# Playing piano aboard a cruise liner as a passenger **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 12, 2015, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/playing-piano-aboard-a-cruise-liner-as-a-passenger/722374 "2015-06-12T17:40:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2015, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/playing-piano-aboard-a-cruise-liner-as-a-passenger/722374/1 "2015-06-12T17:40:01Z")
Are passengers typically allowed to play piano aboard a cruise liner, or are those off limits, for the professional ship musicians only? \*\*Edit: \*\*Thread title should read “aboard” not “about.” ---
**Author:** ![bob\_2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bob_2/32/3341_2.png) [@bob\_2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bob_2)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2015, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/playing-piano-aboard-a-cruise-liner-as-a-passenger/722374/2 "2015-06-12T18:05:11Z")
I am sure that, outside of performances, they would not object to a competent amateur playing. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2015, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/playing-piano-aboard-a-cruise-liner-as-a-passenger/722374/3 "2015-06-12T18:12:44Z")
I’d stay away from _Nearer, my God, to Thee_. ---
**Author:** ![Randolph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Randolph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Randolph)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2015, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/playing-piano-aboard-a-cruise-liner-as-a-passenger/722374/4 "2015-06-12T18:13:55Z")
How about _Autumn_? ---
**Author:** ![dolphinboy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dolphinboy/32/330_2.png) [@dolphinboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dolphinboy)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2015, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/playing-piano-aboard-a-cruise-liner-as-a-passenger/722374/5 "2015-06-12T18:23:45Z")
The factual answer is almost certainly “it depends”. I can see how some ships may not care, but others may have a problem with it. For example, most ships wouldn’t let children play on a piano for obvious reasons. I would ask someone of authority if you want to play one of their pianos. They will likely say okay, as long as it isn’t bothersome to the other passengers. If you’re really good they would consider it free entertainment and might even invite you to play during their talent show night, if they have one. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2015, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/playing-piano-aboard-a-cruise-liner-as-a-passenger/722374/6 "2015-06-12T18:24:49Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > \*\*Edit: \*\*Thread title should read “aboard” not “about.” Fixed ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2015, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/playing-piano-aboard-a-cruise-liner-as-a-passenger/722374/7 "2015-06-12T18:52:36Z")
The crews are generally a little leery of passengers “entertaining” the crowds, but the Mrs. played a few times on the lounge pianos. So did Barbarian Jr. Both drew large crowds and had to politely refuse tips. ---
**Author:** ![araminty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b5e925/32.png) [@araminty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/araminty)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2015, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/playing-piano-aboard-a-cruise-liner-as-a-passenger/722374/8 "2015-06-12T19:16:16Z")
I worked on a cruise ship for 9 months. I had to bribe the entertainment steward (“Uncle Stinky”) to leave one of the pianos unlocked for a friend and I to play when we were in port, between cruises. The ship had six pianos, including four baby grands inside the most expensive stateroom suites. I am pretty sure these were almost never played. Cruise ships are awful! ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2015, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/playing-piano-aboard-a-cruise-liner-as-a-passenger/722374/9 "2015-06-12T21:51:15Z")
Last month I was in the Charlotte airport and spied a nice grand piano near the food court. I was highly tempted to sit down and bang out [“High School Confidential”](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FjOLpNxaupU), but I didn’t want to be hauled away in chains by the TSA. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2015, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/playing-piano-aboard-a-cruise-liner-as-a-passenger/722374/10 "2015-06-12T22:49:06Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > Last month I was in the Charlotte airport and spied a nice grand piano near the food court. I was highly tempted to sit down and bang out [“High School Confidential”](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FjOLpNxaupU), but I didn’t want to be hauled away in chains by the TSA. There was a column in the Times, I think, by a woman who had stage fright. She played well, and arranged to play the piano at the San Jose airport. It was great for her confidence building because though she played in public, no one actually listened to her. ---
**Author:** ![HeyHomie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heyhomie/32/207_2.png) [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2015, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/playing-piano-aboard-a-cruise-liner-as-a-passenger/722374/11 "2015-06-13T00:48:46Z")
FWIW, I was aboard Carnival’s Sensation in 1995, and on the last day of the cruise, as we spent a day at sea between Wherever and Miami, some passengers who had brought their own instruments jammed with one of the house bands for a good hour or so. It was cool to watch. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2015, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/playing-piano-aboard-a-cruise-liner-as-a-passenger/722374/12 "2015-06-13T03:06:47Z")
Go for it. The worst that could happen is that you’re asked to stop playing. I’ve done it a few times at hotels and whatnot (never been on a cruise), and it’s not been an issue. ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2015, 12:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/playing-piano-aboard-a-cruise-liner-as-a-passenger/722374/13 "2015-06-13T12:05:46Z")
> [@araminty](#): > > I worked on a cruise ship for 9 months. I had to bribe the entertainment steward (“Uncle Stinky”) to leave one of the pianos unlocked for a friend and I to play when we were in port, between cruises. The ship had six pianos, including four baby grands inside the most expensive stateroom suites. I am pretty sure these were almost never played. > > Cruise ships are awful! Is this maybe worthy of an “Ask Me Anything” thread? ---
**Author:** ![racer72](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/racer72/32/3075_2.png) [@racer72](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/racer72)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2015, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/playing-piano-aboard-a-cruise-liner-as-a-passenger/722374/14 "2015-06-13T14:17:38Z")
I was in a Nordstrom’s a few years ago and played the first 3 chords of Born In The USA on the store’s grand piano. A couple folks urged me to continue. That’s all I know of the song, so that ended my performance. ---
**Author:** ![JohnGalt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johngalt/32/184_2.png) [@JohnGalt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnGalt)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2015, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/playing-piano-aboard-a-cruise-liner-as-a-passenger/722374/15 "2015-06-14T01:54:40Z")
It’s not exactly a cruise ship, but the Gonda Building at the Mayo Clinic (Rochester MN) has a grand piano that gets a combination “pro” players and amateurs. There are some fun YouTube videos (like this one of an [Charming Older Couple](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RI-l0tK8Ok0)). ---
**Author:** ![Lee\_Q](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/aeb1de/32.png) [@Lee\_Q](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lee_Q)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2015, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/playing-piano-aboard-a-cruise-liner-as-a-passenger/722374/16 "2015-06-14T18:29:19Z")
> [@Maserschmidt](#): > > Is this maybe worthy of an “Ask Me Anything” thread? If anybody’s taking a vote on this, my vote is yes. I’d love to ask questions of someone who’s worked aboard a cruise ship! ---
**Author:** ![GaryM](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garym/32/241_2.png) [@GaryM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GaryM)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2015, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/playing-piano-aboard-a-cruise-liner-as-a-passenger/722374/17 "2015-06-14T20:58:08Z")
> [@JohnGalt](#): > > It’s not exactly a cruise ship, but the Gonda Building at the Mayo Clinic (Rochester MN) has a grand piano that gets a combination “pro” players and amateurs. There are some fun YouTube videos (like this one of an [Charming Older Couple](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RI-l0tK8Ok0)). That was great. Thanks for the link. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2015, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/playing-piano-aboard-a-cruise-liner-as-a-passenger/722374/18 "2015-06-15T14:01:23Z")
> [@Amateur\_Barbarian](#): > > The crews are generally a little leery of passengers “entertaining” the crowds, but the Mrs. played a few times on the lounge pianos. So did Barbarian Jr. Both drew large crowds and had to politely refuse tips. [Jon Lovitz] Your wife…Morgan Fairchild? [/Jon Lovitz] ---
**Author:** ![araminty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b5e925/32.png) [@araminty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/araminty)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2015, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/playing-piano-aboard-a-cruise-liner-as-a-passenger/722374/19 "2015-06-15T18:23:14Z")
Just wanted to share that I started an “Ask The…” thread [here](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=759587). ---
**Author:** ![Ranger\_Jeff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranger_jeff/32/2065_2.png) [@Ranger\_Jeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranger_Jeff)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2015, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/playing-piano-aboard-a-cruise-liner-as-a-passenger/722374/20 "2015-06-15T22:14:32Z")
Well, there’s 2 kinds of musical instruments you’ll find in a venue. “House” instruments and some musicians’ personal instruments. I don’t imagine anyone would mind you playing one of the cruise ship’s pianos as long as you’re not keeping one of the paid musicians from doing their job and you’re not disturbing people by playing it. I can easily imagine a musician getting upset if you started playing their personally owned piano without getting his permission. If you touch my Martin without my permission, your continued health is in serious question. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/playing-piano-aboard-a-cruise-liner-as-a-passenger/722374.md?page=2)