A woman who permanently resides on a cruise ship has revealed the truth about exactly how much it costs her to live at sea.

For many, a cruise is a once-in-a-lifetime treat, often embarked upon after retirement, when time off is no longer so scarce.

However, some people love it so much they choose to pack up their life on land and move onto a ship full-time, making the most of seeing different parts of the world while having all their needs catered for on board.

Lynnelle, 53, the woman behind the Poverty to Paradise YouTube channel, lives on board a cruise ship - and she's revealed the "dark truth" about exactly how much it costs her.

Life aboard a cruise ship may sound exciting - but there are some downsides, too. Credit: Michael Dunning / Getty Images

While many imagine it's all sunshine and scenery - and never having to do your own cleaning or laundry - Lynnelle warns that the reality can be quite different.

She warned that while there are many undeniable perks, there are some downsides too - including living in a small cabin which isn't all that sound-proof.

And that's without factoring in the cost, as life on board is far from cheap.

The American revealed that living full time on cruises runs to over $88,000 per year, which includes the fare, taxes, and tips.

If you want to upgrade your living quarters to have a bit more space or some fresh air and get a balcony cabin, that would cost you closer to $103,000 for the year - and that's before you add in anything you spend on board.

Unsurprisingly, onboard spending can soon add up, with specialty dining, WiFi packages, and things like photos and souvenirs, or anything else you buy on the ship coming at a premium price.

As well as the financial cost, there's also the practical side of living in a ship's cabin to consider before packing up your home on land.

Lynnelle revealed that cabins are smaller than you think, and you have to squeeze your whole life into the equivalent of half a bedroom, with the tiny bathrooms feeling closer to the size you'd find in an airplane rather than an apartment.

If you happen to be a light-sleeper or bothered by noise, she warns that the walls are "paper-thin" and she can hear almost everything her neighbors do, including the noise from their televisions, chairs scraping, snoring, and more.

You'd also better have your sea legs as things can get rocky on board, with storms making movement on board unavoidable - and all the cabins feel the effects, no matter where they are located on the ship.

Lynnelle recommended that people avoid routed that sail the Caribbean through hurricane season as this can get particularly rocky, but recommended those thinking of living on board to try cruises throughout different seasons before they commit, to make sure they can cope with it.

If you happen to be an introvert or suffer from social anxiety, cruises can be a pretty overstimulating place to live as you're constantly in close contact with strangers you pass in elevators, pool decks, dining rooms and hallways, and the only place you can escape is within your small cabin.

Loneliness can also creep in if you're cruising solo, however, as there can be patchy internet depending where you are, and though you will meet people on board, these friendships can be short-lived as most people will be debarking and going back to their normal lives once the cruise comes to an end.

You may also worry what happens in the case of a medical accident or emergency - and it should come as no surprise that a doctor's visit also comes with a hefty price tag.

While onboard medical care is available, Lynnelle revealed that it's very costly to see a doctor, with her once having paid $150 to be seen for an ear infection. Should the emergency be more than the onboard medics can handle, that may mean coming off the ship and being treated at a nearby location.

Much of the additional costs come from the fact that people are pretty much restricted to paying the prices of things on board as they are unable to leave the ship except for stops at different destinations, so the bill can quickly add up.

However, if money is not an object and you don't require a vast amount of space, and can put up with noisy neighbors as a trade off for waking up in a different exotic destination every few days, then cruise life can be a dream option for many.

Featured image credit: Michael Dunning / Getty Images

A woman who works on cruises has opened up about how dating works on board, referring to it as a "free-for-all."

Cruise employee and content creator Wanderlust Alley recently peeled back the curtain on love, hookups, and emotional rollercoasters at sea in her YouTube video, Working on a Cruise Ship – Expectation vs Reality.

And spoiler: the rumors about shipboard romances might not be as exaggerated as you'd think.

Alley starts off by addressing the one question she says she’s constantly asked: intimacy and dating on cruise ships.

“The expectation is that it’s just a massive free-for-all,” she says - before confirming that, yes, that perception holds up, at least in her experience.

From there, she opens up about her own relationships formed while working onboard, explaining that things tend to move much faster than they would back on land.

“I would like to note that ships are a very expedited environment; if you enjoy someone’s company, it is beyond tangible to spend so much time together and get to know each other,” she says.

“So maybe on the outside looking in, it may look like the situation is a bit rushed.

“But you can just form relationships super quickly here.”

And those fast-moving connections aren’t always short-lived. Alley reveals that it’s not uncommon for cruise staff to tie the knot after finding love onboard. But it’s not all serious either.

“That doesn’t mean that casual relationships aren’t happening as well,” she admits.

One of her colleagues jumps in to echo that reality: “You have to control yourself.”

Another coworker shares his own take on what he calls a “ship relationship,” saying it came with an expiration date: “It was agreed that it would come to an end when they disembarked.”

But not everyone treats cruise ship relationships casually.

Another cruise worker says: “For me, if you have a girlfriend, you’re not having a girlfriend to just play around – if you are committed, you have to be committed.

“But I know that other people have families at home and they have agreements where they get on a ship and then they have ship wives, ship husbands.”

That reality adds a complicated layer to the already unique cruise culture. As Alley puts it: “There is a lot of opportunity” onboard if you’re open to it or “want it.”

She closes by comparing dating at sea to dating on land - and points out how cruise life shifts the whole dynamic.

“I think the major difference here is that the bar is as easy as a four-minute walk from your house and that just means it’s simple to meet people.

“And on top of that, because we’re in a confined environment, everyone just may seem to know about it.”

Featured image credit: Wanderlust Alley / YouTube

A cruise ship employee has opened up about the reality of dating on board, explaining that while cruise ships have a reputation for being a romantic "free-for-all," the truth is a little more nuanced.

It's often said that when large groups of young adults live and work together in close proximity for months at a time, ties begin to form and relationships are bound to develop.

Cruise ship worker shares her perception

Cruise ships are no exception to such a rule. However, according to YouTuber and cruise ship worker Wanderlust Alley, the environment simply accelerates connections that might take much longer to form on land.

Sharing insights from her own experiences, Alley explained: "Well, let me tell you what it's like," noting that some of her "personal experiences" helped shape her perspective.

The worker said one of the biggest differences about life at sea is how quickly people get to know each other.

"I would like to note that ships are a very expedited environment; if you enjoy someone's company, it is beyond tangible to spend so much time together and get to know each other," she explained.

To illustrate her point, Alley compared ship life to dating back home. On land, a couple might go out for dinner on a Friday night and not see each other again until the following weekend. On a cruise ship, however, people often find themselves spending nearly every day together.

After meeting for dinner, crew members might end up having "breakfast, lunch, dinner" together the very next day and continue seeing each other regularly.

Because of this, relationships can seem to move quickly from an outsider's perspective.

"So maybe on the outside looking in, it may look like the situation is a bit rushed," Alley said. "But you can just form relationships super quickly here."

She noted that many crew members eventually marry people they meet while working at sea, though casual relationships also exist.

One of her colleagues described life on board as being similar to "college at sea," while another admitted that dating on a cruise ship "is nice" but can become challenging when contracts end, and people leave the vessel.

Cruise ship workers have their say on 'free-for-all' relationships. Credit: Michael Dunning / Getty

Other cruise ship workers have their say

Another crew member shared that he once had a "ship relationship" where both people understood from the start that it would end when his contract finished.

Not everyone approaches onboard relationships the same way. One worker stressed the importance of commitment, saying: "You have to control yourself."

He continued: "For me, if you have a girlfriend, you're not having a girlfriend to just play around – if you are committed, you have to be committed."

However, he acknowledged that some people have different arrangements.

"But I know that other people have families at home and they have agreements where they get on a ship and then they have ship wives, ship husbands."

The worker believes cruise ship dating is not dramatically different from what happens elsewhere. Credit: Jonathan Knowles / Getty

According to Alley, opportunities to meet people are plentiful, but she believes cruise ship dating is not dramatically different from what happens elsewhere.

"There is a lot of opportunity" on board if you "want it," she said, adding that it doesn't "vary too much from what happens on land."

The biggest distinction, she argued, is convenience.

"I think the major difference here is that the bar is as easy as a four-minute walk from your house, and that just means it's simple to meet people," she explained.

She also pointed out that privacy can be hard to come by in such a close-knit and often cramped environment.

"And on top of that, because we're in a confined environment, everyone just may seem to know about it."

While cruise ship romances may have a reputation for being fast-paced, Alley suggests that's largely because life at sea naturally brings people together much more quickly than everyday life on land.

Featured Image. Credit: Michael Dunning / Getty

Whenever I get bored of the city and its breakneck, cutthroat day-to-day, I sometimes like to think of how different my life would be if I were a sailor. No longer would I have to squeeze into a crowded train or bus, with a thousand stresses fighting for my very strained attention. Instead, my boss would be Poseidon himself, and I'd say things like "shiver me timbers", or "hard starboard, me landlubbers!"

It is very possible that I am confusing working at sea with being a pirate, but one demographic who probably wouldn't make that mistake are those who actually work at sea. They recently spilled the beans about a life on the waves via Reddit, and if you're thinking of adopting the nautical lifestyle, maybe you could learn a thing or two.

1. If you can, try not to get fired

"It was the worst job I’ve ever had in my life. Some bullet points: If you get fired, the line I worked for would kick you off on whatever island they docked at next. Sounds fair – but some of these kids had just started working and had no money saved up that could get them home.

"I did not have a single day off during my entire five-month contract, and we worked split shifts: anywhere from 12-17 hours a day. You saw these amazing places from a porthole. I got off the ship like three times. The percentage of people with an STD triples when you compare entry vs. exit tests. Lots’a freakiness. I hooked up with a girl in one bunk while her roomie did the same with my buddy. Lots of drinking."

2. This story does make it does sound kind of great

"Ex cruise ship employee here. We get absolutely plastered below deck. Everyone gets it on all over the ship. My girlfriend at the time and I had a competition with an officer and his lady for the riskiest place to have sex. I thought we had won with the bow of the ship in the middle of the night. Nope.

"He, being an officer, stopped the elevator midway. His lady and him jumped on top of the elevator while it was stopped and proceeded to actually ride the elevator and get it on as guests were getting on and off the elevator beneath them. From what I know, he had a friend of his on the bridge stop the elevator for him, so they could get ‘in position.’ I assume he was also making sure the elevator did not crush them as well.

"Secondly, I was a dancer in the cast on-board, and I had a lot more free time than most, being that all I did was perform in the shows. I do suggest working on ships, for anyone who is curious. It’s a great way to see the world, make lifelong friends, and get laid!! I know many couples who met on a ship and are married with kids now etc. It really sets the stage for a nice fling, or love, depending on where you’re coming from and what you’re ready for.”

3. It sounds like they have more fun than the guests!

"I am a cruise ship worker. First one is, we don’t want you to know that we actually have more fun than the guests. Sure we’ll work the big white hot party that you’re all going to, but once we finish our shift all hell is breaking loose in the crew bar.

"Just below and to the sides of where you are sleeping there are crew members having sex, smoking and drinking. Our beers are $1. No drugs or spirits though.

"We also don’t want you to know that all those funny jokes we tell you at bingo? Yeah…Same ones are said every. Single. Cruise. That really funny answer you gave us about your wife during the happy couples game? Heard it. It was said last cruise and the one before that, and the one before that…

"We are not allowed to have sex with to passengers…But we do know the all the nooks and crannies the cameras don’t reach. There are morgues below deck and a jail cell. We get at least 3 deaths on-board a month. Some people go on a cruise to die."

4. Pass the blunt, sailor

"I had a solid gig playing on a cruise line for a couple summers as a jazz musician. I played with a house quartet every night for three months. Here are some things you may not know about the job: almost EVERY employee smoked weed. When we weren’t performing or sleeping, we were toking like there was no tomorrow, it was a great way to pass the time.

"Disease spreads incredibly fast. There were a couple episodes of a stomach flu taking over the ship. It was so bad I thought we were going to have to get the CDC to disinfect the ship. Overall it was a really fun job for the summer. Pay wasn’t spectacular, but I got to go to awesome places, meet new people, and play nightly gigs."

5. The more you know about cruise ships, the better

"My dad is an Electrical engineer on [one of the largest passenger vessels of all time]. What many people don’t know is that modern cruise ships are often very maneuverable despite their size. My dad’s ship has Azipods and forward bow thrusts, giving it the ability to move in any direction, even side to side and backwards without tug boats.

"Because of this maneuverability, the ship does not have to lower its anchor for short periods of time, it has a system that monitors it’s locations (GPS) and autonomously makes corrections so it will not drift away.

"There is almost no swaying on the ship. It’s gross tonnage is 225,000 tons, so it is rather massive. In rough seas, it can extend fins below the water line that act like wings on airplanes. Gyroscopes monitor for any swaying, and the fins make corrections so the ship is nearly unaffected in even the largest waves."

6. If you can help it, be Canadian

"I worked as a seasonal worker on a cruise ship, and it was super fun. The crew was almost all young, and the bar below deck was incredibly cheap. However, the reason it was so cheap was that most of the staff got paid almost nothing and had to do long stints in order to have their flight paid for.

"I would fly down during holidays for cruises as short as one week and then get flown back. For me it wasn’t that different from being a passenger. I could eat in the same restaurants as the passengers and I also stayed in a normal cabin. We could order room service if we wanted. The parties were fun because everyone was there alone, so you got accepted pretty quick. The down side was the blatant inequality for the staff from the Philippines. They were required to do 8 months work at a time with almost no time off, while I would be flown back and forth for a week simply because I was from Canada."

Well, there you go, folks. Of course, living at sea isn't for everyone (I, for example, am super seasick), but what these stories show you is another side of life outside the city or the countryside. From what I can tell, if you're looking for a way to meet interesting new people and have a ton of fun to boot, then why not be a sailor for a little while?

A woman has taken to TikTok to share her paycheck after working 70 hours at a bar... and it's staggeringly low.

I dare say that most of us want more money than we currently earn, but that's just human nature, isn't it?

Once you've got one yacht, you're going to want two - maybe, I've never owned a yacht.

Either way, money makes the world go around, and as much as it causes a lot of stress at times, it's also important to have so you can live a comfortable life. But it would appear that some places rely on the generosity of others to pay their staff.

Austin-based bartender Aaliyah Cortez bared her payslip to TikTok, unveiling the grim reality of her earnings after a grueling 70-hour workweek.

Cortez, employed at a local sports bar for over a year, disclosed that her base pay stood at a meager $2.13 per hour, emphasizing the critical role tips play in her ability to make ends meet.

The video, posted in January 2020, breaks down her compensation, revealing a shocking sum of $9.28 after factoring in federal taxes, social security, and Medicare.

"So this is why you should always tip your bartenders and servers, anyone who waits on you or provides a service for you," Cortez conveyed in the video.

Speaking to BuzzFeed, Cortez criticized the current state of the service industry, expressing her desire for fair and consistent compensation.

"It’s not right that we have to do this, but I wanted to shed some light on the issue and inform the public about the importance of tipping," she said.

Cortez's plea for adequate pay and consistency struck a chord with viewers, who flocked to the comments to offer their thoughts.

One person said: "No mam, your bar/restaurant is getting free labor and that's not ok," to which Cortez responded: "It’s bc we get tips, our tips are supposed to amount to minimum wage or more, if not then they must pay us minimum wage."

Another user said: "This is why the US should be like EVERY other developed nation and not have a tip culture. Businesses should pay your wages. Tips shouldn't be a thing."

Another comment really captured the culture of tipping, as they said: "I always tip 20%. If I can’t afford 20% I don’t go to a restaurant."

It's worth noting that the paycheck also reveals that Cortez made $700 in cash tips, but it opens up the ongoing debate about whether customers should have to tip to supplement a server's wages.

What do you think?

Featured image credit: tattywelshie/Getty