Katy Perry just performed on Norwegian Cruise Line’s new Prima cruise ship, but she’s not the first top performer to grace a stage on a cruise ship.
While cruise ships may not be as popular with artists as Las Vegas residencies, they are an increasingly popular choice as a venue for concerts.
Katy Perry is just the latest A-list singer to perform on a cruise ship in recent memory.
Here is a list of the best artists who have performed on cruises.
Taylor Swift
Before becoming the celebrity she is today, Taylor Swift performed a concert on Royal Caribbean’s Allure of the Seas.
In 2011, Tay Tay performed for his Swifties while the ship was in Cozumel, Mexico.
It was held in the AquaTheater for a small crowd of just over 700 guests.
Swift is one of the few artists on this list whose gig didn’t coincide with the launch of a new ship.
pit bull
The very first cruise ship “godfather”, Pitbull, performed a concert on Norwegian Escape when it launched in 2015.
Armando Christian Pérez, aka Pitbull, christened the new ship by throwing a bottle of champagne against the hull.
The artist went on to perform some of his greatest hits for the public, including Don’t Stop The Party, Fun and fan-favorite Fireball, because “we chose [what feels like] hottest day of the year here in Miami.”
He also sang on the NCL Jade in 2018 at an event in Miami.
Jennifer Lopez
Virgin Voyages wanted to draw attention to the Valiant Lady cruise ship by appointing Jennifer Lopez as head of entertainment and lifestyle.
As part of this partnership, Jennifer will collaborate with Virgin Voyages in several areas, from customer experience to design collaborations and entertainment co-creations.
Michael Bolton
On the 2018 President’s Cruise, Michael Bolton took the stage for a concert honoring Royal Caribbean’s top cruisers.
Each of the past few years, Royal Caribbean has hosted well-known musical artists to perform and Bolton has sung.
Also on the cruise was Billy Ocean, who did a concert on the beach at Labadee.
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 aboard Royal Caribbean’s Oasis of the Seas in 2017.
She sang the song in DUO with DNCE.
Mariah Carey
Mariah Carey became the Fairy Godmother of Disney Cruise Line’s ship Disney Fantasy in 2012.
Carey led the audience in a countdown that triggered a 6ft tall champagne bottle in the Atrium lobby to burst and shower onlookers with confetti and streamers as a traditional champagne bottle shattered against the ship’s hull.
Carey was sure to mention that she was proud to be the godmother of a ship that takes off from her hometown, New York, and just in time to bring her children.
Kelly Clarkson
Katy Perry won’t be the only star performing on the NCL Prima.
Kelly Clarkson will host a concert on the Prima during the ship’s debut in Galveston, Texas in October 2022.
Kelly Clarkson and Norwegian Cruise Line have teamed up to celebrate teachers with free cruises and an exclusive concert aboard Norwegian Prima.
One hundred teachers across North America will be rewarded with a free cruise and a chance to win up to $25,000 for their school.
This isn’t Clarkson’s first gig on an NCL ship, either.
In 2019, she performed on NCL Encore when that ship debuted.
Martina McBride
When Voyager of the Seas came to New Orleans, Martina McBride gave a concert.
The four-time CMA Award winner treated her guests to selections from her recently released album, Eleven, as well as some of her most popular hits.