I love to go to the West End of London to see a Musical. Luckily for me, I don’t live far away and it makes a great day trip out.
Seeing these theatre productions on land, along with the additional costs of train fare, drinks, food and meals out beforehand can make it quite an expensive trip.
I love it when I go on a cruise ship that puts on Broadway-Style theatre shows. There are many of advantages to seeing a stage show onboard.
Royal Caribbean has Broadway-style shows on their newer ships.
On older ships, there will still be plenty of shows and other entertainment for you to watch, but they don’t have the famous shows you will find in a theatre district on land.
Sadly, Norwegian Cruise Line are phasing out Broadway musicals in 2026 as part of a multi-year strategy to shift toward internally produced, shorter, and more cost-effective entertainment.
The company is closing its final remaining Broadway-style adaptations. Jersey Boys on Norwegian Bliss (ending February 8, 2026) and Beetlejuice on Norwegian Viva (ending March 21, 2026) will end and not be replaced.
In this article, we look at the great reasons to make sure you see a Broadway-style show whilst onboard.
#1 You Don’t Have To Book Seats – All Included!
If you make sure you arrive for the show early, you can have your choice of seats. I normally arrive around 30 minutes early.
There is no paying more for a better view; the only factor is how early you show up.
You can change your mind and try different locations in the theatre before the show starts to get the best view. You can avoid those annoying pillars and columns that get in the way!
I usually pick seats toward the end of a row or close to an aisle. I don’t know who the people are who can peacefully sit in the middle of a row. I’m jealous, but that isn’t me!
#2. They Don’t Have an Interval
I prefer shows not to have intervals. I’m just sitting around, killing time, excited for the show to restart.
I don’t often go out and get a drink mid-performance, and I can easily sneak out of the theatre to use the bathroom if I am desperate!
The interval in the West End or Broadway is a great time to buy merchandise, but they don’t normally have any of that on cruise ships.
#3. It’s Included In The Fare
No matter how many times you go to the show, it doesn’t cost you a penny. Theatre tickets in London to see popular performances can cost hundreds of pounds.
I really feel I am getting the most from my cruise fare if I go to all the shows onboard.
They invited the audience to the stage to share a beer before the performance! I have never seen anything like it before…
#4 Bar Service in The Theatre Itself
On many ships, waiters will be on hand actually in the theatre before the performance to bring you any drinks you would like before you watch the show.
They certainly don’t do that in theatres on land, you have to fight your way to the bar – which is often very busy.
#5 See The Show More Than Once
If you really enjoy a particular show, you can go back and see it again.
If I have already seen the show, I will arrive later to make sure there are some free seats. I don’t want to stop someone else from missing out on the performance altogether.
I took a Christmas Cruise to the Canary Islands one year onboard the Norwegian Epic. Priscilla Queen of the Desert was the musical, and I went back twice! I loved it…
I saw it on land afterwards and preferred the ship version.
When I sailed to Alaska recently onboard Norwegian Encore, I saw the show Choir of Man. This is a British show, set in a British Pub. I really enjoyed it.
Luckily, Norwegian has plenty of other entertainment on onboard, since Broadway musicals are now being phased out.
Find more about that ship and the entertainment I enjoyed onboard here:
#6 No Journey Home Afterwards
This is one great advantage for me.
After the show finishes, you can go for a drink in a bar or just go back to your cabin. There is no late-night, stressful train journey to endure or finding a hotel.
Before You Go
Find out about the things cruisers wished they’d known before they set sail on that first cruise below:
15 Common Mistakes – Things Cruisers Wish They Knew About Before Their First Cruise
Most people find they overpack when they cruise. There really is no need to. Find out about the tip eight packing mistakes people make here.
Top 8 Cruise Packing Mistakes You Need to Avoid
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