9 Best Shows on Cruise Ships
Cruise Stage Shows and Live Productions You Won’t Want To Miss
If you’re hoping to enjoy a sensational sea day aboard a cruise ship – whether you’re sailing on a transatlantic cruise to New York, or through the Adriatic Sea to the Mediterranean and the Greek Islands – one of the most exciting activities you can treat yourself to while at sea is a cruise stage show. You might not believe it if you’re new to cruising, but cruise entertainment stage productions rival the quality of those in some of the finest theatres around the world; from original musicals like P&O Cruises’ Take That-themed Greatest Days, to Disney Cruise Line classics like Tangled and The Little Mermaid, you’re truly in for a treat every time you sit down to enjoy a performance in your ship’s theatre.
But, like with anything, there are some cruise lines that just edge ahead of the crowd when it comes to stage shows; this form of cruise entertainment is always a delight, but some stage shows at sea are better than others.
So, if you have a destination or two in mind, but you’re not set on a specific sailing just yet, it might be worth considering the stage shows you’ll have the opportunity to see during your getaway. For example, is the Princess Cruises entertainment on offer going to be more to your tastes than the Carnival Cruise Line entertainment available? And, what about the Royal Caribbean entertainment options when it comes to stage shows and live productions?
You’ll always find something to do aboard a cruise ship – and a real abundance of activities on the biggest cruise ships in the world – but, with the quality so high across the industry, smaller details like the stage shows available really are worth considering.
So, without further ado, keep reading for more on the best cruise ship shows out there right now, and which ships you need to be sailing on to see them for yourself.
Contents:
- MSC Cruises’ Ajedrez
- P&O Cruises’ Unbelievable
- Royal Caribbean’s Aqua80
- Princess Cruises’ The Secret Silk
- Disney Cruise Line’s Beauty and the Beast
- P&O Cruises’ Greatest Days
- Norwegian Cruise Line’s Summer: The Donna Summer Musical
- Virgin Voyages’ Persephone
- Celebrity Cruises’ A Hot Summer Night’s Dream
MSC Cruises’ Ajedrez
The first show on our list, which is presented in no particular order, is MSC Cruises’ Ajedrez – an exciting rock musical interestingly inspired by the game of chess.
When two queens go head-to-head for the affections of the same king, life-size statues embodying iconic chess pieces battle one another in a thrilling display of discipline and drama from a troupe of talented performers.
If you want to enjoy this particular example of cruise ship entertainment with some refreshment, be sure to check out this quick guide to MSC Cruises’ drinks packages; with quite a few options available, it’s important to know what makes each one stand out.
P&O Cruises’ Unbelievable
Incredible illusions and interactive magical moments from creator and producer Stephen Mulhern are what you can expect when you sit down to watch P&O Cruises’ new show Unbelievable.
With magic being made through a number of themes – funfairs and a House of Horrors among them – you’ll find yourself both dazzled and delighted during this performance. And, if you want to try your hand at some of the illusions on show, you can even pick up the exclusive Unbelievable Magic Kit while at sea and stun friends and family in the comfort of your stateroom – or, back home, of course!
Just one of several sensational stage shows available across this remarkable fleet, you’ll find yourself enjoying each extraordinary display even more with one of P&O Cruises’ drinks packages – of which you can find out more right here.
Royal Caribbean’s Aqua80
While any one of Royal Caribbean’s incredible AquaTheatre performances could really find a place among this list, the one you really should be looking out for when sailing on this cruise line’s Oasis-class ships is Aqua80.
An acrobatic dance display featuring the world’s deepest pool at sea and a soundtrack of 80’s classics, this open-air entertainment is a wonderful show of synchronised spectacle that’s well worth your time while onboard.
Between everything on at the AquaTheatre and Royal Caribbean’s other selection of sensational stage shows, you’ll find yourself with evening entertainment every night you’re sailing on any one of this cruise line’s remarkable ships. To make the most of your nights onboard, you should consider one of the Royal Caribbean drinks packages available – each one offers you unlimited soft drinks, at the very least.
Princess Cruises’ The Secret Silk
Featuring an array of life-size puppetry from Jim Henson’s Creature Shop – of Sesame Street, Fraggle Rock, and The Dark Crystal fame – The Secret Silk is a mythical musical from award-winning Wicked composer Stephen Schwartz.
An impressive production exclusive to Princess Cruises, you’ll find love and sacrifice among adventure and enchantment throughout this moving theatrical experience that pays homage to Asian traditions and contemporary hits from the last four decades. And, with an intriguing mystery woven into the threads of this narrative, you definitely won’t want to miss a showing while at sea.
If you’re looking for more ways to add to your experience at sea with Princess Cruises, one of the available Princess Cruises drinks packages is a fantastic way to add a few more treats to your travels.
Disney Cruise Line’s Beauty and the Beast
A tale as old as time, Beauty and the Beast is just one of several incredible Broadway-quality productions available across the Disney Cruise Line fleet – and, if we’re being honest, any one of the shows available (including Frozen, A Musical Spectacular and Disney Dreams – An Enchanted Classic) could quite easily find itself on a list of the best cruise ship shows.
This one in particular, though, is a timeless classic and one of the most enchanting Disney cruise live shows being shown right now. Inspired by the live action movie, you’ll find this iteration of the wonderful story includes two completely original songs from Alan Menken and Tim Rice, too.
If you’re considering a voyage on a Disney Cruise Line ship, you can find out more about the top underrated cruise destinations right here – some of which you may just be able to visit on an upcoming itinerary. With a selection of short breaks and some of the best family cruises out there, you’re certain to find a sailing to suit your needs – and one with fantastic entertainment to enjoy.
P&O Cruises’ Greatest Days
The official Take That musical, Greatest Days is a show-stopping celebration of this incredible pop group’s music from Olivier Award-winning writer Tim Firth – and, exclusive to P&O Cruises' ships.
A feel-good adaptation of the West-End musical The Band, which explores the lifelong bond a group of girls develop through their mutual love of a band, Greatest Days promises to lift your spirits and have you dancing in your seat every time you sit down to enjoy it.
One way you can improve your experience at sea with this cruise line is with P&O Cruises Peninsular Club – a loyalty programme where points mean perks, and a fantastic way to make the most of your holidays if you’re a regular cruiser. For more on everything you can expect from a getaway with this cruise line, check out our ultimate P&O Cruises guide right here.
Norwegian Cruise Line’s Summer: The Donna Summer Musical
Whisking you away on an adventure through the truly incredible life of Donna Summer – the Queen of Disco and the voice of a generation – Summer: The Donna Summer Musical promises to be a delightful celebration of this barrier-breaking singer-songwriter.
A Tony Award-nominated Broadway sensation, you’ll follow ‘Duckling Donna’ in a gospel choir, into the rising ‘Disco Donna’ and her initial successes, through to the ‘Diva Donna’ at the height of her international fame. Even if you’re not a fan of disco, this really is one stage show you’re not going to want to miss while sailing with Norwegian Cruise Line.
For those of you who want to enjoy Summer with some refreshment, the perfect accompaniment to an evening of exceptional entertainment, be sure to check out what you can expect from the Norwegian Cruise Line drinks packages ahead of your next sailing.
If you’re wondering what other shows you can expect to see when sailing with Norwegian Cruise Line, you’ll be pleased to know that Norwegian Aqua (sailing from 2025) will exclusively play host to two new performances developed in collaboration with Broadway choreographer Patricia Wilcox. Revolution: A Celebration of Prince and Elements: The World Expanded will continue Norwegian Cruise Line’s commitment to excellent entertainment at sea and may feature aboard other ships in the fleet in the future.
Virgin Voyages’ Persephone
Virgin Voyages’ unique retelling of Greek mythology from the perspective of Persephone blends awe-inspiring acrobatics with a healthy dose of singing and dancing to deliver a truly delightful display exclusive to Virgin Voyages’ vessels.
Hosted in the Red Room, this unique show doesn’t actually offer traditional seating – something that makes it more immersive and gives you the chance to rotate around the performance space to get the best angle of everything going on. Typically performed on the first and last night of voyages, you’ll leave each sensational show stunned.
This, of course, isn’t the only immersive experience in Virgin Voyages’ Red Room for you to enjoy; and you can enjoy each show even more with Virgin Voyages’ Bar Tab – this cruise line’s unique take on traditional drinks packages. It's also worth reading up on Virgin Voyages' Sailing Club – the loyalty programme available – if you're thinking about sailing with Virgin Voyages, too. Involving yourself with this will only enhance your experience onboard further.
Celebrity Cruises’ A Hot Summer Night’s Dream
Drawing on Shakespeare’s iconic Midsummer Night’s Dream, this light-hearted stage show immediately immerses you in a magical world of wonder and whimsy with extraordinary acrobatic displays, catchy music, and impressive visuals.
An amusing adventure that balances love and intoxication with a healthy amount of midnight madness – much like the play it’s inspired by – this is one cruise entertainment option worth considering.
Just one of the incredible shows produced on Celebrity Cruises' Edge-class vessel, you can expect to enjoy a high-energy pop art concert in Kaleidoscope, an uplifting musical journey in Colors of Life, and more. To make the most of an evening’s entertainment aboard, be sure to check out the Celebrity Cruises drinks packages; with several options available, you’re certain to find a package to suit your needs.
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For those of you who want to learn a little more about cruising in general, we also have a selection of blogs from the Iglu Cruise team for you to check out.