08 September 2026
Music Directors Shape More Than the Show Onboard
Music directors and band leaders onboard a cruise ship have a bigger role to play than just being onstage. In fact, their impact on the guest experience could be the defining factor between a one-time traveler and a returning guest, according to Leo Torres, an experienced cruise band leader, in an interview with Cruise Industry News.
“Guests should leave a performance feeling something, not just entertained,” Torres said. “I don’t think they (cruise lines) are aware of the connection we musicians make – not as performers or workers or crew, just as people.
“We have conversations in the queue on the line for food, talking about music, and suddenly, we’re making a real connection.”
https://cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/2026/09/music-directors-shape-more-than-the-show-onboard/