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Most contracts last for 4 to 6 months, but it varies based on your position, the particular cruise line, and other factors. It is important to note that a contract is one continuous length of time, without any sort of vacation or work break in the middle. It’s often possible to extend your contract, should you wish to work for longer than your assigned finish date, but you can decide that for yourself once you’ve spent some time on board. 

Usually 3 or 4. This depends on many things, from the run of the ship and the clientele of the ship to your boss, that boss’s boss, and the cruise line itself. The maximum number of working hours is generally 5, including small breaks in between sets, but on most lines, 3-hour nights are more common. As well, individuals and groups usually get one day off per week, though not every line guarantees regular days off. 

Absolutely! The vast majority of guests get off the ship in the various ports, and since you job is to entertain guests, the lack of guests on board means that you get most of that time off, too. Often, you will be allowed off the ship for the full duration of time that the ship is in a certain port. Houseband musicians may have a rehearsal that would require them to come back to the ship early, and soloists and bands may be scheduled for afternoon or early evening sets if the ship stays in a port until late at night, but these circumstances are less common. The only major exception – when you will need to stay on board – is when you are assigned “port manning”. Port manning is the result of the industry-wide safety regulation that a certain number of crew members must always be on board the ship at any given time. Every musician will thus be part of a port manning rotation which will require you to remain on the ship for one port day or a series of port days every month or two. The good news is that you’ll probably only have to do port manning a handful of times during your contract, and sometimes it’s nice to have a reason to relax on board and save money you’d otherwise spend out in port.