cruise ships dancers

A cruise ship dancer and musician reveal what it's like to be entertainers at sea

• From actors to musicians, cruise ships employee dozens of performers to entertain guests on board.
• A Royal Caribbean singer and dancer told Insider what it's like to live and work on a cruise ship.
• Singer and popular TikToker Bryan James says the gig is "one of the best jobs on the planet."

Acrobats, ballroom dancers, rock bands, aerialists, and actors  — nearly every entertainment job you can think of exists onboard a cruise ship somewhere. 

According to singer Bryan James, who started working on cruises in 2017 and is currently onboard Royal Caribbean's largest ship, the Wonder of the Seas , the gig is "one of the best jobs on the planet."

That's how the 35-year-old described it to his nearly 700,000 TikTok followers, who are endlessly fascinated by his behind-the-scenes footage of cruise life , with videos documenting everything from what crew members eat in a day to staff lifeboat training.

"When you're like a gigging musician like me, it's just a hustle on land," James told Insider. "Ships really allow you to have a very anxiety-free existence."

In the hierarchy of ship workers, entertainers are pretty close to the top. Whereas most crew members work 10 hours a day, seven days a week, James performs around three hours a day and usually has one full day off from performing each week. 

"You just can't sing seven days straight, week after week — you'd lose your voice," James said. "Every job on the ship essentially works seven days a week for six months straight. They would love for us to do it, but they just wouldn't be able to keep musicians."

@bryanjamescruises Signing off of the world's biggest cruise ship. #wonderoftheseas #royalcaribbean #cruiseshipcrew #cruiseship ♬ Wii Shop Channel - McTweet

In a $7 billion industry tasked with engaging thousands of passengers stuck onboard a ship together for up to days at a time, entertainment is the name of the game.

On Royal Caribbean ships, passengers can see Broadway classics like "Mamma Mia " and "Grease," ice spectaculars, and "aqua shows" with performances from dancers, divers, and artistic swimmers. When I called James, he had just returned from performing at a "music festival" put on at the ship's outdoor theater. 

With entertainers elevated to somewhat of a celebrity status among guests, they're given significantly more freedom than other employees.

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For example, James and his band are able to eat at the guest buffet instead of crew mess hall — something fellow performers, like James' colleague, a diver who previously competed in the Olympics for Brazil, aren't even allowed to do. 

"Royal Caribbean is trying to entice people to come onto their ships — for us, we wouldn't have done this unless we had the ability to live more freely," James said. "It is unfair, but it is how the system works right now."

The privileges cruise ship entertainers are afforded can sometimes create tension with other departments whose schedules are more strictly regulated, Sequoia Harris, a 24-year-old dancer from New York City who completed a 10-month contract with Royal Caribbean in November, told Insider.

"They work literally every day all day," she said. "A lot of the stuff I see coming from their management and supervisors, it's borderline exploitation in my opinion. I remember when I first got on the ship, I was like, 'what do you mean you don't have days off?'"

But the abundance of free time was also the most challenging part of her job, Harris said. Crew members are often restricted from hanging out in certain areas of the ship reserved for guests — making it easy to go crazy with boredom, she told Insider.  

There are also sacrifices that come with any job that requires being at sea for multiple months in a row, like missing out on holidays and milestone events with family members and rarely seeing land-based friends, James said. 

"Socially, your life changes massively. I've got little nephews at home and I've missed every single one of their birthdays, Christmases, Thanksgivings," James said. "But when you are home you don't have a job so you spend that time really intensely with people."

Harris said she was surprised how much she missed some aspects of social life at sea, despite sharing a small bunk room and bathroom with her roommate, which made privacy hard to come by. Living in such close proximity with her castmates helped form life-long bonds with entertainers from all over the world, she said. 

"There was a time when I was saying this is my first and last contract and I'm never going to do this again," Harris said. "But then there other times when I'm like, that was actually really fun. I miss these people and dancing with these people."

James, who's in his sixth year in the cruise industry, said he originally fell in love with the job because it allowed him to travel the world with nearly zero expenses. 

"But now that the travel bug is gone, I'm realizing it's not really to travel. It's more like I can make good money and I can do it in a way that doesn't stress me out one bit," he told Insider. 

"That's kind of what everybody is searching for in life," he continued. "To do something they're good at, something they actually like to do that pays them well and they don't have to stress —  and that's what I'm finding on ships."

Do you work on a cruise ship? Have a tip or story to share? Email this reporter from a non-work address at [email protected]

Watch: This is what it takes to be a cruise ship performer

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Mathilde Veje

Dancing on a cruise ship – Everything you need to know!

She’s Irish, she’s sarcastic, been to every single continent in the world, worked 6 cruise ship contracts , toured China, taught at Millennium in Shanghai & Beijing, danced for Taylor Swift, lived in France, currently signed to MSA in Los Angeles, managed BASE-studios in London and the list goes on and on… my point is: she knows what she’s talking about, alright.

She’s a dear friend of mine, who will tell you things straight to your face over a Texas Sized Mango Margarita, so get ready for a chat about all the inside information you need on what it’s really like to dance on a cruise ship.

Introducing: Sarah McGinley. Instagram ( @sarah.mc.ginley )

Take it away, Sarah!

When I was at full time training in our final graduating year of college at Performers College UK  in London, they allowed us to audition for jobs. There were 3 jobs that everybody wanted:

1. To dance on X Factor

2. To dance on West End Show

3. To book a world cruise ship. 

How did you book a cruise ship job?

There was only one way to book that job: Through a cattle call…sorry “live audition”. You would patiently wait in a line outside Pineapple Dance Studios in London. The line was longer than The Great Wall of China.

We all looked and dressed the same and knew what to expect. 5-600 girls all dressed in high waisted pants, fishnets, a colorful crop top and a red lip. (Always a red lip) .

The audition choreography – which styles are required?

You would learn an audition choreography that would consist of every dance style possible to mankind. 4×8 counts of ballet, jazz, hip hop, tap and ballroom.

Later I understood why, because the shows really are all so different on the ship. Therefore they need dancers that can execute all styles.

An 8 hour audition process

Each time you made it through a round of cuts, another style would be given, and most of the time some simple partner work.

I have been to some auditions that lasted 8 hours so I guess what im tryna say is pack some snacks.

However, I have been to some auditions where they are mainly looking for showgirls/cabaret jazz girls. At these auditions they will simply ask you to do jazz walks from the corner and a double pirouette on each leg, then they make a massive cut leaving only a few dancers.

We like those quick auditions….more of those please. 

Your nationality doesn’t matter – paper work and visas

Working on a cruise ship, it doesn’t matter what country you are from because you will now be working at sea – which is “maritime laws”.

Your visa is simply a “seafarer visa” called C12, but the ship look after everything for you. They make the visas for you and provide all information you need.

You just need a full medical test done to prove you are mentally and physically well.

( Maybe you’ll also like: “How to get an american artist work visa” here )

The rehearsal process

I took a job with Princess cruises, and our rehearsals were 4 weeks long in Santa Clarita, California. This was honestly the most fun process, and the apartments and studios provided were incredible.

In those 4 weeks we learned five one-hour long shows , all different styles and genres. They also had a costume warehouse, where they’d fit us for wigs, hairpieces, tights, and shoes. In my opinion the most fun days were the days trying on wigs. 

“The Install” – The first days on board

After you finish 4 weeks at the Princess mothership in California, you board your ship for what is called “The Install”. This is where the cast from the last ship are still onboard and you spend 2-3 days doing a handover. You watch the shows performed by the cast already onboard and you meet who’s track you will be filling.

I met the dancer whose role I will be replacing and she talked me through where my place was in the dressing room, where I would need to pre-set my costumes and props for the quickest changes, and lastly introduce you to your dresser (the person that dresses you side stage) .

For many numbers you have 30 seconds to change shoes, wig, costume and get to the other side of the stage (a gal needs help) – enter the amazing dressers.

You have to look like the dancer you’re replacing

Costume designers will also be with you during the first days on the ship to alter any costumes that are needed, but generally you are very similar to the dancer you are replacing.

Please bear this fact in mind when auditioning. 99% of the time they need someone to fill a track i.e. fit the costume, so you could be the most fabulous wonderful dancer but maybe too tall, so it’s really not personal.

Most trained dancers are capable of performing these shows and doing this job. 

Rehearsing on a moving boat?

When the handover is over the theatre goes dark and we begin to practise the shows on stage with the set we didn’t have in rehearsals ( in one show there was a moving cadillac on stage so it’s needed). There are also a lot of trap doors and floor parts that move down, up and out in shows and it takes a lot of getting used – whilst also on a moving boat.

On big liners you cannot feel the boats motions…on smaller liners you definitely can. 

Are you doing the same show every single night on a cruise?

The rule thumb is a show cannot repeat on a cruise, so for example if a cruise is 10 days they will see all five shows every second evening of their cruise. During ten days you will work 5 nights and all of those nights are nights at sea so you never “miss out” on seeing a new part of the world.

On a show night you perform the same show 3 times in order for all passengers to have an opportunity to see the show. That is a really nice feeling! The theatre capacity is 2,000 people.

Every month we would record our shows and send them back to the head office and they would tell us if it needed to be cleaned or rehearsed, but I always had great casts who kept it clean so we were only really in rehearsals if somebody was injured or sick.

Did you ever change the shows? Did you ever get bored of the repetition?

After 3 months a choreographer would join us onboard and teach us 5 new shows for our next ship. The contracts were 4-5 months. I would take a 6 week holiday after a contract ended and go to a new ship afterwards, so I never got bored of the shows. 

Let’s talk about socializing – do you want to kill everyone after a week?

On my ship dancers shared a cabin with another dancer, you live in a bunk bed, and singers had their own room. However 9 out of 10 dancers would fall temporarily in love with an officer and move to a new cabin with a balcony and a hot tub, so rarely were there 2 dancers sharing.

I loved my roommates so much though, you build a bond like a sister and get to know people in a truly different way. In such small confinements there is nothing to hide. Your whole self is on show and you cannot choose what mask you would like to wear that day.

Did you have a romance… or a “showmance” yourself?

I “fell in love” many times onboard but I wholeheartedly preferred when I was in my bunk bed with my roomie chatting until 3am.

The perks of living on a cruise ship

• Food and drink on the ship are 24 hours,
• On the top deck there is “movie under the stars”
• Pizza bar & candy stall
• Buffet and a bar
• A swimming pool as to your access
• As you’re mincing around, passengers are telling you how much they loved the show.

The downsides – spill the tea, please

Bad sides of living on board:

• Paying $20 dollars for 60 minutes of WiFi can grind on you
• There is a lot of ship politics and drama that no matter how much you say your going to stay out of it you are in some way sucked in. 

Do you actually get to see the world outside the cruise ship?

You really do get to see the world . Most places you revisit 7-8 times and there are some places I could walk you around blindfolded now.

Sometimes the ship would dock and stay there for 2-3 nights, so that would be really exciting when you got to stay overnight in a city.

However the con of travelling on a ship is that you don’t get to mix as much with the people of that country which is something I feel is important to truly soak in a culture. 

How much time do you spend on/off the cruise ship?

There are 2 typical days on board:

A typical Sea day / performing day:

• Wake up drink coffee on the top deck for ages it was my favourite thing to do
• Watch the sea, it makes you feel so small.
• Go to the gym for an hour
• Eat a really big lunch to set me up for that evening
• Go to the dressing room about 4pm do my make up and pre set my costumes
• Warm up on stage, and go through the show I was performing that night mentally. There was a lot of partner work so i liked to run through my lifts with my partner once before the show.
• Then the marathon would begin you would repeat the show 3 times
• At 10pm my cast and I would all go for dinner together and most likely wine because it was tax free and only 6 dollars for a bottle of champagne.

A port day / adventure day:

• Wake up at 7am
• Get off the boat and just spend the day exploring.

I always went on excursions and tours planned by the ship so that I could see everything, luckily the dancers could do this for free. The passengers paid $2-300 per excursion so we were super lucky. 

Be careful with who you work for – Know your worth

I don’t want to glorify my experience because like everything, there are good and bad companies.

Some hungry, graduated dancers just want their first job, and just want experience. I understand that but know your worth.

I have close friends that have told me close to horror stories of their ship experiences with mainly Italian cruise liners (Costa, MSC) where they worked dancing in the show and also had to work in other areas of the ship like the library? teaching in the gym …ect. they were called “cruise duties”….almost like chores I guess?

They weren’t allowed to eat anywhere else except the crew mess (rice and fish heads no thanks) and their pay check was not cute. 

Let’s talk about the money – You can make $3-5000 per month

Now let’s get to the good part and the reason most dancers like working on cruise ships: the money.

As an artist it’s hard to find financial security in a dance job but a ship is a great way of doing that. Many of my friends have bought houses with their ship money or invested in property/businesses to secure a future.

It is a great way to save money. With a good company you should expect to make $3-5000 per month. Normally you will start on $3500 per month and your wage will increase every time you take a new contract to incentivise you to stay with the same company.

It’s normally capped at $5000 per month however you receive a bonus of about $4000 every time you complete 3 contracts.

( Read the blog post “How much a professional dancer make” here )

You can also have the opportunity to work in different parts of the company as a skeleton cast for a new show, a swing, an install overseer of shows, a teacher of shows, and/or quality control of shows. Many dancers on ships I know have spent 5-10 years with the same company – loyalty is rewarded and encouraged with this gig!

Any expenses?

All your food on board is provided so my only expenses were wifi and phone cards(that ain’t cheap) so forget instagram scrolling, because the reception is terrible, you will simply have to actually TALK to people… imagine that. 

(Read “24 Easy Ways To Save Money As A Dancer here )

Companies you’ll reccommend for dancers?

• Princess/Carnival Cruises   Now the same company have a variety of shows in MT/Commercial and Contemporary styles.
• Disney Cruises , NCL  Especially if you are interested in learning cirque work.
• Crystal cruises   Very high pay! more geared towards showgirls so for all my tallies.
• Royal Caribbean   Most of these ships also offer some ships that have Broadway musicals on them, all the same choreographers/directors and producers, so there are some wonderful opportunities.
• Grayboy Cruises   An australian based company. Go to their website and contact their entertainment departments directly. In general: Try not to take these jobs through an agent. It is not necessary. All ships cast their own entertainment; they do not hire an outside party, and youll get more coin. you’re welcome. 

(Read about Dance Agencies in LA & How To Get Signed here )

Finish this sentence: Dancing on a cruise ship is for you if….

… you want to use the world like a travel brochure, save money, have a dance, fall in love with someone instantly for 6 weeks that youll never talk to again. If that’s you, get yourself on a ship! 

Finish this sentence: Dancing on a cruise ship is not for you if…

… you value WiFi and privacy and cannot follow rules…..If that’s you, you will struggle but you will learn a lot about yourself. I was one of those people and I don’t regret a thing. I learned more about myself in that time then I did about anything else.

SYNOPSIS: get your red lipstick on and practise your high kicks!

Follow Sarah McGinley on Instagram to see what adventure she’s up to next or for any questions you may have! IG: ( @sarah.mc.ginley )

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Versatility is Key: What It's Like Dancing on a Cruise Ship

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Now that cruise lines are returning to “full steam ahead” perhaps it is time to reconsider a dance job at sea. Opportunity awaits those with the talent it takes to land a job at sea. But is it safe in light of the pandemic that seems to be lingering on?

If you intend to pursue this dream, you will want to research the specific Covid-19 protocols of the companies you will audition for and give the matter careful consideration before you sign your contract. Be advised, the guidelines may mean limited offshore time and learning a whole new set of dance tracks in case fellow cast members come down with the virus. But the truth is, performing in any field of entertainment at this time involves a new normal of precautions and practices. The impressive Celebrity X Cruises Health & Safety protocols exemplify what all of the major cruise lines have in place now. These guidelines appear to be as stringent as humanly possible. It just may be safer than venturing into your local supermarket! This is only one of the many items to research before you embark on this career path.

If you are curious about what a dancer’s life at sea is like, you have come to the right place.

When it comes to dancing on a cruise ship, you have to be multi-talented. You will likely perform in a wide variety of genres: ballroom, Latin dance, theater dance, hip-hop, ballet (perhaps en pointe), tap, contemporary – you name it. While the more versatile you are the better, Mary Roberts, Production Show Supervisor for Norwegian Cruise Line, emphasizes jazz dance as the primary technique in which you need to be well trained because counts and reproducing choreography exactly as taught are crucial in rehearsals and performances alike (not to mention that it will help you audition successfully in the first place ).

Cruise line dance experience will serve you well in finding future performance work.

Besides the featured production shows, presented in huge venues, ranging from edgy Rock ‘n Roll shows to Broadway Musicals, there are many other types of cruise ship entertainment you may be involved in. Themed shows are smaller scale performances centered around a specific theme - such as the 60’s. These typically take place in themed party or event settings and may be followed by interactions with guests. Another type of performance, “Bumpers”, as they are called on Norwegian Cruise Line, are shorter, pop-up entertainment numbers (5 to 8 minutes long) that can be performed in different areas of the ship, such as poolside. On Royal Caribbean International, you will perform in parades. If this sounds surprising, remember you are essentially working in a floating city. Every cruise line has its own vision and types of performances, so it is difficult to generalize except to say: “Expect the unexpected!” You may find yourself in some extraordinary situations.

You might be asked to learn and perform aerial skills even if you have no prior experience in that realm. You might be asked to sing although your audition didn’t include singing, or perhaps to lip sync as a back-up singer or chorus member in a Broadway style show. Darren Pitre, a former dancer with Celebrity Cruises (2016 – 2017), advises: “If you are afraid of heights….you better overcome it. If your singing abilities aren’t up to par, go take lessons ”. It may not apply to all cruise lines, but with Celebrity Cruises, dancers need to be prepared for the possibility of aerial work – on their audition form you will be asked if you are willing to be trained to do aerial work as much as 30 feet off the ground. If you always wanted to learn aerial dance, this could be your opportunity!

As you would expect, you will perform the same material over and over with the same cast members. For all the dancers I spoke with this is perceived as a plus. Darren emphasized the benefits of dancing with the same cast members for months on end. “We got to have very strong, easy-going shows as we became a family on stage. Show after show it would only get better.” Dancer Bryant Henderson agrees. “Once you’re a couple of weeks into the contract and everyone has found their groove, you are able to become less concerned about remembering all of the choreography and relish the time sharing the stage with friends and entertaining the guests.”

Another aspect of working on a cruise ship that might surprise you, is that while rehearsals on land will be arduous and the installation of the productions on the ship will be intense, once this process is complete you may have a lot more time off than you expected. I asked Kristen Moranetz, Celebrity Cruises dancer, about the workload dancers should be prepared for. “This depends on the length of the cruise. If a cruise length is 7 days, we will do 3 or 4 production shows and then 3 theme shows and have one full day off. However, my last ship had 15-day cruises, so during those 15 days, we would perform 3 or 4 production shows, and do the 3 theme shows, leaving at least 7 full days off during that cruise.” Kristen describes this as “a blessing and a curse because it is easy to get lazy and we have to work extra hard to keep our fitness level up and keep improving as dancers.”

On the other hand, on a shorter cruise you will be performing daily. Mary comments that “longer cruises will give you a better quality of life.” After your first contract you may be able to request a specific vessel to travel to the places you desire with the length of cruises you prefer. But for your first contract, you will not have a choice.

Speaking of contracts…they will typically vary in length from 6 to 8 months and generally during that time period you are not going to get a break to go home… but there are exceptions. For example, on Royal Caribbean International, Maria Tucker, Rehearsal Choreographer/Director, shared that sometimes performers are granted “compassionate leave” for circumstances such as a sickness or death in the immediate family and sometimes even get time off for “short-term gigs that have been pre-approved.” But, “normally dancers may only leave a contract due to illness or injury.” She added that “in some instances, a performer can be pulled off a contract if the company chooses to place them on another ship”.  If you are hired as a replacement dancer , you will have a shorter contract than usual and would join the cast mid-contract. Due to maritime law, the maximum length of time you can work onboard ships without breaks is 10 months.

Right about now you may be wondering – how much will I be paid for dancing on a cruise ship? You can anticipate $500 to $800 per week on your first contract (but this varies from line to line). With subsequent contracts you can negotiate for higher pay. The good news is there are perks. You are not paying rent, not paying for food (unless you choose to eat in special restaurants rather than the crew mess), you have access to the gym, medical care is provided - you get the idea. If you play your cards right, you will be able to save money (which may be helpful for any break between this contract and your next job.) Oh and let us not forget, you are getting to travel the world for free!

Besides dancing in the various types of performances aboard your vessel, as a dancer working on a cruise ship, additional jobs such as Dance Captain or Wardrobe Captain could mean private quarters and additional pay. These roles can be a route to a more comfortable life onboard ship, but may or may not be an option for you. Mary explained that “After several contracts and an interview process, one dancer will be deemed dance captain.”

Kristen and Darren both taught dance lessons on their respective vessels. Kristen acts as Wardrobe Keeper (sometimes referred to as Wardrobe Captain). On other cruise lines, such as Norwegian Cruise Line, Wardrobe Keeper is a dedicated position i.e. not available to dancers. On Royal Caribbean International, Maria shared that dancers crew the ice shows and the skaters crew the dance shows. While additional jobs and duties for the entertainment crew represent another area that varies from one line to another, on all ocean liners there will be various safety duties . On some cruise liners, there are additional random duties you may be asked to perform, but don’t worry, you won’t be swabbing the decks.

One of the downsides of life on a cruise ship is that your personal freedom of expression off stage will be restricted. For example, restrictions on what you can wear when you are not on stage may be imposed by the Cruise Director such as (true story) mid-cruise you may be told you cannot wear open-toed shoes or something else that may seem silly to you. Besides that, you will have less freedom than usual with your appearance in general. More diversity of body types is embraced by cruise lines now than in the past, but nonetheless you are hired for your look, whatever that is. Mary emphasized that once you are hired, you will be agreeing not to change your look or to gain or lose weight, dye your hair, and so forth. Some dancers find giving up their freedom in this manner frustrating, but you are filling a need for specific roles in specific productions – so be prepared to surrender the ability to alter your appearance during your contract just as you would for a Broadway Show or most commercial dance jobs.

How you perform throughout your contract may determine whether you are offered another automatically, but for some cruise lines, you will have to re-audition for your next contract. In any case, according to Kristen, there are “amazing performers who aren’t offered a contract because of behavioral issues” so it isn’t just about being a great dancer. If you have the necessary talent, temperament, and stamina and comport yourself professionally, you can go far. And once you are ready to move on, cruise line dance experience will serve you well in finding future performance work. There are also non-entertainment staff opportunities available - for example both Mary and Maria transitioned into jobs on the creative staff in the studio after working as dancers.

While a life at sea isn’t for everyone and the pros and cons of working on a cruise ship are all worth considering, you will be hard-pressed to find a dance job that will give you the breadth of performance experience you will gain from dancing on a cruise ship.

Working on a Cruise Ship: A day in the life of a dancer courtesy of Kristen Moranetz

This is what a typical show day on Celebrity Cruises looks like (keep in mind, different Covid safety protocols may affect this schedule, based on your cruise line):

8:45 a.m. Run to the crew mess just before it closes at 9:00 for a quick bite of breakfast.

9:00 a.m. Go to the gym for a bit of a workout before our tech call time.

10:00 a.m. Call time. We are required to do a tech run every show day, so we will warm up as a cast, do mic check, our stage manager will check the moving stage parts, and the dancers and aerialists will do aerial checks to ensure everything is working properly and safely.

10:45 a.m. Get notes from our captains - dance, vocal, and aerial - if we need a reblock we will do this now.

11:30 a.m. Tech run!

12:30 p.m. We eat a light lunch and then head our own way until our call time at 6:00 p.m.

Afternoon : I usually get a coffee and watch one of the ship’s venue musicians who play throughout the day. If it is a nice day, I also like to walk along an open deck and enjoy the views and get some fresh air. The theater is used in the afternoons for lectures and matinee shows, so if something interesting is on, I might go watch that.

5:00 p.m. Time to get ready! I do my hair and makeup either backstage or in my cabin. Then, right before call, I usually just grab a light bite of something so I have enough energy to last for the performances.

6:00 p.m. Call time. Once I am backstage, I preset my costumes and double check everything is set correctly. The last 30 minutes or so I use to warm up.

7:00 and 9:00 p.m. Shows! All our shows are about one hour long so we have an hour break in between to rest and preset.

10:00 p.m. Wrap up. After the second show, everyone puts away their costumes and they are done! My day continues however since I am the Wardrobe Keeper so I am in charge of washing the costumes. Luckily, the laundry room is next to our staff bar where the cast usually gathers after shows for food, drinks, and mingling with our friends from other departments.

12:00 a.m. Once I finish up, I head straight to bed so I am ready for whatever adventures await the next day!

A special thanks to the generous sources for this article: Christy McNeil Chand, Bryant Henderson, Kristen Moranetz, Darren Pitre, Mary Roberts & Maria Tucker.

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Lara Branen (aka Elle) is the Artistic Director of the Boulder Jazz Dance Workshop (BJDW) and its resident company Interweave Dance Theatre (IDT). She received her Masters in Dance from the University of Colorado in Boulder where she also taught jazz dance. Since then she has taught primarily at Santa Rosa Junior College in Northern California. She has also choreographed and directed extensively through IDT and SRJC. In 2018 Lara received the prestigious Legends of Dance in Colorado award for her work with the BJDW. She has always loved to write and is excited for the opportunity to write for DancePlug.

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Cruise Ship Dance Gigs: What They’re All About

By Laura Di Orio.

When Karina Teran, a freelance dancer in New York City, was offered the opportunity to travel the world, save money that would normally go towards her NYC rent and receive a consistent salary to perform large-scale Broadway-style production numbers, she thought she shouldn’t pass it up. When her dear friend got the exact same offer, her decision was made. For the next seven months, Teran would embark on her adventure – dancing on a luxury cruise line.

For many dancers, a gig on a cruise ship is a welcome one. Some choose the job because they want to save money to pay back debt or for the future. For others, it is their first professional dancing gig and offers invaluable, nonstop performance experience. And for some, dancing on a cruise ship allows them to travel the world while they’re still young.

Christine Wunderlich in performance with Royal Caribbean Productions. Photo by Bobby Black

“For a NYC freelance dancer, a cruise ship job can be a blessing,” says Teran, who has had two contracts with Carnival Cruise Lines. “It’s an opportunity to have a permanent dance job with a good salary.”

Memnon Adams, who has been dancing on cruise ships for the past year-and-a-half, agrees. “The advantages are saving most of your salary, visiting many different islands and continents, being exposed to so many different cultures and languages, seeing ancient ruins, but most of all, not having to pay rent,” he says.

Dancers can make $2,000-4,000 per month, depending on the cruise line and factors like seniority and special abilities (dance captains make more). Most cruise ship dance jobs cover room, food, transportation and primary health services while the dancer is working on the ship. As crew members, dancers also receive discounts on shore excursions and tours, and can take advantage of services aboard the ship: free gyms and pools, discounts at ship stores, coffee shops, bars, spas and hair salons, as well as a number of activities and parties for the staff.

Even more than these extra perks, cruise ship dancers gain intensive performance experience. In a typical six-month contract, consisting of a number of four to five day cruises, dancers can perform three different shows about 180 times, Teran says.

These shows tend to be very theatrical and energetic and can include dance styles that range from Latin jazz to tap to square dancing.

“The productions are of a high level that you can compare with Broadway or Vegas shows,” says Teran. “You work with the ultimate technology for lighting, visual effects, revolving stages, sets and an orchestra.”

For cruise ship dancers, the performance style is extremely varied, so versatility is a must. “It is important to have very solid technique, as well as be strong in jazz, contemporary and theater styles,” says Christine Wunderlich, a freelance dancer from Vancouver, Canada, who is in her eighth contract with Royal Caribbean Productions. “Having partnering experience and knowledge of ballroom styles is also a plus. The more versatile you are the better because many shows have different styles in one show – jazz opening to ballet or contemporary and into partnering.”

A cruise ship dressing room full of costumes, wigs and props. Photo courtesy of Karina Teran

Adams agrees and says it’s also most important to enjoy dance. “It’s tons of fun because I’m learning new skills like harness and trapeze,” he adds.

Most shows incorporate full stage makeup, wigs, props, accessories and quite a few quick costume changes. “Since you are responsible for all your costumes, you learn how to take good care of them and be extremely organized,” Teran says. “These are good habits that will help you in your career as a dancer wherever else you work.”

For cruise dancers, days on which they perform are known as “sea days”, and other days, “port days” – when dancers and crew can roam the land, although often with a curfew.

In Teran’s experience, a typical sea day for a cruise dancer goes as follows:

12-2 p.m.: Rehearsal 2-4 p.m. (or before rehearsal): Duties Aside from performances, a part of a dancer’s contract often includes additional duties, such as teaching dance classes, assisting in bingo or ping-pong tournaments for the guests or working in the library. Some of these responsibilities offer additional pay. 4-7 p.m.: Break, light dinner and dress for shows During this time, dancers can rest and prepare their body for the evening of shows ahead. Most cruise lines do not offer a warm-up class, so the dancers must take it upon themselves to warm-up and stretch. Teran says she would do a ballet barre on her own and then stretch in the steam room. 7:15-8 p.m.: Dancers called to dressing room to organize and pre-set all costumes, props and wigs 8-8:50 p.m.: Showtime 8:50-9:45 p.m.: Break, stretch, prep for second show Should someone get injured, this time would also allow a re-block of the entire show. Dancers must also reset their own costumes, wigs and props. “You have the quickest costume changes imaginable,” Teran says, “and if something is not in the right place it can ruin your timing, putting you out of a number.” 9:45-10:35 p.m.: Show #2 10:35-11:15 p.m.: Organize and put away all costumes, accessories and props 11:15: Done “After two full workout shows you finish very hungry, so you can take a good meal at the 24-hour dining service before you go to bed or head to the disco with the rest of the cast,” Teran says.

Since so much time is spent onboard and with the other dancers and crew, it is likely that a cruise dance job is a great way to make friends. It is also a great way to learn how to work well with others.

While there are many advantages to dancing on a cruise ship, the job may not be for everyone, or just may take some getting used to. “If you are a city person you might feel sometimes that you live in a cage,” Teran says. “You will breathe some freedom only on port days and only for a few hours. It’s different from the dance life on tour when you have a full day off.”

Another concern is the potential for injury, especially since dancers are usually expected to warm up on their own. Some ships, like Royal Caribbean, do offer a weekly company class.

“Personally, some days I would love to have more company classes,” says Wunderlich. “However, I also like to do my own warm-ups, and it prevents doing classes with people who may be less enthusiastic than yourself.”

Adams, too, tries to give himself a dance class when he can. “I try to stay motivated just for my health and of course for future employment,” he says.

For dancers who may be interested in cruise ship work, Teran recommends speaking to those who have worked on ships. If it seems like something of interest, auditions are frequently posted online (check out Dance Informa’s listings or the individual cruise line’s website).

“Working on a cruise ship as a dancer is a wonderful experience, positive in many ways and one that makes you grow as a professional and as a person,” Teran says. “You come back to land with unforgettable memories that will make you smile every time you look at the sea.”

Top photo: Karina Teran, photo courtesy of Karina Teran.

Published by Dance Informa dance magazine – dance news , dance auditions & dance events .

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Dance Informa Magazine

The Life of a Cruise Ship Dancer

By Mary Callahan of Dance Informa.

Picture this: You get paid to live on a four-star cruise ship, dance in Broadway-calibre shows, and travel around the world. Well, this dream could quite definitely become a reality.  Dance Informa interviewed dancers from five different cruise ships to find out if life on the high seas is really as magical as it seems.

Stephanie Brooks

What cruise are/were you on?  How long was the cruise? 

“ Allure of Seas: Royal Caribbean . My contract was for 9 months—2 months of rehearsal and 7 months at sea.”

What shows did you perform? What was the dancing like?

“Chicago is one of the most artistically fulfilling shows I’ve ever done.  Each ensemble member is featured. There’s opportunity to improvise in the Fosse style during the show, which keeps it alive.  The energy you get from being onstage with the band is thrilling.   Every Royal Caribbean ship that has a musical also has a second production show.  The production show on the Allure, Blue Planet , is a combination of pop music, with aerial, jazz, and modern movement.  I enjoyed learning new skills in the aerial training, and doing athletic choreography.  We did 7-day cruises: 3 performances of Chicago , two days off, and 3 Blue Planet performances.  This schedule kept me inspired, rested, and fulfilled.”

Stephanie Brooks. Photo courtesy of Brooks.

What was the audition like? Was it different from your typical theatre open call?

“For Royal Caribbean ships, they need musical theatre performers who also have the strength for aerial work and athletic movement for the production shows. We started with a basic technique across-the-floor combination, learned part of Blue Planet , “All that Jazz” from Chicago , and then sang 16 bars of music and did one of the “Cell Block Tango” monologues.  The process is a lot longer and more taxing than most normal musical theatre auditions because there are so many different elements for the two shows.  I advise eating a big breakfast and packing protein bars, water, and clearing your schedule for the day.  The first time I auditioned I had to leave for a teaching job at 4pm (the audition usually starts at 10am) and didn’t get to finish the audition. I was fortunate that they called me in a few months later to audition for a contract they needed to immediately fill.  When I received the offer I had just 11 days to pack up my life and head to rehearsals!”

What’s life like at sea? 

“Living on a ship is not for everyone, but I thrived in this environment.  I loved the convenience of the ship and all the things it had to offer.  I learned new skills like ice-skating, scuba diving, Salsa dancing, and running.  I taught classes for the crew such as Zumba, yoga on the beach or helicopter pad, and we would also take turns teaching dance or doing fitness DVDs together.  We were allowed to use the guest gym, steam room, and running track.  I loved to run around the track as the sun set over the ocean or rent bikes and explore the islands.  RCCL organised a lot of crew activities and opportunities to meet people from different departments.  With Skype and porting in the US once a week, I still felt connected to my friends and family in America.  The week after my friends or family cruised on my ship was when I felt the most homesick. There is usually a mid-contract slump, where it can become easy to just watch movies in your room and nap all day. It’s important to set goals and keep yourself motivated.  Financially, it was a huge blessing.  When I returned from my contract I was able to focus on training and auditions because I had enough ‘cushion’ to support myself until I booked my next job.”

Stephanie Brooks in ‘Chicago’ on board of the Allure of the Seas: Royal Caribbean. Photo courtesy of Brooks.

Where did you get to travel?

We ported in Fort Lauderdale [Florida, US] and alternated Eastern and Western cruises: Labadee Haiti, Jamacia, Cozumel, Nassua Bahamas, St. Thomas, and St. Martin.

What was your favourite part of cruise life?

“Getting to meet and live life with people from all over the world.  I believe you become a better performer and person when you open your worldview and embrace other cultures.  There’s a lot we can learn from each other, and I don’t think there’s any other job where in one day you can interact with people from over 70 countries.”

What was your least favorite part?

“‘Install’ was my least favorite part of the contract. When you get onboard for your first contract there are a lot of maritime rules that you have to learn, in addition to adjusting to a new show and living situation.  It can be overwhelming, but try to find the fun in it and know that once you learn all of the rules of what you can and can’t do and get into a routine it will be a lot easier.  Things like lifeboat training and fire safety can actually be a fun cast-bonding experience if you go into it with a good attitude.”

What advice would you give to dancers on their first cruise contract?

“Hang out with other departments, not just your cast.  It will open your worldview and keep you grounded and grateful for your job as a performer.  Set financial, personal, relational, and professional goals monthly, weekly, and daily.  Wake up for breakfast.  Listen to as much live music around the ship and ask to sing with the band.  Use your gifts to serve others and learn from others.  Go on excursions and always get off the ship when you port.  Don’t spend all your port days using the Internet; budget it into your expenses or limit your time and go on adventures.  At the end of your contract you will look back on those memories and be grateful for those experiences.”

Nikki Croker

What cruise are/were you on?

“I performed on the Disney Magic and also the Disney Wonder and am now currently working for Royal Caribbean about to go on the new and biggest cruise ship ‘Quantum of the Seas.’”

How long was the cruise?

“My contracts were anywhere between 5 weeks (for a replacement) to 11 months and 23 days.”

What shows did you perform?

“Twice Charmed , Golden Mickey’s , Villains Tonight , Toy Story , ‘ Welcome Aboard’  and ‘ Farewell’  variety shows, as well as deck parties and theme nights in the clubs.”

Aussie cruise ship performer Nikki Croker. Photo courtesy of Croker.

What was the dancing like?

“I guess you could describe it as ‘Disney-fied.’  Everything was fun and upbeat and smiley. Now at Royal it’s very technical, especially because I also work as an aerialist on this contract.”

What was the audition like?

“I actually auditioned for Hong Kong Disney in Melbourne (where I’m originally from) and they held on to my file and transferred it to Disney Cruise Line when I turned 18. The audition consisted of a ballet combo and a jazz combo. There was a cut and then they kept some of us for strength tests and also for face character cuts.”

What’s life like at sea?

“I actually really enjoy life at sea.  Having a schedule, food prepared and travel accommodations; it’s my idea of a paid vacation! The ‘crew mess’ can be hit or miss, but it’s never horrible. Internet is hard on the ship as you have to rely on a satellite and it can be spotty and expensive. Also the crew phone that you have to use with a calling card has a slight delay so you have to be patient when on the phone to loved ones.”

“I went to the Bahamas, Caribbean, Mediterranean, Baltic and Alaska with Disney and I will be doing the inaugural cruise out of Germany back to America on Royal. Once back, we will cruise to the Bahamas and Caribbean and then travel all the way back to Barcelona.”

Nikki Croker performing an ariel skill on board the Quantum of the Seas: Royal Caribbean. Photo courtesy of Croker.

“The people I met and the places I got to see, some of which I would never have seen if it had not been for the contracts.”

What was your least favourite part?

“Feeling like I was in a bubble sometimes and not having good access to the Internet to connect when family and friends back home.”

Go in thinking the room is going to be EXTRA, EXTRA small and that the food won’t be good, that way it’ll be a pleasant surprise when you realise it isn’t that bad! Enjoy every moment because in what other scenario would you get to do what you love while travelling and meeting so many incredible people that essentially become like family?  Nothing lasts forever and before you know it you will be back in the city auditioning and scheduling all of your side jobs.  Live in the moment!”

Beau Middlebrook

What cruise are/were you on?  How long was the cruise?

“I was on the Disney Dream out of Port Canaveral, Florida. It went to Nassau, Bahamas and Disney’s private island, Castaway Cay.”

What shows did you perform?  What was the dancing like?

“We performed three Main Stage shows each cruise: Villains Tonight , Golden Mickeys and Believe . They each had their own story line that involved scenes and songs from your favorite Disney classics. There was also a Pirate show featuring Jack Sparrow that we performed up on the top deck. It was something different from the other shows. I had fun with the sword fights, free fall stunt work, pyrotechnics and really just dressing up as a pirate and being a kid again. On top of that, as a dancer I had to perform in the ships nightclub. The show itself wasn’t bad but it usually started close to midnight, so having performed two sometimes three shows earlier in the evening it was always a struggle to wake up, warm up and put on a show face.

As far as the dancing goes, it definitely exceeded my original thoughts of what cruise ship dancing was. You rehearse for two months in Toronto, Canada and work with great choreographers who really find what you specifically bring to the table and they use it! For instance, I was the tumbler and they had me tumbling in every show, numerous times. You had to be pretty versatile as well—Everything from ‘Circle of Life’ to ‘Hip Hop’ in the nightclub.

I’ll never forget sailing through Hurricane Sandy! You know what they say ‘The show must go on’ and it DID! Sometimes with the highest grande jete’s you’ve ever seen and other times with the most pitiful pirouettes possible.”

“The audition was essentially your typical Musical Theatre audition. They had us do a 16 count ballet combination, which they made a cut from, then a musical theatre number which involved your standard kicks, turns and a chance to show your own style.”

“Everyone will give you their own unique answer depending on their experience at sea. I think ship life is kind of like tap dancing, you either love it or you just do it because you have to. It can be a very convenient life style—everything is done for you. You can go seven months without cooking a meal or cleaning a dish. The difference between Disney ships and most other cruise lines is that you don’t have the same ‘guest privileges.’ You are not allowed to eat, work out or party with guests on a Disney Cruise. You can, however, use the outdoor decks for sunbathing and relaxing.”

“Travelling! To wake up in a different ‘Port of Call’ everyday certainly beats the constant sirens and smoke of NYC.”

“The food! There’s nothing better than a home cooked meal! My biggest battle was the food. A large number of the crew were Asian, therefore the Crew Mess catered quite extensively for them. This resulted in the common staples such as rice and curries. Let’s just say a lot of the Americans enjoyed a good old ‘Peanut Butter and Jelly [sandwich]’ for their dinners.”

“It will be an amazing experience that you’ll never forget if you are open to it. Don’t fight the current; just let it take you where you need to go. Also pack some magnets, as all the walls are magnetic :)”

Erica Misenti

What cruise are/were you on? How long was the cruise?

“I was on the Carnival Conquest for 8 months as a Playlist performer.”

“I performed in Divas , Latin Nights and the Brits . The cast and I counted the amount of ‘ponies’ we did in The Brits and there were over 250! Be ready to have wig changes and smile! It’s a cute and fun show. Latin Nights is full of JLO sassy moves, but it’s more a Latin American feel show than a true Latin show. Latin Nights is one show you will never get comfortable with. The costume changes are hard and you can’t be a 1/2 second late. It’s an awesome show! But get ready to work your butt off in the gym to look good in your final costume girls and boys- everyone hated them unfortunately. Divas was awesome with by far the best costumes and dances. The contemporary dance to ‘Bleeding Love’ was the only dance I could breathe in as a dancer. I truly enjoyed the movement and never got sick of performing this show.”

Erica Misenti. Photo courtesy of Misenti.

“The audition lasted all day, at least five hours. I was asked to dance five times total, including in groups of girls that were short verses tall and learning contrasting combinations. Then I sang at the end of the day. Its one of the auditions I danced the most at.”

“Life at sea can be very hard. It costs a lot of money to talk to people at home via Internet or phone, but it’s worth it for your sanity. The alcoholic drinks are dirt cheap and food is free and always available. Midnight mess on the Carnival Conquest was the best! Working out in the gym is a nice way to feel like you’re ‘leaving your job for a bit,’ but it truly becomes an entertainer’s second home. Visiting all the beautiful ports and having days off to lay out and get tan are amazing. I saved enough money to pay off my college loans too, which would have taken me 18 years otherwise!

“Everywhere in the eastern and western Caribbean! For example: New Orleans, Belize, Grand Cayman, Tortola, Dominica, Dominican Republic, San Juan, Key West, Miami, Nassau, St. Thomas, San Martian, Cozumel, Honduras, Grand Turk, Freeport, etc!”

“My favourite part was not paying rent, paying off my college loans, meeting my boyfriend, performing for good pay, visiting amazing ports, constantly being tan and in shape, meeting amazing people and growing as an individual.”

“Missing holidays, getting stuck in ‘ship-life’ drama, having to be ‘back-on-board’ at a certain time, always having to wear a name tag even on my days off, and watching my friends and boyfriend leave because we all had different contracts.”

“Don’t feel bad about spending money on yourself to keep you sane. You need Internet and you need to call home. You need to get off the ship and enjoy the beautiful ports; don’t just sleep in because you might never be back there. Go on excursions! Work hard and make friends! Have fun and invite your family to cruise if you can! You get a discounted rate with the company after 6 months.”

Joyah Spangler

“I performed on Holland America Line .  We rehearsed in New York for two months and performed on the ship for six months after that.”

Joyah Spangler. Photo courtesy of Spangler.

“We were an inaugural cast, creating seven brand new shows for Holland America—due to time constraints, however, we only ended up performing five on board while the next cast worked out the kinks for the final two shows.  We were fortunate enough to have two Broadway veterans as our choreographers who were long-time company members of Fosse .  Our choreography was highly influenced by their experience in that show.”

What was the audition like? 

“It was a marathon!  First there was your regular audition with two short combinations.  Then I sang three songs from my book.  The very next morning I came in and did five dance combinations (jazz, ballet, hip hop, character, and partnering) from 9am until 1pm, had a quick lunch, then stayed to sing three out of the five songs they had given me to prepare the night before.  Next, I was asked to do harmony work.  The following day we had to do personality interviews for the Holland America team.  Two days later, I had the job!  It was quite an exciting week!”

“It’s kind of lonely living at sea.  While you have a great built-in group of friends with your cast mates, you can get homesick for friends and family very easily—especially when Internet is hard to come by.  There’s lots of free time, which is amazing, but it’s easy to waste it.  In terms of eating, we had the same food as our passengers…which was amazing!  It was really delicious food, but eating healthy while on the ship can become a struggle.  At the same time, the cast was fortunate enough to have access to the passenger gym.  Another great part of performing on a ship is the amount of money you save since you’re not paying for room, board, or travel expenses.”

Joyah Spangler visiting the rock of Gibraltar on an excursion from the Holland America Line. Photo courtesy of Spangler.

“Where do I begin?!  Let’s see: Jamaica, Turks and Caicos, Bahamas, Cayman Islands, Puerto Rico, Florida, US Virgin Islands, St. Maarten, Greece, Portugal, Italy, Monaco, Spain, France, England, Turkey, Belgium, Estonia, Russia, Denmark, Finland, Sweden, Germany, and Norway—all in just six months!”

“Travelling!  I feel as if I got paid to go explore all of these beautiful places.  Often, I would volunteer to be a shore excursion escort if I had the day off.  This meant I would get to do all of the passengers’ expensive activities at no extra cost!”

“It’s a lonely life at sea, especially while in Europe where it was hard to stay in contact with friends and family back home.”

“Don’t waste your time while on the ship.  During our down time dancers were trying out choreography on each other, building dance reels and taking voice lessons from the vocal captain.  The industry keeps moving forward while you are at sea—don’t waste this beautiful chance you are given to grow and create while you have the free time and free space!”

Photo (top): Erica Misenti standing on the beach in front of the Carnival Conquest. Photo courtesy of Erica Misenti.

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• Attend rehearsals and sound checks for all shows in a timely manner.
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What Qualifications Do You Need to Be a Cruise Ship Dancer?

By Robert Palmer

Cruise ship dancers are one of the most sought after positions in the cruise industry. They provide guests with entertainment, and create an atmosphere of fun and excitement.

To become a cruise ship dancer, there are certain qualifications that must be met.

The first qualification is dance experience. Cruise ship dancers must have previous experience in dance, either from formal training or from performing in clubs or shows.

It is important to have a comprehensive knowledge of different styles of dance, as cruise ships will often feature various types of music and performances.

The second qualification is physical fitness. Cruise ship dancers must be physically fit and able to perform high-energy routines for long periods of time.

They need to be able to move around the stage and interact with the audience easily and confidently.

The third qualification is strong people skills. Cruise ship dancers must be outgoing and friendly, as they will be interacting with guests on a daily basis.

They need to be able to make people feel comfortable and create a fun atmosphere.

The fourth qualification is an ability to work on your own initiative. Cruise ship dancers must be able to take feedback from their employers or choreographers and use it to improve their performance.

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