Entertainment and dining onboard cruise ships can be some of the best in the world, and while some famous faces began their careers at sea, others have been lured to the decks as cruise vacation packages become one of the most popular and luxurious ways to travel. With modern cruises now appealing to a much wider audience than they did in the early twentieth century, the variety of celebrities and celebrity themes appearing on cruise liners is greater than ever.
5. Mickey Mouse
Cruise ships and itineraries designed specifically for families with young children provide a stress-free way to travel, and there’s plenty onboard to keep the kids entertained, including – on select ships – the presence of a certain Disney mouse.
It’s not just Mickey onboard either, as Minnie, Donald, Daisy, and Pluto have also been known to make an appearance. Children can have their photographs taken with the characters and also get their autographs, just like they can in popular theme parks worldwide.
4. Donny & Marie
Donny & Marie Osmond’s ‘Cruisin with Friends’ was a themed cruise that sailed throughout early 2012 and that focused on the famous brother-sister team.
The highlight of the cruise was the ‘Evening with Donny & Marie’ concert, but the entire 4-day Caribbean cruise was filled with Q&A sessions, Osmond trivia, and karaoke based on songs that made the pair famous including ‘Love Me for a Reason’ and ‘Crazy Horses’. The pair had built a successful Las Vegas career before exploring the cruise avenue.
3. Nobu
Chef Nobuyuki Matsuhisa, more commonly known as Nobu, is the owner of some of the world’s finest and most famous Japanese restaurants, with locations in Milan, New York, Tokyo, and London, among many others. Nobu restaurants are even located on select cruise ships – and while many ships boast celebrity restaurants, not all boast a celebrity chef who actually works onboard.
Nobu is present for many sailings, acting as executive chef and serving up his famous black cod with miso, one of the most popular menu items.
2. Taylor Swift
Country star Taylor Swift had already established herself in her field before taking to the seas, performing to a select crowd of just 250 at an outdoor venue on the world’s largest cruise liner whilst the ship was docked in Cozumel, Mexico, in 2011 as part of a special trip around the Caribbean before the ship was officially entered into service.
Travelers could win tickets through a number of onboard activities and competitions, including Taylor-Swift-themed karaoke and even a lookalike contest.
1. Siegfried & Roy
Although this magic duo gained fame through their one-of-a-kind show in Las Vegas, the German-born pair actually started out on European cruises way back in 1957. Siegfried was employed as a steward turned magician who performed as an amateur on quiet nights, and Roy worked as a waiter.
Roy had little knowledge of magic but was curious and eager to learn. After combining their talents and performing together on German ships for many years, they secured a gig on Caribbean cruises for three years before taking up residence in Sin City.
