Being on a cruise ship can have some other good aspects to it as well. For example, there is the opportunity to meet many people you probably would not have met otherwise. Also, if you can stay disciplined as a musician, you can find time to practice, listen to, and study music.

One of a large school of dolphins swimming along with the ship one sunny afternoon
off the northern coast of Peru - a beautiful experience - 1996

However, the overall gig is not what most people probably imagine it to be, so before I tell you about all of the wonderful places I visited, I think it's a good idea to provide an accurate potrayal of the entire experience - not just the "fantasy" part of it. I especially would like to give a caution to any musician considering going out on a ship for the first time - learn as much as you can before committing to a cruise gig, especially for an extended time.

Relaxing in the Amazon - 1996

Like any job, distressing challenges can arise; however on a ship things are radically different. There are no labor laws or unions to protect your rights, and once you are out there, you are committed - you can't just pick up and leave. Well, actually you can, but you will be stranded far away from home, have to pay for your own trip home, and may not get paid for the work you have already done.

Here is a generic overview of some of the typical not-so-positive aspects of cruise ship gigs (disclaimer: this only represents my personal opinion); then I will move on to some of the more uplifting memories from the "How Deep is the Ocean Tour" :

FOOD: it's free for crew on ships, and there is a reason for that - the food is almost without fail of substandard quality. Some of the food was so disgusting I doubt if most people would even serve it to their dog! Consuming "crew food" definitely affected your state of mind. During my time on ships, I witnessed several crew members going through bizarre behavioral changes, and there is a good possiblity that the extremely poor quality of food was at least partially to blame.

ACCOMODATIONS: the miniscule crew cabins are usually shared, and if the temperment of the person you are sharing with is unfavorable, watch out! You are stuck with whomever happens to be there. The crew cabins are as big as a tiny prison cell with no windows.

SUPERVISION and FELLOW EMPLOYEES: Another big gamble when employed on a cruise ship is the lack of training of the management and co-workers. Active alcoholism is still very common and widely accepted (one of the captains I worked under would ramble on unintelligibly for 20 minutes about his homemade "Norwegian moonshine" at the formal party every week). The quality of musicianship varies widely, from advanced to beginner. Musicians are routinely hired with little or no screening, which often proves to be problematic, both musically and personally.

"Titanic Revisited" - getting too close for comfort to the Garibaldi Glacier in southern Chile in 1996 (me no like hypothermia)

Some of my experiences on ships went smoothly; there were great musicians onboard, and everyone had a fun experience. This particular contract was a different story. While I have the basic belief that in life everything happens for the best, and that challenges come our way in order to teach us something about ourselves, I also think it is a good idea to avoid putting yourself in a situation where there is a recipe for conflict. No more ships for me!