A woman who works on a Royal Caribbean cruise ship has revealed how much she spends each day on board, and it’s a lot cheaper than you would think.
Alley Kerr, who goes by ‘Wanderlust Alley’ on TikTok and YouTube, works as a dance captain and general manager on the Liberty of the Seas ship, often making videos about her day to day life.
Her roles mean she performs in shows and liaises between management and the production cast members – she makes sure every show runs smoothly and also keeps on top of admin duties like cabin inspections and drills.
Speaking to MailOnline, Alley said ‘It’s pretty incredible. As a performer I know that I’m gonna be able to have a salary, and when the paycheck comes in I know I’m going to be making money.
‘Whereas when you do this on land, you have no idea of like what opportunities are or are not around the corner, and I find this to be a lot more sustainable because I’m not paying for rent and I’m not paying for food.
Alley Kerr, who goes by ‘Wanderlust Alley’ on TikTok and YouTube , works as a dance captain and general manager on the Liberty of the Seas ship, often making videos about her day to day life
A woman who works on a cruise ship has revealed how much she spends each day on board, and it’s a lot cheaper than you would think
‘In theory I could end up just pocketing all of the money that I’m getting.
‘Anyone who has like been in the entertainment industry can can tell you that it’s really not easy.
‘Usually people who are professional dancers are also a barista. They’re working at an athletic wear shop. They’re working at a different restaurant in the evenings, and then they also have the side job where they’re babysit
‘Everyone has like 10 jobs at a time, because it’s so not sustainable to be a performer.’
She added ‘I think like that is a really great way for me to save and like invest in my future because it’s really hard to be able to save money when you’re like barely making it in or London, or where wherever you’re pursuing entertainment.’
The dance captain previously worked at Disneyland, both in California and Japan, where she moved aged 19.
Working on a cruise ship was on her ‘bucket list’ for a long time: ‘It was one of the very first things I auditioned for a couple of years ago, maybe four, five years ago. But it just wasn’t the right timing, and it was a lot more competitive.’
She bagged her first cruising contract in 2020 and has since progressed to the role of dance captain and company manager on Royal Caribbean’s Liberty of the Seas.
She bagged her first cruising contract in 2020 and has since progressed to the role of dance captain and company manager on Royal Caribbean’s Liberty of the Seas
The TikToker’s cabin with an en-suite bathroom is completely free
She explained that the only time she does have to fork out is if she wants to go to a specialty restaurant, and even then she gets employee discount.
In a recent video, the American broke down her finances, explaining ‘A question I get asked all the time is what do I spend on accommodation and food.
‘Well today is a sea day so let’s find out. When it comes to my cabin, you may be surprised to find out that it’s 100% free.’
She pans the camera across her room, which has a single bed, wardrobe, mirror, desk and storage space.
There is also an en-suite bathroom – the dance captain doesn’t have to pay a cent for her accommodation and there are no fees deducted from her pay check.
The only fee she mentions in the video is $5 for housekeeping service.
She continues ‘This goes for most of the food as well. All meals in the mess are free and personally I really enjoy it.’
The cruise ship has a buffet style mess hall and in the clip the content creator has three plates of food.
She explained that the only time she does have to fork out is if she wants to go to a specialty restaurant, and even then she gets employee discount.
The ship that Alley is working on is the Royal Caribbean’s Liberty of the Seas and before landing this job, she worked on the Rhapsody of the Seas.
So, if she decides to stick to the mess hall, she can go for months not paying a single dollar.
Alley told MailOnline: ‘I have a slightly different accommodation than most, because I am in a managerial position.
‘So I have a single cabin, and I have a porthole. It’s a slightly bigger space. In general most cruise ship accommodations are really tight and it’s not a big space to live in.
‘If I was not company manager and dance, captain, I would have like a normal cabin, just like everyone else.’
She showed viewers a Japanese restaurant on board called Izumi, which is one of the specialty options.
Adding ‘A lot of people are surprised when they find out that I’ve lived in Japan for three years so I definitely know my way around Japanese food.
‘Although I wouldn’t call this authentic, the options are so delicious and flavorful, it definitely reminds me of my home in Japan while I’m out at sea.’
The meal cost $40, which she only paid $32 for due to her employee discount – with housekeeping included, her total spend for the day less than $40.
The 26-year-old said she gets the ‘most fulfillment from traveling,’ saying ‘I think it’s a really neat experience to be able to see so many places in a way that I never would be able to.
For example, we’ve been to Bermuda almost 20 times this summer. Maybe that sounds like overkill to some, but I think it’s a really awesome opportunity to feel actually acquainted with a place.
Liberty of the Seas has a large passenger capacity of 3,634 and offers weekly cruises from Miami to the Western Caribbean
Pictured: Alley in action on the cruise, where she works as dance captain and general manager
It’s home to giant waterslides, 12 restaurants and even an ice rink
‘Last year we did a Mediterranean cruise, so I was in a different Mediterranean port every single day, in Italy and France, Greece, Montenegro, Croatia, Israel, Spain – it was a new place every single day.’
People in the commenters were quick to ask questions about the unique lifestyle.
One viewer asked ‘What cruise line do you work at? I’ve really been thinking about working on one when I’m older.’
Someone else asked if the YouTuber could do a room tour, as they worked on a cruise ship previously and ‘all the workers had bunk beds and had to share’.
Others were inspired to give the job a go themselves, writing ‘This looks like so much fun! I’ve always wanted to do this for a year or two once my kids are grown!’ and ‘How do you get to work on a cruise ship?’
The ship that Alley is working on is the Royal Caribbean’s Liberty of the Seas and before landing this job, she worked on the Rhapsody of the Seas.
Liberty of the Seas has a large passenger capacity of 3,634 and offers weekly cruises from Miami to the Western Caribbean.
It’s home to giant waterslides, 12 restaurants and even an ice rink.
The ship has been voted Best Overall Cruise Line for 20 Years Running By Travel Weekly.
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