Cruise ship crew members have very different experiences than passengers do.
For some crew, like the people who do the laundry and those who labor in the kitchen, they may go days without even seeing the outside.
Few crew cabins have windows and many crew work areas lack them as well. On some very new ships, but not on older ones, the crew mess/crew Windjammer buffet will have windows.
Related: A Royal Caribbean Halloween party went terribly wrong
Many cruise ship staff can access passenger areas only when they're working. If they're off duty they are limited to crew-only spaces. Those always include some outside spaces, but they're often small and, on some ships, not easy to access.
Erica from America, a popular YouTube personality, works on the social-media team for Royal Caribbean, so she has passenger-like access to the ship. Her cabin might surprise you, however, since it's on a deck few passengers ever get to see.
She shared what a day in her life is like on her YouTube channel.
A day in the life of a Royal Caribbean crew member
Transcript
Welcome to a day in the life of working on board a cruise ship. Today is a day at sea, and honestly I'm so tired. I really didn't want to get up today, but I really wanted to work out this morning.
The first thing I always do is check my deck phone because I'm really bad at answering calls, and then I went to go brush my teeth. Uh, yeah, I'm not looking too hot this morning.
Sign up for the Come Cruise With Me newsletter to save money on your next (or your first) cruise.
Today, I decided to go work out on the jogging track because you only have to go a little more than two times around to hit a mile. Every time I try to take something out of my closet, of course, everything just falls out.
Here's me all ready to go to the jogging track. It's a little bit chilly up there in the mornings and you can't forget to turn off the lights to save the waves.
This is my normal morning commute. I live on 23rd Street, and that's my favorite watertight door. My cabin is on deck 1, which is technically below the water line, and you also have to walk through the crew mess to get out of there.
I love the jogging track on Oasis-Class ships. This is the inside of a lifeboat in case you're wondering. Dude, look at these views.
It's amazing just to be able to wake up and see this every day.
ALSO READ: Top travel agents share how to get the best price on your cruise
At the end of the jogging track you can go up to the guest fitness center. Here's Val. She's on my team. Look at her working so hard in the gym.
After working out, I ate breakfast in the crew mess. I like to eat a lot of protein for breakfast, so I got some eggs, beans, and added protein powder to my oatmeal.
At nine o'clock, I had to be at a private video shoot for the waterslides. Honestly, this was so fun.
Are you taking a cruise or thinking about taking one? Visit our Come Cruise With Me website to have all your questions answered.
