No one would describe a musician’s life as easy. Most of us - the 99% you don’t hear on the radio or see selling out arenas - play for peanuts out of the limelight. We tour in vans, play the local bars, and fight for spots in the orchestra or studio session.
So the thought of a professional gig that’s guaranteed for months, with meals and oceanside housing paid for, is a dream for many single musicians.
Cruise ships offer just that. Whether you’re an acoustic crooner at home in Irish pubs, a rocker in a cover band, or a chart-reading horn player, there’s a need for you somewhere on a ship.
Globally, cruise ships represent a $40 billion industry. There are over 180 cruise ships in the North American industry alone, and that’s only going to increase over the next decade.
Landing a gig on a ship, however, is not easy. And the reality of the experience once you’re out at sea isn’t always the idyllic life most people imagine.
We talked to a band currently out at sea, as well as a drummer who’s been on several tours with different companies, to help manage expectations before you quit your job, break your lease, and head for the blue horizon.
Getting the Gig
There are two basic ways to try and land a job on a cruise ship: apply directly with the cruise ship line itself or go through an agency.
Unless you’ve worked for the company before, or you’re referred by someone who has, going direct will rarely result in an invitation to audition. The cruise lines make this intentionally difficult, as it’s much easier for them to work through agencies who vet and prepare musicians specifically for cruise ship work.
Still, applying directly is probably the best first option, as it will make the decision real for you without things taking off too quickly. It will force you to prepare and allow you to reflect. And it may just result in a call.
If you’re really serious, contact an agency that specifically works with cruise lines. Many of them have agents that specialize in the type of music a particular cruise ship is looking for and will provide you with tailored audition material.
On many nights, guest performers will jump on stage and call a tune. Reading charts and improvising accompaniments are the skills they’re looking for."
Whether you go direct or through an agency, keep in mind that more than half the gigs out there are mostly going to be sight-reading.
“I was sent several tracks in different styles and then had to accompany them with little preparation on a video call,” says Jon Leganski, a percussionist and stage performer with one of the largest cruise companies.
“On many nights, guest performers will jump on stage and call a tune. You need to be ready to nail it, even if you’re not totally familiar with the song. Reading charts and improvising accompaniments are the skills they’re looking for.”
Can’t sight-read? Bring your own band with a polished, 200+ song repertoire. “There’s been a shift in the industry toward the whole band approach,” Leganski notes. “Cover bands that do everything and tribute bands that only do one thing are huge on ships.”
One of those bands, The Beats, plays on a South Pacific cruise line far from their native England. Bandleader and bassist Tom French, who has worked on cruise ships for three years, recalls how their residency came about.
”This group was put together as a working concept by our management company [Suoni Management]. We practiced for a solid month before playing our first show at sea. These are some of the most talented people I’ve worked with.
Debra [Hoyland], our lead singer, is wonderful. She can sing anything we ask of her, and frankly, we ask a lot. Dan [Hare], our guitarist, and Seb on drums can switch from Bob Marley to Elvis Presley to AC/DC in a single set without missing a beat.”
That hard work and talent is especially apparent on themed nights. Costumes and genres change in seconds, demanding incredible musical agility. “For the Back-to-School party, we went with a decade-by-decade graduation day nostalgia set. For Gatsby night, we included some reworked modern songs set to swing beats,” describes Seb Kedziora, drummer for The Beats.
Cruise Ship Life for Musicians
Most tours last four to seven months, with stops to pick up new passengers every week or so. The audiences are fresh each week, but you’ll get to know your fellow musicians extremely well - especially the one you share a tiny room with.
”Rooming is based on pecking order among ship staff. If you’re a lead in a show, you might have your own room, but most people share. I got lucky and only had to share a bathroom, but my room was still just 40 square feet, with a 3.5 ft.-wide pull down bed,” says Leganski.
While your room and board is paid for, you still have to pay for internet access and for alcohol, which can get expensive given the drinking culture on most ships and remote technology needed for connectivity. “Full-time monthly internet was double the cost of being in a major city. I became okay with checking my email once a week in the pay-per-hour cafe.”
The heavier gear—PA systems, amps, full drum kits—is usually provided. Guitarists and bassists bring their own instruments, and drummers usually bring their own sticks and cymbals. Leave your prized vintage Gibson Les Paul at home - the salty, moist sea breeze corrodes strings, electronics and hardware much faster than if you were on dry land. Bring something reliable and playable that you don’t mind getting a bit worn.
You can expect to play at least 5 or 6 days a week, with a 3- to 4-hour commitment of playing each day. In total, a 20- to 30-hour work week is not unusual. That leaves a lot of downtime in a closed system.
The biggest factor in determining whether working on a cruise ship is right or wrong for you is how you deal with being by yourself."
”The biggest factor in determining whether working on a cruise ship is right or wrong for you is how you deal with being by yourself. If you’re an extrovert, you can mingle with guests (with limits) at your own discretion. But that usually involves hanging out at the bars. Every night. Even then, you have a lot of time during the days to yourself, alone. Some people don’t know how to handle that,” Leganski advises.
The cruise ship gig is a unique experience for musicians uniquely positioned to do it. It combines some of the most demanding aspects of being a touring musician with some of the most challenging aspects of studio session work. If you're not tied down at home, you don't mind small quarters, and you have the chops to pick up and play with anyone, we're all rooting for you to do it.