Everyone loves a good holiday, and cruise holidays are one of the most popular ways to enjoy time off. Who wouldn't want to soak up the sun, while traveling across the globe and exploring various stunning destinations?
With live entertainment, pools and slides, a wide range of food and drink to choose from, and so much more, it's not hard to see why some people wouldn't want their cruise ship holiday to end. Which is exactly what 53-year-old Lynnelle did, as she explains the ins and outs of opting to live solo for a year on a cruise ship.
Lynnelle, a retiree that now posts her tips and tricks of how she managed to live on a cruise ship full-time on her YouTube channel, has also exposed some of the darker sides of cruise ships, as well as how much it's put her out of pocket.
Here's everything she had to say about her experience.
Tiny living space
The first issue with living solo on a cruise ship Lynnelle points out is the 'tiny living space'. She explains that if you were to 'take your current bedroom, cut it in half, and squeeze in a queen size bed and a couple of nightstands', that would be what your cabin is going to look like.
And of course, you would also need to fit your belongings in too.
She explains that the bathrooms are comparable with an airplane bathroom, and even explains that some passengers say they need to 'parallel park' in order to get into the shower - I've not managed that in my car yet, so I guess a shower is out of the question for me.
'Paper thin' walls
The next issue you're going to have to deal with is the noise. In her video, Lynnelle explains that the cabin walls in cruise ships are 'paper thin'.
She confessed that even if there's not a connecting room, you might still have to put up with noises from the entertainment, other guests, and in some cases, even the lido, if you're unfortunate enough to get a room below.
Of course, if you're in a connected room, she explains that you're likely to hear everything from your neighbours. From snoring, to arguing, and of course people getting busy with it. She's heard it all.
Social overload
If you're an extrovert, the chances are you're going to love being on a cruise ship. Meeting new people, getting to know them, and then moving on to the next load of people as soon as your current cruise ends.
But, if like Lynnelle, you're an introvert, you might need to brace yourself for a social overload, as it's not exactly easy to escape people when you're on a ship packed full of tourists.
Lynnelle explains that it doesn't really matter where you are, even at private tables and elevators, people will take every chance they can to talk to you.
Motion sickness
Of course if you're on a ship, one thing you can't ignore is the fact that you might suffer from motion sickness.
Being on a ship for an extended period of time, chances are you're going to come across some rough seas. Lynnelle explains that this is particularly worse at night, due to the 'lunar effect on the waves'.
She goes on to explain that both the 'very front of the ship' and also 'the very back of the ship' are the worst places to be if you suffer from motion sickness.
How much does cruise line solo living cost?
Brace yourself. No, not because of the wave, but instead, because of how much it costs to live solo on a cruise ship.
Lynnelle explains that she pays around $88,000 per year to live on a cruise ship.
However, if she wanted a balcony cabin, that would set her back more than $100K.
If the motion doesn't make you feel sick, the price will...
Other issues you might encounter living on a cruise ship
If all of the above isn't enough to put you off living solo on a cruise ship, Lynnelle went on to share a few more issues she has faced.
Limited Wi-Fi and food options are just one of the many issues with living full-time on a cruise ship, with long-term passengers having to get used to patchy internet and the same food on each cruise.
One of the bigger issues is healthcare. With no access to mainland, healthcare isn't as readily available, which means you can end up paying $150 (approx £112) just to see a doctor.