How about spending an evening at sea catching a show hot from the West End or Broadway? Or watching a dazzling acrobatic display or inspiring dance performance? Cruise lines boast an incredible array of live shows these days, performed in theatres with the latest technology, so there's bound to be something that floats your boat. You can even enjoy unique venues such as ice rinks, swimming pools and atriums. Here are some of the impressive acts you can watch live on cruise ships. 

The high seas are home to some of the world’s most famous musicals, and on Royal Caribbean International ships you can watch Cats, Mamma Mia! and Hairspray. Slick back your hair and get ready for some summer lovin’ on Harmony of the Seas and Independence of the Seas, with the hit show Grease. Follow the romantic twists and turns of lovebirds Sandy and Danny as they navigate high school and relationships, set to the musical’s popular toe-tapping songs. 

Virgin Voyages has created a festival-style lineup of shows, including Duel Reality, which is a modern twist on Romeo and Juliet. It’s produced by the innovative circus company The 7 Fingers, and you’ll watch as two groups of acrobats compete to rise above each other with graceful and death-defying acts. Catch the show in the Red Room on the adults-only ships Scarlet Lady and Valiant Lady. 

Feeling inspired? Read our review of sassy ship Scarlet Lady here

Disney Cruise Line debuted two theatrical productions on its new ship, the Disney Wish, in 2022. The line is famed for its live entertainment, and the onboard theatre hosts a Broadway-style adaptation of The Little Mermaid, telling Ariel’s story through special effects, puppetry, dance and a reimagined script and score. It also showcases the fast-paced new musical comedy, Disney’s Aladdin: A Musical Spectacular.

Over on the Disney Dream, Beauty and the Beast is transformed into a musical with intricate puppets and more than 1,000 lavish costume pieces. Featuring famous songs from the animated and live-action films, the 70-minute performance uses bubble machines, pyrotechnics and a giant LED video wall to immerse you in 23 different locations throughout the story. The music was recorded by a 75-piece orchestra, which even used a saw as an instrument.

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Spend a relaxing afternoon viewing art by Norway’s most famous artist, Edvard Munch, with a backdrop of live classical music. Munch Moments takes place daily in the living room of all Viking Ocean Cruises ships, with each show curated by theme. Oslo’s Munch Museum has granted the line digital rights to Munch’s entire collection, so expect to see some of the master expressionist’s most famous work as you sail. 

Mega-ship Wonder of the Seas includes a vast entertainment offering from Royal Caribbean International. Head to the ice skating rink-turned-stage to watch 365: The Seasons on Ice, which follows the story of Earth’s changing seasons through the artistic movement of champion ice skaters. Innovative projection mapping, music and colourful lighting transform the rink from one season into the next.

We stepped onboard Wonder of the Seas – read our review here

Another mind-boggling show on Wonder of the Seas comes courtesy of the open-air AquaTheater, which features two 30-foot (9m) diving platforms and 137,000 gallons of water in the deepest pool at sea. While you’ll find AquaTheaters on all of Royal Caribbean’s Oasis Class ships, Wonder of the Seas is home to the new show, InTENse. It features the venue’s first all-female cast, who teeter across tightropes, plunge into pools and wow the audience with more mesmerising stunts and aerial acrobatics.

Sir Tim Rice is an award-winning musical and film songwriter, and you’ll probably recognise his songs, like those from Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, The Lion King and Aladdin. Learn how they were crafted in An Evening with Tim Rice, which was created exclusively for ultra-luxury cruise line Seabourn. The production is narrated by Sir Tim and includes visuals from his personal archive, with performances from live singers and musicians. Watch it on Seabourn Encore.

If your ideal live show involves magic and illusions, take a seat in P&O Cruises’ Headliners Theatre and prepare to be amazed by Astonishing. The show is produced by Bafta-award winning presenter and entertainer Stephen Mulhern and performer Jonathan Wilkes, with dance moves choreographed by Paul Domaine, and mind-bending trickery courtesy of master illusionist Guy Barrett. The mesmerising show is available on Arcadia, Aurora, Azura, Britannia and Ventura.

When you sail on P&O Cruises’ newest vessel, Iona, you’ll enjoy aerial stunts and acrobatic acts from international entertainment company Creativiva, in the ship’s public spaces. The glass-roofed SkyDome is home to Rise, which is set in an aviary with performers in brightly-coloured costumes. It also hosts Triboo, which sees an action-packed battle between two tribes. Meander over to the spacious Grand Atrium to see the magical show Dream.

Dust off your disco shoes for a 85-minute showcase of music sensation Donna Summer on Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Prima. In Summer: The Donna Summer Musical, you'll experience more than 20 of the dance floor diva’s most popular hits, including Love to Love You Baby and Hot Stuff. The show is held in the Prima Theater, which turns into a Las Vegas-style nightclub after the curtain call.

On fellow Norwegian Cruise Line ships Norwegian Bliss and Norwegian Breakaway, you can watch Six the Musical. The energetic and inspirational show sees the six wives of Henry VIII take the mic to tell their tales about their famous ex-husband. It’s a 500-year-old story of historical heartbreak turned into a 75-minute celebration of modern girl power.

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Continuing the historical theme, you can brush up on the Bard on Cunard’s Queen Mary 2, which has partnered up with the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC). The unique Boundless as the Sea show focuses on Shakespeare’s iconic love scenes, and the cast run regular workshops and Q&A sessions. The RSC also performs Miss Littlewood onboard, which is a musical about the life of revolutionary theatre director Joan Littlewood. Recent RSC productions are screened in the ship’s cinema and staterooms.

Cunard also puts on the popular musical Top Hat, which is a 1930s romantic comedy set in the golden age of Hollywood. It’s famed for its costumes, set designs and tap dancing, following the story of Jerry Travers as he dances his way across Europe to win the heart of society girl Dale Tremont. It’s shown on the Queen Elizabeth and Queen Victoria at their Royal Court Theatres, and you can catch the show from your very own theatre box.

MSC Cruises has its own production brand, Carousel Productions at Sea, who perform seven shows for the line’s Meraviglia Class ships. They all feature acrobatics, dance and music, including Arkymea on MSC Virtuosa. The story follows a scientist who finds a hidden world and travels through multiple dimensions to reach Arkymea, a mysterious and magical place. Look out for the land’s extravagant characters performing acrobatic feats.

These immersive MSC Cruises shows are performed in ships’ intimate Carousel Lounges, which seat 400 guests and are among the most technologically advanced venues onboard, with professional sound and lighting equipment. SWEET is a musical-style show billed as 'a treat for the imagination', promising to take you to a real life candy land. Catch the show on MSC Bellissima and MSC Grandiosa and expect classic tunes with a twist, vibrant costumes and aerial acrobatics.

Another MSC Cruises newcomer for 2022, MYüT on MSC Bellissima follows a male protagonist as he sets out to regain his voice. Watch as he enters a colourful new world and explores strange landscapes, each focusing on different emotions and senses. The show is full of impressive acrobatic and dance feats, with eye-catching costumes and lights displays. During all of the new MSC Cruises Carousel Productions at Sea, you’ll receive a signature cocktail inspired by the show.

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The Spotlight Bar live show on Princess Cruises’ Discovery Princess recreates the atmosphere of a friendly neighbourhood bar. The singers, dancers and musicians transform into locals who share their stories via a modern musical playlist. Listen out for Don’t You Worry ‘Bout A Thing by Stevie Wonder, Freedom by George Michael and Justin Timberlake’s Drink You Away. The luxurious ship is the sixth and final Royal Class vessel from Princess Cruises.

Have you ever sat at home just knowing you’d pick the right box on British TV’s Deal or No Deal? On Princess Cruises ships you can try your hand at one of the world’s most popular TV game shows, and win anything from a penny to $1,000 (£826). Either compete on stage as a contestant in this live version at sea, or play from your seat in the audience to try and win cash or a free cruise.

When it launched in April 2022, luxury ship Celebrity Beyond debuted Celebrity Cruises’ new show, Elements. It was designed by creatives who worked on performances ranging from the Olympics to the West End, and the result is mesmerising. The acrobats and dancers bring each of the five elements to life, blowing special floats over the audience with an air fountain. Arte and Stage Door have also recently debuted onboard, and the theatre is the largest in the Celebrity fleet.

The Tree of Life boasts a huge tree sculpture covered in thousands of LED leaves, which dominates the stage during this dramatic production, only available on Celebrity Apex. The show takes you on a journey through various relatable life moments, each communicated by the changing seasons of the tree and set to pop-rock music. The ship theatre has a giant 4K LED screen curved around the stage.

Sail with Ambassador Cruise Line and you can watch some seriously fancy footwork choreographed by Anton Du Beke, the popular judge and dancer from the BBC's Strictly Come Dancing. Dance Dance Dance features a world tour of the best of dance through the decades, with virtual appearances from the TV star. It's onboard the line’s first ship, Ambience.

With high energy choreography, an 80s soundtrack and high-end-fashion-inspired costumes, there’s a fun atmosphere during this theatre production. Dr Voltz and The Elec-tricks is one of the newest shows on Marella Cruises’ Marella Discovery 2. The cruise line's high end technology, including projection mapping, ensures you’re fully immersed in the show. 

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Holland America Line offers a spectrum of live musical experiences through its Music Walk initiative. Available on most of the line's ships, it includes BBC Earth In Concert, where footage from inspiring nature documentaries is shown on a huge screen, while live musicians play the score. Or try one of the Rolling Stone Rock Room shows and listen to a five-piece band as they chronicle iconic rock hits, inspired by the top song lists from Rolling Stone magazine.

Listen to classic soul and rock 'n' roll direct from one of the coolest places in Memphis, with BB King’s All-Star Band shows. The band performs live on six Holland America Line ships, including the latest addition to the fleet, Rotterdam. Meanwhile the Lincoln Center Stage can be found on nine ships, offering familiar classics and twists on contemporary favourites.

If you always know the answers when watching US TV’s Family Feud, why not try your luck onboard Carnival Cruise Line’s Mardi Gras with Family Feud Live? The stage show is hosted by Carnival’s cruise directors and features the same format and signature set as the popular programme. There’s even the familiar sound and lighting effects and the playful banter between questions. There are several variations, including traditional, instant family, kids and even a late night adults-only version. In 2023 the popular stage show will come to Carnival's Celebration and Jubilee vessels.

Set in an elegant enchanted garden, Celestial Strings is the first show in Carnival’s Playlist Productions range to feature a live string trio. The 'multi-sensory symphony for the soul' documents the seasons with a rock and pop soundtrack, merged with classical musicians playing live electric strings. It’s shown on Carnival Horizon, Carnival Panorama and Mardi Gras and will soon be on Carnival Celebration too.

If you're looking for a laughter-filled evening, head to the Punchliner Comedy Club on any Carnival ship. The comedians know exactly how to liven up everyone’s night with one-liners, gags and jokes. To ensure the tone is ideal for each audience, the ships across the Carnival fleet offer comedy for every type of cruiser, from family-friendly performances to adults-only laughs.

Marvel at the magic of the big top with the Cirque Fantastic troupe of colourful circus artists and acrobats. They perform an entertaining musical circus show on both Celestyal Cruises ships. The vessels also host traditional and contemporary musicians, with a focus on Greek themes. You can join Greek dancing lessons, or bust out some of your own moves in the nightclub.   

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