On a cruise ship, musicians are part of the entertainment staff. These ships are popular floating vacation resorts that provide passengers with a variety of amenities while traveling to exotic locations sea. Musical acts, some of which perform featured shows on stage and others who provide melodic ambiance, are among these luxuries. Cruise ship musicians on the more prestigious cruise lines may be well-known performers or even headline acts. Some cruises cater to fans of specific types of music, such as smooth jazz, Celtic music, or even heavy metal.
The luxury liner, which is an ocean liner with luxurious passenger accommodations, was first introduced in the early twentieth century. Passenger liner companies focused on these luxuries as air travel replaced sea travel as the primary mode of global transportation. Companies competed to offer the best accommodations, services, and perks, as sea travel became a luxury rather than a necessity. Beginning in the 1970s, these perks included high-tech stages and auditoriums, as well as bands and singers who provided a pleasant soundtrack to the ship’s daily operations. Soon, performers were vying for positions as cruise ship musicians.
Cruise ship musicians can come from any country, thanks to the global nature of the cruise ship industry. The competition for these positions is still fierce. Talent, presence, and a diverse repertoire of musical styles are required of successful musicians. As a result, passengers on cruise ships can enjoy the work of highly skilled musicians from all over the world. Comedians, magicians, and jugglers are among the other performers.
Many cruise ship musicians are represented talent agencies dedicated to the cruise and vacation industries. Others collaborate directly with the cruise lines’ entertainment departments. Many jobs require performers to travel for weeks or months at a time, with only a few days’ notice in some cases. On the plus side, meals and lodging are frequently included in the salary. Entertainers, like the rest of the ship’s crew, visit a variety of exotic ports while remaining permanently affixed to the ship until their assignments are completed.
Musicians on cruise ships may perform in the orchestra with main stage acts or in lounges on different decks. Restaurants and central atria frequently host quartets, duos, and solo musicians. As poolside entertainment, Caribbean and reggae bands are frequently chosen. On the ship’s main stage, headline acts will perform one or two shows per night, often with as much glitz and glam as a Las Vegas nightclub act. The most popular acts from a particular musical genre are sometimes featured on specialty cruises, luring fans to spend a week at sea with their musical idols.