I spend half the year on cruise ships for free - but it's not as luxurious as it sounds

Visiting a new country every week, waking up with a view of the ocean and starting each day with a breakfast buffet might sound like a pretty dreamy way to live.

But living on a cruise ship isn't all it's cracked up to be, according to Christine Kesteloo (@christinekesteloo), who spends half the year sailing the high seas.

The 43-year-old's husband works as chief engineer on cruise ships and Christine tags along on his trips.

Her husband works on a three-month-on, three-month-off schedule which means they tend to spend around six months per year at sea.

Christine and her husband travel on an all-expenses basis when they cruise.

As wonderful as that might sound, Christine told Business Insider that the couple's quarters are on the small side.

She revealed: 'The bathroom is tight and the layout's a bit odd. I even have to climb over my husband to use the loo at night!'

And there's another downside to Christine's seemingly idyllic lifestyle onboard the ship.

'One of the hardest things is keeping track of the days,' explained Christine. 'I label them by what port we're in - Barcelona Day, Naples Day that kind of thing.

'But sometimes I even miss birthdays because of the time zone changes.'

While Christine might struggle to keep up her calendar, her adventurous lifestyle has taken her to 109 countries, including glamourous destinations like French Polynesia.

And the couple's cosy cabin is 'no smaller than some New York studio apartments' said Christine.

She added that the couple, who have been married three years, are 'okay with the constant closeness'.

There are no chores onboard either with Christine admitting that she's never required to cook, clean or make the bed.

All-in-all, Christine describes her cruise setup as a 'pretty sweet life', adding: 'Some might judge it, but I know it's a privilege to enjoy the world this way.'