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The A-Z of Cruising
listings compiled by Shona Collins, introduction by Mark Ritchie
updated July 2007

Observers of the burgeoning cruise ship holiday market comment on one common denominator, which glues the whole appeal of the cruise holiday together.

The recurring theme of diversity in terms of what is actually on offer is the key factor which has been added in recent years.

The biggest event of the cruise ship calendar for years has to be the ocean-going spectacle, which is currently in the planning stages and to be presented by Cunard - in December 2007 the QE2 and the new Cunard super-liner Queen Victoria are to cruise in tandem to New York, where they will meet up with the Queen Mary.

Five brand new production shows are currently being put together by Northampton-based Belinda King Creative Productions and these are set to keep passengers well entertained as they head across the pond.

The sheer awe-inspiring scale of liners like the members of the Cunard fleet require quite a superlative to sum up both the scale of the investment and of what is on offer once actually on board.

To emphasise the theme of diversity within the cruise market, there are many operators trawling for landlubbers and enticing them to get their feet wet.

According to those placed in charge of providing suitable entertainment for the guests, their profiles are studied very carefully and well in advance, before the first of the passengers trots expectantly up the gangplank.

The Thomas Cook-operated Ocean Village and Ocean Village Two cruise ships are transporting many customers who maybe a decade ago would not have been thought of as typical passengers. Both ships feature entertainment venues such as Connexions, which presents comedians from the comedy club circuit, as well as more mainstream purveyors of the art of stand-up.

The Marquee venue is the place to party, with tribute bands, street theatre and even circus acts setting the mood.

Aiming at a virtually untapped market of potential customers, who may have previously perceived a cruise ship holiday as the domain of the elderly, has clearly paid handsome dividends, as the recent addition of the second Ocean Village vessel has emphasised.

Fred Olsen cruises is set to launch its largest cruise ship in 2008, after the acquisition of Norwegian Crown. However, this company is bucking its own trend, as previously it has always found its place in the market by consistently attracting passengers who want a smaller vessel on which to see the world. This new addition to the Olsen fleet is operated by Norwegian Cruise Lines and this will continue to be the case until November 2007. The vessel will then undergo an extensive refit, until it is relaunched and renamed Balmoral.

Fred Olsen cruises entertainments manager Helen Bennett says: "The Balmoral will be our biggest ship, with room for 1,340 passengers. Our next biggest ships are Black Watch and Boudicca, both of which have room for 950."

This will take the total of ships operated by Fred Olsen to five, with Black Prince and Braemar being the remaining two.

Entertainment presented within the cruise ship sector occupies a wide range in terms of style and substance. For example, the new P&O floating city known as Ventura, which is launched in April 2008, is set to boast a huge theatre venue and a host of other live cabaret rooms. While at the other end of the scale, the Hebridean International Cruise company, which is based in Skipton, North Yorkshire, markets itself as a "small cruise company for the discerning traveller" and, according to its website, the two cruise ships it operates both feature a music cabin, in which passengers can simply listen and dance.

The job opportunities for entertainers and musicians are undoubtedly there and those involved in light entertainment are surely counting their blessings that, aside from the still popular tribute scene, there is another sector which is still sporting a healthy glow.

From a passenger's point of view, the range of destinations is more diverse than ever, which could even lead some to believe that adventure on the high seas is not out of the question. In November 2005, the Miami-based Seabourn Cruises ship Seabourn Spirit was attacked by pirates in speedboats while approximately 100 miles off the coast of the war-torn African republic of Somalia. The 302 passengers, all American and British, came through the ordeal unscathed, despite coming under fire from automatic weapons and even a rocket launcher.

So, while you won't find too many swashbuckling ship's captains these days, it seems that life on a 21st-century cruise ship is not all pink gin and splicing the mainbrace.

ABOVE ALL ENTERTAINMENT
15 Eastport Lane, Lewes, East Sussex BN7 1TL
Tel: 01273 486 622
Busy agency run by Mick Urry, former bandleader on the QE2. Deals with all the cruise lines but especially Royal Caribbean and Stena Line. Specialises in duos, trios and quartets and is always on the lookout for them. Musicians are British and Bulgarian.

AFRICAN SAFARI CLUB
Northside House, Tweedy Road, Bromley, Kent BR13WA
Tel: 0845 345 0014
Email: info@africansafariclub.com
www.africansafariclub.com
Swiss-owned group which specialises in safaris and cruises around the Indian Ocean aboard MS Royal Star, a small ship carrying just over 200 passengers. The company also organises Nile cruises aboard the Star of Luxor. Entertainment is therefore basic but the Royal Star does have a small production show, occasional cabaret performers and a band. Many of the Filipino and Indonesian crew are also enthusiastic entertainers. The parent company owns ten hotels in Africa and short stays often combined with the cruises.

THE AGENCY ENTERTAINMENT LTD
Suite 2, The Business Centre, 120 West Heath Road, London NW3 7TU
Tel: 020 8458 4212
www.excellententertainment.biz
London-based entertainment company managed by Marc Sorrentino. It supplies all things entertainment to Disney Cruise Line, Silverseas, Oceania Cruises, Celebrity Cruises, Regent Seven Seas, Voyages of Discovery and Travelscope Holidays. Later this year the agency will branch out into Artist Management.

AIDA CRUISES
Formerly a German affiliate of P&O, AIDA has now been acquired by Costa Cruises. It has four cruise ships, including AIDAvita, which entered service in 2004. The others are AIDAcara, the largest in the fleet, AIDAaura, which also joined the fleet two years ago, and AIDAblu, formerly just Aida, and since 2004 with A'Rosa Cruises.

AMERICAN WEST STEAMBOAT COMPANY
2101 4th Avenue, Suite 1150, Seattle, Washington 98121
One of the world's premier river cruise lines and the largest river and coastal cruising company in the United States, Majestic America Line provides guests with a graceful, refined experience exploring extraordinary American destinations. Majestic America Line's fleet of seven US-flagged and built ships travel the storied rivers and coastal waterways of America - from Alaska's Inside Passage to the raging rivers of the West to the mighty Mississippi.

A'ROSA CRUISES
German P&O affiliate with one large vessel, A'Rosa Blu (formerly Crown Princess) but also operates two river cruisers.

ELAINE AVON ARTISTE MANAGEMENT & AGENCY
127 Westhall Road, Warlingham, Surrey CR3 9HJ
Tel: 01883 622 317
Email: elaineaovn@btinternet.com
Elaine Avon is one of the longest established entertainment cruise consultants in the business and is renowned in the cruise industry for providing professional, experienced and quality entertainment. Elaine Avon Artiste Management and Agency provides many types of entertainers to all the top cruise lines. These cruise companies include: Celebrity Cruises, Crystal Cruises, Cunard, Holland America Line, Oceania, Princess, Regent Seven Seas Cruises, Royal Caribbean, Seabourn, Silversea and Saga. She represents artists from all over the world and is always looking for experienced professionals, as well as up and coming new acts.

MICHA BERGESE PRODUCTIONS
27 Wood Lane, London N6 5UE
Tel: 08458 900 986
www.michabergese.com
Responsible for the spectacular show in the Millennium Dome in 2000, Micha Bergese now produces a range of dance and aerial shows for Ocean Village and the new Ocean Village Two.

BLACKBURN INTERNATIONAL (UK) LTD
Suite B 26 Craven Court, Stanhope Road, Camberley, Surrey GU15 3BS
Tel: 01276 686661
Email: info@blackburninternational.com
www.blackburninternational.com
Blackburn International (UK) Ltd is a full-service worldwide theatrical agency and the premiere supplier of international entertainment to the cruise industry. Established in 2001, Blackburn, under the leadership of Jonathan Blackburn, has quickly emerged as the industry leader in the supply of entertainment to the cruise industry and corporate market and in this time has become a cornerstone of the entertainment industry.

BLUE MOON TALENT INC
1153 Bergen Parkway, Suite M-181,
Evergreen CO 80439, USA
Large US agent and booker which puts acts into Las Vegas venues and all types of corporate work, as well as cruise ships.

BRITTANY FERRIES
Brittany Centre, Wharf Road, Porstmouth PO2 8RU
Tel: 023 928 92226
www.brittany-ferries.com
BOOGIE MANAGEMENT
Tel: 020 8339 0740
www.boogiemanagement.com
Operates modern cross-channel ferries from Portsmouth, Plymouth and Poole to northern France. Plymouth also offers services to Santander, northern Spain. Depending on route, ships have live entertainment for much of the year - duos, bands, solo acts, cabarets, pianists and children's entertainers, plus entertainment managers, booked through Boogie Management, in Esher, Surrey. The fleet is headed by the £100 million flagship 'Pont Aven', launched in 2004. She operates a variety of routes, usually based in Plymouth. The fleet's crossing times vary from six to 18 hours, depending on the route and artists typically work for between one and three-week periods. All enquiries to Boogie Management.

GARRY BROWN ASSOCIATES
27 Downs Side, Cheam, Surrey SM2 7FH
Tel: 020 8643 3991
Email: gbaltd@btconnect.com
Long-established agency for many years. Booker for major shipping lines, international hotels and worldwide conferences and conventions.

CAPTAIN COOK CRUISES
No 6 Jetty, Circular Quay, Sydney NSW 2000, Australia
Tel: +61 2 9206 1111
Family-owned company specialising in small-ship destination cruises in the Australia region, including New Zealand and Fiji. Entertainment is small scale. Established for 36 years, the company operates 16 vessels.

CARNIVAL CRUISE LINES
3655 NW 87th Avenue, Miami, Florida 33178
Tel: 305 599 2600
The largest cruise company in the world is a pioneer in the travel industry by positioning cruising as an all-ages holiday, appealing to a wide range of backgrounds and lifestyles. Carnival Cruise Lines currently operates 22 ships marketed under the 'Fun Ship' moniker. All Carnival vessels are purpose-built for the brand, having not previously been operated by other lines under another name. The line has three new ships on order through 2011. Carnival's cruises are aimed at a broad demographic and attract a significant number of first-time cruisers. There are five classes of vessel - Holiday, Fantasy, Destiny, Spirit and Conquest, the largest being more than 110,000 tons and thus too wide to transit the Panama Canal. Most of Carnival's cruises operate in the Caribbean but the line has recently began expanding into Europe. Carnival's ships are strong on non-stop entertainment for adults and children and all have big show lounges or theatres. Each vessel has a range of production shows and numerous guest performers, for cruises are generally of short duration and sail from 18 different North American homeports and two in Europe. With so many ships and the company constantly updating its shows, there is a need for qualified entertainers, including dancers, and many of its dancers are from the UK. Carnival's London office holds regular auditions but all performers are contracted through the company's Miami headquarters.

CELEBRITY CRUISES
1050 Caribbean Way, Miami, Florida
Tel: 305 262 6677
Originally started by the well-known Chandris family, a big name in cruising 20 years ago, Celebrity is now owned by Royal Caribbean and is a premium brand. The original mid-size ships were Horizon and Zenith, the next generation were Century, Galaxy and Mercury, the latest are Millennium, Infinity and Summit, now nearing 100,000 tons. Constellation came into service in 2002, bringing the fleet to nine. Accommodation and food (the latter supervised by Michel Roux) are of the highest standards. Entertainment is very American in style, reflecting the proportion of the passenger list, but the theatres are among the best in the cruise field, with excellent sightlines. There are large production shows and visiting cabaret entertainers, mainly American. Summit is now based in the Far East, representing the Orient as a growing destination. Entertainment includes a unit from Cirque du Soleil. A recent innovation is is the line's first ever small-scale ship, Celebrity Xpedition, which is designed especially for cruises that sail to the Galapagos Islands, which has no entertainment.

CHANCERY CRUISING
2-3 Cursitor Street, Chancery Lane, London EC4A 1NE
Tel: 020 7405 7056
www.chancerycruising.com
London company which specialises in jazz and big band cruises, the ships being at the top end of the market.

CLASSIC INTERNATIONAL CRUISES
274 Main Road, Sutton-at-Hone, Dartford, Kent DA4 9HJ
Tel: 01322 863 928
Fax: 01322 860 751
www.classicintcruises.co.uk
Part of Arcalia Shipping Co Ltd, of Lisbon, this company has recently acquired the Athena, which has become its flagship. The other vessels, fairly familiar to British cruise passengers, are Princess Danae, Arion and Funchal. The ships are classed medium to small, the Athena, a former transatlantic liner, being the largest at 15,000 tons. Depending on the size, all have small or larger entertainment units and visiting cabaret artists. Itineraries are worldwide.

CLIPPER CRUISE LINE
11969 Westline Industrial Drive, St Louis, Missouri 63146-3220, USA
Tel: (800) 234-6900
Email: info@intrav.com
Has a fleet of four small ships, mainly engaged in cruising American waters. The vessels are of high standard but entertainment is small scale, though the visiting lecturers are selected for their ability to entertain as well as instruct. The ships are Clipper Odyssey, Nantucket Clipper, Yorktown Clipper and Clipper Adventurer.

COLOR LINE
PO Box 1422, Vika, N-0115, Oslo, Norway
Tel:(+47) 22 94 44 00
This company has ten large ferries, some of cruise ship proportions, sailing to ports in Norway, Germany, Denmark and Sweden. All have entertainment, some have production shows. The vessels are Prinsesse Ragnhild, Kronprins Harald, Color Festival, Peter Wessel, Color Traveller, Christian IV, Silvia Ana, Color Viking and Bohus.

COSTA CRUISES
Zergone Sal, Via de Marini, 60 Nuova Darsona, 10149 Genoa, Italy
Tel: 020 7940 5398
Though part of the huge Carnival empire, Costa Cruises maintains its own Italian identity. Indeed, many of the passengers are Italian, though the line is marketed to four other nationalities, including British and Americans. The fleet at present numbers 12, the latest addition being Costa Concordia, which went into service last year, and at 112,000 tons is the line's largest vessel. Slightly smaller is the recently completed Costa Magica. Other large vessels are Costa Fortuna, which entered service in 2004, Costa Mediterranea, which went into service. In 2003, Costa Atlantica and Costa Victoria, while the smaller but still sizeable ships are Costa Romantica, Costa Classica, Costa Europa (formerly Holland America's Wester-dam), Costa Tropicale and Costa Allegra. In 2004 the company acquired AIDA Cruises, a German cruise line with four ships, AIDAcara, AIDAvita, AIDAaura and AIDAblu. There is a new terminal building in Genoa, one of the most impressive in the world, named Palacrociere. Entertainment of necessity has an international flavour but each vessel has two production companies aboard - the smallest ring eight-strong, the largest 16. British performers are welcome but cabaret acts must be able to work in at least two additional languages and entertainment staff who are able to speak an additional language are preferred. The children's programme has also been expanded. The entertainment office, under Gary Glading, himself on the ships for 18 years, is in Genoa.

CRUCEROS AUSTRALIS
Av Comunidad Europea 4, Local B, 08917 Badalona, Barcelona, Spain
Tel: (34 93) 497 0484
Specialists in South American cruises, mainly around the southern part of the continent, including Antarctica. There are two small ships at present, the Mare Australis and the new Via Australis.

CRUISING MUSICALS CONSORTIUM
Suite 3, Waldorf Chambers, 11 Aldwych, London WC2B 4DG
New company founded by noted theatre producers Paul Elliott and Chris Moreno, aimed at the cruise market. Currently has a range of shows aboard Oriana and Aurora, two ships in the P&O Cruises fleet.

CRYSTAL CRUISES
2049 Century Park East, Suite 1400, Los Angeles, CA 90067, USA
Tel: 1 866 446 6625
www.crystalcruises.com
Based in Los Angeles, Japanese-owned Crystal Cruises, owned by Nippon Yusen Kaisha, the largest shipping company in the world, operates two vessels of very high standard, Crystal Symphony and the recently launched Crystal Serenity. At 68,000 tons and carrying more than a thousand passengers, the last-named is the largest of the ships. The company has won awards for cruise entertainment from Conde Nast Magazines for more than ten years. Specialises in some of the most elaborate production shows at sea, produced in house under Bret Bullock, vice-president, entertainment. The company now holds auditions in London. There is also a minimum of four cabaret entertainers per cruise, plus musicians and lecturers.

CUNARD
Mountbatten House, Grosvenor Square, Southampton SO15 2BF
Tel: 02380 716 500
www.cunard.com
Probably the best-known name in the shipping, let alone cruising world, the company was originally founded in 1840. Its flagship Queen Elizabeth 2 (generally known as QE2), recently sold for $100 million, is to become a floating hotel, though there are several cruises to the States, plus an annual world cruise. The Queen Mary 2 joined the fleet in 2004. It is the most expensive ship ever built, its gross tonnage being 150,000, and has been designed as the height of luxury cruising. Another luxury vessel of 90,000 tons, which will be named Queen Victoria, is due to enter service in 2007. The style is decidedly upmarket and the entertainment follows suit, though that is not to say that it is stuffy, as many of the leading light entertainment personalities are regular guest performers. But there is still proper dancing in a ballroom (aboard the Queens) and the brashness of many of the other cruise lines is completely absent. Despite its quintessentially British style, Cunard is now part of the Carnival cruise group.

DANZE FANTASY PRODUCTIONS
88 Abingdon Road, Standlake, Witney, Oxfordshire OX29 7RN
Tel: 01865 300 723
Established for more than 25 years, this company specialises in lavish productions both on land and at sea. Danze Fantasy has undergone expansion and further to its work in Korea, it has spread to Singapore, Australia and Macaua and is currently working with MSC Cruise Lines.

DFDS SEAWAYS
Basically providing a passenger and freight service between Britain and Scandinavia, this large and long-established Danish company is offering cruise breaks with bands and solo artists providing the entertainment. There are three ships classed as holiday liners, The Princess, Crown and Pearl of Scandinavia, all recently refurbished.

DEJA VU
Casa Verde, 8 Coppice Way, Droitwich Spa, Worcestershire WR9 9JB
Tel: 01905 771627
Email: rogergreenents@talktalk.net
Production company run by Roger Green and Ali Kirkham since 1992, with Chris Hocking as musical director. Provides production shows for the Fred Olsen Line's cruise ships and Voyages of Discovery, and also has a long association with Page and Moy.

DELTA QUEEN STEAMBOAT COMPANY
In the great American tradition, this company runs regular cruises up and down the Mississippi and in the Gulf of Mexico, using American Queen, the largest steamboat in the world, Delta Queen and Mississippi Queen. The ships are luxuriously appointed and feature full stage shows.

DISNEY CRUISE LINE
P.O. Box 10, 210 Lake Buena Vista, Florida 32830
Has two ships, Disney Magic and Disney Wonder, both with a strong Disney theme and based at Port Canaveral, Florida, from where they sail mainly on three and four-night cruises to the Bahamas and seven-night cruises to the Caribbean. Nearly an entire deck is devoted to youth activities and children are divided up into six groups for age-specific activities. Included are visits to the Disney private Bahamian island, Castaway Cay, likewise themes and divided into areas. Entertainment mainly comprises elaborate production shows, again with a strong Disney flavour, and there is a unique entertainment 'district' aboard both vessels, which includes a dance club, piano bar and sports pub - all for adults over 18. Disney Cruises is unlike other lines in that everything is geared towards the Disney image. It is not, for instance, a 'destination' line - both the ships make prescribed voyages to various places and there can be a tie-up with visits to Disneyland in Orlando. Expansion of the cruising side has been put on hold since September 11, but Disney plans to add two 124,000-ton ships to its fleet to add flexibility to the itineraries offered, extending the trips to Japan, France and China. In addition, Disney has just initiated Mediterranean cruising for the coming summer and hopes to offer this again in summer 2008. In terms of number of personnel, the existing Disney cruising shows are probably the largest afloat.

EASYCRUISE (UK) LTD
The Rotunda, 42-43 Gloucester Crescent, London NW1 7DL
Tel: 0871 210 0001
www.easycruise.com
The concept behind EasyCruise, the latest project from Stelios Haji-Ioannou, is to offer weekends, short breaks and longer itineraries to some of the world's best destinations, coupled with value pricing. EasyCruise offers passengers a restaurant, bar, gym, hot tub and sun deck on its cruises, and also long stop-offs at each destination, arriving each day by lunchtime and not leaving again until the following morning, allowing passengers plenty of time to go ashore and enjoy the area.
This year, EasyCruiseOne is sailing a brand new itinerary visiting islands surrounding Greece from just £30 per person for a three-night midweek break and EasyCruiseTwo is sailing through Holland & Belgium, visiting Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Antwerp and Brussels from as little as £24 per person for a four-night short break. This unique holiday experience is appealing to younger, independent travellers, who are looking for an alternative to traditional static beach holidays and city breaks.

ELYSIAN CRUISES
3251 Ponce de Leon Blvd, Coral Gables, 33134-7201 FL, USA
Tel: +1 305 507 2000
Operates New Flamenco, which cruises the Mediterranean and the Canaries. The ship is of just over 17,000 tons. Cruises are currently under the auspices of Travelplan. From spring 2007, Blue Monarch (ex-Grand Victoria, ex-World Renaissance) has been chartered by Monarch Classic Cruises (founded in July 2006) in the Aegean and eastern Mediterranean market.

FIRST CHOICE
First Choice is making a determined effort to enter the cruise market, as evidenced by its recently announced partnership with Royal Caribbean to build a completely new cruise ship catering for a younger market. At present, however, it is operating with Island Princess, formerly Viking Serenade. Marketing is strongly aimed at the younger end of the market and entertainment has been improved and broadened in appeal. Cruising is exclusively in the Mediterranean, though additional cruises can be arranged in association with Royal Caribbean. See also Island Cruises.

FIRST CLASS ENTERTAINMENT
483 Ridgewood Road, Maplewood, 07040 2136, New Jersey, USA
Tel: (973) 763 0591
Email: talent@gotofirstclass.com
www.gotofirstclass.com
American company run by Howard Beder and his son, also named Howard, which is a regular supplier of entertainment to all the major American cruise lines.

FJORD LINE
Royal Quays, North Shields, Tyne-and-Wear NE29 6EG
This is basically a ferry company operating a regular service from North Shields, at the mouth of the Tyne, to Bergen and on to Stavanger. However, the company does offer three-day cruises, with longer cruises along the Norwegian coast through local ferry and hotel operators. There is a fair-sized entertainment programme, with established performers, as well as children's entertainers and a solo pianist. Three of the ships, including MS Jupiter, have been sold recently but a new ship, Fjord Norway, has recently entered service.

THE GARY MUSICK COMPANY
885 Elm Hill Pike, Nashville, TN, USA 37210
Tel: 615 259 2400
www.garymusick.com
Gary Musick is a major producer of corporate events of all kinds but particularly those which incorporate theatrical elements. The company has in-house production facilities for theatre shows and music presentations. It also provides production shows for cruise ships, particularly for Celebrity Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line and Orient Lines, and has occasional auditions in London.

HAPAG-LLOYD CRUISES
Hapag-Lloyd Cruises, Ballindamm 25, 20095 Hamburg, Germany
Tel: +49 40 3001 4600.
www.hl-cruises.com
Hapag-Lloyd Cruises is today one of Germany's foremost providers of premium, luxury and expedition cruises and owns four ships. MS Europa, the fleet's flagship, is the only cruise liner to have been awarded the coveted 5-star plus distinction by the Berlitz Cruise Guide from 2001-7. MS Hanseatic and MS Bremen, exploration ships, are both designed for travel in polar regions and for destinations 'off the beaten track'.
MS Columbus, a 3-star plus ship, offers cruising in a relaxed atmosphere and was especially built to navigate the locks in the Great Lakes of North America. Though German-speaking guests represent the highest proportion of passengers, the company also offers a steadily increasing number of bilingual cruises in English and German since 2004. The cabaret side of the entertainment is largely German-speaking, though international music artists, lecturers and visual acts are employed too.

HEBRIDEAN ISLAND CRUISES
Kintail House, Carleton New Road, Skipton, North Yorkshire BD23 2DE
Tel: 01756 704 704
A company which originally operated luxurious cruises around the Scottish islands, but expanded six years ago with the acquisition of Hebridean Spirit, which has a varied cruise schedule to Norway, the Baltic, the Mediterranean and the Indian Ocean, visiting out of the way destinations. This vessel was formerly in the Renaissance fleet. Hebridean Princess, previously the Scottish coastal ferry Columba, which takes only 49 passengers, continues with its Scottish schedule. Luxurious accommodation and superb food are the priority of this company but small-scale entertainment with a Scottish flavour is provided.

HIRE NOTES
750 Cowan Street, Nashville TN 37207, USA
www.hirenotes.com
CVs to: resume@hirenotes.com
Full service production company with offices in Las Vegas and Orlando, specialising in live entertainment for the cruise ship industry. Is sole provider of talent for the Disney Cruise Line and also services other cruise lines, for instamce NYK (Japan), Japan Cruise Line and Holland America. Also supplies bands and individual musicians, musical arrangements and soundtrack production. Has a full-time choreographer (Gail Davies-Sigler), costume designer (Adolf Von Spee), scenic designer (Pieter Grove) and musical director (Robert Sigler).

HOLLAND AMERICA LINE
300 Elliott Avenue West, Seattle, Washington 98199, USA
Tel: 206 282 3535
One of Carnival's first acquisitions, back in the eighties. Originally a Dutch company, dating back to 1871, Holland America has always set a standard for luxury and service, which it maintains, being particularly popular with older American passengers. There are 13 ships, all around the same size, in the fleet, and all have undergone a refurbishment in the last two years, the most recent being the Westerdam. The others are Rotterdam (one of the two flagships), Amsterdam (the second flagship), Oosterdam, Maasdam, Noordam, Veendam, Statendam, Ryndam, Volendam, Zaandam, Zuiderdam and Prinsendam, the last-named being transferred from Seabourn, a sister company. All the ships are of recent build and have large show lounges which present both elaborate Las Vegas-type production shows and individual acts. The other entertainment rooms are the Ocean Bar, with dancing, the Crows Nest nightclub, the Explorer's Lounge, with classical music, the Northern Lights Disco and a piano bar.

INTERNATIONAL CRUISE SERVICES
36 Midlothian Drive, Glasgow G41 3QU
Tel: 0141 649 8644
Glasgow company which acts as a consultant to cruise lines throughout the world, particularly in relation to employment. Publishes an invaluable Worldwide Cruise Ship and Yachting Career Guide, which is highly recommended to all those interested in a shipboard career and not merely in entertainment. The company regularly publishes updates to the guide and vacancy lists.

IRISH FERRIES
PO Box 19, Alexandra Road, Dublin 1, Eire
www.irishferries.com
Operates four ships on routes covering England and France. Largest vessel is the Normandy, sailing from Rosslare to Cherbourg and Roscoff. This has a caberet lounger, which is necessary because this is an 18-hour voyage. The other ferries are Jonathan Swift, Ulysses and Isle of Inishmore, all crossing the Irish Sea from England and Scotland.

ISLAND CRUISES
Olivier House, 18 Marine Parade, Brighton, East Sussex BN2 1TL
Tel: 0161 772 8601
www.islandcruises.com
A recently formed company instituted by First Choice Holidays and Royal Caribbean Cruises, aimed at attracting a younger clientele on their first cruise. Accordingly, there is virtually no formality on the ships, the 40,000-ton Island Escape (formerly Viking Serenade) and the Island Star, a new addition with a bigger theatre, accomodating larger productions. Dining is free-style, with no fixed times or allocated table. The ships also have a health club, a Costa coffee lounge, the first of its kind on a ship, and the wines are supplied by Oddbins. Cruises, with seven itineraries, are of seven days and can be combined with a week at a land resort. Entertainment is broadly traditional, with production shows, but has a more relaxed feel and is aimed at the younger generation. Children are welcomed and looked after. New to the Island Star in 2008 is Jongleurs Comedy Club, featuring a huge array of new and established comedians from May 3 until September 27, 2008.

KMC AGENCIES
PO Box 122, 48 Great Ancoats Street, Manchester, M4 5AB
Tel: 0161 237 3009/0870 460 4868
Email: info@kmcagenies.co.uk
www.kmcagencies.co.uk
Manchester-based agency which deals only with the biggest managements on land and sea. The agency specialises in dancers and actors. Cruising clients include Cunard, Seabourn and Fred Olsen, also with recognised suppliers of production shows. at any time around 20 of the agency's dancers are aboard cruise ships. The agency is an offshoot of a very successful school.

ROGER KENDRICK CRUISE ENTERTAINMENTS
Suite 201, St. Annes House, Wood Street, St Annes-on-Sea, Lancashire FY8 1QG
Tel: 01253 726046
Email: roger.kendrick@btinternet.com
During the last 12 months Roger Kendrick Cruising Entertainment has supplied entertainment personnel to more than
15 different vessels. Costa Cruises and P&O Cruises remain core clients, though other companies supplied during 2006 included EasyCruise, Swan Hellenic, Arcalia Shipping and NYK Cruises of Japan. Additionally, Kendrick placed artists and musicians with other companies in their role as sub-contractor for their appointed suppliers.

BELINDA KING CREATIVE PRODUCTIONS
3 Notre Dame Mews, Northampton NN1 2BG
Tel: 01604 350693
Email: info@belindaking.com
www.belindaking.com
Belinda King is the exclusive supplier of production shows to Cunard with original shows on the QM2, QE2 and the new ship Queen Victoria to be launched in 2008. Last December its shows on the QM2 were voted Best Onboard Entertainment by Cruise Awards 2006. Other clients include exclusive casinos across the continent.

LIVE BUSINESS (INCORPORATING GROSVENOR PRODUCTIONS)
6 Square Rigger Row, Plantation Wharf, London SW11 3TZ
Email: jobs@livebusiness.co.uk
www.livebusiness.co.uk
Live Business Grosvenor Productions is an innovative entertainment and technical supplier. Amongst its many clients are Island Cruises and P&O Ferries. It provides first-class shows, music, activities, events, acts and video. Working with renowned directors, choreographers and producers, it has a talented team of singers, dancers, entertainment hosts, technicians, DJs, musicians, children's hosts and cruise directors.

LOUIS CRUISE LINES
274 Main Road, Sutton-at-Hone, Dartford, Kent DA4 9HJ
Tel: 01322 863928
Email: sales@louiscruises.co.uk
Louis Cruise Lines has a fleet of 13 cruise ships and operates cruises from the ports of Genoa and Marseilles to the west Mediterranean and North Africa, as well as to the eastern Mediterranean. From the port of Piraeus, Louis Hellenic Cruises sails to the Greek islands and eastern and western Mediterranean. Entertainment includes variety shows in their onboard theatres, lounge bars with performers and discos.

McLEOD HOLDEN ENTERPRISES LTD
Priory House, 1133 Hessle Road, Kingston-upon-Hull, East Yorkshire HU4 6SB
Tel: 01482 565444
www.mcleod-holden.com
Major entertainment agency which books performers for Color Line in Norway and for the main Baltic operators, Viking Line and Silja Line.

MSC CRUISES
Queens House, 55/56 Lincoln Inns Fields, London WC 2A 3LJ
Tel: 0870 850 4883
Part of a group founded in 1970, which has become one of the world's leading carriers, with headquarters in Naples. The cruising part of the business began in 1988 and has made considerable strides, becoming particularly popular with British cruising enthusiasts, even though there is an international passenger manifest. MSC Cruises' famous Mediterranean hospitality is now from the Baltics to the Norwegian Fjords, from the Greek islands and Mediterranean to the Caribbean. While on board an MSC floating resort, you will experience its "truly Italian" ambience that showcases the best of Italian cooking and culture while embracing international cuisine, customs and entertainment.

MIKE MOLONEY ENTERTAINMENT LLC
PO Box 371059, Las Vegas, Nevada 89137
Tel: 702 243 7456
Email: mmec@mmec.com
www.mmec.com
Providing entertainment solutions worldwide since 1992. Cruise ships, casinos, corporate dates and concert events.

MORAG PRODUCTIONS
21 NW 5th Street, Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33317, USA
Tel: 954 462 6760 ext 234
www.moragproductions.com
Founded by Burma-born, London-trained dancer Morag Veljkovic, this company deals with productions at sea and on land. Occasionally holds auditions in London. Past clients include Cunard Line, Seabourn Cruise Line, Royal Olympic Line, Holland America Line, Royal Cruise Line and Royal Viking Line.

NOBEL CALEDONIA
2 Chester Close, Belgravia, London SW1X 7BE
Tel: 020 7752 0000
www.noble-caledonia.co.uk
Specialist travel company offering a number of destination cruises on small ships. Most of the ships, some of which cruise the great rivers, are unsuitable for entertainment, though solo pianists are sometimes booked and there are usually lecturers. Vessels being used this year include Andrea, Island Sky, Corinthian II and Spirit of Oceanus, plus a number of locally-owned vessels, all of which, however, have high standards of comfort.

NORTHLINK FERRIES
Kiln Corner, Ayre Road, Kirkwall, Orkney KW15 1QX
Tel: 0845 6000 449
www.northlinkferries.co.uk
Newly established ferry service between Aberdeen and Scrabster, and Orkney and Shetland.

NORWEGIAN COASTAL VOYAGE
3 Shortlands, London W6 8NE
Tel: 020 8846 2666
www.hurtigruten.co.uk
Originally founded to service the small ports along the Norwegian coast, this company has now expanded into the cruise market, though still concentrating on the same coastal route. There are 14 ships in the fleet, and though all take passengers, facilities are limited aboard the smaller vessels, which were in some cases specifically designed for the more remote destinations. However, the latest arrivals are classified as cruise ships. Because of the frequent stops, entertainment is not a major provision but there are some resident musicians and local folksong and dance groups often come aboard at the larger ports. Cruise ships Saga Rose and Saga Ruby follow the company's policy of catering specifically for the over-50s, which means that the entertainment is aimed at that age group. Production shows on both vessels are provided by the Fort Lauderdale-based Jean Ann Ryan Productions but solo artists and groups are booked direct by the company's entertainment office at Folkestone, headed by Lindsay Frost.

PARKER ENTERTAINMENTS LTD
Pythagoras House, 6 Chilham Close, Hemel Hempstead, Herts HP2 4UG
Email: office@parker-entertainments.com
www.parker-entertainments.com
Parker Entertainments Ltd is a provider of quality entertainment and speakers for cruise companies worldwide. It prides itself on its personal and professional attention to advising both entertainers and cruise companies on their needs. The company has been involved in entertainment since the mid-seventies with its staff having worked on various cruise ships, including Colin Parker's ten years as Cruise Director on QE2, as well as other vessels.

PARTNERSHIP ENTERTAINMENT EVENTS LTD
Pinetum, Broughton Hall, Skipton, North Yorkshire BD23 3AE
Tel: 01756 796 176
Email: enquiries@peelcruise.com
www.peelcruise.com
PEEL has been developing innovative entertainment for the cruise industry for eight years and is currently the exclusive production company for Thomson Cruises' fleet of five ships - Spirit, Celebration, Destiny, Emerald and Calypso. With headquarters in Yorkshire, PEEL engages and trains upwards of 150 people, from cruise directors to showteam, technicians and musicians.

PEPPERPOT PROMOTIONS
20-22 Orde Hall Street, Holborn, London WC1N 3JW
Tel: 020 7405 9108
Email: chris@pepperpot.co.uk
www.pepperpot.co.uk
Pepperpot Promotions is headed by Chris Lees and has been supplying cruise lines now for 12 years (from Air Tours, Cunard, P&O and Saga). Representing musicians and various band line-ups. Currently booking guest bands on P&O's Arcadia, Artemis, Aurora, Oriana and Oceana and also has been supplying bands continuously to Center Parcs since 1995.

PRIMA ARTISTS
3 Sovereign House, West Hill Road, St Leonards-on-Sea, East Sussex TN38 0NH
Tel +44 (0)1424 203500
E-mail: cruising@prima-artists.com
www.cruising.prima-artists.com
In addition to its work in corporate entertainment, Prima Artists is now firmly established as an agency in the cruise sector. Its specialist cruise division is headed by Sarah MacDonnell, who has a wealth of experience in seagoing entertainment. Booking high-class headline and variety acts, Prima Artists is the premier European agency for Oceania Cruises as well as currently booking for Silversea, P&O and Saga Cruises.

SEABOURN
6100 Blur Lagoon Drive, Suite 400, Miami, Florida 33126
Tel: 0845 070 0500
www.seabourn.com
Recently merged with Cunard, itself owned by Carnival, Seabourn goes for the top end of the cruise market with its fleet of three ships, Seabourn Pride, Seabourn Spirit and Seabourn Legend. The ships are small, less than 10,000 tons, and often sail to out of the way destinations, passengers being largely Americans, though the fleet is now strongly marketed in Britain. There is deluxe comfort and service and the entertainment is appropriately sophisticated. Production shows are small but immaculate, the solo performers are at the top of their class.

SHOWSTOPPERS WORLDWIDE ENTERTAINMENTS
Unit 4 Waterside Mill, Macclesfield, Cheshire SK11 7HG
Tel 0870 243 2024
Email: info@showstoppers-worldwide.com
www.showstoppers-worldwide.com
Formed in 1993 by Paul Walsh, the company has expanded to be a worldwide supplier to international casinos and cruise lines including MSC, Dreamline and Paradise cruises, as well as leading corporate engagements.

SILVERSEA CRUISES
77/79 Great Eastern Street, London EC2A 3HU
Tel: 0870 333 7030
www.silversea.com
Formed in the early nineties, Silversea, now fully based at Fort Lauderdale, was quick off the mark in the luxury cruise market and has subsequently won many awards. Has a European feel, the officers being Italian. Operates an all-inclusive policy on its all-suite ships, Silver Cloud, Silver Wind, Silver Shadow and Silver Whisper - no extra charge for drinks, no gratuities. All ships have show lounges and provide a wide spectrum of entertainment; from classical concerts and cabaret performers to variety shows, stylish productions and feature films.

SIXTH STAR ENTERTAINMENT AND MARKETING
21 NW 5th Street, Fort Lauderdale , FL 33301, USA
Tel: (954) 462 6760
Founded in 2002, this company has made a big impression on the American corporate and cruising scene. Specialises in speakers but has a connection with Morag Productions. Also supplies clergy of most denominations and a 'distinguished gentlemen' service - in other words dance partners. A 'one-stop-shop' for entertainment, Sixth Star Entertainment and Marketing specialises in providing cruise lines, resorts, corporate and special events with top-quality musicians, entertainment programs and personnel. Services include turn-key entertainment, edu-tainment programs, theatrical production shows and more. All programs are tailored to meet the needs of specific venues and clientele.

SMYRIL LINE
J Broncksgota 37, PO Box 370, FO110, Torshavn, Faroe Islands
Tel: 298 345 900
Email: office@smyril-line.fo
www.smyril-line.com
Faroese company, well known in northern Europe for freight operations. In conjunction with Fjord Line it now runs a cruise ship, Norrona, which sails to Iceland and the Shetlands and has a live band and informal adult and children's entertainment.

STAR CRUISES
Operations, Sales & Marketing Headquarters, Star Cruises Terminal, Pulau Indah, Pelabuhan Barat, 42009, Pelabuhan Klang, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia
Tel: 60 3 31011313
www.starcruises.com
Star Cruises, the third largest cruise operator in the world, is a global cruise brand with a combined fleet of 21 ships with about 32,300 lower berths in service, with an additional three ships and some 10,800 lower berths due to be delivered by 2010, cruising to destinations and islands in Asia-Pacific, North and South America, Hawaii, the Caribbean, Alaska, Europe, the Mediterranean, Bermuda and the Antarctica under the Star Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line, NCL America, Orient Lines and Cruise Ferries brands. Star Cruises commenced operations with a single ship, offering regular cruises out of Singapore in 1993. Vessels operating under the Star Cruises brand in Asia-Pacific are SuperStar Virgo, SuperStar Gemini, SuperStar Libra, SuperStar Aquarius, Star Pisces, MegaStar Aries and MegaStar Taurus. The ships offer a wide variety of onboard dining, entertainment and recreation options that appeal to a wide spectrum of audiences, that includes families, couples, honeymooners, senior citizens and even business groups.

STENA LINE
Swedish company offering regular services to Ireland, Holland and Scandinavia. Entertainment is usually confined to the school holiday period and offers children's entertainers, live bands and DJs. The main booker is Ian Clark Entertainments of Ashford, Kent.

STILETTO ENTERTAINMENT
8295 S. La Cienega Boulevard, Inglewood, California CA 90301
Tel: (310) 957 5757
www.stilettoentertainment.com
www.gigsatsea.com.
Broad-based company involved with stage productions throughout the USA, record and TV production, tour management and merchandising, as well as cruise entertainment. Major cruise client is Holland America, for which the company presents production shows and hires musicians.

THOMSON CRUISES
Greater London House, Hampstead Road, London NW1 7SD
Tel: 020 7387 9321
One of the first British tour companies to enter the cruising market, Thomson has doubled its fleet this year, Emerald and Thomson Spirit being now joined by Thomson Destiny (nearly 38,000 tons), formerly the Sunbird (Airtours, and originally Song of America), and Thomson Celebration (nearly 34,000 tons), formerly Holland America's Noordam. The style is very much the British abroad, but is none the worse for that. The company offers exceptional value and the average age of the vessels has now been reduced. Entertainment, provided by Live Business/Grosvenor Productions, and by Partnership Events and Entertainments for the new acquisitions, is bright and cheerful and strongly geared to the British market.

TRANSOCEAN TOURS
Bremen-based company which is operating two cruise vessels, Astor and Astoria. Passengers are mainly German.

TRAVELSCOPE
Travelscope Holidays Ltd, Pioneer Avenue, Gloucester GL3 4AW
Tel: 0870 380 3333
www.travelscope.co.uk
General travel company which also operates under charter the 15,000-ton MV Van Gogh, which has a worldwide itinerary. It carries a full complement of entertainers and musicians. It also operates the slightly smaller Athena and Funchal, also with a fairly modest entertainment policy.

VOYAGES OF DISCOVERY
Lynnem House, 1 Victoria Way, Burgess Hill, West Sussex RH15 9NF
Tel: 01444 462 150
Email: admin@voyagesofdiscovery.com
Part of the All Leisure group, Voyages of Discovery specialises in destination cruises of historical interest, mainly in the Mediterranean, Aegean, Baltic and Black Seas and the Norwegian and Arctic areas. The vessel used is Discovery (formerly the Island Princess). Because of the type of cruise, most of the passengers are middle aged and upwards but there is entertainment (apart from the specialist lecturers), now supplied by Excellent Entertainment Ltd, in the Carousel Lounge, comprising a production show and solo performances. There is also ballroom dancing.

WARNER MUSIC AND ENTERTAINMENTS
58 Withcote Avenue, Leicester LE5 6ST
Tel: 0116 2444 067
Expanding agency run by a former cruise musician and bandleader.

WINDSTAR CRUISES
2101 4th Avenue, Suite 1150, Seattle, Washington 98121, USA
Sailing under the banner of its appropriate tagline "180o From Ordinary", Windstar was created in the mid-eighties with the vision to offer an alternative to the typical cruise or resort vacation. The Windstar passenger sees the world from a romantic sailing ship with luxurious accommodations, a casual yet elegant atmosphere, and exquisite service and cuisine.

THE WORKING VACATION
12544 West 159 Street, Homer Glen, Illinois 60491-8378, USA
Tel: 708-301-7535
www.theworkingvacation.com
Founded by Lauretta Blake in 1981, this company supplies gentlemen hosts, who must be excellent social dancers, to companies including Delta Queen Steamboat Company, American West Steamboard Company, Asuka Cruise Company, Silversea Cruises, and Celebrity Cruise. They also provide speakers for Celebrity, Uniworld and Royal Caribbean. These positions are unpaid but passenger cabins, dining room privileges, beverage and laundry allowances and sometimes round-trip air fare are provided.

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