While there’s no shortage of high-adrenaline adventures and relaxing alternatives we offer on board our cruises, these options tend to be the most well-known. But many first-time cruisers are less familiar with another area of programming for which Royal Caribbean is famous: shows and entertainment.

All Royal Caribbean ships offer dazzling, full-scale productions every night, like dizzying high-dive shows and Tony Award-winning Broadway musicals, as well as comedy and ice-skating shows—all included in the cost of your cruise. Read on for our entertainment rundown and tips for making the most of your Royal Caribbean experience.

First, The Details

Terms like “Broadway” may conjure the image of large dollar signs, so it’s no wonder first-time guests ask, “Is entertainment free on board?” Many people don’t realize they can enjoy this top-notch entertainment without paying more.

What’s more, each performance has several show times, sometimes twice a day, so you’ll have plenty of opportunities to catch as many shows as you’d like. One important thing to note, however, is that you should reserve seats in advance. Once you’ve booked your cruise, you can pre-book seats ahead of your sailing with our online Cruise Planner, or make reservations with guest services on board when you arrive.

Live Shows

The Broadway name isn’t invoked lightly: we opened our own production studio, serving as a dedicated training ground, gym and costuming center for every performer on a Royal Caribbean ship. The 132,500-square-foot studio in North Miami opens its doors to top-rated talent from around the world and creates award-winning performances in musical theater, including Grease, CATS and Mamma Mia!

Royal Caribbean is also the first and only cruise line with ice-skating rinks on board (you’ll find them on Oasis-, Freedom-, and Voyager-class ships.) These rinks, known as Studio B, offer guests exclusive ice spectaculars featuring professional skaters—and even former Olympians—performing shows like How To Train Your Dragon On Ice, which is found on Voyager-class ships.

Another jaw-dropping venue for guests on Oasis-class ships is the AquaTheater, an outdoor, acrobatic diving space that features three diving heights (the highest clocking in at nearly 60 feet) and a hydraulic-floored pool—the largest and deepest freshwater pool at sea. With 104 water jets and three stage platforms, its acrobats, divers and other performers carry out eye-popping feats for audiences as large as 700.

Nightlife

There’s plenty to do after the shows end, too: live bands playing at the ships’ pubs, salsa dancing in the Latin-inspired Boleros lounge, side-splitting sets in comedy clubs, and DJs spinning at multi-level nightclubs and pool parties. And if you’re feeling lucky, there’s the Vegas-style casino that offers a wide array of slots, table games, tournaments and more at your fingertips.

Some ships even have their own music hall, karaoke lounge and piano bar sing-alongs. All boast parties you won’t want to miss, from theme nights and game shows to pool festivities and movie screenings.

Younger Travelers

Kids aren’t left out of the fun: travelers ages three through 11 have their own exclusive hangouts, classes, parties and activities—even their very own dedicated program, Adventure Ocean. All teen travelers ages 12-17 can meet up and play games at an exclusive lounge or join the Scratch DJ Academy, designed for those who want to be the entertainment—and not just be entertained.

If you’re ready to make the most of the entertainment at sea, you can start planning for your cruise vacation here.