Are you thinking about working on a cruise ship?
Cruise ship gigs are great, but agents and cruise lines rarely give you enough information before they send you out. When I first went on ships I had NO IDEA what to expect. I didn't know what the ship would be like, or what the job would be like, or what would be expected of me.
This site fills that void. I've written down nearly everything I can think of to help other musicians understand exactly what the gig is before they get out there. I give all the good and all the bad.
You might expect that I'm a cruise ship fanatic. You might think I know all the names of all the ships in the world and I track their positions and take notes in my little, pink, cruise ship diary that I hide under all my fluffy stuffed animals.
But that's not true. I don't give a hoot about cruise ships. I care about making a living as a professional musician, and I care about other people that are making a living as professional musicians. I have a real respect for anybody that takes a crack at this life, and I feel like they shouldn't be thrown on ships without knowing what to expect or what'll be expected of them. I promised to always give it to you straight without "towing the company line" or blowing smoke.
Also, this site is totally free. If you find this site useful, please link to it from your site and buy stuff from the sponsors.
What musicians are saying about the site:
"...this is a great source of information and it probably saves people a lot of grief and not to mention money."
"First off, I love your blog. I've just graduated from music school, and I start my first cruise ship gig on the 27th. ...your blog has been really helpful with sorting things out."
"Just felt I should leave a comment of appreciation. I came across your blog a couple of days ago and have been an addict ever since!"
"As the time for me to go off with my cruise line comes closer, I find myself visiting your site more often to find any more gems of knowledge that could help me in any way, and I thank you for that. I really dig your new 'what to pack' entries."
"First off, I love your blog. I've just graduated from music school, and I start my first cruise ship gig on the 27th. ...your blog has been really helpful with sorting things out."
"Just felt I should leave a comment of appreciation. I came across your blog a couple of days ago and have been an addict ever since!"
"As the time for me to go off with my cruise line comes closer, I find myself visiting your site more often to find any more gems of knowledge that could help me in any way, and I thank you for that. I really dig your new 'what to pack' entries."
If you have a question and you can't find the answer to it, please email me. I answer everybody's emails.
Contact Dave: webmaster [at] preservationrecords.com
If you're curious about who I am, you can also read more about me.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
- How do I get a job playing music on a cruise ship?
- How good do I have to be?
- What's the music like? What are the passengers like?
- How many hours will I work a day?
- Do I have to take a drug test?
- What kind of room will I get?
- Which cruise lines are best?
- Will there be internet on the ship?
- Who's my boss on the ship?
- What should I pack?
- Do you have any pictures I can see?
- Do you have any cool stories?
Are you looking for something specific?
Try the search below. Results will be from this blog.
Cruise Ship Photos

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