Musicology and cruisicology : formal musical performance on cruise ships 2003-2011

The burgeoning cruise industry staged live musical performances daily for the nearly 15 million tourists who undertook a cruise in 2010. These performances play important roles in the integrated cruise leisure product, such as controlling guest movement, encouraging consumption and portraying the cruise line as it wishes to be portrayed. Performances also provide reassurances of familiarity and safety regardless of the location of the cruise ship. Such performances contribute to the experience of a cruise thereby contributing to the profitability of the industry. The documentation and manner and method of musical implementation aboard cruise ships form the focus of this research.