famous cruise ship performers

5 famous entertainers who started their lives on cruise liners

BY READERS DIGEST

1st Jan 2015 Travel

Chris Maloney

Claire sweeney, paul zerdin, jane mcdonald.

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Celebrities Who Work Cruises

Celebrity cruises are a trend that have successfully skyrocketed interest in the at-sea vacation industry. As many cruise companies have begun to rack in some big name performers, some bands and celebrities have even started to brand their own oceanic adventures. The extravagancy and the lengths gone to revamp cruise experiences have remodeled the entire way seaside vacations are perceived. These days, the best celebrity cruises feature star-studded highlights and memorable performances from Hollywood's biggest comedians, musicians, and actors. No longer is it enough to just enjoy the ocean breeze, some suntan lotion, and maybe a fine meal or two. In an effort to one-up each other, these major cruise lines are pulling out all the fireworks. 

• Hollywood Branded

George Lopez, Carnival Cruise Line

• Vanessa Frehley
• CC-BY-NC 2.0

Kiss, Kiss Kruise

Kid Rock, Kid Rock's Chillin' the Most Cruise

• CC-BY-ND 2.0

Rob Gronkowski, Gronk's Party Ship

• Wizard World
• via wizardworld.com

Norman Reedus, Wizard World Cruise

• Eve Rinaldi
• CC BY-SA 2.0

Pitbull, Pitbull After Dark Party

• CC BY-ND 2.0

Train, Sail Across the Sun

Pat Benatar & Neil Giraldo, Rock Legends Cruise

• Eva Rinaldi

Kenny Rogers, The Country Music Cruise

Smokey Robinson, Soul Train Cruise

• Canadian Film Centre

Chris Tucker, Carnival Cruise Line

• Justin Hoch

Jim Gaffigan, Carnival Cruise Line

• Steven Worster

Sam Hunt, Carnival Cruise Line

• Carnival.com

Journey, Carnival Cruise Line

• MargaretNapier

Gladys Knight, Carnival Cruise Line

• Norwegian Cruise Lines

Legends in Concert, Norwegian Cruise Line

• Michael Kensinger

Def Leppard, Hysteria on the High Sea

• Pruitt Allen
• CC-BY-NC-ND 2.0

James Taylor, Queen Mary 2

• Entertainment
• Celebrities
• Celebrity Facts
• Watchworthy
• Pop Culture

Inside the Delightfully Quirky, Absolutely Fabulous, and Utterly Exhausting World of Cruise Performers

Welcome to the new vaudeville circuit, where live entertainment hasn't died—it's just gone to sea.

On the final night of a Caribbean cruise in March, the Regal Princess is charging home from Cozumel to Fort Lauderdale and the ship’s three-story atrium is thrumming with energy. The night before, a voting ballot was left on each passenger’s pillow, next to a red-foiled chocolate. Now it feels like all 4,109 of us—almost twice the number on the Titanic —are here, spilling over spiral staircases and brass railings. Babies in strollers loll next to seniors in wheelchairs. A netted balloon drop bulges expectantly overhead. A full band and eighteen dancers from the ship’s Broadway-style show vogue and vamp, juicing up the crowd.

The tuxedoed cruise director struts in like a boxing emcee. “You’ve been seeing them allllll week,” he booms, clutching an envelope. “Now let’s welcome back our four nomin eeees !”

The passengers cheer as four of the world’s best cruise entertainers walk into the glare of a spotlight: British singer-comedian Jo Little sparkles like a disco ball in a glitzy red dress. Dapper quartet The Modern Gentlemen, who spent the last fourteen years crooning behind Frankie Valli, wink at the crowd, making the golden girls scream. Acrobatic piano man Tom Franek, wearing a near-bioluminescent pink suit, pulls grins so rubbery he seems Pixar-animated. Finally, the steely illusionist Michael Barron glides in serenely, as if he already knows whose name is inside the cruise director’s envelope.

Then there’s a hush. The splendidly named cruise director, Dan Falconer, milks the moment. Turning and turning to face the passengers, Falconer fakes once, twice, then booms, “The winner of the 2018 Entertainer of the Year is…”

I cannot hear Falconer. Things fall apart. The balloon net cannot hold. A bright, bouncing tide of latex is loosed upon the crowd. The ceremony is drowned in cheers. A revelation is at hand, as two glammed-up showgirls produce an oversized foam-board check, made out for a grand-prize total of five…thousand…dollars.

Okay, so this isn’t the Oscars—but it’s as close as you get in international waters. And this competition matters to these performers, several of whom have complained to me privately of stress headaches and sleepless nights. They’ve hustled for years just to get here, playing kids’ birthday parties, amusement parks, piano lounges, bars, ice-skating rinks, college cafeterias, casinos, Chippendales lineups, Spanish bullfighting rings, and retirement villages. But when the balloons clear, only one act will leave as Entertainer of the Year, the cruise entertainment industry’s highest—and only—honor.

Acrobat, aerial.

Acrobat, BMX/unicycle.

Acrobat, duo.

Acrobat, family act…”

On the first day of the weeklong Entertainer of the Year cruise, I meet its creator, Princess Cruises guest entertainment manager Phil Kaler, in his tiny, windowless cabin. A fit, crew-cut sixty-three-year-old who looks forty-five, Kaler reads from his laptop’s alphabetically sorted database: “Comedy, guitarist. Comedy, hypnotist. Comedy, vocal entertainer...”

As he moves from categories to specific names, I realize I’ve never heard of any of them, despite my twenty years of working as an entertainment journalist and critic. To use a nautical cliché, the stars most of us can name are just the tip of the entertainment-economy iceberg. Writers like me tend to cover the top 1 percent of performers, those who emerge from a sea of talent to peak on magazine covers or talk-show couches or awards stages—and usually not for long.

I’m on my first-ever cruise because I wanted to see how the entertainment world’s 99 percent, as Bernie Sanders might say, work for a living. The comedians who don’t film HBO specials; the magicians who aren’t David Blaine; the variety acts who don’t just disappear after their fifteen seconds on America’s Got Talent . These entertainers are struggling to compete with everything from YouTube phenoms to Netflix and Spotify. In Vegas and Times Square, small clubs and homegrown acts are getting squeezed out by arenas, superstars, and global brands, like mom-and-pop shops bulldozed by Walmarts.

But maybe smaller acts aren’t dying. Maybe they’ve just gone on vacation, since cruises need entertainers now more than ever. The $38 billion cruise industry has boomed with Boomers, growing from 17.8 million passengers in 2010 to 25.8 million passengers in 2017. The Regal Princess is one of more than four hundred fifty active cruise ships, and each is a floating entertainment district. It typically employs a six-piece party band; a seven-piece house band; a jazz quintet; a DJ; a piano-bar lounge singer; and seventeen singer-dancers who rotate through stage shows, including two created exclusively for Princess by Wicked ’s Stephen Schwartz. (Other lines feature partnerships with outfits like Cirque du Soleil, Second City, and Blue Note Records.) Last year, Kaler and his team booked four hundred sixty-eight different headliners, from “a cappella” to “xylophonist.”

“How can you please all 4,100 passengers?” Kaler asks, as he unfurls massive spreadsheets that map out his bookings across all eighteen ships. “You can’t. You give them variety.”

After forty years in show business, Kaler understands why “cruise entertainer” is Simon Cowell’s go-to Idol insult. He’s seen offensive comedians and karaoke-quality singers. He’s heard “Sweet Caroline” sing-alongs more times than any human should have to endure. He’s seen cruise life turn entertainers into drunks and gamblers.

But Kaler has seen terrific shows, too. So, seven years ago, he created the Entertainer of the Year competition to reward the ones who bring, he says, “a real legitimacy to cruise entertainment.” Since passengers rate everything at the end of their cruises, acts who receive five-out-of-tens never get asked back. But the absolute highest-rated acts—nines and tens—get considered for Entertainer of the Year. The nomination is itself a reward: Nominees get raises, more gigs, and this celebratory cruise week with deeply discounted rates for friends and family. But only the winner gets the five-thousand-dollar check and the real prestige that can lead to more work.

For headliners, Kaler usually pays acts twenty-five hundred to three thousand dollars per person—up to four thousand dollars for top acts—plus room and board, for a few shows performed during a weeklong cruise. “We have acts who make six figures and work all year round,” he says. At best, it can feel like theater camp, with countless perks: Entertainers can hit the pool, gym, all-you-can-eat buffets, and dirt-cheap crew bars; they can explore the globe and the active hookup scene between entertainers and stewards. At worst, it’s a monotonous tour of duty.

“You’re away from your family, sometimes traveling thirty hours to get to a gig,” Kaler says. “It’s hell, man. So you’ve got to love what you do.”

Kaler grew up in conservative 1950s Indiana as a “closeted dancer,” he says, dreaming of Broadway. He never made it to the Great White Way, but for twenty-five years he toured the world with his comedy-skit trio, Shenanigans, from the borscht belt clubs and the Dirty Dancing resorts to European cruises. At sea, he found both a career and a kind of floating family. He tells me about a night in 1984, when he was twenty-eight. “Our manager, Frosty, was the only one who knew I was gay,” Kaler says. Frosty introduced Kaler to another male dancer he knew Kaler was crushing on, toasting the duo to “just be happy," mere hours before dying of a heart attack on the ship’s dance floor.

Now Kaler sees himself as a similar kind of father figure to the acts he calls “my kids,” while they work the modern equivalent of the circuit he used to hustle: cruises, hotels, colleges, retirement homes, casinos, and local theaters.

“That’s why Entertainer of the Year is hard,” he sighs, rubbing his buzzcut. “I don’t want anyone to lose.”

Later that day, I get lost a few times in the ship’s seventeen-deck stairways, then arrive at the surprisingly deluxe Princess Theater just in time to see nominee Jo Little flip-flop her way into the sound booth and go full diva.

“Where’s me pyro?” the four-foot-ten comedian mock-complains in her heavy Yorkshire accent. “Celine Dion won’t get onstage without pyro and I won’t either! Come on! I’m an Entertainer of the Year nominee !”

A stage manager informs Little that there will be no pyrotechnic effects onboard. It’s a fire hazard.

“Well, can I at least have ice?” Little says.

“Ice?” the stage manager says. “Sure, we can get you a bucket of ice, Jo. I’ll call room service…”

Pyro is low on Little’s list of concerns anyway: On the eve of the biggest performance of her life, she says, “The airline lost all me luggage.” Luckily, as her own director, manager, and stylist, she always keeps two self-bedazzled stage costumes in her carry-on. Now she’s ready to rehearse with the house band in front of a floor-to-ceiling LED backdrop and 985 plush seats.

“What I love is, you get on a cruise and you know you’re going to have a captive audience,” Little says. “A thousand people in a theater! You try doing that in a comedy club. It’s a tough business. And try selling out an arena! You’ve got to be Bette Midler.”

Little never expected to make it big like Midler. She says getting paid to sing “The Rose” more than the Divine Miss M herself—working nearly three hundred days a year, the industry’s legal max—is “beyond my wildest dreams.”

Kaler called her with the good news of her nomination as she was boarding a ship in Sydney. “I just dropped everything—my rucksack, my jacket—and danced on my suitcase!” Little says. “I called my family. Everyone was cheering. To be recognized for your passion? It was one of the big moments of my life.”

Little was born special, as “one of the first test-tube babies,” she says, and “probably shook up too many times.” As a child, she became a tae kwon do champion, before severe scoliosis led to repeated back surgeries, metal bolt implants, and the inability to resist making jokes like “I’ve got a screw loose.” Comedy became her way of making sure “people were laughing at what I was saying, not what I looked like. They used to have people like me in the circus.”

Little essentially ran off to the circus on her own terms. Belting ballads and slinging zingers like her hero, Joan Rivers, she turned her short height into a marketing pitch: “Jo Little: small in stature, big in personality, and huge in talent!” After hustling at kids' parties, amusement parks, and pubs, she tired of playing to the “rough-and-ready lads” in drunken workingmen’s clubs. So when a talent agent offered her steady work at sea, she set sail.

Monday night, Little takes the Princess Theater stage wearing a quantity of crystals typically reserved for New Year’s Eve ball drops. Accustomed to working European and Australian cruises, and anxious to charm these North Americans, she launches into the WWII standard “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy,” hamming it up with the house-band trumpet player. She’s met with polite applause: Even for this older crowd, the tune is ancient. So she switches to comedy, working hard and fast to win fans with a rim-shot drumroll of jokes about the Home Shopping Network, menopause, plastic surgery, dieting, the cruise buffet, the cruise toilets, her husband and child (she has neither), and her height. Little—who later tells me she wants to “give people the H a ha and the Oh, wow! ”—belts out big-voiced, lovely ballads while unloading bags of gags, from jokey PowerPoint slides and her LED-lit dress to her bedazzled Spanx.

The show is a little corny and familiar; compared to stand-up by anyone but, say, Jay Leno, her set is shockingly tame. But these families and retirees didn’t pay to be challenged or provoked—much less insulted or offended. Dirty jokes and politics are for “land gigs.” (Someone like Amy Schumer would be thrown overboard.) Here, acts are also amenities, performing at the intersection of entertainment and hospitality, for crowds ranging in age from nine months to ninety-nine. They aren’t paid to push the line; they’re paid to serve. A cruise entertainer’s job is to help the passengers just be happy .

“And what’s the point of doing politics here?” says Little, who doesn’t like “crude and rude” comedy anyway. “Why do you want to talk about that on vacation?”

Over the week, some passengers will complain that even Little’s menopause jokes were too raunchy, but most just praise how she “gave it her all”—like they’re tipping for extra effort. She’ll take that, she says. “I always give it 200 percent, even when I’m seasick and can’t stand up,” Little says. In return, she says, tearing up, she gets “everything I wanted: just to entertain.”

On the second day, passengers spend their sunlit hours snorkeling and slurping rum punch in Jamaica, but by 8 p.m., the crowd in the Princess Theater is dressed in suits, tuxedos, and fancy dresses. It’s one of the week’s two Formal Nights, a perfect match for The Modern Gentlemen, who always perform in black tie.

At sea, every band is a cover band. There are no original songs. Since the average age of passengers on this Princess cruise is sixty-three, the tunes of the '60s and '70s provide the backbeat. So the handsome, stubbled Modern Gentlemen—brothers Brian and Brandon Brigham, Todd Fournier, and the aptly named Landon Beard—get right to it, blasting through expert takes on The Four Tops’ “Reach Out (I’ll Be There)” and The Spinners’ “Working My Way Back to You,” while synchronizing boy-band hands and shoobie-doo side steps. The crowd goes wild. (“If you’ve got tennis balls on your walker,” Beard will tell me later, “we are your guys.”)

On land, touring is part of a band’s ongoing relationship with fans. But here each gig is a first date. The audience bought tickets to see the Caribbean, not The Modern Gentlemen. If the guys want to win the competition, they’ll have to work fast to ingratiate themselves.

“Hey, I heard there’s a wedding onboard today?” one of the four Gentlemen calls out. “Is that Ellie and John over there? We’re your wedding band!”

The actually blushing bride and her wedding party take a bow. Then the Gentlemen introduce themselves with comic bits before launching into an a cappella number—a tribute to how they met in 2001, while singing at Disney’s California Adventure Park. Back then, they were all working odd jobs, from bagging groceries to gigging in plays, soap operas, and Beetlejuice's Graveyard Revue at Universal Studios. That all changed when Frankie Valli hired them in 2003 to sing with him.

“Frankie was like a dad to us,” Brian says. The doo-wop star was on the downslope of fame when they met; then Jersey Boys exploded, and they rode his comeback wave from the ice-skating rinks of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons: Tribute on Ice up to the stage of London’s Royal Albert Hall. Now, the guys tell the crowd, they’re one of the only acts that can say they’ve shared bills with the legends they cover: the Beach Boys, Tony Bennett, and the Platters.

The Gentlemen expertly segue from doo-wop to Motown and back, as couples squeeze hands and sing along. They cap their tight set with The Four Seasons’ most literally nostalgic song: “December, 1963 (Oh, What a Night).”

Amid a standing ovation and much elderly smooching, Landon gets stuck behind an older passenger’s motorized scooter on his way out. The emcee signs off: “Don’t forget it’s seniors night at the casino! Three prunes in a row, then it’s straight to the craps table!”

Later, I ask the guys how they feel about playing golden oldies for an older crowd. They say they love the music, the audience response, the lifestyle. “Most bands go on tour, but not to, like, beautiful beaches,” says Landon, shrugging. “We’ve been really fortunate not to have to live out of a van.”

But their aging demographic is part of why they split with Frankie Valli, just a few weeks before the trip. “Frankie’s eighty-three,” Beard says. “We had to take the leap.” They’re hoping an Entertainer of the Year win might kick-start their next phase. “We love doo-wop, but everything has a shelf life,” Brandon says. “Now we do '60s and '70s. Do we start doing '70s and '80s? I don’t know.”

In the lobby after the show, the guys gamely sign CDs of their Sinatra cover album, speak up loudly for hard-of-hearing guests, and ham it up for duck-face selfies with teenage grandchildren. A half-dozen passengers tell me they can’t believe they got to meet the guys—“They’re gentlemen, just like Frankie!” one says—while some get misty, telling me how the music reminded them of their first dates, first concerts, and first marriages.

“Part of the job happens after that first show, when everyone knows you,” Brian says, a couple of days later, after spending a day swimming with stingrays in the Cayman Islands with passengers. “You have to enjoy being on the ship with everyone. Because you can’t go anywhere else.”

As the ship sails away from Jamaica toward Grand Cayman on Wednesday afternoon, I meet Tom Franek, a lanky Minnesotan with hair gelled so high it looks like he’s been electrocuted in the top deck’s Jacuzzi. We grab a table at Crooners piano lounge on Deck 7, a deck above the casino bar, two decks above Vines wine bar, and nine decks below Mermaids Tail margarita bar, which is two decks above the wedding chapel that hosts meetings for Alcoholics Anonymous.

I order an old-fashioned, to get the most out of my unlimited top-shelf drinks package. Franek, whose tight T-shirt reveals a lean, muscular physique molded in the ship’s gym, sticks with water. “I quit drinking because I wanted to be sharp for this competition,” he says, in his upbeat, Fargo -thick accent.

Franek graduated from his hometown college, St. Olaf, with a music degree that qualified him to play “Hey Ya!” six times a day in a local theme park revue called Hit Mix 2006 . Then a jazz professor introduced him to cruises, and over the last twelve years, Franek has worked his way up the aquatic-piano-player food chain. His first gig was playing piano in the house band on this very ship’s inaugural voyage. (He saw six cast members from the original Love Boat christen it with Champagne.) He earned about twenty-five hundred dollars a month—less than his weekly rate now—playing shows all day, then sleeping in a shared, windowless room.

Next, he hustled his way into a piano-man gig at the Princess Lodge resort in Denali, Alaska. “I had a month to learn maybe one hundred twenty songs and started with ‘Piano Man,’” he says of the Billy Joel classic that, depending on whom you ask, is either a timeless ode to lounges like the one we’re sitting in or a syrupy abomination. (Franek loves it.)

He never had a burning desire to write his own music, and loved playing in that Alaskan piano bar, where vacationers requested “Sweet Caroline” and “My Way” night after night. “I became the jukebox,” he says. “They tell you what they want. Over time, you become a mirror of their desires.”

But an entertainer is not just a jukebox, and after a manager reprimanded him—“We’re paying you to entertain, not just play some songs”—Franek upped his game, memorizing jokes from Prairie Home Companion that suited his midwestern demeanor. He studied the showmanship of Jerry Lee Lewis and Liberace, whom he describes reverentially, and started wearing his now-signature wild-and-crazy-guy suits.

After nine years of playing “Piano Man” virtually every night, “I turned thirty,” he says, “and thought, Holy crap, I’ve gotta do something with myself.” Becoming a headlining act was the next step. So Franek took everything he’d learned and cooked up a forty-five-minute show of piano medleys, jokes, gags, acrobatic stunts, and everyone’s favorite songs. He taped his performances with two cameras: one focused on him, the other on the guests. “I would watch them watch my show,” he says, and then cut what they didn’t like.

On Wednesday night, Franek charges into the Princess Theater through the back entrance, wearing blue snakeskin shoes and a bright pink suit, singing a loud version of the shouty polka “Roll Out the Barrel.” I’m taken aback to find that the audience—heavily midwestern and mostly white—eats it up. But I guess I shouldn’t have been surprised; “Roll Out the Barrel” was a standard of Franek’s hero, the Wisconsin-born Liberace.

Then he unleashes the showstopper. “I’ve been working on a new piano stunt,” he says. “If it doesn’t work out, don’t post it on the Internet or nothin’.” Franek flips into a headstand—feet on the piano top, head by the pedals—and keeps playing. The crowd hoots like he’s turned water into piña colada. Dripping sweat, he signs off with an ancient heartland capper: “If I don’t see you in the future, I’ll see you in the pasture.”

After the show, a middle-aged Spanish couple tells me that they’ve been following Franek since his piano-lounge days in Alaska, and booked this cruise just to see him. A woman with a deaf sister cries, saying she found Franek’s journey inspiring.

William Smiddy, a gruff passenger who recently suffered a stroke, says he sees variety acts all the time at his Florida retirement community. “I only like the top entertainment,” he says, sipping a vodka. “My wife, she’s bullshit easy to please…”

“It’s true,” agrees his wife, Helene Zegarelli. “I always love everything!”

“But this guy,” says Smiddy, “is really, really good ."

On Thursday, the illusionist Michael Barron and I walk the seemingly endless, serpentine buffet lines, while he tells me that he was so obsessed with Superman during his South Florida childhood that “I wore Superman costumes everywhere,” he says. “I had multiples, in case one was dirty.”

At seven, Barron got to see a real man fly: His father took him to see David Copperfield perform his famous flying illusion, and Barron immediately knew what he wanted to do with his life. At age eleven, he posted his first ad in the phone book: “Magic by Mike.” By fourteen, Florida state magic-competition judges moved him to the adult category—“Feathers were ruffled,” he says, grinning—where he placed second.

Like his Entertainer of the Year nominee counterparts, Barron started small, with "birthday parties, nursing homes, Boy Scout meetings, and banquets...whatever you can get," he says. The greatest trick of all is to avoid ending up "at Pizza Hut, wearing a fanny pack full of balloons and a button that says, 'Tipping is not a city in China.'"

After hustling his way into corporate events and college gigs, he had his big break: creating illusions for Mickey’s Magic Show , an arena spectacle he performed thousands of times in fourteen languages . When Barron toured colleges, he was going for a “rock-and-roll thing,” but now he aims for something “more timeless” that can appeal to anyone, “like Justin Timberlake, if he did a magic show: likable and classy.” He just wrapped a six-month residency at a mega-casino in Macau, where he started selling his unique tricks to other magicians via smartphone apps.

At the Princess Theater, he’s a smooth performer in a bespoke suit. He puts his own spin on a disappearing-ring trick by staging it with Cajun voodoo dolls. He turns a classic scarf act upside down, by standing on a panel of micro air jets of his invention, which shoot the scarves upward, like flickering flames.

By the time he’s done, he’s chopped two dancers in half, staged a beautiful illusion with flying origami, and performed “an ancient illusion involving water and sand. I call it water…and sand.” The elegant show is flawless and wins warm—though not ecstatic—applause. “He was good, but I’ve seen a lot of those tricks before,” a fan tells me.

Later, at the terrace bar on the ship’s stern, he laughs. “Every time I pull out a deck of cards, before I even do anything, someone says, ‘I’ve seen that before,’” he says. “And I’m like, ‘No. You haven’t.’”

Very few magicians become household names, and Barron, as good as he is, has accepted that he will likely never become as huge as Copperfield. “To not be happy with this is missing the point, because the math of becoming that kind of star is just astronomically against you,” he says.

For that matter, Barron tells me something none of the other contestants do: He doesn’t really care about winning Entertainer of the Year. “I work, like, forty-five days a year doing what I love and I make six figures,” he says. “That’s the goal—not this prize. A five-thousand-dollar check? That’s one contract. I’m not going to go around the ship, peddling for votes.”

It’s the final night before voting, and Michael Barron is not peddling for votes, but Jo Little has spent the whole day hustling her heart out. I meet her at Crooners Lounge, where she’s sitting with an old friend and feeling melancholic.

“You can only get nominated once your whole career,” she says, glumly. “So, this is it.” She’s been having trouble sleeping and eating. “I’ve never been so nervous. My mouth is dry. Do you have any spit I can borrow?”

Across the room, Liam Stewart, tonight’s piano man, calls out, “Who are you all voting for tomorrow?”

Little gets a big cheer—but so do the other nominees. Hoping to rally more votes, she stands next to the piano and sings Carole King’s neediest song: “Will You Love Me Tomorrow?”

Her strong voice draws a crowd, and, soon the lounge is nearly full. But, right before she finishes, Tom Franek and his family walk in, unwittingly stepping on her moment. “ Now we’ve got some competition!” Stewart calls out. “Tom, get up here!”

With very little protest, Franek returns to his old piano. “So, uh, you guys like ‘Piano Man’?” He pivots his hips to face the clientele instead of the piano, and works in the names of a few guests and the bartender (“Now Arturo at the bar is a friend of mine…”). Soon the whole lounge is happily singing along. When Franek's done, Stewart reclaims his piano with a huff and rolls his eyes: “ Piano Man ,” he scoffs. “Well, obviously… ”

A while later, a mother pushes her teenaged son to the piano. He plays a classical piece beautifully, head over keys, lost in reverie. At first, everyone marvels at his talent and technique—but the longer he plays, the more guests drift away and call it a night. By the time the teen looks up, there’s hardly anyone left.

The kid is a wonderful pianist. But he’s a pathetic cruise entertainer.

Before he reveals the winner, Phil Kaler tells me that the voting was so close, they had to have a recount. But when the Entertainer of the Year is announced and a thousand bright, bouncing balloons fall down upon us, I see the winner I’d expected, grinning next to that oversized check.

Jo Little wanted it the most. The Modern Gentlemen were the best musicians. Michael Barron was the most artful and sophisticated performer. But Tom Franek was quite literally made for this. From house bands to piano bars to the main stage, this landlocked Minnesotan piano man evolved, like some Darwinian vaudevillian, to conquer the sea.

As kids pop balloons and cameras flash, Franek holds the trophy in one hand and his mother in the other, tears welling up in his eyes. His father, a mustachioed volunteer firefighter prone to phrases like “cute as a bug’s ear,” boasts proudly, “He worked so hard for this.”

The other nominees all hug Franek, as passengers ask for autographs and selfies—so many, that, after an hour, we have to escape back to my cabin for a quiet post-championship interview. “They have balloon drops on every cruise,” he says, savoring the moment, “but this one was for me.”

He didn’t expect to cry, but he did, he says, because he suspects his parents “had their doubts” about the fact that he wouldn’t give up on his dream. To most people, “it’s either Beyoncé or nothing,” he says, “and now I’m definitely making a good living. It took me a long time to get to say that.”

Franek turns surprisingly philosophical about his win. "If this had been called Talent of the Year—if it was about sheer talent, and not about entertaining and likability—it would be different," he says. Cruise entertainment, he says, "boils down to an ability to connect"—whether that's music, comedy, or magic. "Pianos have been around for centuries; it's really difficult to take something that ancient and make it feel fresh and new. I tried to make piano as entertaining as it can be. That's our responsibility—to make them laugh, to make them feel something."

Then he lets himself get a little drunk on dreams. Lately, his YouTube covers of the Internet’s most popular bands—Ed Sheeran, Adele, Bieber—have racked up more than a million views. If he could do anything, he says, maybe he’d like to be a musician on a late-night show. Or a star pianist “like an Elton John or Billy Joel or Yanni or even the Piano Guys.”

But a cruise isn’t a bad place for a piano man. Franek gets paid to do what he loves; plus, there’s an unlimited buffet, a gym, a free room in paradise with no roommates, everything but—“Oh, nice!” Franek says, surprised by my cabin’s moonlit view. “You’ve got a window!”

Photography by Logan Hill • Edited by Whitney Joiner • Design by Mike Kim • Copyedited by Sarah Probst • Video courtesy of Princess Cruises

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Matador Original Series

What it’s like to be a resident magician on the us’ first adult-only cruise ship.

I f you’ve seen Below Deck, you’ve probably wondered what it’s like working on a cruise ship. Maybe you’ve even considered applying for a position yourself, drawn by the tempting prospect of traveling the world for free with a cast of crazy characters.

Living on a cruise ship has always had a certain allure. The excitement of waking up in a new place every day, cohabiting with like-minded free spirits, the revolving door of new passengers, the possibility for romance — it’s no surprise the lifestyle is so appealing, and that so many take advantage of it.

For a truly unfiltered take on what it’s really like to work on a cruise ship, we spoke to a “Happenings Cast” member, Andy, on Virgin Voyages — the first adult-only cruise line in the US .

Photo: Virgin Voyages

The Happenings Cast is composed of 14 cast members, each with a different talent for entertaining passengers. Andy is the resident “Charmer” on Virgin’s Scarlet Lady ship. His job is to charm passengers with impromptu magic performances throughout the ship and provide guests with a memorable onboard experience. He’s spilling the tea on everything from his living situation, to how the crew spend their free time, and how to work on a cruise ship in the first place.

Matador: What’s the process like of getting hired to work on a cruise ship (particularly in entertainment?) Is it at all similar to other jobs?

Andy: I worked as a bartender for 13 years, so getting hired as an entertainer was a brand new experience for me. A friend of mine who’s also a magician had received the casting notice from his agent and passed the opportunity along to me. I went for the audition and didn’t really understand the magnitude of what I was getting into, but knew I was looking for a new direction in my life. To be honest, I would have been a lot more nervous if I knew how big the role was or that the Virgin Voyages entertainment team was conducting a worldwide search. I got the gig about a month after the audition and the crew made me feel welcomed from the get-go.

For my first event, I went to a big launch party in Sydney and met Sir Richard Branson. It was a surreal moment and made me feel like, “Wow, this is all happening.” After that event, I packed up my life in Australia and moved back to the UK for a month then joined the crew in New York. We rehearsed for three weeks before getting on board Scarlet Lady and my adventure started from that point.

The hiring process for the Happenings Cast is quite different from other crew because we go through an audition process whereas our other crew work directly with HR. I remember feeling very looked after by Virgin Voyages throughout the hiring process.

What are cruise ship crew quarters like?

Yes, I have my own room with a double bed and a single bathroom. Virgin Voyages has a higher percentage of single-occupancy cabins than most cruise lines. I love that for our crew and it promotes good mental health. We also get to personalize the cabin a bit. Mine, for example, has cards signed by passengers.

Do you eat the same food passengers eat, what is crew food on cruise ships like?

We have the privilege of dining in The Galley restaurant alongside passengers or we can go to Kitchen Table, which is our crew dining area. We love socializing with passengers so the Happenings Cast, specifically, can also make reservations at any of our six restaurants or join passengers if they invite us to dine with them. We always want to put our passengers first, so availability for our team is based on demand.

Are you able to get off the ship and explore ports?

Yes, we can get off the ship and explore, especially now that the world is opening back up. We still take precautions and follow all of the safety policies such as wearing masks.

Getting shore leave is one of the major advantages of working on the ship. Depending on our show schedule, the Happenings Cast often has some free time during the day to explore the destinations we visit. My favorite port is Cozumel, Mexico. It’s a brilliant place with a good mix of authentic Mexico and sights and attractions. There’s also a famous bar called No Name Bar geared towards crew members and it’s like a little community for fellow ship crew.

How much do crew members make on cruise ships? Is the money good, or is the perk of working on a cruise ship basically sailing around the world for free?

I’d say that the phrase ‘traveling the world for free’ can be replaced with ‘compromising what can be considered a normal life for unknown adventure and spontaneity.’ It’s very different from traveling the world for free because it comes with curfews and having to remain on a schedule. It might seem like a holiday, but crew life isn’t normal; it is however surreal and a lot of fun.

I got a magic kit for Christmas at eight years old, and I still get to do what makes me happy every day. If I were getting paid a comparable amount of money on land, it wouldn’t be the same because I love being on board. Working for Virgin Voyages has expanded my repertoire as I’ve had the chance to be a part of our signature Scarlet Night and shows like Never Sleep Alone . Seeing the world is a huge perk as well. There’s a certain way of life that you don’t get on land.

Living on a cruise ship year-round, do you ever get sick of being at sea, away from family, or disconnected from WiFi?

Crew are offered WiFi at no cost, just like our passengers. Part of the job is sharing our experience on social media so having strong WiFi is so important. Virgin is so proud of its crew and they encourage us to share that with the world.

No, I never get sick of being at sea — it’s the most magical thing. I can’t imagine doing this anywhere else.

Do staff get discounts for onboard shopping?

Yes, one of the perks for our entire crew is discounts on shopping onboard, at our Squid Ink tattoo shop, at Redemption Spa and for shore excursions. I actually just got a new tattoo a couple of weeks ago on board Valiant Lady.

What do you do in your free time?

The Happenings Cast has access to the passenger gym and crew gym, so I love getting in a HIIT workout or jogging on The Runway — our running track that encircles the ship. I also love being out in the open air at The Perch at the back of the ship on deck 17. It’s a great spot to practice juggling or work on new magic content.

Can you socialize with passengers in your off-hours?

Rather than having a traditional cruise director, Virgin wanted to switch things up, which is where the Happenings Cast comes into play. We’re meant to bring a vibe and energy to different areas around the ship and are definitely encouraged to interact with our passengers to help make sure they have an incredible voyage.

While working, do you always have to be “on” in front of passengers or are you allowed to be yourself and socialize?

The reason why we got the job in the first place is because we are ourselves. I think the hiring team could have sussed out if we weren’t being genuine or authentic. All of that to say, there is no “on.” Even if I’m not clocked in, I still enjoy interacting with our guests — you have to be like that to enjoy this job.

Are relationships (both serious and casual) common among crew members?

Over the past two years, I’ve met some of the best, most interesting people; people I’ll probably be friends with for a lifetime. It’s kind of amazing to surround yourself with other entertainers as it makes me want to push my limits and become a better performer myself.

What’s the craziest thing you’ve seen while working on a cruise ship?

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Cruise Ship Performer

Information and Resources For Entertainers

The Essential Guide For Cruise Ship Performers

THINGS YOU MUST KNOW AND DO BEFORE WORKING ON A CRUISE SHIP (Print this out and check this list off as you go through it each time). Take this with you on your first few cruises. Read, and re-read it. It will save you a lot of time, money , and trouble.  

BEFORE YOU LEAVE…

KNOW WHERE YOU'RE GOING -Make sure you know the name of the ship you are going to. Know the name and address of the hotel you’re staying at the night before joining the ship. You will usually have to fly in a day before you join the ship (meaning get on-board the ship). Most of the time you'll be required to  stay in a hotel for one night the night before you join the ship in the city where you are joining.  Keep at least 24 hrs (one additional day) before the day you join a ship free for travel time. For example if your booking is from Jan 21-25 keep Jan 20 open as well and consider that day also booked.   If you’re flying to another continent then keep 2 full days available for travel time before joining the ship. The hotel stay for one night will be paid for and booked the by the cruise line whenever a hotel is required.

Make sure you know the port address of where the ship will be the day you're boarding. You can usually Google the name of the ship, city, date, and “port address” to find the port address. Blackburn International also has a list we will send you with the address of each of the various ports in their native language/writing so that you can show a taxi driver where to go. If you need this information email -  [email protected] Flights are always fully paid for, but each cruise line has separate policies regarding taxi/ground transportation from the airport of the city you’re flying into to the hotel or ship where you’re staying. Even within these cruise lines the policy on whether the cruise line provides travel or not varies from port to port. When in doubt it’s best to just pay for your own travel if no one shows up to transport you. Then if transportation was supposed to have been provided by the cruise line under THEIR regulations they will reimburse you the cost of your transportation as long as you save a hard copy of your original receipt and mail it in (in some cases they can be emailed in, but most cruise lines require you mail in a copy by post) MONEY - Make sure you bring enough cash with you on the trip to cover any unexpected costs that might come up in a place where credit cards are not accepted, or for emergencies. I suggest bringing the equivalent of at least $200 USD. Bring at least one debit card and one credit card as well. PREPARE YOUR MATERIALS - Print out your music charts (if you use them) and make sure they are properly taped. Print out 9 copies of your musical director cue sheet if you use the band. Print out your lighting, sound, and backstage cue sheets instructing these positions in any special lighting or sound needs you have, and anything you need backstage. Also, have a few lines printed for the cruise director that he/she can read as your introduction on stage. Your introduction shouldn’t be more than 4 lines. Many times cruise directors won’t say what you tell them, but it’s good for them to have a guideline. HAVE BACKUPS - Carry important files such as your music if you use “tracks” or your arrangements if you use “charts”, cue sheets …etc. on a USB with you at all times so that if your luggage is lost by the airline in-transit you will still have what you need to perform your show. Also, make sure you have all important files uploaded to some place like Dropbox so you can access them remotely when needed.

VISAS -Make sure you have all the visas you need for the countries you will be visiting. This is NOT the cruise line or your agent’s job to find out. Google “Do ______ (fill in the blank) citizens need a visa to enter ________ (name of the country you will be flying into, out of, and visiting during your trip). Visit Project Visa for more information. You can find the itinerary for each ship at CruiseCal.com ...login using the username: blackburn & password: blackburn1 ...then search under Calendars > Ships > name of the ship you’re going to > date you’re joining. When you arrive at the country you are embarking the ship in or leaving your own country DO NOT tell them you are going to that country for work . They will think that you intend to work in that country and immigration will ask you for a work visa which you don’t have. You are NOT intending to work in any of the countries you are visiting. You are only traveling as a guest (performer) on a cruise ship and in-transit through that country you’re going to. Just tell immigration you are going on a cruise ship as a passenger. That is the truth. You are not joining as a crew member (except in Australia/New Zealand where all entertainers must be on the crew list). You are joining as a passenger. If you say you’re “joining a ship to work” immigration will ask for crew identification and sometimes a Seaman’s book (which you don’t have). So if asked, always say you are just going on a cruise as a passenger and joining as a guest . MAKE FRIENDS - Greatly appreciated and will help you make friends… buy some small snacks for all the band members and production crew and give it to them before rehearsal. They will all appreciate it. There are 9 band members, and usually 5 people in the production crew. Something like a chocolate bar for everyone, or packs of dried fruit or one of your favorite snacks, instant coffee packs, etc., will go a long way and only cost you $20 - $40 total. Go the extra mile here and it will pay you back tenfold!  

PLANNING FOR YOUR SHOW...

CUE SHEETS - Great cue sheets are ESSENTIAL in making your show a success. If you don’t have well written cue sheets for Sound, Lights, Backstage, (and Musical Director if you’re a musical act) your show and rehearsal will fail! If I have not already agreed to write your cue sheets for you then please send me your cue sheets to look over before your first (or even every) contract (if you’re changing things). I will look over it to make sure it seems clear. If it would help I could also discuss everything over the phone with you just to double check that it’s right. You need to have THREE (or four if you’re a musical act) separate cue sheets; Sound, Lights, Backstage (& Musical Director/Band Leader). Each one should have clear instructions: For the Sound person (with sound cues and your technical needs such as monitors and microphones or wireless belt packs). For the Lighting person with exactly what you want the lights to look like for each routine and what the vocal cues are. For the Backstage person anything they might need to assist you with including when to bring props on and off-stage. When to close/open curtains, and anything you might need on-stage for your performance. For the Musical Director any specific notes about a specific songs/chart, and most importantly your vocal cue (what you will say) to cue him counting the band in for the beginning of each song.

ONCE YOU’VE LEFT HOME...

TRANSPORTATION - Sometimes there will be transportation arranged for you from the airport to the hotel and hotel to the ship. If you show up and there is no one to drive you then take a taxi and save the receipt. Usually you can get reimbursed if you snail-mail a hard copy of your receipt along with a reimbursement form which your agent can give you. Royal Caribbean gives a $100 extra travel per-person payment on every contract that you will get automatically whether you use it or not, so it basically ends up being an extra $100 pay every contract. It's per-person. So for a duo (2 person) contract you will get $200 extra payment. For this reason sometimes Royal Caribbean does not provide taxi-transportation (or they do at their own discretion). All other cruise lines will either provide transportation or reimburse for your transportation. Save hard copies of your receipts!

CHECKING IN - Once you arrive at the port go straight to one of the check in people (usually you can skip the line if there is one), and tell them you are a “guest entertainer” on the GUEST manifest (except for Australia/New Zealand waters where you will be on the CREW Manifest for every ship). Give them your passport if they ask for it, and check in. If no one seems to know what they are doing ask to speak to at Guest Admin Officer in order for them to help you check in. PRODUCTION MANAGER - Once you are on-board tell someone at the front desk (a guest services officer) that you are an entertainer who has just embarked, and ask them to help you contact the Production Manager on-board. Usually you can request they call the Production Manager’s deck phone. Write the number down for the Production Manager since you will definitely need it again. Ask the Production Manager “When is my show?” Unless you have a letter telling you when it is when you arrive. Then ask the Production Manager when your rehearsal is and how much time you will have for your rehearsal? (say your show rehearsal usually takes 1-2hrs depending on the band and technical staff). If you’ve never performed on a ship before I recommend you request they block out 2hrs for rehearsal. THEATER & TECHNICAL SPECS - Almost all theaters on cruise ships have projectors, side screens, and live camera feeds that can be used. You will need to let the Production Manager (PM) know immediately upon your arrival to a ship what technical needs you have so that he/she can have time to arrange them before your show.  

Ask the Production Manager if he needs any billing info or pictures from you? (carry your promo picture on a USB drive). On Oceana and Regent cruise lines no USBs are permitted, though other cruise lines they’re no problem. So Oceana & Regent cruise lines make sure everything is either already printed or on a DVD and/or CD. IF YOU ARE A MUSIC ACT - Tell the Production Manager you would like to speak with the Musical Director . Call the Musical Director and tell him when your show is and tell him you would like to have a one on one rehearsal with him and piano player BEFORE your actual scheduled rehearsal so that you can quickly run through all of your charts since some of them are new and so that he can make any notes as needed. If he says it’s not necessary, insist that if at all possible you would like to. IF YOU ARE A MUSIC ACT - Give the Musical Director all of your charts in advance of the show and rehearsal. Give the Musical Director any mp3s of songs you think the band should hear in advance such as a certain guitar solo that might take the guitarist a couple hours to learn prior to rehearsal. IF YOU ARE A MUSIC ACT – Have all of your charts for the orchestra printed off and taped for the orchestra before you leave your house. You will need to tape the back of the music scores so that they fold out easily. Here’s a link explaining how to do this: https://youtube.com/watch?v=bIUuapMu1QA If there is a chart you don’t have printed before you leave your house then give the file to the production manager in advance of your rehearsal and ask him to print it for you. (Regent/Oceania cruise lines do not allow the use of USBs onboard, but all other cruise lines do.)  

BEFORE YOUR PERFORMANCE...

ARRIVE EARLY - Make sure you arrive backstage for your show and ready to perform at least 30 minutes before your first performance and at least 15 minutes before every performance. Otherwise the Production Manager and cruise director will be worried whether or not you’re going to show up, which isn’t the mood you want them in and might lead to a negative report on your behavior. AUDIENCE AGE – This will vary depending on the ship, but most ships will have a LOT of older people 40-70yr olds on them so best to cater for that type of audience. There will also be some young people onboard, but most likely only a few.  

IF YOU SELL CDs OR DVDs

You will need to mail a copy of your CD/DVD to the cruise line at least a month before your contract (on each cruise line you plan to sell on) for approval of your item. Item must be in a plastic wrapped case. You will need to get “hard checks” from the shop manager on-board. Collect them yourself by telling the shop manager “I’m a guest entertainer and I sell CDs after my show and I need some hard checks”. They will give you some hard checks. You will need to inform the backstage people and production manager that you sell CDs and would like a table out front for sales after your show. On the hard checks you will need to write THE AMOUNT OF COST, THE ITEM DESCRIPTION, THE FOLIO NUMBER OF THE GUEST (written on the guest’s card), THE GUESTS CABIN NUMBER, and their NAME. If any one of these is left off you probably won’t get your money from that sale. Never sell to someone under the age of 16 unless their parent is there are says it’s ok for their child to buy a CD/DVD. Have the parent sign the receipt as well.  

LIFE ON BOARD...

TIPPING - If you are staying in a Crew area cabin you should tip the cabin attendant $2 per-person per-day that he/she cleans your cabin. This is mandatory. If you haven’t given him/her money yet when you leave just leave it on the nightstand. If you are staying in a Guest area cabin the tipping will be automatically charged to your account at a rate of either $13.50 or $15 per-day per-person depending on which type of cabin you are staying in. Artists staying in a suite will pay $16.50 per-day. An 18% gratuity will continue to be charged to all beverages, mini bar, and spa & salon purchases made onboard. You will need to make sure you bill is settled before every “Home port” day, and before you leave the ship. When working for Royal Caribbean & Celebrity cruise lines there is a $13.50 per-day per-person gratuity that will be charged to your account when you are staying in a passenger cabin. It pays for your tips while you are on the ship. When you are in a guest entertainer/crew cabin (located in crew area) there will be no $13.50 per-day charge, but you will be expected to pay $2 cash per-day to your room service attendant. When working for Princess cruise lines and most other cruise lines you should just tip around $20-$30 per-week or $3 per-person per-day to your stateroom attendant. BUYING THINGS ONBOARD - Cash is only used onboard in rare cases to buy internt card or things in the “crew shop” on certain cruise lines. Bring $20 USD bills for this in case the cruise (such a Princess Cruise Lines) allows such. Otherwise you will pay for miscellaneous things you might want to buy onboard using a “Seapass Card” that all passengers use to purchase things on-board with like shopping, etc. ROOMS - It’s up to the cruise line allocate what kind of room you stay in. As mentioned you will never be put in a room with someone else (unless they are part of your act). You will sometimes be in a Crew room, and sometimes in Guest room. It just depends on what is available on the cruise you’re performing on. Usually there is not much different between a regular guest cabin or a crew/guest entertainer cabin. Both are fairly nice and up to normal living standards. SHARING CABINS - You will NEVER be expected to share a cabin with anyone else while working on a cruise ship unless that person is part of your show and you are a duo or trio act, but if you are a solo performer then you will never be asked to share a cabin with someone you don’t know. INTERNET - Internet speed and cost varies between each cruise line and even different ships within each cruise line. All cruises have wifi though. You will have to pay for it onboard each ship. The cost is getting cheaper and speed is getting faster every year, but that said usually the best (free) and fastest wifi/internet is available in ports. Most cruises will be in a port/city at least 4 days out of 7, so on average every other day. INSURANCE - Most cruise lines require that you carry some type of travel and/or liability insurance. Usually up to one or two million dollars worth. If you notice something about insurance in your contract or are told by your agent that you need insurance for your upcoming trip you can usually purchase it at https://www.piu.org/health-insurance ...it costs on a per-day basis and is around $15 per-day. Princess Cruise Line and Celebrity Cruise Line are the only two cruise lines that do not require you to carry your own insurance (check your contract), though you may still want to for personal reasons.  DOCTORS ON-BOARD - Every ship has at least one doctor (usually two or three), and many nurses on-board. They also carry most “usual” medication though it’s very expensive to purchase on-board. Since you are technically a guest you must pay like a regular guest to see the doctor if you are sick. You will definitely have to pay full price for medication. Sometimes if you say you’re a “guest entertainer” the doctor will see you for free or offer a discount, but they are under no obligation to do so.  

CHECKING OUT -The day before you are supposed to leave the ship check in with either the Production Manager or guest admin and ask them what time you need to leave the ship and where you need to meet the person who will be transfering you to the airport (if any). They will also tell you if it’s necessary for you to present yourself to immigration onboard before disembarking. Thank the Production Manager for having you on-board. FLIGHTS - Most cruise lines don’t book performers flights until last minute (meaning around one week in advance of your contract). Also, you can ask for a specific flight, but the cruise line has no obligation to you to book that flight. They will always book the cheapest flight even if that means more layover time for you. If you must have a certain flight that request should be made before you ever accept a contract/date. If your request is not made before the acceptance of a contract and you must have a flight then I suggest you buy your own flight to ensure you get the flight you want. LUGGAGE AND OVERSIZED BAGGAGE – Save your original receipts and turn them into Blackburn International via snail mail immediately after your contract. Cruise lines will always reimburse for oversized luggage if it is for your props. Let your agent know when you book a contract how much approx baggage you will be bringing with you so that this amount has been pre-approved by the cruise line if you will have excess luggage fees. CANCELING A CONTRACT - Cruise lines book thousands of performers per-month. When you cancel a contract it creates a lot more work for everyone and sometimes can even lead to no show the night of the cruise you’re supposed to perform on, which leads to bad entertainment ratings for the cruise line. For this reason cruise lines hate when acts cancel work they have already accepted. Though certain cases cannot be avoided it you cancel a contract don’t be surprised if the cruise line you cancel on never hires you again. I’ve seen it happen to many good acts. So before canceling consider whether you canceling a date is worth potentially losing hundreds of thousands of dollars of future work.  

IMPORTANT RULES…

1. If you are staying in a Crew cabin NEVER bring a passenger to your cabin. You will be fired instantly. Also, NEVER bring a passenger into a crew area. This is strictly forbidden. 2. Never throw anything over the side of the ship. 3. Dress well in guest areas. The general rule is that you should always look at least as nice as the other passengers, but preferably a little better. 4. Be nice to and friendly to everyone, and never curse in guest areas. 5. NEVER blame the techs or band for a problem, especially while you’re on-stage. If there is a problem and it needs adjusted while you’re on stage politely ask the tech between songs for an adjustment of something, but NEVER in anger or frustration (though you may be angry or frustrated). The audience should only ever see you happy and in a good mood like everything is going well. 6. If you’re sick and performing such as a singer who has a cold don’t ever tell the audience you have a cold. It will just make them feel BAD (for you), and as a performer your job is to transport the audience to a magical place. If you’re really so sick that you can’t perform tell the cruise director you’re too sick to perform and take a couple days to get better. Either don’t perform at all, or perform your best and ACT like you are at your best even if you might not being really feeling that way. Pick one or the other.

• Royal Caribbean International

Famous Performers

By RCCLNYMETS41 , December 3, 2007 in Royal Caribbean International

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RCCLNYMETS41

Who are some of the most famous performers that you have seen in a show on a Royal Caribbean cruise?

I have seen Jerry Lewis, 5th Dimension, Ron Lucas, Toni Tennile (from Captain &...) & The Diamonds.

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I saw Elvis a couple of years ago.:D

You have been more fortunate than I, although we have seen Frankie Avalon, Joanne Worley (Laugh-In), Herb Reed and the Platters, Robert Klein, and Marty Allen, most of whom I would classify as "well-known" performers but hardly "famous". LOL The Nelsons are due to perform on our Enchantment cruise later this week.:) Some of the best performers have been those whose names were not familiar but who had a great deal of talent and who put on great shows.

Call me stupid. but who are the Nelsons

Charo - on the Freedom 10/06 - she was amazing on her guitar and cute as a bug's ear!

On the TV on the Jewel 2 weeks ago they were running a behind the scenes look at the Nelson brothers performing on a cruise. They seemed like they put on a nice show, including a tribute to their father (Rick)

Enjoy your cruise.

They are the sons of the late Ricky Nelson and apparently have a successful recording career. Will be better able to assess their talent and showmanship after this cruise.:)

Hey "stupid" LOL, the Nelsons are the sons of singer Rick Nelson ("Hello Mary Lou, Goodbye Heart") & the grandsons of Ozzie & Harriet Nelson from the TV show (Ozzie & Harriet) in the 50's (before my time)

We saw John Davidson on one cruise.:cool:

I went to there web site, Sounds kind of interesting. How did you find out they were on our cruise. There web site didn't mention it.

I missed Micky Dolenz by 1 cruise. He was on the Navigator last year.:mad:

I also saw Charo last December on Freedom. She was absolutely amazing. Very talented and very entertaining. I was a little skeptical, but was blown away!

Beatlemania, John Davidson and Marty Allen. Could have sworn I saw Elvis and Jim Morrison on our last cruise, but my wife said that was the tequilla talking.:eek: :eek: :cool:

JeepLadyLtd

We saw Norm Crosby on 1 of our cruises. My then young teenage daughter didn't get his humor. For those of you that don't know who he is, he mispronouces words wrong(sound alike words) in a sentence when telling his jokes or stories.

Marsha:) :cool:

Fortunate to have front row seats for Marvin Hamlisch onboard a cruise a few years back..wow!

We saw the guy from the Monkeys, he still looks the same, just a little older. He performs with his sister who I think might have a better voice than he does.

hoosiermarty

You are in for a treat. The Nelson Brothers are terrific. And they are very personable. Be sure to take time to see them after the show and be sure to buy their CD. The song "One More Day' is a tribute to their father. I recently wrote down all the words and sent them to all of my family in honor of my two brothers that are no longer with us. It is a very moving song. Enjoy, I wish I were there.

We've seen the Nelson Brothers and the Drifters.

ondeckatsea

We have seen Carol Lawrence, Ben Vereen, and the Osmond Family as well as Marty Allen. Enjoyed them all! We've also enjoyed "part" of old time rock and roll groups. One singer formerly of the group singing old songs.

We saw the Osmond Brothers on the Radiance/Alaska a few years back. No Donny, Jimmy or Alan but they were fantastic! They had pictures displaying on the screens behind them - what a treat.

We saw Mickey & Jan Rooney on my last cruise!

Mike & Sue

Mickey Rooney, Marty Allen, different cruises.

I thought they were both dead, but they were still moving at least a little ;)

Actually not bad shows for a cruise, and their younger wives were better.

Saw Charo on Navigator last February...

Charo on our Freedom cruise as well. She was amazing. My partner got to dance with her. He was so excited!

You can email Royal Caribbean and request the information. The email address is: [email protected] (be sure to place an underscore between web and reservations). I usually get a response within a day or two. When I recently requested this information for our February cruise on Legend of the Seas, they responded that the information will not be available until about 30 to 45 days prior to our cruise, so I will ask again within that time frame.:)

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John Stamos Will Join The Beach Boys on Themed Cruise, Plus More Celeb Sailings to Book Now!

Hit the high seas with your favorite celebs (and other superfans)

Mackenzie Schmidt is the Home and Travel Editor for PEOPLE. She's worked at PEOPLE for over five years as a writer and editor on the Lifestyle team.

'Miami Vice' 40th Anniversary Experience

Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection via Getty

WHAT TO EXPECT: Miami Vice is celebrating 40 years this September, and fans of the show can now cruise South Beach just like Sonny and Rico. Boatsetter is offering groups a chance to step aboard the 1989 Eleganza 310 (while sporting their best '80s fashion, of course) as the powerboat makes stops along the waterways where the iconic series was filmed.

WHEN: Starting May 2024

WHERE: Fort Lauderdale, FL

Book It! boatsetter.com

John Stamos & The Beach Boys

WHAT TO EXPECT: John Stamos is setting sail with The Beach Boys for a five-day voyage aboard the Norwegian Pearl. The Beach Boys Good Vibrations Cruise , which stops in Belize and Mexico, will offer an opportunity for guests to attend a meet-and-greet with Stamos, who has an upcoming memoir, If You Would Have Told Me . A photo opp will also be included for guests who pre-order the book.

WHEN: March 3 - 8, 2023

WHERE: From Miami, FL, making stops in Harvest Caye, Belize, and Costa Maya, Mexico

Book It! thebeachboyscruise.com

Paul Greene & Andrew Walker

WHAT TO EXPECT: Calling all Hallmark fans – it's time to take your love for the network's feel-good movies to the next level! Join two of the Hallmark Channel's stars, When Calls the Heart' s Paul Greene and his special guest Andrew Walker, aboard Royal Caribbean's Navigator of the Seas for four days of themed activities with the actors. Fans will have the opportunity to win a private dinner with the stars and participate in a cabin door decorating competition judged by them, too. Cruisers can also look forward to a live concert from Greene and a health and wellness seminar featuring actress Kate Austin and Walker's wife, Cassandra Troy.

WHEN: January 9 - 13, 2023

WHERE: From Los Angeles, making stops at Catalina Island, Calif. and Ensenada, Mexico

Book it! Email [email protected] for the booking form

Ultimate Disco Cruise

WHAT TO EXPECT: Time to boogie like there's no tomorrow on this disco-themed cruise! StarVista Live is taking lovers of the '70s genre aboard the Celebrity Summit for a groovy five-day voyage. Fans can get down to over 40 live performances from iconic dance artists, including Kool & The Gang, Billy Ocean, Taylor Dayne and more. Along with celebrity Q&A sessions, guests will enjoy a number of activities on the ship such as theme nights and dance parties.

WHEN: February 25 - March 2, 2023

WHERE: From Miami, making stops in Key West, FL and Cozumel, Mexico

Book it! ultimatediscocruise.com

Golden Girls

WHAT TO EXPECT: Get ready to vacation like Blanche, Rose, Dorothy and Sofia on this Celebrity Summit cruise. Lovers of the classic '80s series can join 1,000 fellow fans as they sail from Miami (the foursome's home city on the show!) to Cozumel, Mexico, making a stop in Key West along the way. While on the boat, cruisers can join in Golden Girls -themed trivia, costume parties, parody shows and, of course, eat plenty of late-night cheesecake. Expect a few special guests to appear on the celebrity panel, which will be announced soon for the 2023 voyage.

WHEN: April 8 - 13, 2023

Book It! goldenfansatsea.com

New Kids on the Block

WHAT TO EXPECT: Donnie Wahlberg, Joey McIntyre, Danny Wood and Jordan and Jonathan Knight are setting sail with a boat full of Blockheads (the group's affectionate name for their NKOTB fans) for the 11th time! After being postponed in April 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the boyband cruise will set sail again this October, starting in Miami and docking at private-island Half Moon Cay in the Bahamas. Expect live concerts, meet-and-greets, theme-night parties on the Lido deck — including one called the Pajama Jammy Jam party! — and plenty of face time with the band. This year, according to their website, they "plan to blow everything we did before out of the water!"

WHEN: October 20 - 24, 2022

WHERE: From Miami to Half Moon Cay, Bahamas

Book It! nkotbcruise.com

Star Trek: The Cruise VI

WHAT TO EXPECT: Trekkies can jump on board another Star Trek : The Cruise in 2023! Beginning and ending in Los Angeles, The Un-Conventional Voyage will embark on its first journey along the Mexican Riviera. Royal Caribbean's Mariner of the Seas ship will host actors like Kate Mulgrew (who played Captain Kathryn Janeway on Star Trek: Voyager ) for seven days of entertainment inspired by the franchise, including theme parties, panel talks and Star Trek -inspired dining.

WHEN: February 24 - March 3, 2023

WHERE: From Los Angeles, with stops in Cabo San Lucas, Puerto Vallarta and Mazatlán in Mexico

Book It! startrekthecruise.com

Game of Thrones

WHAT TO EXPECT: In honor of the Game of Thrones prequel, House of the Dragon , premiering on August 21, a GoT -themed cruise is setting sail along Croatia's Dalmatian Coast. Hosted by Sail Croatia , the luxury small ship sets out for seven days to see some of the most stunning filming locations from the HBO series while also exploring the beauty of Croatia. A GoT walking tour, along with entrance to the Game of Thrones museum in Split is also included. Optional excursions include kayaking in Korcula and a wine tasting in Stari Grad.

WHEN: August 20 - 27, 2022

WHERE : From Split, Croatia, making stops in Makarska, Korcula, Dubrovnik, Mljet, Hvar and Stari Grad

BOOK IT! Sail-croatia.com

Schitt's Creek

WHAT TO EXPECT: Time to pack up the wig wall and hit the high seas! A Schitt's Creek -themed cruise will set sail in March and promises plenty of Rose family-approved experiences. While the stars of the Emmy-winning series will not be on board, the voyage— dubbed "Moira's Boat Party: Ew, Cruising!"— will include activities like a fruit wine tasting, Alexis' bar crawl, "The Crowening" party, a Jazzagals performance and of course, a show-themed costume contest. There will also be classic cruise offerings, like snorkeling and shore excursions, on the itinerary.

WHEN: March 30 - April 3, 2023

WHERE: From Miami, with stops in Key West, FL and Nassau, Bahamas

BOOK IT! moiraspartyboat.com

Michael Franti

WHAT TO EXPECT: After spending over a year at a yoga retreat in Bali at the Soulshine resort , the musician and activist has decided to bring his wellness-inspired lifestyle out to sea.

The rocker will be setting sail on the second Soulshine At Sea cruise aboard Norwegian Pearl for a voyage complete with community wellness activities and exclusive performances (the 2023 lineup will be announced soon!).

WHEN: November 4 - 8, 2023

WHERE: From Miami to Costa Maya, Mexico

BOOK IT! www.soulshineatsea.com

WHAT TO EXPECT: DJ Khaled is hosting the Days of Summer Cruise Fest on board the Norwegian Sky next summer, complete with headlining performances from Lil Baby and Future. Hip-hop workout classes, comedy shows and throwback concerts are just a few of the many events cruisers can look forward to.

WHEN: July 2 -5, 2023

WHERE: From Miami to Great Stirrup Cay and Nassau, Bahamas

Book It! daysofsummercruise.com

WHAT TO EXPECT: The members of KISS, like NKOTB, are vets on the cruise scene. Kiss Kruise will embark on its eleventh voyage on the Norwegian Jewel, which includes two weeks of autograph sessions, fan-favorite karaoke and fun theme nights. Cruisers can look forward to musical performances from Bruce Kulick (an OG Kiss guitarist), '80s metal band Dokken and more.

WHEN: October 24 - 29, 2022 (Week One); October 29 - November 3, 2022 (Week Two)

WHERE: From Los Angeles to Cabo San Lucas and Ensenada, Mexico

Book It! thekisskruise.com

Broadway Stars (including Alan Cumming and Laura Benanti)

WHAT TO EXPECT: All aboard, theater lovers! The Broadway Cruise will continue its voyage in 2023. Several well-known stars will be hanging out (and performing!) aboard the Norwegian Gem, including Alan Cumming ("Cabaret"), Laura Benanti ("My Fair Lady"), Kristin Chenoweth ("Wicked"), Sierra Boggess ("School of Rock") and many more.

WHEN: March 31 - April 5, 2023

WHERE: From New York to Bermuda

BOOK IT! thebroadwaycruise.com

Chris Jericho

WHAT TO EXPECT: The WWE wrestler will set sail on the Norwegian Pearl for a fourth Rock 'N' Wrestling Rager at Sea: Four Leaf Clover cruise. Fans can look forward to all new activities such as a game show called "Are You Smarter Than Le Champion" and a ship-wide competition named the Deck Wars. Of course, it wouldn't be a Chris Jericho cruise without four straight days of wrestling matches to amplify the experience!

WHEN: February 2 - 6, 2023

WHERE: From Miami to Great Stirrup Cay, Bahamas

Book It! chrisjerichocruise.com

WHAT TO EXPECT: The radio-friendly rockers will set sail on the seventh annual Sail Across the Sun cruise, where they'll take the stage on board the Norwegian Pearl with other musical acts such as Fitz and the Tantrums, Travie McCoy and more!

WHEN: February 17 - 21, 2023

WHERE: From Miami to Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic

Book It! sailacrossthesun.com

Natalia Senanayake is an Editorial Assistant, Lifestyle at PEOPLE. She covers all things travel and home, from celebrities' luxury mansions to breaking travel news.

Related Articles

A cruise ship dancer and musician reveal what it's like to be entertainers at sea

• From actors to musicians, cruise ships employee dozens of performers to entertain guests on board.
• A Royal Caribbean singer and dancer told Insider what it's like to live and work on a cruise ship.
• Singer and popular TikToker Bryan James says the gig is "one of the best jobs on the planet."

Acrobats, ballroom dancers, rock bands, aerialists, and actors  — nearly every entertainment job you can think of exists onboard a cruise ship somewhere. 

According to singer Bryan James, who started working on cruises in 2017 and is currently onboard Royal Caribbean's largest ship, the Wonder of the Seas , the gig is "one of the best jobs on the planet."

That's how the 35-year-old described it to his nearly 700,000 TikTok followers, who are endlessly fascinated by his behind-the-scenes footage of cruise life , with videos documenting everything from what crew members eat in a day to staff lifeboat training.

"When you're like a gigging musician like me, it's just a hustle on land," James told Insider. "Ships really allow you to have a very anxiety-free existence."

In the hierarchy of ship workers, entertainers are pretty close to the top. Whereas most crew members work 10 hours a day, seven days a week, James performs around three hours a day and usually has one full day off from performing each week. 

"You just can't sing seven days straight, week after week — you'd lose your voice," James said. "Every job on the ship essentially works seven days a week for six months straight. They would love for us to do it, but they just wouldn't be able to keep musicians."

@bryanjamescruises Signing off of the world's biggest cruise ship. #wonderoftheseas #royalcaribbean #cruiseshipcrew #cruiseship ♬ Wii Shop Channel - McTweet

In a $7 billion industry tasked with engaging thousands of passengers stuck onboard a ship together for up to days at a time, entertainment is the name of the game.

On Royal Caribbean ships, passengers can see Broadway classics like "Mamma Mia " and "Grease," ice spectaculars, and "aqua shows" with performances from dancers, divers, and artistic swimmers. When I called James, he had just returned from performing at a "music festival" put on at the ship's outdoor theater. 

With entertainers elevated to somewhat of a celebrity status among guests, they're given significantly more freedom than other employees.

Related stories

For example, James and his band are able to eat at the guest buffet instead of crew mess hall — something fellow performers, like James' colleague, a diver who previously competed in the Olympics for Brazil, aren't even allowed to do. 

"Royal Caribbean is trying to entice people to come onto their ships — for us, we wouldn't have done this unless we had the ability to live more freely," James said. "It is unfair, but it is how the system works right now."

The privileges cruise ship entertainers are afforded can sometimes create tension with other departments whose schedules are more strictly regulated, Sequoia Harris, a 24-year-old dancer from New York City who completed a 10-month contract with Royal Caribbean in November, told Insider.

"They work literally every day all day," she said. "A lot of the stuff I see coming from their management and supervisors, it's borderline exploitation in my opinion. I remember when I first got on the ship, I was like, 'what do you mean you don't have days off?'"

But the abundance of free time was also the most challenging part of her job, Harris said. Crew members are often restricted from hanging out in certain areas of the ship reserved for guests — making it easy to go crazy with boredom, she told Insider.  

There are also sacrifices that come with any job that requires being at sea for multiple months in a row, like missing out on holidays and milestone events with family members and rarely seeing land-based friends, James said. 

"Socially, your life changes massively. I've got little nephews at home and I've missed every single one of their birthdays, Christmases, Thanksgivings," James said. "But when you are home you don't have a job so you spend that time really intensely with people."

Harris said she was surprised how much she missed some aspects of social life at sea, despite sharing a small bunk room and bathroom with her roommate, which made privacy hard to come by. Living in such close proximity with her castmates helped form life-long bonds with entertainers from all over the world, she said. 

"There was a time when I was saying this is my first and last contract and I'm never going to do this again," Harris said. "But then there other times when I'm like, that was actually really fun. I miss these people and dancing with these people."

James, who's in his sixth year in the cruise industry, said he originally fell in love with the job because it allowed him to travel the world with nearly zero expenses. 

"But now that the travel bug is gone, I'm realizing it's not really to travel. It's more like I can make good money and I can do it in a way that doesn't stress me out one bit," he told Insider. 

"That's kind of what everybody is searching for in life," he continued. "To do something they're good at, something they actually like to do that pays them well and they don't have to stress —  and that's what I'm finding on ships."

Do you work on a cruise ship? Have a tip or story to share? Email this reporter from a non-work address at [email protected]

Watch: This is what it takes to be a cruise ship performer

• Main content

Playlist Productions

What you'll be doing onboard.

• Playlist Performers
• Carnival Studios
• Creative Partners
• Shows Shows Playlist Performers Cameos Carnival Studios Creative Partners

A larger-than-life journey through the Big Apple, featuring iconic show tunes reinvented with percussive urban rhythms and a modern electronic beats. Follow a band of entertainers as they immerse themselves in the city's most dynamic neighborhoods that come to life with hyper-realistic LED screens of signature NYC elements - the towering skyline, subway cars, bold street art and more.

A modernized concert-style show inspired by the legendary Woodstock music delivers an electrifying and immersive Rock Arena experience.

Pop goes vintage goes pop! Travel back to a glitzy Roaring ‘20s party, featuring a fresh take on the iconic sounds of the Harlem Renaissance and a vintage spin on today’s top hits!

A symphonic rock and pop experience! Embark on a magical journey with and the Playlist Productions cast as they reimagine contemporary hits with electrifying strings

Set to the greatest R&B hits of all time, our devious characters will haunt you with a sinister story of mischief, mayhem and dastardly deeds. Being bad never sounded so good!

The Power of Motion Pictures - A celebration of filmmaking, through theatrical illusions & cinematic effects. Iconic Movie Anthems come to life in this magical & mystical journey; leaving our audience spellbound.

Our audience get to experience what it’s like to live life on the road with our very own country band ‘The Ramsey Boys’ on their concert tour. Set designs transform the stage seamlessly from scene to scene as the lyrics of true country classics combined with new contemporary country hits tell the story of their journey.

A Caribbean Dance Romance features a sizzling four-piece Cuban band and a talented eight-member cast who have audiences singing and dancing in the aisles as they perform songs by top Latin artists, including Gloria Estefan, Celia Cruz and Pitbull, amid a tropics-inspired backdrop of Cuba and Miami.

An explosive high energy Rock Concert, featuring music from the greatest American Rock Bands of all time. Our cast is joined by our very own six piece Rock Band which amplifies the energy in the house causing our guests to pump their fists & sing along in this mind blowing Rock experience.

The Rock n’ Roll Piano Show has sing-along hits from Billy Joel, Little Richard and Jerry Lee Lewis and others – as well as an appearance from Carnival Freedom’s own piano bar pianist.

This high-energy show channels the era of Day-Glo, Spandex, and big hair with spirited performances of the hottest music video hits from the 1980s. From the pop-rock of Duran Duran and Cindy Lauper to the smooth soul of Whitney Houston and Michael Jackson and beyond, 80s Pop to the Max takes audiences back to days when "video killed the radio star."

A high-tech re-creation of popular beach movies of the 1960s with 3D special effects, Getaway Island invites guests to set their watches to “island time” as they experience a tropical island bash with music from Jimmy Buffet, Bob Marley, the Beach Boys and others. Getaway Island also has its own version of Carnival's RedFrog Pub.

This show includes recognizable R&B and soul hits from a host of legendary singers, from Aretha Franklin and Stevie Wonder to Otis Redding, Ray Charles and Al Green. In a twist, six couples are chosen for a night with VIP seats, champagne and flowers.

Epic Rock celebrates the glam days of the 1970s and 1980s with hard-driving tunes by Aerosmith, Led Zeppelin and Guns ’n Roses and arena rock staples by artists like Journey and Bon Jovi – all backed by dazzling pyrotechnics, lasers and shooting flames associated with over-the-top rock-and-roll shows. Epic Rock brings back the days when rock ruled the airwaves while providing guests a chance to sing along and channel their inner rock star.

Inspired by the sophistication of Studio 54 and the funk and fashion of Soul Train, Studio VIP is a dance party that celebrates the musical revolution that was New York City nightlife in the 1970’s and the glittering excesses of that decade. An all-out audience participation show, Studio VIP evokes the days of bell bottoms and wide lapels while showcasing some of the most memorable songs from a bygone era – from KC and the Sunshine Band and Donna Summer to Chic, Parliament and Barry White.

"The Brits!" is a colorful musical tribute to the British invasion featuring a stunning mix of live action and animation and songs by The Beatles, The Who, Herman’s Hermits and Elton John.

"Motor City" celebrates the R&B Motown sound of the 1960s and ‘70s, with hits from the Commodores, Lionel Richie, Martha and the Vandellas, Marvin Gaye, The Supremes and Stevie Wonder.

"Latin Nights" brings the passionate Latin culture to life through the fusion music of Gloria Estefan, Enrique Iglesias, Jennifer Lopez, Santana and Shakira.

"Divas" is a captivating mix of music, fashion, and dance and features such popular "one-name" female artists as Barbra, Beyonce, Celine, Cher, Madonna and Whitney.

Be a part of our state of the art production shows known as Playlist Productions! Combining captivating live performances with high-tech LED staging and special effects, they set the standard in seagoing productions. Your favorite songs come to life in these full-blown musical shows unique to Carnival Cruise Line. All genres of music and dance give the audience something to look forward to throughout the cruise!

Singers Who Dance

Carnival ships require singers to have a charismatic stage presence, versatile singing ability, and a strong dance foundation. All of our vocalists embody strong technique and an understanding of all genres of music. In addition to dynamic vocals, their ability to engage our guests on stage and off creates a lasting impression.

Dancers Who Sing

Carnival ships require dancers to execute a variety of dance styles. Our dancers have a strong foundation in all genres and the ability to execute with high energy and unique personality. They are strong singers with confident singing voices and ability to pick up and retain intricate harmony. Along with a captivating performance, they are engaging and personable with our wonderful guests.

One Night Only

Playlist performers have the opportunity to join forces on a set with the band to create an interactive musical experience. Collaborate with the musicians and get the guests involved!

Select Playlist Productions feature an array of special guests. From a 5 piece rock band to an electrifying string trio, be accompanied onstage by our talented musicians!

Holiday Events

Year round on board our ships, we come together to celebrate the Holidays.

Guest Engagement

Carnival is extremely dedicated to our guest experience. Our performers have multiple opportunities a day to build their fan base through guest interactions. Team members are assigned to a variety of additional duties that provide a chance to engage with our guests. From welcoming them on board to post show meet and greets, joining the Cruise Director at sail away parties and much more! This is a wonderful time to greet guests by name and invite them to join you in your performance spaces throughout the cruise.

Military Appreciation

Carnival Cruise Line features a unique way to recognize the service of U.S. and Canadian military members and veterans. At the Military Appreciation Gathering our performers join in honoring the courage and commitment made by soldiers as well as their families.

Rehearsal Space

There are 21 studio spaces within the building. Studios represent specific ships’ stage spacing to mimic being on the real stage. The 4 vocal studios and 3 dance studios provide space for warm ups, review, and break downs as well as regular rehearsals.

During the rehearsal process, performers are mentored by leading professionals in the cruise industry. Our Dance and Vocal Supervisors have experience with Carnival Entertainment that collectively spans over an impressive 50 years. They are able to bring the directors original vision to life in order to help shape the production. Each supervisor brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise in order to bring out the best in our Singers and Dancers.

Our team members have the ability to work one-on-one with the audio technician that will be on board with them to create their own audio mix as well as become accustom to using in-ear monitors. You’ll have the opportunity to merge and do a complete run-through with sound, floor, and automation techs as well as the full band before joining the ship.

Development Studio

The developmental studio that is 5,266 sq. feet and features a 32’ wide and 15’ tall LED wall. This includes 6 automated sections that can move independently of each other as well as 2 rovers that can move back and forth.

Dance Floor

All studios are covered by a ‘Marley’ sprung dance floor. Each studio is marked with numbers on the floor for reference and blocking, and floor-to-ceiling mirrors to assist with learning the choreography and staying synchronized.

With up to twelve ships rehearsing at once, the green room is a great place to interact with team members from across the fleet. At any given time Playlist cast members, musicians, and technicians can be found enjoying each other’s company, eating lunch, or celebrating a team member’s birthday. The green room is furnished with plenty of seating as well as a gourmet coffee machine and a variety of vending options.

Access to Miami

While you’re at the studios you have the greater Miami area at your fingertips. Jump in a cab to get some great food, spend some time on the beach, or of course…..see GREAT LIVE MUSIC.

Playlist Productions is proud to work with the top creative talent in the industry.

DEVANAND JANKI

Choreographer.

Choreographer-(Motor City/The Brits/Studio VIP/Lip Synch Battle)-Dev is an award winning New York-based Director and Choreographer. His career spans all facets of the performing arts – theatre, opera, ballet and corporate entertainment. He began as a performer, appearing in numerous productions including Broadway’s: Miss Saigon, Cats, The King & I and Side Show. For the past 15 years, he has been a freelance director, working worlwide on over 50 shows including Aladdin, Junie B. Jones, Man of La Mancha, Rent, The Full Monty and Off-Broadway’s Zanna Don’t! for which he won the Lucille Lortel Award. He is the Artistic Director of the Bingham Camp Theatre Retreat (BCTR) that develops new musicals & plays that celebrate diversity.

PETER FLYNN

Creator and director.

Creator and Director--(Motor City/The Brits/Studio VIP/Lip Synch Battle/88 Keys/Amor Cubano/Heart of Soul /Broadway Beats)-Peter is a New York based director and teacher who works both in new work development throughout the country as well as staging classic American musicals for some of the most notable regional theatres.

His New York credits include the off-Broadway premiere of Marcy Heisler’s & Zina Goldrich's Junie B’s Essential Survival Guide to School, choreographed by Devanand Janki; the Actors’ Fund concerts of the 75th Anniversary of Thornton Wilder’s Our Town with Adriane Lenox, B.D. Wong, S. Epatha Merkerson, and concerts of On the 20th Century with Douglas Sills & Marin Mazzie, Chess with Josh Groban & Julia Murney, and Funny Girl with Whoopi Goldberg, & Andrea Martin; Skippyjon Jones, & Junie B. Jones (nominated for two Lucille Lortel Awards including Best Musical), and Rhapsody in Seth - Actors’ Playhouse starring Seth Rudetsky.

Other credits include the world premiere of Curvy Widow by Bobby Goldman, Drew Brody and starring Nancy Opel; the world premiere of Willy Holtzman’s new play, Smart Blonde at Pittsburgh’s City Theatre starring Andréa Burns; Katori Hall’s The Mountaintop; Gypsy at the St. Louis MUNY; Kiss Me, Kate for the Maltz-Jupiter Theatre where he has directed productions of Man of LaMancha (Carbonell Award, Best Director & Best Musical), Sleuth, & Other Desert Cities; and 1776 & The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee for Ford’s Theatre.

Peter is the director of Musical Theatre for the Stella Adler Studio for Acting & is on the faculty of Adler’s NYU Tisch Division. He is also an Associate Artist at Ford’s Theatre in Washington, D.C. and a graduate of Northwestern University.

JENNIFER SAVELLI

As a dancer, associate and choreographer, Ms. Savelli has an incredible body of work including appearing in the feature film CHICAGO as well as six Broadway shows, including working alongside her personal friend Chita Rivera as a featured performer in Chita Rivera: The Dancers Life. She has appeared on Broadway in Anything Goes, The Boy from Oz (Hugh Jackman), Spiderman: Turn off the Dark, Guys & Dolls and Fosse (Broadway and 1st Natl Tour) as well as Kennedy Center Honors, Academy Awards, PBS’s acclaimed BROADWAY The American Musical, MTV VMA Awards with Jennifer Lopez and Ja Rule.

MARCOS SANTANA

Choreographer-(88 Keys/Heart of Soul/Amor Cubano/Broadway Beats)-Marcos Santana is a New York based choreographer, director, performer and educator. Currently, he is the associate choreographer and can be seen performing in the Broadway hit show “On Your Feet”.

Originally from Puerto Rico, he began his dance career at the age 18 in his native Island where he trained in Jazz, Ballet, Contemporary, Modern & Latin. After a very successful career performing with leading dance companies and international artists, he relocated to Los Angeles in 2000. While in L.A., he had the privilege to perform for artists such as Chayanne, Missy Elliott, Anastacia, Mary J Blige, Eden’s Crush, Constantina, Jimmy Buffet, and Ellen Degeneres, among others.

As a choreographer, Marcos has worked on productions such as On Your Feet (Assoc. Choreographer/ Tony Nomination), Rocky (Assoc. Choreographer/ Tony Nomination), Man Of La Mancha, Randy Newman’s Faust (Encores), Mr. Magoo’s A Christmas Carol, Fortress Of Solitude (Public Theater Assoc Choreographer), Pirates Of Penzanze (Stratford Sakespeare Festival), Brazil Brazil (New Victory Theater), Much Ado About Nothing, My Fair Lady, Guys & Dolls, Paul Simon’s Capeman (Delacorte Theater Assoc Choreographer), In The Heights (2009 Gypsy of the Year), Rock Of Ages National Tour/West End/Vegas (Assoc Choreographer).

Favorite Performing Credits include: Broadway: On Your Feet, In The Heights, Guys And Dolls. Others: Contact 1st National Tour, West Side Story, Evita, The Wiz, Carmen, The Mambo Kings.

Movie/TV Credits: Annie, Across The Universe, Chasing Papi, The Great Observer, The Producers, Victoria’s Secret Fashio Show, Pop Stars, Divas Las Vegas, The Nikki Cox Show, and more

KELLY CONNOLLY

Choreographer / asst. director.

Choreographer/ Assist. Director-(America Rocks!)-Kelly Connolly is a multidisciplinary artist being named the first-ever "All-Around Best Female Dancer” by Dancetrack Magazine. Kelly held the position of lead choreographer for The Illusionists 2.0 at The Sydney Opera House, and was part of the Inaugural cast of The Illusionist on Broadway. She was movement coordinator for motion picture Mr. Right starring Anna Kendrick and Sam Rockwell, and choreographer for both Rent and American Idiot at the Children’s Musical Theater in San Jose. Coached Ariana Grande for her music video featuring Chris Brown. Kelly is both Choreographer and performer in Special Edition Dance Party for Dreamworks’ Kung Fu Panda 3, The Teen Choice Awards with Selena Gomez, Dancing With the Stars, music videos for One Republic and was Britney Spears’ double. Additional credits include recurring dance roles on hit TV shows including Glee, How I Met Your Mother and Nickelodeon’s Fresh Beat Band, ColdCase, Malcolm In theMiddle, and numerous musical theater performances including A Chorus Line, The Sound of Music, Camelot, Beauty & the Beast, and The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat at The Kodak Theater and Hollywood Bowl. She has also performed and choreographed TV commercials and social media campaigns for brands including Degree Women, Nikon, Chrysler and T-Mobile.

Also an accomplished film/TV actress, stunt woman and fitness expert, Kelly has also appeared in numerous television shows with recent roles in AMC’s The Walking Dead (2016) and Cinemax’s Banshee (2016), as well as in motion pictures Aztec Warrior (2017) 68 Kill (2017), Ride Along 2 (2016), Disney’s Invisible Sister (2016); Mind Puppets (2016), Devil’s Brake (2016), Refugio (2015) and Hot Tub Time Machine 2 (2015); and as an instructional fitness model for Tapout, Hip-Hop Abs, Cybex, and Orbital 360.

KEITH YOUNG

Creator, Director, and Choreographer-(Country Road/Vintage Pop)-KEITH YOUNG is one of the most versatile creative director/choreographers working in the industry today. Keith received a Bachelor of Science degree in Arts Education from Miami University. Although his primary focus was in painting and sculpture, Keith was drawn to the all-encompassing expression that dance allows. Following college, he danced with numerous notable dance companies in New York and joined Twyla Tharp’s company as a principal dancer. He later became her assistant on Milo Forman's acclaimed film AMADEUS. He also served as rehearsal director in the staging of THE SINATRA SUITES, featuring Mikhail Baryshnikov, for American Ballet Theater.

FILM: GONE WITH THE BULLETS directed by the highly acclaimed director Jiang Wen, the first Chinese film using 3D, employing an American choreographer,for which Keith won the 2015 World Choreography Award. Other film credits include THE SMURFS MOVIE, directed by Raja Gosnell, as well as multiple films for director Nancy Meyers such as IT'S COMPLICATED, THE HOLIDAY, and SOMETHING'S GOTTA GIVE. Keith also created the very memorable dance scene with Mel Gibson in WHAT WOMEN WANT. Keith is particularly proud of his choreography on the feature film RENT, directed by Chris Columbus.

TELEVISION: DANCING WITH THE STARS, SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE, HARRY'S LAW, RULES OF ENGAGEMENT, THE EMMY AWARDS, THE 78th ANNUAL ACADEMY AWARDS on which he choreographed a performance for the Oscar winning song, IT'S HARD OUT HERE FOR A PIMP from the movie HUSTLE and FLOW, to name a few. Keith received an EMMY AWARD NOMINATION for his work on THE DREW CAREY SHOW.

THEATRE: SAMMY, a musical based on the life of Sammy Davis Jr., starring Obba Babatunde at The Old Globe Theater for which he received the San Diego Critics Choice Award for Best Choreography. ROBESON, (starring Keith David), GOSPEL AT COLONUS for the Ebony Repertory Theater and CROWNS, directed by Israel Hicks for the Ebony Repertory Theater and Pasadena Playhouse, as well as the Broadway Musical ON THE TOWN, directed by George C. Wolfe.

COMMERCIALS: Keith has lent his considerable talents to such commercial campaigns ads FACEBOOK MESSENGER, RAY BAN, TROP 50, KIA, GAP, OLD NAVY, TOYOTA, BLACKBERRY, multiple SUPER BOWL SOBE LIFE WATER spots with NFL Players and with Naomi Campbell and some very talented lizards, PEPSI and many more.

TOURS/VIDEO: Keith has directed and choreographed tours and videos for music artists such as BABYFACE, MADONNA, OUTKAST, JOSH GROBAN, EARTH WIND &FIRE, GLADYS KNIGHT, THE ISLEY BROTHERS, TONI BRAXTON,PRINCE ROYCE, BETTE MIDLER, RED HOT CHILLI PEPPERS, and THE CHEMICAL BROTHERS.

LAYLA ELLISON

Assistant choreographer.

Assistant Choreographer (Flick / Divas / Latin Nights / Epic Rock/Celestial Strings)

Layla Ellison has worked for over 13 years as a dancer and choreographer for music videos, television, commercials, concert tours, and fashion shows. She has worked with artists such as Rihanna, Kylie Minogue, Leona Lewis, and Black Eyed Peas. Her corporate clients include Nike, Levi, Top Shop, McDonald's, and T-Mobile. In 2012, she served as Dance Captain at the Olympic and Paralympic Games in London.

KAREN MAYBURY WEBB

Creator & Director-(America Rocks!)-Karen has an extensive background in entertainment, both as performer, writer and director. Karen’s specialty in entertainment management and creative skills have given her the opportunity to work around the world for major companies and cruise lines both as a Cruise and Entertainment Director and also as a Creative Director. Karen has performed on stage in several productions and as an experienced MC has opened shows for multiple celebrities such as The Beach Boys, Christopher Cross, Michael Mcdonald, Lee Evans and The Steve Miller band to name but a few. Karen’s company, Maybury Webb Creative, provides talent around the world and her knowledge of the entertainment industry and collaboration with her musician husband Dave enable them to produce and present exciting shows and theme events.

EMMET MURPHY

Creator and Director-(Getaway Island/80's Pop to the Max)-Emmett Murphy is a prolific creator with a love for synthesizing experiences by integrating storytelling, technology, multimedia and live performance. Mr. Murphy is the founder of showHive, Inc.

Emmett has conceived and directed 17 production shows for numerous companies, including, Carnival Cruise Lines, Regent Seven Seas Cruises, Norwegian Cruises Lines, and Princess Cruise Lines. He was also the producer for the spectacular production of Illusions at Joyland Theme Park near Shanghai, China.

Mr. Murphy has a background in music and dance and utilizes choreography and musical staging to drive the narrative of his shows. As a director, he’s had the honor of working with esteemed choreographers such as Emmy Award winning Joshua Bergasse, Broadway vetted Jessica Hartman, Jennifer Savelli, international ballroom champions Tony Meredith and Melanie LaPatin and Tony Award nominated Melinda Roy.

Prior to launching showHive, Mr. Murphy was an independent producer for industrial theater and special events in New York City. He then joined a leading entertainment production house servicing the cruise ship industry and was involved with strategic planning, contract negotiations, casting and creative development. Mr. Murphy went on to work for Cirque du Soleil ® in conjunction with The Beatles LOVE at The Mirage Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. He also directed Sin City Comedy at Planet Hollywood in Las Vegas.

Mr. Murphy brings deep entertainment industry expertise and an understanding of his clients’ challenges, along with an ease of working with high level executives. He is known for his disruptive creative development process which results in truly unique production show experiences and for his ability to conceive and execute concepts that captivate audiences. Mr. Murphy is a member of the Actors Equity Association and American Guild of Variety Artists, and is an avid collector of modern and contemporary art.

PRODUCER & CO-CREATOR

Producer & Co-Creator-(Soulbound)-JR White is the co-founder of 2 Creative Entertainment and serves as its President and CEO. With over 25 years of live entertainment production experience in the entertainment and cruise ship industry, JR has built his career bringing quality and innovative entertainment to the public. In addition to his roles as Creative Producer and Project Manager for Carnival Horizon and Mardi Gras, he has been part of the management and creative teams responsible for creating and overseeing installation of new productions for Holland America Line, The Yachts of Seabourn, Cunard Cruises, Celebrity Cruise Line, Norwegian Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean International as well as land-based entertainment in Atlantic City, Las Vegas and Palm Springs. He has led the new-build entertainment installation teams for six new ships for Holland America Line as well as serving as Line Producer of the Royal Theatre for Royal Caribbean’s Ovation of the Seas and Oasis of the Seas. Mr. White hold’s a B.A. in Musical Theater from California State University, Fullerton and an M.A. in Arts Management from Rowan University in Glassboro, New Jersey.

AARON JACKSON

Creator & director.

Creator and Director-(Soulbound)-Aaron is a founding member of 2 Creative Entertainment, acting as the company’s Creative Director. An award-winning Designer and Concept Artist based in Los Angeles, he has over 20 years of experience in the Entertainment Industry with projects spanning Theatre, Television, Concerts, Theme Parks and Corporate Events.

Past projects include creating designs for Barry Manilow and Lorna Luft as well as working as the Layout Designer for Star Wars: A Galactic Extravaganza at Disney Hollywood Studios. He was a Design Producer for the final season of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition on ABC and has designed events for the WB Television Network, Cartoon Network, Mercedes-Benz, Design Cure and Cornerstone.  

Aaron is a regular designer for Phoenix Theatre Company and Childsplay in Phoenix, AZ having designed such stage productions as Rent, Hedwig & The Angry Inch, Godspell, Something Rotten, Bloody, Bloody Andrew Jackson, A Wrinkle in Time, Robin Hood, Wonderland: Alice’s Rock & Roll Adventure and numerous others. He was the Resident Designer for Shakespeare by the Sea in Los Angeles for 14 seasons and over 25 productions. His has also designed for Holland America Line, Celebrity Cruises, Regent and Oceania Cruise Lines and has served as adjunct faculty for UC Irvine and Chapman University.  

Aaron’s latest ongoing project is the creation of a new online Escape Room venture, Wild Hare Escapes, where he is creating and designing a wide range of virtual worlds to explore and escape from.  

Aaron holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Millikin University, (Decatur, IL) and a Masters of Fine Arts from Rutgers University, (New Brunswick, NJ).

MICHAEL SHAWN LEWIS

Co creator and co director.

Towel Animal Theater/Suess a Palooza

Michael Shawn Lewis has worked extensively in the arts around the globe as a performer, producer and theatrical presenter. Michael received a Drama Desk nomination in 2010 for his work as producer on the New York production of ImaginOcean and is working as executive producer to adapt the magical underwater world into a television series with the Jim Henson Company. He is producing the live stage touring version of Jim Henson's Dinosaur Train, currently a smash hit children's television series on PBS. Michael is one of the founders of the New York Children's Theater Festival, a non-profit (501c3) which promotes the development of outstanding children's theater in America. His Broadway performing credits include The Phantom of the Opera, and The Woman in White. In Europe he starred in Elisabeth, The Musical, Les Miserable and numerous productions of Phantom. He has performed with the London Symphony Orchestra, as well as James Taylor at Lincoln Center.

JOHN TARTAGLIA

Towel Animal Theater

John Tartaglia is best known for his TONY nominated Broadway debut in the original cast of "Avenue Q". He is also well known to parents around the world as "Johnny" from Disney Channel's 8 time EMMY nominated series "Johnny and the Sprites" (Executive Producer, Co-Creator and star). He conceived and wrote the Off Broadway hit "ImaginOcean", which just finihed a successful multi-year international tour and is currently being developed with The Jim Henson Company as a television series. John is director of the upcoming Broadway musical "Because of Winn Dixie" featuring the book and lyrics of Nell Benjamin and music of Duncan Sheik. John will also be directing and co-producing the live tour of PBS's "Dinosaur Train" and "Sid the Science Kid Live", as well as "Shrek the Musical" at the legendary MUNY theatre in St Louis. Other Broadway includes "Beauty and the Beast" (Lumiere) and "Shrek the Musical" (Pinocchio-Original Cast). John was one of the youngest puppeteers hired on Sesame Street, starting at age 16, and is currently wrapping up his 13th season with the show. Other television and film includes "Teeny Tiny Dogs" (Amazon Original), "Ugly Betty" (Pablo), "Animal Jam", and the upcoming independent film "Silent But Deadly". John is co-owner of Gables Grove Productions, a multi-media family entertainment company.

JILL HILLIER

Associate director/choreographer.

Associate Director/Choreographer – (Soulbound)-Jill Hillier has had the great fortune of working as Associate Director/Choreographer on major tours and residencies for some of the biggest pop stars in the world. She started off 2020 as Associate Director to acclaimed tour director Jamie King on Ricky Martin’s “Movimiento” world tour. She also worked with Jamie on Ricky’s “All In” residency in Las Vegas, Nicki Minaj’s 2017 performance at amfAR, Jennifer Lopez’s “Dance Again” tour, “QViva Live” at Mandalay Bay, Celine Dion’s “Taking Chances” Tour, and The Spice Girls Reunion Tour. Adding to her list of Vegas Residencies, Jill recently acted as Assistant Director for Gwen Stefani’s “Just a Girl” at Planet Hollywood and choreographed “After Dark” 

featuring the ultimate jazz musician Brian Newman. 

In a addition to the "Pop World", Jill enjoys creating shows for cruise lines such as Carnival, NCL, Oceana, Regent, Holland America and Celebrity. She is also the Choreographer/Creative Director for the a cappellla sensation Straight No Chaser’s live tours as well as their PBS specials. Recently she became the Resident Director/ Tour Manager for the new theatrical sensation “The Choir of Man” which tours the US, Australia and performs on Norwegian Cruise Line’s Escape and Encore. Jill loves collaborating with major brands such as Mary Kay Cosmetics, in 2019 she oversaw their annual convention in Dallas which included a cast of 90 singers, dancers and musicians on a 153’ stage with 11 video screens. 

For television, Jill worked with Simon Cowell’s boyband PRETTYMUCH on their performance at the 2017 TCAs! Todrick Hall had Jill coordinate and co choreograph his opening number at Nickelodeon’s 2014 Kids Choice Awards as well as a number of his YouTube videos. Other TV credits include Lip Sync Battle, 

Dancing with the Stars, VH1’s Ricky Martin special, Q Viva the Chosen for Fox, MTV’s Made, USA’s The Moment, Celine Dion’s CBS special, Nickelodeon’s birthday special with Geri Halliwell, and numerous award shows.

When Jill was a dancer, she performed with such celebrities as Prince, Carmen Electra, Juliet Prowse, Thelma Houston, Tony Bennett, and many others. She has performed in regional theatre and national tours of shows like Grease, George M!, Beauty and the Beast, My One and Only, Brigadoon and on Holland America Cruise Lines, Norwegian Cruise Lines and in numerous commercials, industrials and park shows for the Walt Disney Company.

In between directing and choreographing, Jill greatly enjoys teaching, choreographing and mentoring aspiring dancers across the country. She is involved with Commercial Dance Intensive, Celebrity Dance Competitions, GoPro, Talent on Parade, Hollywood Dance Intensive, KARR, and TAPS just to name a few.

MARK JENNINGS

Choregrapher.

Choregrapher- (Celestial & Welcome Aboard Show)-Mark Jennings is a British creative director, choreographer and show director based in the heart of London. He delivers bespoke performances for brands and music artists to stadium scale ceremonies for high profile events. 

Having worked closely with many of the biggest names in the entertainment industry, Mark is renowned for creating work that shifts perceptions across Music, TV, Film, Theatre, Live, Corporate and Digital platforms. His energetic approach coupled with his experience in producing memorable performances on the world stage is well documented and his choreography work for international artists such as The Jonas brothers, Gary Barlow, Michael Buble, Steps, Jax Jones, John Newman and Louis Tomlinson have resulted in billions of people seeing his work. 

He is passionate about creating strong and iconic experiences for global brands and his extensive knowledge of the entertainment industry has given him opportunities to bridge both worlds. Mark sets new trends in live entertainment which result in meaningful and breath-taking direction and choreography for major events and ceremonies. Producing work for brands such as Cartier, Dolce and Gabbana, DeBeers, Department of international trade, Marks and Spencer, Facebook, Huawei and The Burley Clubs.

PAUL ROBERTS

Director & choreographer.

Paul is a British Stage Director & Choreographer 

His latest release is to choreograph Harry Styles latest video single ’Treat People With Kindness’ featuring Phoebe Waller- Bridge and before that working on Sky Atlantic’s ‘I Hate Suzy’ starring Billie Piper. 

Paul has since finished production as choreographer & staging director on the Spice Girls ‘Spiceworld’ Stadium Tour. 

Paul trained at The Urdang Academy, London and went on to perform both in the UK & internationally for both broadcasters & touring productions. 

Paul is an award-winning choreographer and has collaborated with many global musical talents, worked on various UK and International television shows as well as collaborated with many brands. Paul is also an artistic associate of the Balletboyz and has worked on numerous projects with the company; Alpha (Sadler’s Wells); Karma Sutra (Sky Arts). 

Previous creative credits include: Sam Smiths ‘The Thrill Of It All’ World Tour (Choreography & staging director) Billie Pipers debut directorial film starring Lily James ‘Rare Beasts’ (Choreography & movement) Robbie Williams ‘One Night At The Palladium’ (Choreography) Katy Perry’s ‘Unconditionally’ video (Choreography) Emma Bunton’s Christmas Special at the Royal Albert Hall (Creative Director & Choreographer) Disney’s ‘Mickey’s 90th Spectacular’ (Choreographer)

Paul worked closely with One Direction for 5 years as staging director, designing their show tracks for all major works in film, stadium & television.

Music Artist credits: Sir Paul McCartney; Katy Perry; Harry Styles; Robbie Williams; Prince; Olly Murs; Sam Smith; Beth Ditto; Zayn Malik; Destiny’s Child, Mariah Carey, Ed Sheeran; Take That; Niall Horan; Craig David; HURTS, Annie Lennox, Gloria Estefan, Kings of Leon, Katherine Jenkins; Louis Tomlinson, Years & Years & Diana Ross. 

Events: The Olivier Awards; Victoria Secrets Fashion Show; The Grammys; Saturday Night Live; The VMAs; Britain’s Got Talent; The VMA’s, America’s Got Talent; The Ellen Show; The Brit Awards; Strictly Come Dancing; James Corden’s The Late Late Show, The X Factor; Ant & Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway, We Are Most Amused & Amazed – HRH The Prince of Wales 70th birthday & The Royal Variety Show

Balletboyz: The Rite of Spring (BBC3, winner of 2010 Grand Prix Golden Prague International television award) - Choreographer; Ant & Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway: (ITV, winner of 2015 Bafta for Best Entertainment programme) – Creative Director

Paul continues to collaborate with unique and bespoke shows with the Carnival group, currently in development of his 6th production.

JOHNATHAN TESSERO

Creator and Director-(Rock Revolution)-Jonathan Tessero is a leading Executive Producer and Stage Director of variety content for television, touring, and theater whose work has appeared on Broadway, The Las Vegas Strip, network television, and in concert, sporting, and theatrical venues around the world. 

On Broadway, he directed and developed the creative for "Ruben and Clay's First Annual Christmas Carol Family Fun Pageant Spectacular" as well as the Broadway adaptation and presentation of his "The Stars of Christmas" tour for its Tony-Award Winning producers. The New York Times called Ruben and Clay's Christmas Show "A Christmas Miracle" and his direction "Really Funny.” Whoopi Goldberg, Kathi Lee and Hoda, and Metro Magazine all called the show "a hilarious must see!" with Theater Scene praising "The Marvelous Company... The Skillful Script... and Jonathan Tessero's Expert Direction." “The Stars of Christmas” played six weeks at Broadway's August Wilson Theatre as “Home for the Holidays” and was ranked as one of the top ten best Christmas concerts in New York by Metro Magazine as well as rated "Broadway's #1 Christmas Show" by Showstopper VIP. The New Yorker praised the show as a "victory lap" for competition show winners and his direction was applauded as "excellent" by Black Tie Magazine who "enjoyed every minute of this enchanting show." In 2014, he contributed additional material to Dame Edna’s Glorious Goodbye Tour as well as served as its onstage pianist. 

He made his Las Vegas Strip debut with The Bronx Wanderers, providing the long-running hit show with an entirely new physical production, revised book, and large-format video system. The Las Vegas Sun called the new production a "Must See!" with The Las Vegas Tribune raving to "Get Ready for a Big Surprise. Everything is Bigger and Better!”. 

He shares an Emmy Nomination for his work on CBS' coverage of Super Bowl XLVII, has directed and produced the talent for several America’s Got Talent and America’s Got Talent: The Champions segments, directed documentaries on the last BCS Championship as well as the USO Stage Door Canteens (starring Angela Lansbury, Mickey Rooney, and Branford Marsalis), and is a consulting/executive producer to and writer of several upcoming television singing competition programs, variety series and specials, and primetime animated musicals.

His reboot of Essence Festival (headlined by Beyoncé) shattered attendance records to become the largest music festival in America and the 8th largest in the world, attracting an additional 130,000 attendees to achieve its first 500,000+ attendee crowd. His live-orchestra-to-film presentation has sold out stadiums and arena across Europe and Asia and continues onto its third continent when live productions return. 

BOBBY BORGIA

Magic consultant and direction.

Magic consultant and Direction (Flick)-BOBBY BORGIA has been thrilling audiences for the past 30 years with live performances and appearances in more than 70 countries—from Asia and Europe to Las Vegas and Hollywood’s Magic Castle.

He has appeared on numerous television shows, including Fox’s “Masters of Illusion,” ABC’s “The Greatest Magic of Las Vegas,” and NBC’s “The Pretender,” and as a TV host on the Disney Channel. Borgia’s work as an illusion designer, magic consultant, and technical advisor has made him the trusted expert for the film, stage, television, and music industries.

He served as Magic Consultant for the hit movie “Now You See It,” “Flick – The Power of Motion Pictures,” and Disney’s “Mary Poppins.” He has also designed illusions for some of today’s hottest music artists, including Destiny’s Child, Brian McKnight, Henry Rollins, and Boyz II Men. Using his talents as an artist, Borgia was the illustrator for the popular book “The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Magic Tricks.”

Bobby Borgia – If his name sounds familiar, that’s because he is a direct descendant from one of history’s most recognized families, THE BORGIAS.

SHARON FERROL-YOUNG

Co creator, director, & choreographer.

Born in New York, Sharon had the privilege to go straight from high school to BROADWAY, cast by GOWER CHAMPION in the original cast of the Tony Award Winning Musical 42nd STREET. She was then cast as a dancer in the musical production of SOPHISTICATED LADIES, and also understudied PAULA KELLY. Sharon performed the role of THE

SOPHISTICATED LADY many times. She then went on to join The First National Tour of SUSAN STROMANS, CRAZY FOR YOU.

Sharon then moved to Los Angeles and immediately started working as a dancer. Some of her film credits include: ZELIG directed by WOODY ALLEN (where she portrayed JOSEPHINE BAKER) COMING TO AMERICA, SCHOOL DAZE directed by SPIKE LEE, BOOGIE NIGHTS, GEORGE OF THE JUNGLE, HOODLUM Sharon also danced in and assisted director DEBBIE ALLEN on the made for TV films POLLY and POLLY 2. She had the privilege to perform with PRINCE on the MTV AWARDS, LUTHER VANDROSS on THE SOUL TRAIN MUSIC AWARDS, toured with BARRY WHITE, directed and choreographed by ADAM SHANKMAN. And also toured with BABYFACE, directed and choreographed by KEITH YOUNG. She went on to assist choreographer KEITH YOUNG on FILMS such as

WHAT WOMEN WANT where she trained MEL GIBSON for his dance scene. SOMETHING’S GOTTA GIVE, with JACK NICHOLSON. IT’S COMPLICATED with MERYL STREEP and ALEC BALDWIN.

Sharon was Associate Choreographer of the film RENT, directed by CHRIS COLUMBUS, and was also a principal dancer in a scene in RENT featuring ROSARIO DAWSON. She has also assisted KEITH YOUNG on TV SHOWS such as the PUSHING DAISIES (starring Kristin Chenoweth) HARRY’S LAW

(starring Kathy Bates) as well as SELFIE, RULES OF ENGAGEMENT, Sharon assisted and performed at THE 78th ANNUAL ACADEMY AWARDS for the Song Of The Year, IT’S HARD OUT HERE FOR A PIMP from the movie HUSTLE & FLOW and many more.

What We’re Looking For

• 21+ years of age preferred
• Dancers Who Sing are versatile dancers with excellent technique in all styles, including jazz, ballet, contemporary, and commercial. They are ensemble singers with strong, confident singing voices and the ability to harmonize
• Singers Who Dance have a charismatic stage presence, versatile singing ability, and a strong dance foundation. All of our vocalists embody strong technique and understanding of all genres of music.
• Captivating stage presence and original performance qualities
• Peak physical condition required
• Outgoing team players who personify Carnival values

Virtual Audition Instructions

by reading through the audition requirements sent to you once you apply. Pay close attention to submission instructions.

your application with all required materials, including your most current headshot and resume. We can't wait to see your talent!

What you'll need for a virtual audition

• Camera or mobile device with video-recording capability
• YouTube, Vimeo, or other online video-sharing account
• A link to video footage of previous show work that will help determine your level of experience and performance abilities (optional)
• Form-fitting clothing for dance reel
• Your personality and unique style

FUN OR CAREER?

Choose both., playlist frequently asked questions.

If you are a manager or a singer, yes, you will have your own cabin. If you are a dancer, you will be accommodated in a double-occupancy cabin which includes bunk beds, closet, desk, TV and bathroom (shower, sink, cabinet, toilet). The cabins also have plugs for charging electronics and reading lights over the beds. The cabin is cleaned once a week by a member of the housekeeping team.

Carnival prides itself on guest interaction and requires additional activites to be able to deliver this on each ship. Performers will be required to participate in some show and non-show related activities. All activities and additional entertainment are subject to to the ship itinerary and Entertainment Director's discretion. Performers also participate in safety briefings, drills, and embarkation day events.

cruise ship musicians

No agency fees. ever..

Your next gig could be ocean-sized

We hire cruise ship musicians from all over the planet—soloists, bands, instrumentalists and more. Hone your craft on board the world’s most luxurious cruise ships. You could be next. Apply now for free.

Do what you love

The view from the stage has never looked this good

See the world

Now booking cruise ship bands in Asia, Australia, the Caribbean and more

Live for free

Free food, free room, free travel… Save your money

Get paid to play

Earn top dollar alongside other professional musicians

Ready to Live the Cruise Ship Musician Life?

If you’re looking for an adventure, it’s the best-paid vacation you’ll ever have.

Here’s what just a few of our musicians have to say

"Working for Landau Music was a BLAST! I made memories that I will never forget. If you're wondering whether a position on board one of Landau Music's ships is for you, trust me, you'll be in great hands!"

“The last contract was even better than the first. The musicians were great, the people I worked with were fantastic, opportunities for creative expression abounded, and the itineraries were phenomenal."

"Landau Music and the cruising experience has truly changed my life forever and those who have the fortunate opportunity to audition and work with Landau Music will one day understand the enthusiasm that I cannot even express through words."

"I have worked on cruise ships for less than two years and have already seen half of the world and have had a great time doing it, meeting some great players and friends along the way. I'm glad to have found an agent who is as responsive and sympathetic to my goals as Landau Music."

"A typical day would be waking up, traveling to a beach to snorkel or go sight-seeing for 4 hours, then capping my night off doing what I love: playing music! Then wake up to do it all over again! Other musicians with other agencies told me how jealous they were of how good I had it with Landau."

"I can accurately say that Landau Music has definitely improved the quality of my life. The travel, the adventure, the money and most of all the people have improved the quality of my life more than I could have imagined. Thank you Michael and staff for all the work you've done for me and so many deserving musicians."

Only the Best Cruise Lines

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Welcome to My Office

Some of our cruise ship entertainers, hard at work

Is this for real?

You're not dreaming. We're placing qualified musicians on luxury cruises all around the world...right now! And when we say luxury, we're talking "floating Ritz Carlton". Picture the best room in Vegas...with the best view in the world.

And I really get paid?

Yes. You’re paid a competitive salary and you get to spend your down time in exotic locations around the world—beaches in the Caribbean, excursions in Alaska, and more…

But I have to pay to get there, right?

No. We fly you there and back—and if you’re interested, we can even make sure you’re lined up on another one before you come home.

Do I have to pay for anything?

The only thing you have to pay for is a pre-employment medical. (Oh, and maybe some fancy clothes for formal nights).

Wait… I can get off the ship?

Yes, that’s the best part. If your ship goes to Egypt, so do you. Thailand? Yep. Argentina? You got it. Aruba? For sure! When the passengers disembark, you’re welcome to do so too. Most musicians play at night, which means your days are free to explore the world.

How do I qualify?

There are only a few rules. You need to be 21. You need to commit to a continuous contract. You need a passport and possibly a visa. You need to pay for a pre-employment medical. Most of all, you need to be good.

Think you’ve got what it takes to be a cruise ship entertainer? Apply now

Luxury cruise lines are looking for musicians and bands right now! Several lines will only work with Landau Music: to get to them, go through us. Get paid to play while you see the world… For free!

All products and listings featured on Condé Nast Traveler are independently selected by our editors. If you purchase something through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

The Best Cruise Ships in the World: The Gold List 2024

By CNT Editors

Consider Gold List the answer to the question our editors get asked more than any other: What are your favorite places to stay? Our 30th annual iteration of the world’s greatest hotels and cruises captures nearly a year’s worth of work: This collection represents hundreds of hours of researching, scouting, and impassioned debating by our team of editors in seven cities across the globe. But more than that, it reflects our ongoing love affair with the places where we stay, which often become our gateways to entire destinations. Read on to inspire your next cruise.

See the full Gold List here .

Oceania Cruises' Marina is one of 12 ships chosen by our editors for 2024.

Celebrity Beyond Arrow

Cruise ships often get compared to floating hotels or resorts, but here’s one that feels like a floating Vegas show. Applause, please, for the glittering peacock made from Swarovski crystals and the Magic Carpet platform that shimmies up and down the ship, cantilevered over the water for some of the best seats in the house, while in the Martini Bar, a troupe of bartenders juggle shakers to the sound of “We Didn’t Start the Fire.” Beyond is one of the largest ships in Celebrity’s Edge class, and all that space is used to maximize the drama. A whole corridor is filled with a glowing installation of bronze sculptures reflected in infinity mirrors; a favorite anchorage was Eden, a beautiful, biophiliac bubble for hiding away in, watching the ship’s wake through triple-height windows and dawdling in swivel chairs that resemble green carnations. As for the cast, there are some stellar performers: Kelly Hoppen designed most of the interiors; Daniel Boulud’s debut signature restaurant at sea, Le Voyage, has an impeccable, globe-trotting menu alighting on Brazilian moqueca and tamarind prawns. But top of the bill is Captain Kate McCue, the first American woman to captain a cruise ship. A captain hasn’t been this synonymous with their ship since the days of Merrill Stubing; follow her social media for a glimpse into the art of ship navigation. During our short, prelaunch cruise, we had an itinerary that involved looping round and round the Isle of Wight—a short trip, but one that was big on sheer spectacle. Three-night sailings from $300 per person. —Rick Jordan

Delfin II Arrow

The Amazon River has the opacity of chocolate milk and is almost deathlike in its stillness—which is wild when you consider how much life thrives there. It was on a nine-day journey through Peru with Lindblad Expeditions and National Geographic that I learned this, as we spent five of those days exploring the jungle by boat. Our chariot: the Delfin II , a Relais & Châteaux vessel with 14 thoughtfully appointed staterooms.

Most days began with a crack-of-dawn skiff ride soundtracked by the squall of jewel-winged, dusky-headed parakeets. The photographers pulled out their football lenses and the birders gasped from behind their binoculars as naturalists pointed out an elegant snowy egret picking its way through a mudbank, a neotropic cormorant spreading its gothy black wings like a vampire, and the somber Jabiru stork, the largest flying bird in South America, standing like a dour English butler on a naked tree limb. Also flagged were capuchin monkeys, giant river otters, flamboyant bromeliads, and—after dark—scores of caimans and capybaras.

We spent one muggy morning in a Kukama village, where indigenous women wove raffia bowls and cooked catfish, and another morning paddling the river—an outing which culminated with a pod of pink river dolphins leaping from the water mere feet from our kayaks. (Even our seen-it-all naturalist, Sandro, clapped like a schoolgirl.)

This deep in the Amazon jungle, there were no other tourists. When we did see signs of human life, they were usually fishermen or park rangers. And because there was no Wi-Fi on the Delfin II and a near total blackout on cell reception, downtime was spent attending lectures on Amazonian ecology, sampling native fruits (how the aptly named ice cream bean hasn’t been pitched on Shark Tank yet, I’ll never know), and buddying up to the ship bar, where I made fast friends of fellow guests. (Expedition cruises always draw a fascinating lot; my cohort included a microbiologist, metaphysical transcendentalist, and one of the earliest Apple employees.)

The highlight of the trip, however, was hiking through the jungle with a local tracker who showed us a brown-throated three-toed sloth, Goliath bird-eating tarantula, junior anaconda, and a century-old strangler fig. When we finally emerged from the bush, we were treated to a spectacular tangerine-and-charcoal sunset punctured by bolts of lighting. It was surreal and intense, just like everything else in this untouched corner of the world. Eight-day sailings from $5,730 per person. —Ashlea Halpern

Ritz-Carlton Evrima Arrow

Ritz-Carlton’s first foray into cruising, the Evrima is a hotel-at-sea experience that might just be the antidote to all the big ship itineraries. Think ultra-small ship luxury (at half the capacity of the Seabourns and Regents) with plenty of scenery options to choose from—the European Mediterranean (routes from Turkey to the Canary Islands) from spring through fall, and the Caribbean (San Juan to St. Barts) in winter—and a younger crowd than most of the luxury cruise market; mostly culture lovers with a dearth of cruising experience who can't wait to get ashore to the Côte d’Azur village restaurants. The 624-foot ship is the first in a fleet of three emerging over the next few years, and it still feels spacious with 149 suites, two pools, a cigar humidor, six bars (the interior Living Room and top-floor Observation Lounge, The Bar, and bars located at the Marina Terrace, the Pool House, and Mistral), a beauty salon and spa deck, water-level marina terrace with water toys, and a fitness center. The 246 staff range from deck crew to your cabin’s personal concierge, all of whom are dubbed the ship’s Ladies and Gentlemen—but titles feel almost superfluous aboard Evrima , where everyone from the tender drivers to dining leads will pause to actually get to know you and recall your name and story (and even your drink order) to make the entire experience feel organic and warm. It’s almost like you’re spending the night in someone’s home, which just so happens to be a 624-foot mega-yacht. And the Evrima itinerary has plenty of free time and overnight ports of call in its sailings, so you can head ashore for a day, or even an entire evening late into the night—gallivanting, dining, and imbibing with the new friends you'll no doubt meet onboard. Seven-night sailings from $5,800 per person. —Shannon McMahon

Oceania Marina Arrow

Is there any Marina passenger who doesn’t wish—even for a second—to confine himself to his stateroom on debarkation day? Perhaps only the smarty pants who booked their next cruise before this one ends. Otherwise, how can an epicurean cruiser (that’s Marina ’s crowd) not pine for another shot at the new wine list starring 80 highly coveted, hard-to-snag labels, including swoon-worthy Super Tuscans? You’ll long for one more brag-worthy chance to sip The Mascot, a label from Harlan family pedigree (think cult fave Harlan Estate); the Polo Grill’s deft sommelier knows exactly which prime steak pairs best. Despite eight compelling complimentary restaurants (Red Ginger’s signature lobster pad thai is still a must-devour), Marina vibes far more than great meals. Work up a sweat storm playing pickleball on deck 16 or braving core conditioning in the gym. Melt into a marine detox wrap (I love the juniper and lemon scent) at Aquamar Spa + Vitality Center, then sink into the spa terrace’s bubbling hot tub. Get down and dirty in the artist loft by painting a Venetian mask and playing Impressionist. In the hands-on culinary center, learn to cure a fish or preserve a lemon. Come May 2024, Marina debuts a splashy redo. Fall in love again with revamped avocado toast—bravo to the taco-spiced shrimp topping—in the new wellness-driven Aquamar kitchen. Where you lie your head hardly matters. An entry 291-square-foot stateroom starring a four-pillow, soft-sheet bed feels mighty spacious and sports Bulgari shampoo. That said, the top-to-bottom penthouse suites’ glam reno is beyond covetable, from the expanded bath to a boatload of enviable perks. Ten-day sailings from $1,999 per person. —Janice Wald Henderson

Trollfjord Arrow

Who better to guide you through Norway’s most remote reaches—including the Svalbard archipelago, the northernmost inhabited islands on the planet—than a Norwegian cruise company that knows the area’s every crag and fjord? Hurtigruten is an Oslo-based line whose ships have traversed these waters since 1893, ferrying freight, mail, and passengers to the communities along the rugged coast. In 2023, to celebrate its 130th anniversary, the company’s flagship, the newly refurbished, 500-passenger MS Trollfjord (named for a fjord in the Vesterålen archipelago) began sailing two hybrids of its original 34-port Norwegian Coastal Express, calling at several of the towns and villages on the original route. From September through April, the North Cape Express (a 13-day, 16-port itinerary) sails from Oslo to the North Cape and then south to Bergen. In the summertime, the Svalbard Express’s eight-day journey begins in Bergen and progresses north, with extended port calls and excursions in seven towns before entering the Arctic Circle and pulling into Longyearbyen, a mining town on Spitsbergen, Svalbard’s main island. On both routes Trollfjord offers its (mostly European) passengers an uncommon way to explore the region, with uniquely Nordic cultural touches to connect them to the country. There’s a pre-boarding spread of Norwegian fare in the ship’s departure lounge, and Trollfjord ’s three restaurants prioritize Scandinavian cuisine (salmon, reindeer, and lingonberries, oh my!) and the food culture of the indigenous Sámi people. The ship’s 277 staterooms and 12 suites (with walk-in closets, corner bathtubs and floor-to-ceiling windows) offer a cozy retreat from the sometimes-harsh weather. And typically Nordic diversions such as aquavit tastings, oceanview saunas and polar plunges leave you in no doubt about where you are and who you’re sailing with. 10-day sailings from $3,082 per person. —Sarah Greaves-Gabbadon

Seven Seas Navigator Arrow

Imagine the most luxurious hotel you’ve ever stayed in. That’s precisely what stepping onboard the Regent Seven Seas Cruises Navigator feels like. And while the opulence and grandeur shine through every square inch of space, it’s worth mentioning that the staff are what make the experience memorable, remembering your name, preferences, likes, and dislikes from the second you step afoot the eight-deck vessel.

The 248 ultraluxe all-suite accommodations feel like your home away from home—despite their capacious interiors—and your personalized steward makes sure of that with thoughtful touches from the moment you check in. Thanks to a revamp in 2019, the ship feels pristine with a new library—complete with a faux fireplace—and sleek state-of-the-art furnishings (including the cruise line’s bespoke mattresses and bed linens) in each of the rooms. However, what makes the Navigator stand out from its counterparts is its intimate size, as it’s the smallest in Regent’s fleet. Everything onboard feels just an arm’s reach away, and you’ll quickly bond with fellow passengers after spending the day together on one of the complimentary shore excursions, such as tours by local guides, cooking classes, and other intimate adventures.

During my Mediterranean voyage, days were spent immersing ourselves in new cities, whereas nights began with a freshly shaken ice-cold martini followed by an exuberant dinner, with a stop in the Seven Seas Lounge for whatever was on tap that night, ranging from cabaret to karaoke. At the end of the journey, I left wanting more and with a suitcase full of clean clothes, thanks to one of the many attentive touches onboard: the included laundry service. 10-night sailings from $3,360 per person. —Rachel Dube

Seabourn Ovation Arrow

“We are not the Rat Pack,” quips Andrew Pedder, the witty Yorkshire-born captain of Seabourn Ovation. He's referring to himself and the other senior officers, for any guests who may have wandered into their impromptu panel session instead of the musical show taking place later that evening. The Q&A—which covers everything from the prettiest ports to the number of Champagne bottles typically consumed during a seven-day voyage—is part of a last-minute program of activities arranged for an unexpected sea day when it’s too windy to dock in the South of France. This is mid-October, on one of the ship’s jaunts around the Mediterranean for the season, and no one seems to mind the change of plan (although when we do explore, all the islands we visit—Menorca, Corsica, Elba—are blissfully tourist-free). It simply means more time for spa treatments, soaks in the outdoor hot tubs, and afternoon tea in the observation bar. Even then, it only feels like there are 60 passengers onboard, rather than 600. The restaurants are excellent, from Sushi, where you can sit at the counter watching the Japanese chefs at work, to poolside Earth & Ocean for Tandoori-style rotisserie chicken and Madras-style white bean cassoulet. Suites are spacious, each one with a balcony. West End–standard entertainment includes a magician and a chart-topping classical singer. But what makes this ultraluxe ship really memorable is the relaxed, on-point service by staff who remember your name and coffee order, or even a familiar face from a sailing five years ago. Seven-day sailings from $2,649 per person. —Emma Love

Silver Endeavour Arrow

Silversea is defined by its far-flung itineraries and exceptional onboard service (think Moët Champagne as you take in an iceberg calving in Antarctica). But the 220-passenger Silver Endeavour, new to the fleet and already a classic, raises every bar. Rooms start at a spacious 356 square feet and have luxury perks like pillow menus and a personalized bar, making them the best in all of Silversea’s array of ships. As far as food goes, premium Ars Italica Osetra caviar is complimentary and around-the-clock, though the Dover sole paired with a label from the rare wine menu at La Dame would have you believing you were in Paris. And the signature Otium spa celebrates pampering as much as it does wellness—don’t skip on the oxygen-boosting Golden Radiance facial. You may find yourself at any given hour glimpsing ice walls through the Drake Passage and remembering that the best part about this ship is the awe-inspiring places it dares to take you. 10-day sailings from $13,150. —Janice Wald Henderson

Scarlet Lady Arrow

Although new to the cruise industry, Virgin Voyages has already begun to set itself apart from its predecessors. When first stepping on the Scarlet Lady, cruisers are met with a rousing, upbeat staff that serve as gurus around the ship and are experts on everything from beauty to juicing. While the Scarlet Lady takes you on a familiar route around the Caribbean, the on-shore excursions available are what make this sail memorable. Take a leap of faith on daring outings such as the Waterfalls of Damajagua in Puerto Plata, where guests make their way down seven of the 27 natural slides and waterfalls. After the exhilarating experience, travelers can sit down with locals and come together over Dominican staples such as pollo guisado, tostones, and mangú. You can always get local delicacies while docked, but while onboard, you must snag a reservation at the Test Kitchen. It’s an experimental dining experience where the menu always evolves. You go in only seeing a small card with ingredients listed for the night’s meal, but everything else is up to the imagination. One might find cucumbers puréed and frozen into ice cream as dessert, or beets formed and prepared like steak. While en route to the next port, the hard reset one does at the Redemption Spa leaves your body feeling anew; it’s impossible to come back from vacation feeling the same as when you departed. On any Virgin Voyages ship, you’ll love the indulgent atmosphere, whether you’re catering to your sweet tooth by narrowing down your favorite gelato of the day, grabbing a drink at one of the five bars that stake claim to having the largest tequila supply on the seven seas, or finally getting that tattoo you’ve been thinking about for ages after visiting the ship’s tattoo parlor, Squid Ink. Seven-day sailings from $2,100 per person. —Paris Wilson

Queen Mary 2 Arrow

Six days sailing from England to New York across the vast Atlantic had the potential to bore me to stupefaction, but it turned out I had nothing to fear. “The ship is the destination,” said an entertainment director for Queen Mary 2 , who oversees a program that makes this cruise liner the undisputed hub of creative and intellectual stimulation on the high seas. Where else can you attend the annual Literature Festival At Sea, meeting top fiction and nonfiction authors like the late PJ O’Rourke, Bernadine Evaristo, and Louis de Bernières? And where else can you visit a planetarium, watch a Royal Shakespeare theater production, or hear guest speakers discuss artwork investments and the history of airport drug mules?

In between spa massages and table tennis rallies, I nourished my mind in the mahogany library before nourishing my body at the Princess Grill and Queens Grill restaurants, scarfing dishes like croquette of suckling pig, paired with excellent vintages and followed by mango panna cotta. On the final stretch of the journey, as dolphins leapt over the horizon and the Statue of Liberty loomed into view, my heart sank a little—New York City awaited, yet I didn’t want to disembark. That’s quite an achievement. Seven-day sailings from $1,389 per person. —Noo Saro-Wiwa

World Navigator Arrow

During my first few hours aboard the Atlas Ocean Voyages World Navigator, I felt a bit like I had inadvertently crashed a family reunion: Seemingly everyone else aboard this Arctic expedition had just sailed to Antarctica on the Navigator six months before, so several crew members and guests spent much of embarkation day hugging and catching up. With a maximum occupancy of 196, it’s already an intimate ship, but the fact that the relatively young brand, which debuted in 2019, could develop such an impressive number of repeat travelers in such a short spell speaks volumes. Many told me they were drawn to Atlas because of its eco-friendly bona fides (the new-build ship makes use of hybrid engines from Rolls-Royce designed to leave minimal impact), but the creature comforts on board certainly help. While the star attraction of such an expedition voyage is what lies beyond the decks—access to remote Antarctic fjords that larger vessels can’t dream of traversing, or spotting polar bears loping along pearly glaciers in the Arctic—I made the most of my time in between Zodiac expeditions. The multi-jet shower in my stateroom was sublime after damp and rigorous treks, the heated massage beds in the only L’Occitane Spa at sea are a dream, and the Arctic summer’s 24 hours of sunshine made the Dome observation deck a prime perch to cozy up with a book at any time of day or night. There was neither internet nor cell phone connectivity during my entire eight-day journey sailing thanks to the remote latitudes (though Atlas guests now have access to full Starlink satellite coverage), which meant this was the longest I’d been offline since the 1990s—and yet somehow, drifting through the surreal landscape in this cosseting bubble, I didn’t miss scrolling or chatting with the outside world one bit. Seven-night sailings from $4,749 per person. —Sarah Khan

Westerdam Arrow

A passenger who is well below senior age dances the robot to classic rock, to R&B, to country music, and to disco hits as talented singers and a live band perform most nights in the Rolling Stone Lounge, on Holland America Line’s Westerdam . His mechanical movements are a source of amusement and encouragement; if he can take over the dance floor, so can we with our own moves. The 1,916-passenger Westerdam is beloved as a traditional cruise ship, with its smaller-than-mega-ship size, deep blue hull, wraparound outdoor promenade deck, and details such as fresh flowers all around, celebrating the 150-year-old cruise line’s Dutch roots. Tradition does not mean staid. There’s rock and roll. There’s a trendy top-of-ship pickleball court.

On an Alaska cruise, my husband and I start our days with a jolt of caffeine via the baristas at Explorations Central, the ship’s cushy, contemporary, forward-facing observation lounge, before heading off on adventures such as joining other passengers in synchronized paddling a large canoe to see the ancient yet diminishing ice of Juneau’s Mendenhall Glacier. Back on the ship, we indulge in excellent burgers, topped with Gouda and applewood-smoked bacon and served in fast-food wrapping from a stand at the covered Lido pool. We enjoy sustainable Alaska seafood—grilled salmon, fennel-crusted halibut, fried cod—in between cocktails made with local gin, served on real glacial ice. From the veranda of our classic aft cabin, mesmerizing views of the ship’s wake, seemingly endless forest, and a distant, blue-tinged glacier clear our brain. We’re ready for more of the dancing man. Seven-day sailings from $379 per person. —Fran Golden

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Explored Planet

Going On A Cruise This Summer? You Might Want To Think Twice

Posted: June 13, 2024 | Last updated: June 14, 2024

If you've ever been on a cruise before, you know that they can be a blast. Cruise ships are continuing to improve their attractions and entertainment in order to give their passengers the best possible experience on the water.

But, sometimes the advertising can be misleading. There's no arguing that some ships are enormous and luxurious beyond your wildest dreams. But, others can be small and claustrophobic, with lackluster entertainment that doesn't live up to the high expectations you've set. Click your way through to explore all the truths behind going on a cruise, so prepare yourself.

Boarding A Ship - What We Think It's Like

This is the most exciting part of the trip. You've packed all of your vacation reading, all of your best clothing, and pretty much everything else you can think of that you might need on a cruise.

You see the ship and it looks like everything you could've imagined. The only thing between you and getting on that ship is a long dock and a few elevators and stairs, right?

Boarding The Ship - What It's Really Like

The reality is, you have to wait in line for about an hour just staring at the cruise ship that you've been dreaming about for months. It's basically like dangling an ice cream cone in front of a three-year-old's face.

The boarding process takes a painstakingly long time. If you think waiting in line at Disneyland is bad, just wait until you have to be one of these people waiting to board.

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The Pool Area - What We Think It's Like

The pool area is usually one of the biggest selling points of a cruise ship. Much like the hot tub, when you envision yourself at the pool on your cruise ship, you think of it much like a private pool on a beach with water slides.

It's almost like a water park on the top of your cruise ship and you're the only person having to wait in line. But, that's not the case.

The Pool Area - What It's Really Like

Instead, you have to realize that everyone else is thinking exactly like you. The pool is the number one place for all the vacationers. It's always extremely jam-packed and the pools are always smaller than you think they are.

Some ships have multiple pools so you don't have everyone surrounding one area, but it's never going to live up to your expectations. I hope you like other people's kids asking you for a piggyback around the shallow end, because that's the reality.

The Bathroom - What We Think It's Like

Again, if you've never been on a cruise ship, you're probably pretty confused as to what to expect with your bathroom. You probably differ back to what you know hotel bathrooms usually look like and then you get a picture in your head.

Will there be marble countertops? Maybe a jacuzzi tub so that you can at least live out your hot tub dreams that you expected to have on the rooftop?

The Bathroom - What It's Really Like

Unfortunately, what you end up getting is not even close. There are not going to be any marble countertops.

If you're about to go on a cruise and need a reference for what to expect, think about a bathroom that you'd see in a youth hostel. Of course, there are nicer bathrooms than the one you see here, but it's important to curb your expectations.

Ocean Sightseeing - What We Think It's Like

This is a huge hit for the older demographic who go on cruises. You think that when you're sailing the ocean blue, you're going to see dolphin pod after dolphin pod. You see yourself at a Sea World, but in the wild.

There are people who think that cruise ships travel on populated areas of the ocean like it's some sort of whale watching tour. They couldn't be more wrong.

Ocean Sightseeing - What It's Really Like

If you're being realistic about sightseeing on a cruise ship, you should probably get used to open water with literally nothing in view. People forget that the ocean is massive and there aren't planted exotic ocean creatures doing acrobats for cruise ship passengers every hour of every day.

So, you need to get used to ocean, water, more ocean, more water, and pretty much nothing else. Sorry for the bad news.

Destinations - What We Think It's Like

A lot of people forget to mention this when they book a cruise, but going to sweet destinations is a huge reason why people end up booking in the first place. It's not just the idea of getting to live on an all-inclusive boat for a week.

Obviously, the time spent on the boat is fun, but the places that you go off of it is just as exciting. But, the reality is that some of the places that cruise ships take you to end up being a huge bust.

Destinations - What It's Really Like

A lot of people forget that when an island gets frequented by cruise ships every day, they also take on a lot of pollution from the boats. Not every island is going to be beautiful and scenic.

If you're going to book a cruise, make sure that you research the islands that the boat will be taking you to. It's important to look past the staged photos the travel company is showing you.

The Hot Tub - What We Think It's Like

What could be better than a rooftop hot tub on a cruise ship? You envision steam rising up from the water that floats through the glare of the neon lights. You can relax by yourself with an infinite amount of leg room to stretch out.

You can basically do a water aerobics class as you watch the other vacationers on the deck mingling with each other. But, we all know that it's not the case.

The Hot Tub - What It's Really Like

Going into the cruise ship hot tub is about as anti-climactic as watching the fourth Harry Potter movie. Do you know that leg room that you were hoping for? Yeah, you can kiss that goodbye.

The hot tubs become a game of "how many people can we squish into this thing before one of us gets too claustrophobic?" So, if you're planning on going on a cruise because of your love of rooftop hot tubs, prepare to be disappointed.

The Music - What We Think It's Like

Sometimes when you get onto a cruise ship, you will be surprised by the musical acts that come along for the ride. Entertainment is a big part of the evening itinerary and cruise companies will spend a lot of money to get famous acts onboard.

Some of the most famous people in the world have played cruise ships, including Lady Gaga, Taylor Swift, Rascal Flatts, and Madonna. But, you're VERY lucky if you get professional acts.

The Music - What It's Really Like

If this is any indication of what you can expect your cruise ship entertainment to look like, you're in for the ride of your life. It's important to look into what performers are on your cruise ship before you even book, because you don't want to be stuck with a lousy act for the week.

This guy is certainly no Taylor Swift or Madonna, but I guess he's trying his best.

Seasickness - What You Think It's Like

If you've never been on a cruise, or a boat for that matter, you might not know what seasickness feels like. Whether you're on a ferry, cruise ship, dingy, or sailboat, there's always a possibility that you will get sick.

It's easy to think that sailing on a cruise ship is simple when you're booking online, but it's not until you get out on the open water that you realize how bad it can really be.

Seasickness - What It's Really Like

Seasickness is very real and it's a horrible feeling. You're trapped when you're on a cruise ship because there's literally nowhere to go to get away from the sway of the water.

The sickness can be as common as having to go to the bathroom. There have been many cruises that get completely ruined because a majority of people end up getting seasick if the water is rough. It's horrible.

The Weather - What We Think It's Like

The weather is usually the elephant in the room when it comes to cruises. Any tropical vacation is going to be affected by the weather, but cruise ships really rely on having good weather.

No matter what, promoters are only going to show you what the cruise is going to be like with perfect weather. The pictures can be tempting, but there are many times that weather ends up ruining an entire vacation on a cruise.

The Weather - What It's Really Like

You need to realize that mother nature doesn't care about promotional pictures and the weather doesn't adjust plans just for you and your family. We like to think it does, but it doesn't.

It won't matter how hot the hot tub is if you're in the middle of a tropical storm and you can't see five feet in front of you because of the downpour of rain. If you've never been in a storm while in the middle of the ocean, try to keep it that way.

The Dining Experience - What We Think It's Like

Some of the professional photos that we see on websites can skew how we think our cruise cuisine is going to be. Knowing that you have a vast amount of different foods to eat is one of the most exciting parts of being on a cruise.

You expect five-star dining for a three-star venue. You expect buffet tables to be pristine and exotic. You want to have to ask, "how do I pronounce this dish?" at every buffet.

The Dining Experience - What It's Really Like

Some of what I said before might be true, but you have to remember that cruise ships are forced to feed thousands of people three times a day. That means they'll throw quality off the ship in order to do so.

Unless you're on some extremely expensive ship, you're probably going to be eating from a cafeteria-like buffet for 80% of your meals over the week. You'll need to prepare yourself for that.

The Age Range - What You Think It's Like

One of the most tempting reasons to go on a cruise is to meet people. Just the thought of being surrounded by people your own age, and mingling with some others who are slightly older or younger is exciting.

If you're in your 20s or 30s, you're generally hoping that the other passengers are within five or six years of you. I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but...

The Age Range - What It's Really Like

The big problem is that you really don't have any control over who is going to be on the cruise with you. Unless you sign up for one of those specialty cruises (which are a lot more expensive), you're probably going to be hanging out with a group of people that you have nothing in common with.

We're not saying that there's anything wrong with that, but when you have a fantasy that you're going to be making best friends for life, just know that they'll be in a different tax bracket.

The Ship Itself - What We Think It's Like

If this cruise ship looks familiar to you, it's probably because it's one of the most popular models that is advertised on travel websites. We can certainly see why. It looks pristine and majestic.

The ship screams beauty and is something that we all wish we could board tomorrow and set sail for some tropical islands. But, not all cruise ships are as sparkly and clean as this one in the picture.

The Ship Itself - What It's Really Like

Okay, okay, you're probably not going to get duped into getting onto this cruise ship (if you do, bless your ignorant soul). But, this is simply trying to open your eyes about the fact that there are some awful cruise ships out there.

Contrary to popular belief, there is a grey area that exists between the breathtaking cruise ships of the world and the brutal ones that are unfortunately out there.

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