meeting her husband at sea to the single activity she is barred from while living on board.
Christine Streets-Kesteloo has spent more than a decade living at sea, building an unconventional life that blends travel, work and long stretches aboard some of the world’s busiest cruise vessels. What began as a cost-saving career move eventually became her full-time lifestyle — and even led her to meet her husband.
The 44-year-old, originally from the United States, first joined the cruise industry as a director, a job that eliminated rent payments and allowed her to circle the globe while earning a salary. During her time onboard, she met Pieter, a staff chief engineer. The two married and have continued to share their life at sea, with Christine now living aboard as his guest.
Although she stepped away from her director role, Christine has built a new career as a content creator. Her behind-the-scenes videos on TikTok attract more than a million viewers, many curious about the realities of long-term life at sea. She describes ship life as an independent world with routines, rules and a strong sense of community that outsiders rarely see.
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Christine enjoys unique access to both staff and passenger areas when she carries her identification badge. She spends her days using onboard amenities such as pools, spas and restaurants, and takes advantage of port stops to explore destinations around the world. While she keeps a home in the Netherlands, most of her time is spent on the water.
She also pushes back on perceptions that cruise ships are unsafe. With hundreds of thousands of passengers sailing daily across more than 260 ships and 60 cruise lines, she says incidents remain uncommon. Her husband, who has worked at sea for 34 years, has rarely fallen ill. The key, she insists, is simple: wash your hands.
Life onboard does come with limits. As a crew member’s spouse, Christine is barred from gambling in the ship’s casino — one of the few restrictions she faces. She also follows strict personal guidelines for her videos, avoiding filming passengers or crew without permission to protect their privacy.
For Christine, the cruise ship remains a “floating home,” one she says continues to offer adventure, stability and a lifestyle she has no plans to leave.