Twenty-year-old Marlborough woman Lucy McAdam works on a cruise ship she calls "bigger than Blenheim".
Lucy's workplace is the largest cruise liner in the world, with 16 decks and guests that include Ellen DeGeneres.
Lucy has just returned to Blenheim for a break from working on the five-star Oasis of the Seas, which is 360 metres long and 72m tall above the water.
"It's actually huge, it's bigger than Blenheim. It has over 2000 crew and about 7000 passengers. There's everything on it from rock climbing walls to the spa," Lucy said.
The ship has a casino, a 1380-seat theatre, a nightclub and 16 decks.
Lucy, a spa therapist who trained at NMIT, said the lifestyle for staff on the ship could get quite hectic.
"It's a pretty crazy lifestyle. You work really long hours, but when you get time off you get to explore the islands. You make so many friends from around the world."
She said while the guest areas were top class, the staff quarters were pretty good too.
"The first three floors are just for crew, with bars and coffee shops.
"It's like a little town at the bottom of the ship where none of the guests can go."
The ship leaves from Fort Lauderdale in Florida and travels through the Bahamas and around the Virgin Islands.
Lucy said its size restricted the number of ports it could travel to.
While working on the cruise liner, Lucy has met numerous celebrities, including comedian Ellen DeGeneres and model Daisy Fuentes.
Lucy applied for the job in September 2008 and flew to London for a month for training.
Another cruise liner, the Allure of the Seas, is being built in Finland and in October, Lucy will be flown to help set it up before it sails for America.
By SIMON WONG - The Marlborough Express
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