Have you ever wanted to know what working on a cruise ship is like?
Kristine Kugler, an Elite Dancer in the Theater Cast onboard Royal Caribbean's Ovation of the Seas, has been with the company for about two years.
Ovation of the Seas is a Quantum Class ship initially launched in 2016. Now, the 168,666 gross registered ton vessel splits its time between Alaska and Australia/New Zealand before sailing year-round from Asia beginning in April 2026.
From live music in the lounges to high-tech shows in Two70 and original production shows in the main theater, there's plenty of entertainment for guests to enjoy.
Kugler also shares her experiences on her YouTube and Instagram accounts.
In an interview with Kugler, which has been edited for length and clarity, we spoke about what it's like to be a crew member on a cruise ship.
Kugler grew up in Florida and always wanted to be a performer
I am originally from Miami, FL [and had] always wanted to work on cruise ships from sailing with my family at a young age, so I geared my dance training towards this professional route.
I started dancing when I was 2 1/2 and continued competing in dance throughout my high school years. In university, I studied Business Management & Entrepreneurship, while simultaneously training at a dance academy to keep up with my artistry and technique.
Auditions for parts on a cruise ship are competitive
It is very difficult and can often take many auditions to be considered for a contract. I auditioned for Royal Caribbean for the first time at 18 and received a contract when I auditioned at 22!
The audition is physically and mentally challenging because we have to quickly learn the choreography and perform it in front of the panel of judges.
The casting directors are also always looking for what you can personally bring to the table, as well as your attitude during the audition!
It can also be difficult because they are not only looking at your technique and style as a dancer, but your [appearance] and height to fit in with what they are looking for in specific shows on certain ships.
Her job is more than just performing in shows
An average week is different on every ship and itinerary! We are currently sailing in Alaska on 7-day cruises, so we can expect to perform two shows a night for two nights of the cruise!
On the first day of the cruise, we participate in the muster drill, which entails giving guests their safety briefing when they first arrive on the ship. We also have one mandatory dance class weekly from a volunteer cast member, so it’s something new every week!
We can also expect 1-2 safety drills to ensure we are proficient in our safety duties. Other responsibilities we can expect in our weekly schedule are to spotlight shows in the 270 theater, dressing room cleaning, cabin inspections, and tech runs on show days.
Working on a cruise ship means seeing the world
My favorite things about the job are the people onboard and the travel. I have met some incredible fellow crew members from all over the world and listened to stories about people’s home countries and childhoods that are so different from how I grew up. Yet, we have many similarities that caused us to end up on this ship together!
Through this career, I have been able to sail around the Caribbean, Mediterranean, New Zealand, Alaska, and more places around the world. It’s created a strong motivation to see as much of the world as I can in my lifetime.
I am so blessed to have a career that not only continually inspires me, but also pays me to have experiences I never would have before.
Kugler loves the opportunities being a cast member provides
The greatest benefit to being a performer on a ship is to have a career I am passionate about. We have worked our bodies and so much time during our childhoods to work on improving our craft as a dancer. Being on a Royal Caribbean contract feels like a full-circle reward for all our hard work.
Another huge benefit is our time off to explore destinations around the world. We spend so much time perfecting our shows throughout the rehearsal and installation period that once we get settled into the routine of performing shows, we have lots of free time to ourselves.
Since we perform shows at night, we can often explore a port during the day before we have to be back for our shows. I understand that is not a perk many other crew members get, so I take full advantage when we are given a day off.
Time off is spent reading and working on social media
During my time off, I am usually filming or editing a video! I have a YouTube channel where I share videos of the behind-the-scenes of the shows, living my life on the ship, and my travels every week!
I am also an avid reader who has an endless list of books I want to dive into! Spending time on these hobbies never lets me get bored on the ship.
