Sheryl Crow just performed on Princess Cruises’ new Star Princess cruise ship, but she's hardly the first A-list performer to grace the stage at sea.
While cruise ships may not be as popular with artists as residencies in Las Vegas, they are an increasingly popular choice as a place for concerts, especially to celebrate the ship’s inaugural launch.
Here's a list of celebrities who have performed concerts on cruise ships.
Taylor Swift
In January 2011, four-time Grammy® award-winner Taylor Swift performed on Royal Caribbean's Allure of the Seas.
Swift performed for her fellow Swifties while the ship was in Cozumel, Mexico. The outdoor concert was held in the AquaTheater for a small crowd of just over 700 guests.
She is one of the few performers whose concert did not coincide with the launch of a new ship. Rather, the performance happened right before Swift began her Speak Now tour, following her third album’s release.
In an interview after the concert on Allure of the Seas, Swift noted how the AquaTheater was a unique venue to perform at. Fans not only watched from the amphitheater, but also from their inward-facing Boardwalk balconies.
Although Swift hasn’t returned to the high seas since, fans have organized dedicated Taylor Swift-themed cruises to honor the pop star.
Pitbull
Pitbull, the first-ever "Godfather" of a cruise ship, held a concert on the Norwegian Escape when the vessel launched in 2015.
Armando Christian Pérez (AKA Pitbull) christened the new ship when he launched a bottle of champagne against the top deck of the ship.
The rapper then performed some of his top hits for the crowd, including “Don't Stop The Party,” “Fun,” and fan-favorite “Fireball.”
"When I was a kid, I used to look at the cruise ships leaving port and say, 'One day I want to be able to get on a cruise,'" Pitbull remarked. “What a blessing. From a father who brought boats over on El Mariel, to be able to godfather my own cruise ship…it goes to show that anything you want to do in life, you can do it. ¡Dale!"
A few years later, he sang aboard the Norwegian Jade in 2018 during the CruiseWorld event in Miami, Florida.
DNCE
DNCE, the American dance-rock band best known for its lead singer, Joe Jonas, headlined the "Ultimate Friendsgiving" aboard Harmony of the Seas in 2016.
Guests were treated to an exclusive sunset concert at the ship's outdoor AquaTheater. The band played hits from their self-titled debut album, including "Pay My Rent," "Toothbrush," and "Body Moves."
Bonnie Tyler
Royal Caribbean couldn't resist inviting Bonnie Tyler aboard its cruise ship during a solar eclipse.
The Welsh singer performed her hit song, "Total Eclipse of the Heart," during a total solar eclipse while aboard Royal Caribbean's Oasis of the Seas in 2017.
She performed the song as a duet with DNCE, marking the band's second performance on a Royal Caribbean cruise ship.
Afterward, DNCE performed their chart-topping hits, including "Cake by the Ocean," "Body Moves," and "Kissing Strangers."
"Royal Caribbean is known as the most innovative cruise line, always pushing to create bigger and bolder adventures for vacationers," said Michael Bayley, President and CEO of Royal Caribbean International.
"We’re excited to have DNCE and Bonnie on board, and even more thrilled to have seen the looks on our guests’ faces when she was brought on stage to sing 'Total Eclipse of the Heart.' This is what we live for – to make unforgettable memories."
Michael Bolton
During Royal Caribbean’s 2018 President's Cruise, Michael Bolton took the stage for a concert to honor the cruise line’s most loyal guests. While onboard Harmony of the Seas, Bolton sang a cover of Ben E. King's "Stand by Me."
On the same cruise, Billy Ocean held a concert at Royal Caribbean’s private beach in Labadee, Haiti.
Katy Perry
Global superstar Katy Perry performed during Norwegian Prima’s christening ceremony in Reykjavík, Iceland, in 2022. It marked the first time that a brand-new ship was christened in the Icelandic capital city.
Before she took the stage, however, attendees got to enjoy a surprise performance by the popular Icelandic group and 2021 "Eurovision Song Contest" fan favorites, Daði og Gagnamagnið (pronounced "Dah-they Oh Gack-no-Mak-ne").
Perry then sang some of her chart-topping hits in the three-level Prima Theater & Club, such as "California Gurls," "Teenage Dream," "Roar," and "Firework."
"It was so much fun to sprinkle some fairy godmother dust on Norwegian Prima and send her on her way to sail the high seas," Perry said.
"I always appreciate a family vacation and a once-in-a-lifetime experience, so I was happy to wish all the vacationing guests a happy bon voyage!"
Kelly Clarkson
A few months later, Kelly Clarkson sang aboard the NCL Prima during the ship’s debut in Galveston, Texas, in October.
Clarkson and Norwegian Cruise Line teamed up to celebrate teachers with free cruises and an exclusive concert aboard the Norwegian Prima.
One hundred teachers across North America were rewarded with a free cruise and a chance to win up to $25,000 for their school. The three grand-prize winners were:
- Patricia Hosmer from Bayonne High School in Bayonne, NJ. ($25,000)
- Theresa Schrager from Falcon Cove Middle School, FL. ($15,000)
- Anthony Stirpe from New Rochelle High School in New Rochelle, NY. ($10,000)
During the performance, Clarkson sang popular hits like “Miss Independent,” “Stronger,” and “Since You’ve Been Gone.”
The special concert marked the second time that Clarkson had sung on a Norwegian ship, with the first being Norwegian Encore when the ship debuted in 2019.
Martina McBride
Martina McBride has performed on multiple cruise ships, including the now-scrapped Carnival Ecstasy, Carnival Paradise, and Voyager of the Seas.
First, she performed on the Voyager of the Seas in 2011 in New Orleans to celebrate the Voyager Class ship's arrival in The Big Easy.
A few years later, McBride was part of Carnival Cruise Line's "Carnival Live" concert series. As such, she "wowed" guests on Carnival Ecstasy and Carnival Paradise while the vessels were docked in Cozumel, Mexico.
She was backed by a full band, including a horn section and backup singers, and performed songs from her 12th studio album, Everlasting. She also sang hits from her top-selling albums.
Sheryl Crow
Sheryl Crow performed during Star Princess's naming ceremony in November 2025.
The Rock and Roll Hall of Famer wooed the crowd during a surprise concert and sang hits like "All I Wanna Do," "Strong Enough," "Soak Up the Sun," and "The First Cut Is the Deepest."
The ship's godparents, Matthew and Camila McConaughey, were in attendance to celebrate the launch.
Matt Hochberg
Matt loves to cruise, and started Cruise.Blog as a place to share different cruise experiences, advice, and what to know before going on a cruise.
He lives in Florida with his wife and two daughters, where he can be found on any given day trying to convince his wife they "need" to book another cruise.
