Woman who lives on cruise ship calls out 'gross' guest habit that makes her refuse to shake hands

Imagine completely ditching your mundane nine-to-five grind to spend half the year permanently sailing across the seven seas.

While that sounds like a pipe dream for most of us, it is the everyday reality for content creator Christine Kesteloo.

The 46-year-old TikTok star basically lives on a permanent, all-expenses-paid vacation aboard a huge cruise ship with her husband.

Her partner happens to be the staff chief engineer on the vessel, meaning Christine gets to tag along for the ride.

The pair first crossed paths while she was working as a cruise director for the Holland America Line, but after losing her job during the Covid-19 pandemic, Christine was forced to pivot her career.

She turned to social media to make a living under the handle @dutchworld_americangirl, and it soon exploded.

Now, she runs a successful shared business called Dune Travels and handles international jewelry marketing straight from her cabin.

Despite having a packed work schedule, Christine told UNILAD that floating around the globe still 'feels like a constant vacation'.

Christine has traveled to 109 countries (Christine Kesteloo)

Sharing the best part about her life on board, she explained: "I have been to 109 countries. I also don't have to pay for petrol, food, make my bed, do my laundry or clean my room."

That's certainly a life I could get used to.

Christine also assured she 'never gets bored', saying: "I have almost three million social friends to entertain. I'm full of energy and when I am not meeting social media friends or guests on board the ship I love to recharge my batteries by being alone in my small cabin."

But while she loves meeting guests, Christine admitted there is one habit she's seen from travelers that she could live without.

She said: "As far as gross [parts], I don't like when guests go to the buffet directly after the gym, don't wash their hands."

Sweaty, unwashed hands all over the buffet? No thanks.

However, Christine made clear that people often have the 'wrong idea' about cruise ships.

Christine lives on ships for at least six months of the year (Christine Kesteloo)

She explained: "They don't realize that there are over 260 cruise ships on the ocean every single day. The ship I live on only has 1,400 guests. Very different from these mega cruise ships.

"Most of the 'myths' you have heard about cruise ships are wrong," she continued. "Yes, I do drink the water and no you can't fall overboard unless you are doing something you shouldn't. Cruising is safe."

Christine expects that she and her husband will continue to live on cruise ships 'for at least the next couple of years', with the pair already scheduled on board 'long cruises' to Greece, Norway and Canada, as well as 91 days around Australia, Hawaii and the Vanuatu Islands, and a 'legendary' 91 day cruise to Antarctica.

Her husband may retire in a couple of years, at which point they may return to dry land full-time. When that happens, Christine would finally be able to get the one thing she can't have on a cruise ship: a cat.

"I really wish I could have a cat. I just love animals," she said, adding: "So does my husband. In our spare time we watch a lot of funny animal videos in our cruise ship cabin. For now the sea animals are my friends."

Christine also misses driving, 'good' internet connection, family and 'a crisp McDonald's diet coke', so at least she's got a lot waiting for her when her time at sea comes to an end!