EXCLUSIVE I'm a cruise worker and this is what life is REALLY like on board - from 24/7 drunk passengers to constant staff hookups...
and the one area of the ship that we're forbidden from entering Lauren Heavner reveals the behind-the-scenes secrets of cruise crew life Find out which surprising free item crew can get in a vending machine READ MORE: Cruise workers reveal the biggest horror stories they've kept secret By ESTHER MARSHALL Published: 14:59 GMT, 23 March 2025 | Updated: 14:59 GMT, 23 March 2025 e-mail View comments 'Meet on Monday, official by Wednesday, explosive breakup at the party on Friday, single again by Sunday.’ That's the reality of cruise crew hookup culture according to Lauren Heavner ( @laurenheav ), a professional vocalist who’s worked in the industry for over 10 years. She’s lifting the lid on life as a crew member in an exclusive conversation with MailOnline Travel.
Read on to find out which area the crew are banned from, the surprising free item they can get in a vending machine and the three words every staff member dreads hearing...
The hook-up culture is ‘unhinged’ Lauren tells MailOnline: ‘The hook-up culture [between crew members] isn’t just wild - it’s unhinged. ‘Meet on Monday, official by Wednesday, explosive breakup at the crew party on Friday, single again by Sunday. Rinse and repeat until the contract ends and they slink back to their husbands and wives like nothing ever happened.
’ And there’s an even ‘darker side�.
