Our First Day Working as Cruise Ship Musicians on the Carnival Encounter
Source: Our analysis of the creator's lived experience, based on what they said in this video.
Creator's Key Takeaways
We chose this life and somehow it keeps choosing us back.
No matter how many times we see a ship for the first time, it never loses its spark.
Cruises look effortless from the outside. On the inside, it's systems, safeties, documents, patience.
We crossed the world to do what we love. And now we're performing for people from places that we never thought we'd get to see.
Creator's Tips & Advice
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Questions This Creator Answers
Topics Covered
Port Highlights
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About our Bacon Score methodologyYouTube Video Description↓
Inside The Music - my vlog about all things relating to my multi-faceted music career and my life in general. October 25, 2025 We crossed the world again — this time to Australia — to begin our next contract performing as cruise ship musicians, and today was our first day onboard the Carnival Encounter. Sign-on day always feels surreal. You go from a hotel room on land to a floating city in the Pacific, from early-morning coffee and luggage to security checks, safety briefings, and stepping onto a ship that becomes your entire world for months at a time. There’s paperwork, waiting, orientations, crew stairwells… and then suddenly you're standing in a brand-new venue, guitar in hand, learning the room, the tech, the stage, the energy. It doesn’t matter how many times we do this — day one always feels big.A little overwhelming. A lot exciting. And full of possibility. So here it is: the first day of this new season at sea — a new ship, new audiences, a new ocean, and another chapter in this life we’ve chosen through music. Thanks for joining us for the start of this one. More adventures ahead. If you’re new here, we are David & Stephanie — a married musician duo traveling the world performing on cruise ships and sharing the real behind-the-scenes of life and music at sea. Subscribe to follow this new season. Watch our very first sign-on video (Season 1) Our First Day Working as Musicians on a Cruise Ship → https://youtu.be/LtJujyrxioU Songs Used: I Would Do Anything by David Paige Inside Out by David Paige Can You Feel It by David Paige I Am The Fire by David Paige Are You Ready by David Paige See Your Stars by David Paige Stream on SPOTIFY | https://open.spotify.com/artist/4Ub9y6iTffQUHUwcIxJszf Stream on APPLE MUSIC | https://music.apple.com/us/artist/david-paige/287161993 www.instagram.com/davidpaigemusic www.davidpaigemusic.com Chapters: 00:00 - Sign-On Morning 01:25 - Cruise Terminal Check-In 02:30 - Boarding the Carnival Encounter 02:52 - Exploring the Ship 04:07 - Safety & Orientation 04:33 - First Sound Check 06:57 - First Night of Music Onboard 07:29 - Closing Thoughts 09:29 - I love you GEAR USED: Cameras: Sony ZV-E10 Sigma 16mm Lens GoPro Hero 9 Black DJI Mavic Air 2 Camera Mic: Rode VideoMic Pro Shotgun Camera Mic Lights: Lume Cube 2.0 IVISII G2 Pocket RGB Started Channel - September 26, 2009 100 Subscribers - January 28, 2018 500 Subscribers - July 15, 2022 700 Subscribers - November 4, 2022 1,000 Subscribers - March 13, 2023 1,500 Subscribers - August 7, 2023 2,000 Subscribers - November 25, 2023