En route to Auckland, New Zealand.

There seems to be a talent tier system on Silversea. This is probably not unique to cruise ships, it’s just in my face here so it is more obvious.

Top tier are the single-leg performers. They perform once or twice a week and have no other responsibilities. You see them around the ship and eating meals, but that’s it. I spoke to last leg’s violinist several times when we sat next to each other during lunches. I saw this leg’s tango dancers at the magician’s show.

The next tier are Silversea’s on-board contract performers. The “Voices of Silversea” are eight singer/dancers – four female (three sopranos and one mezzo soprano) and four males (two pop tenor, one tenor, one baritone). [Note: I have no idea what these vocal terms mean. I’m just writing what is on the ID sheets.] They put on two-to-three shows every week. In addition, they are escorts during port visits (in Bora Bora while I did the easy diving with one of the male performers). During sea days four to six participate with water volleyball in the afternoon and putt-putt in the early evening. They are all in the lower/mid 20s (which must be a strange gig on a ship with so many retired folks).

There is also a live music trio: piano, drums and guitar/bass. They have supported the single-leg soloists, but they also perform daily dance music at the different bars. They are older than the Voices, but I don’t grok where they are in the pecking order vs. the Voices.

Finally, there are the background keyboard musicians. On the pool deck one fellow plays music that – to me – pretty much sounds the same. Yet then I was stunned be a fabulous cover of The Police’s Every Breath You Take. So, I guess you never really know when you’ll find something that gets to you.