Worried you’re going to get bored while you’re on your next cruise? Even if you have multiple sea days scattered across your itinerary, cruise ships are bursting at the seams with ways to keep you occupied — and when it comes to shows and similar entertainment, you have more options than ever.
Yes, there are still the staple theatrical performances like those that have long been a part of cruise ships’ offerings, but now there’s so much more, too. Here are the nine types of entertainment and shows you can find on a cruise.
In This Article:
1. Broadway Shows
Let’s start with one of the basics, and probably the type of cruise ship entertainment you’re most familiar with, simply because these types of shows feature prominently in cruise ships’ main theaters: Broadway shows.
Many cruise lines produce their own versions of Broadway favorite hits, with shows rotating in and out, so even if you cruise with one cruise line reliably, you can probably find something new on the docket during every single cruise.
Royal Caribbean, for example, has put on renditions of CATS, Saturday Night Fever, Mamma Mia, Hairspray and Grease. Norwegian Cruise Line has likewise put on renditions of Jersey Boys, The Choir of Man and Beetlejuice, among others.
Then, while not technically a Broadway show, Norwegian Cruise Line does also feature other shows from a group with Broadway connections. Burn the Floor is a ballroom and Latin dance theater company that performs shows on Norwegian Breakaway and Norwegian Epic.
2. Original Productions
Beyond putting on Broadway favorites in the theater, some cruise lines also put on their own original productions, completely created in-house, for shows you won’t and can’t see anywhere else. Depending on the cruise line, these shows may blend choreography and music, acrobatics and acting.
Royal Caribbean has produced more than two dozen original productions, and shows really run the gamut. Some are more geared toward the adults in your crew, while others are more geared toward families. Some are music-heavy, with lots of choreography, while others lean into special effects and amazing, over-the-top sets.
Carnival Cruise Line also produces a range of original shows via Playlist Productions. Carnival’s original shows are typically more music-heavy, and may feel more like a musical review than a theatrical performance.
However, this provides broad appeal to large cruising audiences, and you’ll likely quickly see why cruisers are quick to snag their seats for these shows.
Norwegian Cruise Line likewise has some theatrical performances of its own devising, as does Princess Cruises. On the former, you can find musical reviews that feature cool celebrity impersonators representing some of the biggest names in music history.
Read Also: Top 10 Best Party Cruises for Teens and Young Adults
For truly top-tier original productions, though, you can’t ignore Disney Cruise Line. The cruise line condenses some of its favorited franchise and movies into smaller, staged shows. You’ll be able to find shows with songs and scenes from family hits like “Frozen.”
Do note that, whether you’re planning on catching a Broadway performance or a house-produced performance, you can typically find shows going on at two different times, most evenings. Additionally, you may need to purchase tickets in advance, if you want to guarantee that you’ll get a seat at the time that you want.
3. AquaTheater Shows
The AquaTheater is a venue unique to Royal Caribbean. It’s basically what it sounds like — a theater venue that also contains a water element, in this case the largest and deepest freshwater pool at sea.
As such, the theater is outfitted with multiple high-diving platforms, for spectacular stunts all set against the backdrop of the sea, over the ship’s side. As you could probably expect, the AquaTheater shows take a nautical theme in many instances, with shows like Pirates vs Mermaids. Others focus on acrobatic stunts set to music.
The AquaTheater appears on both Oasis-class and Icon-class ships.
4. Ice-skating Shows
If you’re sailing on a cruise ship with an ice rink, you may be able to catch some ice-skating shows on the rink during your cruise.
Royal Caribbean boasts ice rinks on all the ships within its Voyager, Freedom, Oasis and Icon classes. There, in addition to the open skating sessions, you can also find a range of shows, from the more traditional, to the kid-friendly, to the fairytale-esque.
5. Live Music
You can find live music played throughout just about any cruise ship, at just about any time of day. In public spaces, live music sets the scene, providing a lively, fun atmosphere. In smaller, more intimate settings, live music either provides a backdrop for a few casual drinks or gets the party started.
Favorite live music options across major cruise lines include Carnival Cruise Line’s piano bars. You’ll find one of these bars on every Carnival ship.
Some cruise lines have specific cover bands that cover songs from classic, favorite bands and musicians. For example, Norwegian Cruise Line has The Cavern Club (if you’re into Beatles’ lore, you’ll automatically recognize this name) on a handful of ships (Norwegian Bliss, Norwegian Epic, Norwegian Encore and Norwegian Joy), where you can stop by and get a drink but also enjoy Beatle cover sets.
Otherwise on Norwegian Cruise Line, you can find live music sets at venues such as Howl at the Moon (on Norwegian Breakaway, Norwegian Epic, Norwegian Getaway and Norwegian Escape), and at Syd Norman’s Pour House (on Norwegian Breakaway, Norwegian Escape, Norwegian Getaway and Norwegian Prima).
Other cruise lines might focus on classical music or jazz stylings. The latter is partially the case on Holland America, thanks to offerings like B.B. King’s Blues Club (for R&B), where you can hear the classic R&B hits every day.
Holland America also has other spots to hear live covers from other genres, such as Billboard Onboard and the Rolling Stone Lounge, which offer the hits and rock classics, respectively.
6. Game Shows
Some cruise lines host game shows on some days and evenings, inviting cruisers to participate in the audience and/or go head-to-head with their fellow vacationers on the stage.
Carnival Cruise Line has a Family Feud-style game show that you can catch. It’s equally fun, whether you’re in the audience or in the bright lights.
Norwegian Cruise Line hosts recognizable rounds of games like Deal or No Deal and Wheel of Fortune.
Royal Caribbean has a few game shows as well, but they’re more for the adult set. Options include Love and Marriage and Battle of the Sexes.
7. Comedy Sets
Whether you prefer improv or a more rehearsed set, you can find plenty of laughs at comedy clubs on cruise ships.
Carnival Cruise Line has its Punchliner Comedy Club on every ship in its fleet, offering both family-friendly shows during the day and raunchier sets after dark.
Norwegian Cruise Line similarly has its Headliners Comedy Club on Norwegian Epic, Norwegian Encore, Norwegian Bliss, Norwegian Joy, Norwegian Breakaway, Norwegian Getaway and Norwegian Escape.
8. Planetariums
Okay, you won’t be able to find this entertainment option on a wide swathe of ships, but if you can, it’s seriously cool.
Most notably, on Cunard’s Queen Mary 2, the cruise line offers planetarium-set shows where you can sit back, stare upwards, and listen to a calming voice tell you all about the cosmos.
You can also find a planetarium on Viking Cruises’ Orion, which claims status as the highest-definition planetarium at sea.
9. Movie Theaters
In addition to live performances, you can also find movies playing on many ships. Disney Cruise Line, for example, plays both old favorites and new releases in the movie theaters aboard its ships, with both kid-friendly and more adult-geared showings (so, for example, Marvel movies for the 13-and-up crowd).
Several cruise lines also show movies on the top deck, on a big screen, including Carnival Cruise Line and Princess Cruises.
