The thought of heading out to work on a ship for a few months at a time can be daunting and you surely have lots of questions. Don’t worry – this is normal!
Here are the most common questions we get, and if you have any more at all, please feel free to contact us.
Will I have to pay a commission?
No. Unlike most other cruise ship agencies, we do not charge any commission or recruitment fees of any sort. What you earn on the ship is 100% yours to keep. We can do this because we have special arrangements with several large cruise companies who have effectively outsourced some of their musician recruitment to us. This doesn’t affect how much you will earn onboard and in many cases we are able to negotiate a higher than normal starting salary for you, if your audition performance and experience are impressive.
How long will my contract be?
Most of the major cruise lines will require you to be available for between 4 and 6 months for your first contract. This is sometimes negotiable, but you should be available for at least 6 months for your first contract.
What are the auditions like?
Our auditions are designed to make sure you can comfortably play the types of music you will encounter as a musician on a cruise ship gig. They are fairly comprehensive and consist of production show material, big band charts, sample entertainer charts and technical studies. We need to be confident that you are able to perform at the level the gig demands. If you can’t audition in person we can conduct the audition via an online video call using Skype, Gmail, Facetime etc. To arrange an audition simply complete the form on the
contact page and we’ll find a time soon that works for both of us.
Will I have to share a cabin?
This varies a bit depending on the position you’re hired for. On most (but not all) ships if you work in the theater orchestra or one of the lounge bands around the ship, you will share a cabin. Your roommate will normally be another musician, or sometimes another member of the entertainment team. If you are hired as a piano bar entertainer or a one-man-band, you will have a single cabin.
Who will be my boss on the ship?
Your immediate supervisor will be the Musical Director. Some cruise lines call this position the Bandmaster – a bit more old-fashioned but the job is the same! The Musical Director takes care of all the live music on the ship, and he or she reports to the Cruise Director who is in charge of all the entertainment and guest activities.
Do I have to bring my amp?
No! If you’re a guitar, bass or keyboard player, professional high-end amps will be provided and maintained by the ship. It’s a good idea to bring extra sets of strings in case the ship doesn’t regularly visit a port with a good music store.
Do I have to bring my drums?
No! There will be a full professional drum set in every lounge in which you will play on the ship. Some drummers like to bring their own cymbals but it’s not required. It’s a good idea to bring a few sets of spare sticks as the ship might be sailing an itinerary that doesn’t have a regular port with a good music shop.
Will I be able to get off the ship in the ports of call?
Absolutely! Free travel to the world’s most exotic locations is a great benefit of the gig. Of course you’ll need to be on the ship for any rehearsals and sets that are scheduled, but for most of the port time, you can be a tourist if you want!
I am a trumpet player. Do I need a flugel?
Yes! You’ll need a flugelhorn and all the usual mutes: straight, cup, harmon and plunger.
I'm a sax player... do I really need to play flute and clarinet?
Yes! All the major cruise lines require alto and tenor players to be proficient on flute and clarinet.
Are there any up-front costs?
Not from us. However, all the major cruise lines require you to pass a pre-employment medical exam which you will need to pay for (occasionally your insurance will cover this). The medicals are valid for a couple of years though so if you go on to do a second or third contract, you don’t need to do it again for each one. Most of the bigger cruise lines also require a local police criminal background check and there’s usually a small admin fee for that.
Will I have to pay income tax on my salary?
This depends on a few variables. Some countries require their citizens to pay tax on international earnings and some don’t. We cannot offer tax advice and strongly advise you to seek guidance from a tax professional in your home country.
What happens if I get sick onboard?
All ships have a medical facility staffed by doctors and nurses. If you fall ill, your treatment will be covered on board at no cost to you.
