Are cruise ship shows worth it? A performer lifts the lid

At a glance

• Entertainment on cruise ships varies widely, from comedy club-style nights to cabaret, but West End- and Broadway-style shows remain a popular staple
• Performers onboard are typically seasoned professionals who have completed years of performance arts training
• Depending on your cruise line, you can expect classics like Grease, shows dedicated to musical icons like Donna Summer or performances geared towards children, such as Frozen

Spoiler alert: Here at World of Cruising, we’re pretty convinced that cruise ship shows are well worth it. In our humble opinion, the quality and talent they showcase often rivals their land-based equivalents. But don’t just take our word for it. We’re revealing what actually goes into making cruise ship shows such high-calibre spectacles, with behind-the-scenes insight from a seasoned performer.

What kind of entertainment will I find on a cruise?

Nowadays, cruise ship shows are incredibly wide-ranging – it really depends on which cruise line you sail with. For instance, Virgin Voyages, an adults-only line, offers immersive cabaret, drag shows and razor-sharp comedy. On river cruise lines, like Viking River Cruises or Riviera Travel, you’re more likely to encounter a string quartet or an enriching talk by a historian.

That said, Broadway- or West End-style productions remain among the most popular forms of entertainment on ocean cruise ships. On Disney Cruise Line, you might take your little ones to see a Frozen or Tangled musical onboard, while Royal Caribbean International puts on shows like Mamma Mia! and Grease. Norwegian Cruise Line boasts the likes of Jersey Boys and Rock of Ages.

That’s why we caught up with Eve Parsons. She’s been on over 40 cruises, starting at the tender age of three, thanks to her mum and grandma’s love of cruising. But most importantly, she spent two years performing on Norwegian Cruise Line ships sailing across the Mediterranean, Baltic and Caribbean, among other destinations. During her time onboard, she performed in Summer: The Donna Summer Musical and Beetlejuice, gaining plenty of insight into what cruise ship shows are really like.

What can I expect from a West End-style show at sea?

Every show is a little different, and each cruise line has its own style, but you can generally expect high production values, impressive choreography and powerful vocals.

Eve describes watching Revolution: A Celebration of Prince at the debut of Norwegian Aqua. “It was amazing – a very high-energy show. When I was watching it, I was just thinking, wow, these performers are so athletic. The amount of stamina that they need to get through the show is so impressive. It was an amazing spectacle, the theatre and the way it transforms. And the singers – they were top-tier talent.”

Often, you’ll also find audiences – away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life – who are fully willing to get into the spirit of the musicals. As Eve notes, “At this performance, everyone was up on their feet and dancing and clapping along.”

What kind of training do cruise ship performers have?

Performers on cruise ships are well-trained professionals with years of practice under their belts to execute the technically challenging shows staged onboard.

For Eve, performing on a cruise ship was something she’d been working towards for years. She explains, “I started my journey to becoming a cruise performer by going on cruises as a child and watching all the shows. My reaction was, ‘Okay, this is amazing. It looks so fun, that’s what I want to do.’”

The dream of performing spurred her on – first to take ballet, classical dance and singing lessons, then to enrol in a specialised performing arts school. Eve smiles, “It was half dancing and musical theatre and half academics, so I’d often go from biology to ballet or maths to music.”

After graduating, she refined her skills further at a performing arts university. “You train from nine to six, Monday to Friday, and it’s a combination of loads of practical skills, but you also learn the history behind musical theatre and what it means to be a performer today."

How do performers snag a role in a cruise ship show?

The truth is, according to performers, cruise ship shows can be just as competitive – if not more so – than shows on land.

Eve says, “Cruise auditions are some of the hardest. The process is often long because of the volume of people who audition. Because it's a great opportunity, the competition is really tough. There are a lot of skills you have to have to work on a cruise ship, and in the auditions, they test every single one, from kicks to scales to material from the shows.”

What goes into putting on a cruise ship show?

Putting on a professional cruise ship show is far from straightforward and requires significant logistical and technical finesse. Building sets, designing costumes and working through choreography all present unique obstacles, particularly considering that working on a cruise ship means dealing with limited space, shifting schedules and a stage that can move unexpectedly.

Eve says, “I think people are often surprised by how much goes into the shows and the big-name creatives we have onboard. Before we start performing a show, we spend a full month in a studio in America, just honing and perfecting it, making sure it’s as beautiful and clean and precise as possible before going on the ship.”

So, are cruise ship shows worth it?

Chances are, you’ll find some form of cruise ship entertainment that feels absolutely worth it to you. If you’re a fan of musicals, you’re in for a particular treat. It’s very apparent how much many cruise lines invest in them, and their sheer scope, sophistication and extravagance are likely to win you over.

That said, even if musicals aren’t really your thing, you’re unlikely to get bored. Depending on the cruise line you choose, you’ll find a huge range of entertainment and activities, from interactive game shows and escape rooms to jazz bars and much more.

And if nothing on the programme is quite your cup of tea, there’s almost always a cocktail waiting for you by the pool.