Comments on: Cruise Ship Musician Employment – FAQ

By: Koen

Koen — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 21:38:22 +0000

Hey David,

Great site, very helpful!
I’m a professional cellist and i’m living and working to travel.Like all young people I wanna see the world and it looks fun to me to visit some city’s and play for living in the meanwhile. I can’t complain about the jobs and my salary right now, so I don’t know if doing cruise gigs are the best thing to do at this moment? But, I think I have to do it when I’m still young. I don’t have problems with being from home for 6 months and all the other negative things that comes with cruise gigs, but a real important question for me is: Are you doing the same cruise for 6 months??? Or can you switch boats and explore other parts of the globe? Or, is your boat doing other cruises in that period :-) Cause I can’t find information about this part of the job. Example: Your cruise boat is doing a cruise of only 7 days. Do you have to go to the 7 same harbors for 6 months than?? Looks boring to me…
Thanks for your answer and good luck with your career!

Best regards,
Koen

By: Higgs

Higgs — Sat, 10 Sep 2011 13:00:00 +0000

Hi Jen,

I figured I’d respond to your question about cellists. To my knowledge, no cruise line hires string players as individuals. However, Holland America does hire string quartets.

It’s a lot of work for the quartet. They usually perform in the Explorers lounge every night. It’s usually 5 hours a day, every day. If tea time is involved, it means that port time is shortened. I was an MD on ships for 5 years, and the most complaints I got for exhaustion were from the quartets. They also prefer that the repertoire be of the lighter variety. No Elliott Carter quartets here! Tangos, Air on a G string, Eine Kleine Nachtmusik, Beatles songs, Memory from Cats, stuff like that. Once, I had a cruise director who wanted to fire a group because they played a late Beethoven quartet! (they weren’t fired.)If your typical cruise is 7 days, it means that you need at least 35 hours of rep not to have to repeat something. Occasionally, they may ask you to play outside for the Dessert Extravaganza. In the humid, salt air. Not good for the instrument.

All this being said, I had a great time on ships. I saw the world and met some amazing people. The money is OK, and if you give up your apartment on land (like I did), you can save a fair deal of cash.

Here’s a link to the HAL website

http://entertainment.hollandamerica.com/

By: Jen

Jen — Sat, 10 Sep 2011 08:53:20 +0000

Hi David,

Thank you for all your articles, I’ve really enjoyed reading them. One question though: Do cruise lines ever hire cellists for their orchestras? I’ve looked on several websites about playing on cruise ships and none of them have mentioned cellos (or any other string instruments besides bass, for that matter) in their orchestras

By: Bill's Son

Bill's Son — Fri, 08 Apr 2011 16:23:59 +0000

Hi David. This is a great site. Especially as it comes from the inside as it were. I’m hoping to start a cruise as a cabaret lounge artist in a few weeks from now, and was wondering what to expect in terms of hours? Best wishes.

By: Margie

Margie — Fri, 25 Mar 2011 16:50:53 +0000

Good-day …what would your opinion be on a 4pc Band trying to book a Cruise ship gig..we are Not new at this and have a well established following on land and are more looking to a semi-retirement so to speak ( as families are at a mature age) allowing us to travel for 6 months at a time …however we are looking at rooms provided and a descent salary as well…One we have looked at is offering $2500 a month each musician and rooms..does this sound even possible though your experience…we are 2 male vocals one female vocal and do every genre of Music..our drummer does not sing but he rocks…Thanks

By: David J. Hahn

David J. Hahn — Sat, 15 Jan 2011 17:00:38 +0000

Hi Orfeas – yes, we’re here!

Try this link, it’ll tell you exactly how to get a gig:

How to Get a Cruise Ship Musician Job

By: Orfeas

Orfeas — Sat, 15 Jan 2011 02:12:19 +0000

Hey David!
Or anyone! Is still anyone in here? I’m trying to get on board a ship but i dont know where to look! The information is just too much now days and they send you from click to click! Any suggestions?!?
Thaaanx!

By: william

william — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 14:17:50 +0000

This blog you have going is great! it is really helpful for someone who is thinking about getting a job on a cruise ship

By: Joshua Salamone

Joshua Salamone — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 17:51:54 +0000

I know you talked about praticing already, but I’m the kind of musician that will still be praticing even though I’m already in a gig. You mentioned that it was difficult to practice aboard a ship. However, my question is if you really looked hard enough would you be able to find a spot to practice all day, or at least most of it?

Thank you.

By: Richard

Richard — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 21:51:28 +0000

Hi there!,

Firstly am so glad ive found this site….Its really very useful so well done for that!

Im a drummer from the UK looking to work on a ship….for an agency like Proship who are obviously not based in the UK would I still be able to work for them or even audition?

I guess what im asking is,if your from the UK do you have to apply to work on a cruise liner through an agency thats based in the UK??

Many thanks,

R x