Onboard entertainment: music, magic, & more—it's showtime at sea! - Behind The Scenes - cruise ship entertainment

Cruise Travel, Jan-Feb, 2002 by Joey Jordan

When the sun takes its resplendent bow on the horizon and the curtain of dusk falls after a dazzling day aboard ship, the stage is set in nature's theater for the stars to shimmer in the heavens as moonlight dances on the water. A stellar performance indeed, but it's not the only show in town--or afloat. It's just part of the onboard experience--a medley of natural and man-made wonders--that has become the main attraction of most cruise vacations.

Today's cruise lines offer a spectacular array of shipboard diversions throughout the day, and when the sun goes down, the "stars" appear inside as well, shining onstage in cabaret lounges and showrooms--many of which rival those found in the entertainment capitals of the world. However, this has not always been the case.

In its relatively brief hundred-year history, onboard entertainment has evolved from an extraneous amusement to an integral part of the cruise experience. In the late 19th century, no stately steamer was without the tasteful touch of culture provided by that staid string quartet, an elegant ballroom orchestra, and a well-polished poet. "Common" entertainers were prohibited from hire, but virtuosos like Enrico Caruso performed regularly. Less-refined musical rhythms were relegated to the beer halls of steerage class.

During the Roaring '20s, European steamship lines introduced jazz to a more spirited audience. But the revelry was soon to end as World War II found many ocean liners conscripted into service and high-seas travel intermittent. At war's end, the world once again surged into motion, and the passenger ships returned. To abate "on-boredom," deck sports and organized activities were introduced. Evenings brought maritime merriment in the form of theme nights and fancy costume balls.

In the '60s, as aviation swooped to the forefront of trans-oceanic travel, many steamship companies reconfigured their fleets for shorter, leisure-oriented voyages. The age of the cruise vacation had begun. By the late '70s, the bright future of the cruise business was apparent. Lines added more recreational venues--cinemas, discos, casinos, show lounges. And there was the appearance of the now-indispensable cruise director, coordinating shipboard activities and entertainment.

In those early days of pleasure cruising, the ship's stage was not much more than a good place for a young entertainer, just starting out, to get experience or for older performers to finish out their careers. "As the industry grew," says Diana M. Orban, spokesperson for the Cruise Lines International Association (the industry's trade group), "emphasis was placed on providing top-notch entertainment."

CLIA estimates that in the past 10 years cruise lines have played host for more than 50 million passengers, "the majority of which rate cruising as better than other vacation experiences," notes Orban. "This is due in part to the varied choice of quality entertainment offered onboard."

Indeed, when it comes to entertainment, today's cruiser is presented with a veritable sea of options: comedy and jazz clubs featuring top talent; Las Vegas- and Broadway-style revues performed in multi-leveled theaters replete with the very latest in stage, sound, and lighting technology; cabaret shows offering up often internationally acclaimed illusionists, comics, vocalists, instrumentalists, jugglers, and other variety artists; and live music galore--calypso poolside, dance bands playing popular music in multiple lounges, concerts in the main show venue, and strolling musicians to boot!

Impressive onboard entertainment programs are not the fruit of serendipity, but rather of corporate know-how based on scrupulous attention to market demand. "Responding to extensive research, the industry is dedicated to delivering an indelible onboard experience in all areas," explains Orban, "including entertainment."

And customer satisfaction is high: According to recent studies conducted by CLIA, the majority of cruise travelers find that the quality of onboard entertainment exceeds expectations and is a key factor in their choosing a cruise over a land-based vacation.

Virtually non-stop entertainment has become a major selling point for most cruise lines, and keeping it all going is no small undertaking. Carnival Cruise Lines, with its fleet of 15 "Fun Ships," employs a staff of more than 1,000 onboard entertainment personnel. "This includes 382 musicians, 204 dancers, 27 singers, 10 adagio performers, 70 variety-act artists, 16 stage managers, 35 technicians, 70 stagehands, 31 spotlight operators, 20 cruise directors, six assistant cruise directors, 30 social hosts, six group services hosts, 18 disc jockeys, and 76 other entertainment staff-members," recites Irene Lui of Carnival's public relations office, "enabling us to present 74 major stage productions and live music in 93 onboard venues each week," she adds without taking a breath.

Most ships schedule entertainment in various venues throughout the day. "The idea is to offer a good selection, providing guests the opportunity to chose what to do and when to do it," explains Rui Calvori, vice president of entertainment for Princess Cruises, a line that consistently earns plaudits from industry experts for its entertainment programs.