CARIBBEAN DREAM:THE BOAT MAY be about to come in for entertainers who would like to work aboard luxury cruise ships. Royal Caribbean is recruiting singers and dancers at open auditions in London next month (March 11th-13th).
Modern cruise ships are essentially floating resorts, and they need to keep passengers happy, especially during long days at sea when no visits to ports are scheduled.
Dublin singer-songwriter Pat Shannon played on the pub and club circuit until he landed his dream job with Fred Olsen Cruise Lines.
His most recent voyage involved a round trip between Miami and the coast of South America on MS Braemar.
Speaking during a stopover on the southern Caribbean island of Grenada, Shannon says: “I have my own cabin and have my meals in one of the ship’s restaurants. Every night I go on stage at 8pm – usually in the ship’s Morning Light pub. I perform until midnight. During the show I play keyboard and guitar, banjo and mandolin, and sing a lot of rock and pop classics – but the most popular of the lot is the Irish stuff.”
During a recent visit home he suffered from “weather shock” but has now returned to work and this week is entertaining passengers on a cruise called Pearls of the Caribbean.
If you are aged 18 to 40, and believe you have the oomph to keep guests entertained, then details and application guidelines are available at www.royal caribbeanproductions.com.
