Cruising can be a melodic type of vacation for fans of live music. On most any cruise ship, you can listen to talented musicians playing in intimate bars and lounges as well as state-of-the-art theaters.
Although cruise ship musicians are talented, most of them don’t get the opportunity to play their own original songs. They’re typically required to play covers of popular music that will appeal to a diverse audience.
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Certain cruise lines sometimes host music-themed charter cruises that feature live concerts from popular artists, but standard cruise ship sailings don’t often include performances by artists you might hear on the radio.
That may be about to change though, at least for one cruise line.
Princess Cruises recently entered into a new partnership that sets the stage for up-and-coming artists to connect with new audiences by playing cruise ship concerts.
Princess Cruises passengers will see emerging country artists on their daily schedules.
Image source: Princess Cruises.
Princess Cruises is supporting emerging country music artists
Princess Cruises has set out to make a name for itself as the cruise line for country music fans. After being named the exclusive cruise line partner of the Academy of Country Music (ACM) in 2024, Princess Cruises sponsored an ACM video series featuring performances by emerging country music artists.
Now, the cruise line is offering a special platform for some of those rising country music stars to showcase their talents, connect with new fans, and expand their reach. With a new ACM Live from the Red Barrel Lounge concert series, Princess Cruises is bringing several emerging artists to sea to perform for passengers on upcoming six- and eight-day Caribbean cruises sailing from Galveston, Texas.
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Hosted on Regal Princess sailings between Feb. 9 and March 17, the concert series will feature intimate live performances from some of country music’s top emerging artists. Featured artists include chart-topping singer and ACM Award nominee Kameron Marlowe, reigning ACM New Vocal Duo or Group of the Year Tigirlily Gold, and America’s Got Talent breakout stars Chapel Hart.
“We’re thrilled to partner with the Academy of Country Music to showcase the incredible talent of these rising stars,” said Becky Thomson Foley, Head of Global Entertainment for Princess Cruises. “Many of our guests are passionate about country music, and this unique experience featuring intimate performances and meet and greet opportunities, promises to make their cruise vacation unforgettable.”
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The 2025 concert series lineup includes six rising country music stars
The ACM Live from the Red Barrel Lounge concert series will be featured on six upcoming Regal Princess cruises sailing from Galveston to the Western Caribbean and Mexico.
One artist will be featured per sailing as part of the concert series. During their cruise, the featured artist will perform two, 45-minute concerts in the Princess Theater and interact with guests during Meet & Greet sessions.
Here’s the lineup for ACM Live from the Red Barrel Lounge 2025 concert series cruises on Regal Princess:
February 9, 2025 – eight-day cruise – Drew BaldridgeFebruary 17, 2025 – six-day cruise – Chapel HartFebruary 23, 2025 – eight-day cruise – Hannah EllisMarch 3, 2025 – six-day cruise – Tigirlily GoldMarch 9, 2025 – eight-day cruise – Kelsey HartMarch 17, 2025 – six-day cruise – Kameron Marlowe
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Princess Cruises passengers will also have the opportunity to see a performance by a legendary soul music group on a special sailing to celebrate the cruise line’s 60th anniversary. The Temptations, the Motown group behind the classic hit “My Girl,” will sail on Princess Cruises’ throwback 60th anniversary voyage in December. The Temptations are also celebrating the 60th anniversary of the release of “My Girl.”
The 14-day 60th Anniversary Mexican Riviera Voyage aboard Royal Princess sails from Los Angeles on Dec. 6 and includes two overnight stays in Cabo San Lucas and Puerto Vallarta, plus visits to Loreto, Manzanilla and Mazatlán. The milestone cruise will include some of the same ports as the cruise line’s first-ever voyage, which set sail on Dec. 3, 1965 on Princess Patricia.
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