Crew members travel very differently than guests aboard crew ships. They have separate dining facilities, fitness centers, laundry rooms, and smaller cabins. Though life at sea for crew members isn't as glamorous as it is for passengers, plenty of rewards come with the job.
Ella, a dancer in Mamma Mia on Allure of the Seas, had a recent TikTok video offering a glimpse into her windowless cabin go viral, with over 1.4 million views and 44k likes. It sparked curiosity about what life is really like behind the scenes on a cruise ship.
"Have you ever wondered what a crew cabin on a cruise ship looks like?" she asks.
The dancer shares the cabin with a fellow cast member
Ella and her roommate Samara prioritized making their small space cozy with tons of pictures on the walls, fake plants, and pineapple string lights—fitting as the ship is currently sailing to The Bahamas from Florida.
"We wanted to really make our cabin look cozy because obviously when you're living here for nine months at a time, you want it to feel as homely as possible," Ella explains.
The video also shows how Ella and her roommate utilize the cabin's magnetic walls by hanging up small magnetic hooks for their jewelry and shelves for more storage.
Because the cabin is windowless, Ella talks about the importance of their sunrise alarm clock: "This is our sunrise alarm clock, which is an absolute lifesaver because we don't have a porthole, so we never see natural light...this turns itself on in the morning, so we at least don't wake up in the pitch black every day."
Another must-have item is her hanging shoe organizer. It's no surprise that their stateroom isn't the largest. To increase the amount of available floor space, Ella and Samara keep their shoes neatly arranged in the hanging organizer on the back of their door.
"If you are looking to do a cruise ship in the future, a shoe rack on the back of your door is an absolute essential because you are going to need to save that space in your cabin," she remarks.
They also purchased two matching drawer towers for more storage space since they share a single wardrobe. Though she doesn't give viewers a peek into the closet, she shows her "bits and bobs" drawer where she keeps things like her sunglasses and wallet, and her snack drawer.
Ella also talks about her recent whiteboard obsession, showing a smaller whiteboard with the roommates' weekly schedule, as well as a larger one with their monthly schedule and a whiteboard with a countdown until she returns home.
When she posted the video, she had 21 weeks left onboard Allure of the Seas, meaning her contract is scheduled to end around the end of February—assuming she posted the TikTok around the same time it was filmed.
Whiteboards have become popular cabin door decorations for passengers, too. While they don't serve as practical a purpose as they do for crew members, they can be used to leave messages for other travelers. Some guests will even ask daily questions for others to respond to, such as where you're from, your favorite port of call, and more.
They also have a coffee corner in their cabin that's home to cute mugs, instant coffee from Trader Joe's, and coffee beans to brew a fresh cup.
Above their coffee station is a bookshelf piled high with books to read during their downtime.
At night, Ella transforms the space into a cozy retreat by adjusting the mood lighting. "Here's my bed," she says, "It's so cute and cozy. I've got my LED lights...and I've packed my walls with photos of my family, my friends, [and] my boyfriend."
There's also a television screen at the foot of each bed with "loads of movies and TV shows to choose from."
Read more: Photos show a tiny crew-only cabin on Icon of the Seas
Tiny yet functional bathroom
Ella doesn't spend much time in the bathroom, claiming it's not very exciting. Overall, it is a standard crew bathroom. It has everything they need, but it's a far cry from a luxury bathroom.
They have a capsule shower with a curtain instead of a plexiglass door. The sink is also much smaller compared to guest cabins, with counter space noticeably absent.
One thing she does emphasize is the importance of a filtered shower head "because the water on ships really dries your hair [out]."
Read more: I paid $830 for a cheap tiny and windowless cabin on Allure of the Seas
Allure of the Seas is an Oasis Class ship launched in 2010
The 225,282 gross registered ton ship will undergo a $100 million-plus renovation in March 2025.
Once the drydock is complete, the amplified Allure of the Seas will feature a redesigned resort-style pool deck, Ultimate Abyss dry slide, Perfect Storm waterslides, Splashaway Bay, Pesky Parrot Bar, two new specialty restaurants, El Loco Fresh, an escape room, glow-in-the-dark laser tag, the Ultimate Panoramic Suite, and revamped Adventure Ocean spaces.
Following the renovation, Allure of the Seas will remain in Europe for the summer 2025 season, a first since 2015. She'll sail from Barcelona and Rome (Civitavecchia) on 7-night cruises to Spain, France, and Italy.
