Cruise Ship Performer Reveals Exactly How Much She Spends Each Week at Sea

Working on a cruise ship might sound like a dream job for anyone who loves travel, but what really surprises most people is how affordable life at sea can be. For many crew members, the biggest perk is not just visiting exotic ports or meeting people from around the world, but how much money they get to save while doing it.

With almost no regular expenses like rent, bills, or commuting costs, many crew members find themselves keeping most of what they earn. But just how much does it actually cost to live and work on a cruise ship? Krista Jocelyn is a performer who decided to break it down, tracking what she spends in a typical week on board and in port (you can also watch her full video near the end of the article).

What Cruise Ship Crew Don’t Pay For

One of the biggest financial advantages of working on a cruise ship is how few expenses there are. Crew members do not pay for their cabins, and housing costs are never deducted from their paychecks. There are also no bills for water, electricity, or other utilities. For most people on land, those alone make up a large part of their monthly expenses, but at sea, they simply do not exist.

Laundry is another cost that is mostly taken care of. Crew members can wash their clothes for free, as long as they bring their own detergent. It is not always a perfect system, with machines sometimes out of order and the occasional flooded laundry room, but it still means saving on a chore that costs real money on land.

When you add up all these savings, it becomes clear how life on board makes it possible for crew members to keep a large portion of their paychecks. There are no rent checks, no power bills, and no monthly subscriptions to worry about. For many, that freedom from regular expenses is what makes ship life so appealing.

Food, Drinks, and Dining Splurges

Meals on a cruise ship are one of the biggest perks of working at sea. Crew members have access to the crew mess, where food is completely free and available for most meals of the day. It is not fancy, but it is convenient and keeps everyone fed without spending a cent.

Still, after weeks of eating the same rotation of meals, many crew members crave a little variety. That is when the specialty restaurants come in. On this Royal Caribbean ship, options range from Italian at Giovanni’s to steak at Chops and sushi at Izumi. There are also more casual spots like Playmakers Sports Bar and Johnny Rockets for a burger or fries. Crew get a discount of around 20 percent, and sometimes even more during special offers.

On average, Krista spends about fifty dollars a week treating herself to these upgraded meals. It is a small indulgence, but one that breaks up the routine and adds some enjoyment to the week. Even with those extras, her overall spending stays remarkably low compared to life on land, where dining out even once or twice a week can easily cost far more.

Cheap Drinks, Crew Parties, and $4 Margaritas

When it comes to nightlife, cruise ship crew members have it better than most. There is no need to pay for taxis, cover charges, or expensive bar tabs. The crew bar offers drinks at a fraction of land prices. A margarita might cost four dollars instead of ten, and beer or soda are even cheaper.

Sometimes the ship’s HR team hosts themed crew parties where drinks and snacks are free. These events are a chance to unwind without spending much, and they often turn into some of the most memorable nights of the contract. Everything is in one place, which means no worrying about how to get home afterward.

For crew who like a quiet night in, there is also the option to make their own drinks. Buying a ten-dollar bottle of rum and a mixer can last weeks, and when you do the math, each drink costs around one dollar and fifty cents. Whether it is socializing with friends or relaxing after a show, enjoying life at sea does not come with a high price tag.

Free Gym and Health Perks

Fitness is an important part of ship life, especially for performers and entertainment staff. The gym on board is fully equipped and free for crew to use at any time. For cast members, it is not just a perk but a requirement. They must complete at least five hours of gym time each week to stay in shape for shows and maintain stamina throughout their contracts.

Back home, a gym membership could easily cost anywhere from ten to fifty dollars a month, depending on the location and facilities. Having access to a quality gym at no cost is another major financial advantage of working at sea. It also helps crew members maintain a healthy routine during long contracts away from home.

The combination of free fitness facilities and a busy daily schedule makes it easier for crew to stay active without needing to spend extra money. It is one more example of how the ship provides for almost every aspect of daily life, leaving very few reasons to reach for a wallet.

The One Big Expense: Wi-Fi

While most things on board are either free or heavily discounted, Wi-Fi is one of the few real expenses for cruise ship crew. Internet access costs around three dollars and ninety-nine cents per hour, which can add up quickly for anyone who likes to stay connected. Crew members do receive two free hours each week, but for most people, that is not nearly enough.

Some crew, like the performer in this video, find creative ways to save. She works a side job at the Wi-Fi desk, and for every hour she helps, she earns three hundred free minutes of internet. By putting in just one or two hours a week, she gets more than enough access without paying a cent. For others who do not have that opportunity, though, Wi-Fi can become one of the biggest drains on their onboard budget.

Even with the high cost, many crew still choose to pay for it, especially to stay in touch with family or download shows and music between ports. It is a small price to pay for staying connected while living in the middle of the ocean.

Related reading: Cruise Ship Crew Expose the Dark Side of Working at Sea

Spending in Port: Where the Real Money Goes

Most of a crew member’s spending happens when the ship is docked. Once they step ashore, there are endless temptations: coffee shops, lunches, beach days, and small errands that break up the routine of ship life. In this case, the performer’s ship alternates between two seven-day Caribbean itineraries, stopping in places like St. Thomas, San Juan, Nassau, and Grand Cayman.

On turnaround day in Fort Lauderdale, she usually takes a four-dollar crew shuttle to Publix to pick up essentials like almond milk, snacks, and toiletries. It is also a chance to grab a coffee and use strong Wi-Fi before heading back to sea. In ports like Coco Cay, everything is free for crew, including food, beach chairs, and transport, which makes it easy to spend nothing at all.

Still, some destinations are harder on the wallet than others. Caribbean ports can be surprisingly expensive compared to Europe, where cities are often walkable and food and drinks are cheaper. A cocktail in Italy might cost three dollars, but that same drink in the Caribbean could be fifteen. Even so, crew members often split taxi fares and plan group outings to keep costs low while still enjoying time off the ship.

Average Weekly Spend

After tracking her onboard and onshore purchases, Krista found that her average weekly spending came to about $200. That figure includes everything from meals in specialty restaurants to drinks, Wi-Fi, and small treats in port. What surprised her most was that this number was nearly identical to what she spent the previous year while working in Europe.

At first, she expected her spending in the Caribbean to be higher, since she goes out less often and the ports are more tourist-driven. But when she looked closer, it made sense. In Europe, she was constantly exploring, eating out, and visiting historical sites, but prices there were lower overall. In the Caribbean, even though she goes out less, the cost of food and activities is higher, balancing things out in the end.

Even at two hundred dollars per week, that total is far less than what most people spend on everyday life at home. With no rent, no utilities, and no major bills, crew members can easily save a significant portion of their income or spend it guilt-free on experiences.

The Bigger Picture: Life Without Rent or Bills

Living and working on a cruise ship creates a lifestyle that feels completely different from life on land. Without rent, power bills, or grocery expenses, crew members can live comfortably with minimal financial stress. For many in their twenties, it is a rare opportunity to save money while traveling the world, something few jobs can offer.

She admits that sometimes she worries about the day she will have to pay rent again or manage the daily costs of life on shore. After years of living with almost no bills, the thought of budgeting for utilities and housing feels strange. Ship life has allowed her to focus on experiences rather than expenses, spending a little more on excursions or meals without feeling guilty.

It is a lifestyle that encourages financial freedom, even if it is temporary. The ability to save, explore, and enjoy life all at once is what makes working at sea so appealing for thousands of crew members around the world. For many, it is not just a job, but a way to live differently, if only for a few years.

Final Word

Life at sea comes with its own set of challenges, but financially, it offers opportunities that are hard to match on land. With free housing, utilities, and meals, cruise ship crew members can save more of what they earn while still enjoying life’s small luxuries. Even spending two hundred dollars a week feels modest when compared to rent, groceries, and transportation costs back home.

For many, ship life is not just about travel or adventure, but about creating financial breathing room. It allows them to explore the world, meet people from different cultures, and build savings for the future. Whether they use that money to travel between contracts, invest, or simply enjoy their time off, the benefits are clear.

When the day finally comes to live on land again, paying rent and juggling bills might take some adjustment. But for now, working at sea remains one of the few ways to live almost expense-free while collecting memories that last long after the contract ends.

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