A woman who spends her life living on cruise ships has revealed the dark sides that others may not have considered.

Lynnelle, a 53-year-old content creator behind the YouTube channel Poverty to Paradise, decided in 2024 to trade in her toxic job, broken marriage, house, and car for life on the open sea.

Now, with over 70,000 subscribers tuning in, she’s sharing the unfiltered truth about what full-time cruising really looks like — and it’s not all umbrella drinks and ocean views.

“So you’ve been watching all the YouTube videos and you’ve seen all these people living on the cruise ships and you are just about ready to sell your house, pack everything up and come live on a cruise ship,” Lynnelle says.

“Before you do that there are some things you need to know. It’s not all paradise and glitz and glamour but there are some things that might make you pause.”

She originally planned just 90 days at sea.

“When I first started doing this I was not planning to live on cruise ships. I was going through a transition and I saw some deals here and I thought let me go through this for 90 days while I think about what I’m going to do with my life and it turned out this is perfect for me.”

But even though it works for her, Lynnelle warns that there are eight major realities would-be sea nomads need to come to terms with first.

1. Space: Say Goodbye to Roominess

If you think cruise cabins are cute and cozy, try living in one permanently.

“Take your current bedroom, cut it in half and squeeze a queen-size bed a couple of night stands and everything you need to live into that half of a bedroom,” Lynnelle explains. “That’s what your cabin is going to look like.”

2. Noise: Thin Walls, Loud Neighbours

The cruise ship soundtrack isn’t just the ocean breeze — it’s karaoke, theatre shows, scraping pool chairs, and other guests’ private activities.

“The cabins on cruise ships are paper thin so if you are the type of person who wants to spend a significant amount of time in your cabin you need to think about that,” Lynnelle warns.

“I have heard so many things that were disturbing to me that I pulled the pillow over my head and put ear plugs in.”

“You hear everything, depending what deck you are on. You might hear noise from the theatre, karaoke singing, one time I heard the scraping of pool chairs up on the Lido deck because I was right below it. Also, the neighbours when you can hear their ‘extra-curricular activities, their snoring, their arguments, their TV blasting.”

3. People: It’s Hard to Hide from Social Interaction

If you're the type who enjoys solitude, cruising might test your patience.

“I am not a shy person but I am very quiet and introverted … so a lot of times I just enjoy my own company and enjoy being by myself,” she says.

“If you are an introverted person and you don’t like to be socially interactive you might want to rethink living on a cruise ship because you are going to be in places and people are going to talk to you."

“Even if you get a private table somebody is going to come and say ‘hey, how you doing’ and strike up a conversation with you."

“You are on a ship so unless you sit in your room the whole time, which I don’t suggest you do, you’re going to see that same chatty couple at breakfast, lunch, dinner and you cannot escape them.”

4. Seasickness: The Ocean Has No Chill

Location on the ship and seasonal weather can make a huge difference in how your stomach handles the motion.

“Depending on where you are on the ship – particularly at the very front of the ship or the very back – you are going to feel the motion of the ship from the waves,” she says.

“If there’s a storm, forget it, you’re going to feel it wherever you are on the ship."

“If the motion of the ocean bothers you then that’s something you definitely want to think about.”

Higher decks = more motion, and possibly more nausea.

5. Cost: Not As Cheap As You Think

Living at sea isn’t necessarily a money-saver — at least not unless you play it smart.

“Living on a cruise ship can be upwards of (USD) $80,000 to (USD) $100,000 or more and that’s just for the cruise itself,” Lynnelle explains.

“That’s not including any of the extras you want to get like specialty dining, pictures, souvenirs. All that other stuff adds into the cost of cruising.”

She’s managed to reduce her own expenses dramatically. “My average is USD $2000 per month,” she says — which adds up to about USD $24,000 annually, thanks to her cruise loyalty perks and savvy deal-hunting.

6. Healthcare: Prepare to Pay Out of Pocket

Need to see a doctor at sea? Get ready to open your wallet.

“I am 53 and I am pretty much healthy but a lot of people have health issues where they can’t live on a cruise ship or they can but they are going to need special care,” Lynnelle explains.

“If you have some pre-existing health conditions where you need to go to your doctors on a regular basis then living on a cruise ship is probably going to cause some drawbacks for you.”

She once had to get treatment for an infection on board — the appointment alone cost $150, not including medication.

7. Food: Not As Varied As It Seems

Sure, cruise food is a highlight… until it’s not.

“I hear a lot of people complain about the food being monotonous,” Lynnelle says.

“I was on one cruise ship for two months straight and even though there was a variety of food … it can be monotonous and so if you are not into eating the same food and you get bored easily that is something you need to take into consideration.”

Cruise menus tend to repeat on a weekly cycle — and after months at sea, you’ll likely be able to recite them by heart.

8. Wi-Fi and Loneliness: The Hidden Emotional Toll

Connectivity at sea is expensive — and not always reliable.

“If you are a person who, on a regular basis, is Facetiming people and you’re on social media all the time, the Wi-Fi on cruise ships is not very reliable,” she admits.

“About 75 per cent of the time it is great but the other 25 per cent of the time you want to pull your hair out because it’s like ‘ah, I have paid for this Wi-Fi but I am not getting coverage’.”

But the biggest challenge of all? Emotional isolation.

“It’s hard to make lasting friendships because the nature of cruising is transient, so those people will only be on the ship with you for maybe 10 days but after that they move on their merry way,” Lynnelle explains.

“I’m not saying you can’t make friends on cruise ships but, for the most part, especially if you are cruising solo like I am, you need to find people you click with but it is difficult."

“If you are a social butterfly or someone who needs to have deep connections with a person all the time then this might not be the lifestyle for you.”

Featured image credit: David Sacks / Getty

A cruise ship worker has opened up on the more intimate side of things onboard, warning passengers not to do one particular thing.

Cruises have risen in popularity as a vacation option in recent years, with companies also upping their game when it comes to the size of cruises and what they can provide onboard.

Once you look past seasickness and being isolated in the middle of the ocean temporarily, a cruise ship is just a big, five-star party with everything you could ever need onboard.

While spicy cruises have also become a getaway option in recent times, a regular cruise also has its fair share of steamy moments and unspoken rules when it comes to hooking up.

That is, if you believe what some of the workers on board say.

Lucy shared some of the things she wished she knew before setting sail. Credit: YouTube/Cruising As Crew

Sex on board can get "weird"

Lucy has worked in the cruise ship industry for a decade, so it's fair to say that she may know a thing or two about what it's like onboard.

She claims to know how to "maximize the enjoyment of a cruise vacation," and this can include being ready for any given scenario.

One of these is the potential to meet someone, as she explained in a 2022 video: "I think it's kind of well known that a lot of stuff goes on on cruise ships and it's all kind of incestuous in a weird way," as she compared it to a "small town."

"There's only a certain amount of people, so friends end up hooking up with friends, who then end up going with the other friend, and that's cruise ships ultimately," she admitted.

Aside from the inevitable crossovers that you may get as a single person on a cruise ship, it turns out that there is something that many passengers and workers worry about in particular.

Possibilities of catching an STI

Lucy explained that one of her friends was worried about catching an STI, but she explained how it all works.

"When you have your medical done to work on a cruise ship, I would say 80 percent of medicals test you for sexually transmitted infections and diseases, so actually, in that sense it's quite safe because the majority of people who work on a cruise ship have been tested for something, and if they have something then they will know about it," she added.

She then answered her friend's worries by explaining: "So I'm gonna say no in that sense, you don't need to come on here and be worried about catching something, it's like anything, you just use contraception to protect yourself."

But after years on cruise ships, she warned any potential lovers: "Just give it some time because having worked on ships for many years, I have seen some situations arise that you just wouldn't believe."

She advised people to abstain for their first two weeks onboard, because it's important to figure out what the dynamics are like with certain people.

The cruise ship worker has shared her two cents. Credit: Stefan Aue / Getty

New girls usually get messaged

Lucy said that "especially if you're a girl," you will get messages from those onboard when you are new and joining the crew.

"You will have people message you because you're fresh meat, so you'll get a lot of attention and if you've never experienced that before," she admitted.

While she found it flattering at first, Lucy then revealed: "It happens to everyone, and the people trying with you are also trying with every new girl that comes on board most likely," as she further reiterated to "understand the dynamics" first.

Featured image credit: Jupiterimages / Getty

From seasickness and pirates to walking the plank, the misconceptions surrounding life on a cruise ship are two-a-dime, and cruise-worker Megan McGuinness has shed light on some of the biggest myths people have about life at sea.

Megan, who resides onboard a Holland America cruiseliner with her husband Marvin, a ship safety officer, shared insights from her five years living on a floating vessel.

Since starting her ocean life, she’s travelled everywhere from Alaska and Hawaii to the Caribbean, French Polynesia, and Mexico.

Speaking in a candid TikTok post, Megan explained that crew members receive free accommodation and food but rarely get full days off during their contracts.

“About 98% never get an entire day off,” she said. “They’ll get a few hours here and there, but that’s it.”

Love life scandal below deck

Another rumor, that staff constantly shack up with one another, has some truth to it, she admitted, likening it to life in a “small town” where people naturally meet and date.

However, any romantic involvement with passengers is strictly forbidden and considered grounds for immediate dismissal, although - thankfully - it doesn't appear that walking the plank is a viable punishment for such misdemeanours.

By no means working aboard a nude cruise, Megan addressed the gossip that staff frequently indulge in extra-marital activity, often having “an onboard wife” as well as one at home, saying that such behaviour reflects the individual, not the job: “A person who cheats will do so anywhere,” she added.

Megan went on to debunk harsh internet hearsay that crews “throw an ice cream party” when someone dies on board.

She clarified that ships have dedicated morgues and that emptying freezers for bodies would only happen in an extreme situation, such as a mass casualty event.

There are strict rules for cruise ship staff. Credit: Jeff Greenberg / Getty

Well-anchored health and safety regulations onboard

Allaying the old wives’ tale that cruise ships are “filled with viruses,” she explained that cleaning and sanitising take place constantly, with the crew working hard behind the scenes to ensure passenger safety.

Megan also dispelled some of the other fallacies associated with deck life, namely that cruise ships are unsafe. In reality, the crew undergoes daily safety drills and training, and Megan insists she feels “far safer on a ship than walking down the street.”

In addition, when asked if staff have more fun below deck than guests do above, she laughed and replied: “I can neither confirm nor deny, but yes, we do have a very good time.”

Her social media video quickly gained traction, drawing praise from thousands of viewers, many of whom shared their love for holidaying on a cruise ship, thanking her for busting long-held stereotypes about life at sea.

Featured image credit: Jeff Greenberg / Getty Images

A cruise exclusively for swingers hosts almost 7,000 promiscuous people for a seven-night sexy sail around the Caribbean, leaving from Miami. While many rules, such as monogamy and mandatory clothing, go out the window, there are a few very strict rules.

The Bliss Cruise, held on board Royal Caribbean's Symphony of the Seas, is a very laid-back holiday in more ways than one, but breaking a few compulsory rules could land you in the ship’s jail.

Like any resort or passenger vessel, there are a few basic rules that guests have to follow, such as, being at least 21 years old and respecting other passengers. However, there are other rules that if you were expected to follow on any other holiday, you would likely leave a scathing Tripadvisor review.

The kinky cruise hosts 6,700 guests. Credit: Bliss Cruises

Consent is necessary, but clothing is not

Nudity is more than welcome in certain areas including the outside decks, play rooms and saunas, but clothes must be worn in other areas such as the ship’s restaurants.

Thankfully, given the nature of onboard activities, consent is non-negotiable, and if it is not respected, passengers could see themselves thrown off the ship at the next port.

In a statement on Bliss’ website, the trip's organisers wrote: "No means no. Anyone that doesn't understand this or is making unwanted advances could be subject to expulsion from the ship at the next port, without a refund."

Surprisingly, sexual activity is restricted to private areas including guests' cabins and designated play areas, of which there are at least three on board the huge ship.

The cruise holiday said: "Guests violating any rule pertaining to sexual activity in forbidden places may be removed from the ship by its security team at the next port of call. No refunds will be issued."

Another absolute no-no on the spicy ship is approaching staff and requesting they join in with polyamorous pastimes, as anyone who partakes will “lose their jobs” if caught.

Even medicinal cannabis is not allowed on board. Credit: Creative Images Lab/Getty Images

Ship staff turn passengers into police if caught with certain substances

While sex toys and kinky outfits are more than welcome at check-in, other performance enhancers such as illegal substances are strictly banned and could land guests a hefty punishment.

Bliss Cruise states in rule five: "Illicit and illegal drugs of any type, including medicinal marijuana, are not permitted on the ship.

"If found during the check-in process at the terminal, the cruise line will deny boarding.

"If found on the ship, the cruise line can and will most likely jail you until a port is reached where you will be handed over to the authorities, and possibly face criminal prosecution."

Emphasizing how important the rules are on board, the trip’s organizers also added that “no refunds will be issued if denied boarding or removed from the ship”.

Featured image credit: Bliss Cruises

We've all wondered what really happens on a cruise ship between workers and passengers, and it would seem it isn't anything good.

Being alone at sea with new people constantly coming aboard presumably gives workers a big selection of potential partners.

But one worker has advised everyone to stay away completely, claiming it could be a recipe for disaster.

A Former Crew Member Spills the Salty Truth

Lucy Southerton, who hails from Birmingham, knows exactly what it’s like to live and work on the open sea.

At just 19 years old, she joined a cruise ship crew as a massage therapist, and she’s now sharing her behind-the-scenes experience on her YouTube channel, Cruising As Crew.

Lucy’s insights strip away the glossy romance of cruise life and reveal what really goes down when co-workers get a little too close for comfort.

Cruise Ship Romances Come With Serious Consequences

What seems like a dreamy fling surrounded by sunsets, cocktails, and the sound of waves could actually turn into a nightmare, according to Lucy.

She warns anyone tempted to spark up a “seacret” relationship to think twice.

"Sleeping with a colleague on a cruise ship is very different to sleeping with a colleague in a job on land," she explained. "Now, the reason is if you're working a job on land, of course, everyone in the office likes the office gossip and is involved in everyone's business.

"But you get to leave the office and go home to your friends and your family who are completely separate from those people that you work with."

Sleeping with people on a cruise might not be the best idea. Credit: Megan Maloy / Getty

There’s No Getting Away From Shipboard Gossip

Unlike your regular 9-to-5 where you can leave the drama behind at the office, life on a cruise ship offers no such luxury.

"On a ship, you have obviously left your friends and family at home to work on a ship, which means that the people you work with are going to become your friends, your family and everything in between.

"So you're going to be getting all of your needs met from this one group of people," shared Lucy.

And if that group is also the source of your romantic drama? Buckle up.

"They're also going to be your professional team who you want to impress on a professional level if it's a career and you want to progress. And what this means is there is no escape.

"There is no escape from the people you work with because you work every single day on a cruise ship contract, so you will see these people every single day and they will want to talk about the new relationship that's sparking up between you and so and so."

When the Crush Turns to Chaos

Sure, the butterflies and banter feel exciting at first. It’s all good when things are going smoothly—until they’re not.

"And this is obviously amazing when everything is going well because it's fun to tell your work colleagues, 'Oh my God, we did this, we did this. It was so good. We had such a good time," Lucy went on.

"And it's really fun to see your crush at work. It adds a little bit of excitement to the day like, 'Oh my God, he's over there'. When the conversations you're having with your team members are, 'Yeah, I'm really upset, I'm really disappointed, or 'I've really upset him or her.

"And you can't escape him or her. You have to see them every day for the next four months.

"That is when it gets a little bit sticky. And you know what? If we could control who we got feelings for, wouldn't life be literally 20 times easier?"

Featured image credit: Megan Maloy / Getty