If our memories are as good as we hope they are, it was Royal Caribbean that first started flying performers (Taylor Swift, Martina McBride) in for a concert on the ship while in a port. Norwegian picked up on it (Rascall Flatts).
Now, Carnival has take the concept to a new level.
The Carnival Live Series started last week. The band was Styx, the concert was a 
sellout and it took place on two ships, the Fantasy and the Fascination, in Nassau. The concept will run through December, at which time Carnival will re-assess…it might not be necessary after such an impressive start.
Styx guitarist Tommy Shaw put it like this: "All I know is our boats were rockin’. We had a great time and it looked like our fans loved it, too. Can’t wait to do it again in the fall in Nassau and then in Catalina Island and Cozumel.”
Bands or artists on the agenda for either Nassau or Cozumel or Catalina Island include REO Speedwagon, Kansas, Olivia Newton-John, Martina, Lady Antebellum, Chicago and Jennifer Hudson.
The concept is win-win-win.
A win for the passengers who, for a reasonable ticket price ($20 or so) get to see favorite performers in a cozy setting.
A win for the cruise line, which uses the attraction to sell passage on the cruises.
A win for the artists, who can make a few bucks doing one-night stands like they're accustomed to doing on land and therefore don't have to devote a week to concerts, signing autographs and being recognizable in close quarters.
Carnival is making it work by often having two ships in the port of choice at the same time. That will happen — sometimes they are 3-day weekends — 14 times between now and December. Two ships, two concerts makes it all possible for two sets of passengers.
Today at portsandbows.com: Quantum of the Seas on the move and it's not even here yet!
Celebrity Constellation
12 nights
June 26, 2014
Amsterdam (return): Stavanger, Olden, Molde, Alesund, Geiranger, Flam, Bergen, Oslo
Inside: $1,299
Cost per day: $108
www.celebritycruises.com