Pros
I took this job to travel, get playing experience, and pay off my student loans. Room and board is covered, and the performance schedule allowed me to get off the ship and explore the ports almost every day. I really enjoyed the itineraries and got to meet many wonderful people from all over the world. Lots of big personalities and fun people in the entertainment department. Overall, it was a great gig out of school.
Cons
It's a corporate environment. Everything comes down to ratings. This is understandable, but it limited our capacities within our roles. The trio I played in was not encouraged to play anything outside of a somewhat limited repertoire with a heavy dose of rhumbas, cha-chas, waltzes, etc. Band morale suffered while playing 5 sets a night for several months in this environment. But that is the gig. You put up with it to enjoy the lifestyle and travel.
