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B.B. King's Blues Club on Zuiderdam
B.B. King's Blues Club on Zuiderdam

What to Expect on a Cruise: Live Music Onboard

B.B. King's Blues Club on Zuiderdam
B.B. King's Blues Club on Zuiderdam
Staff
Cruise Critic

Last updated
Jan 8, 2020

Read time
2 min read

Will there be live music onboard my cruise ship?

Every cruise line -- oceangoing and river -- provides live music as part of its entertainment offerings. From musical theater shows and a resident band playing popular radio standards in the atrium to piano bars, a classical quartet in a lounge or Caribbean music by the pool, many aspects of a cruise experience come with a live soundtrack.

Will the size of my cruise ship affect the types of live music I find on the ship?

Yes. Larger ships will have a greater variety of live music than smaller ships, meaning you're less likely to have jazz and line dancing and samba and classical music on a small ship. You also are less likely to encounter as much live music on a riverboat, apart from a singer playing the piano nightly and occasional acts that might board your ship as part of local enrichment. It is unlikely that there will be much -- if any -- live music on an expedition vessel, so check with your cruise line if live entertainment is a must.

What kinds of music can I expect to find onboard?

Music varies by cruise line, ship, itinerary, time of year, you name it. Most ships, at minimum, have an onboard band playing nightly, as well as a piano bar usually open from late afternoon on. On sea days, the band might also have daytime sets. Bands and piano players typically host theme nights once or twice a cruise, when they'll play various genres or the hits of a certain era or artist.

Most ships -- especially those covering warm-weather itineraries or departing from Southern U.S. regions like F

Publish date January 08, 2020
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