When I loved Cruise Ships

[@grantkoeller8911]

As a member of the USAF Bands for 23 years,1988-2011, I toured the world, now retired, this video hits home. What a fantastic sharing of his experiences and wisdom!! So much I could relate to, living in Japan for 4 years, visiting Singapore, South Korea, Thailand, Australia, Alaska, Boston, Guam, Texas, South Carolina, England, Germany, France, Italy and so many other places! Getting paid to play music, as American ambassadors.

[@22norac]

That sounds like an awesome experience. How was your work life balance compared to other service members? I am not sure if you were married or had family, but was it difficult? I am assuming you all were away from home longer than other service members correct me if I am wrong.

[@grantkoeller8911]

@@22norac for permanent change of station ,family comes along

[@grantkoeller8911]

@@22norac these were tdys temporary duty station, for performance,so yes, we were away longer then other service members , but you also had the gulf war , Iran, Iraq, and the Middle East . I was never sent there, however now they are being sent there

[@sam-jams6689]

I thought I was too old at 35 to embark on such a journey, but hearing about your 64 year old roommates was reassuring!

[@deck4forward]

This man's videos are a Gold Mine. Excellent advices.

[@masonthomassax]

I see a Sirvalorsax video, I upvote 👍🏼

[@giannibonanno5692]

I was a saxophone player on cruise ship the first time was in 1974 and was a dream, last time was in 2010 and become a nightmare ....old good time when sex was dirty and air was clean!!

[@mateo-aupitre]

Man thanks for making this. I assume the music at the end is yours, it's beautiful.... congrats!

[@jameswilson2967]

i am retired welder from HM Forces. unfortunately my sax playing is no way near good enough to do something like this, but it was great to hear about your experiences good and bad. fantastic videos.

[@krzysogi]

I wish we had the opportunity to meet at Princess, unfortunately after my 1st contract in 2015 with a salary of $ 2,500, I changed the company to P&O UK where they paid $ 3,400 immediately. So I had nothing to think about when it came to this change. I worked there for 5 years. Unfortunately after covid and the Great Reset it got worse, now they pay 2900 there. So I went back to Princess, negotiated 3050 only, my mate for example negotiated 3200 for 1st time, but he's American and I'm Polish, so anyway I don't know what the salary depends on, I've heard of Americans who got less than 2900 for their first contract... Last year I was to Caribbean and Crown, currently at home. Regards. 🎺

[@andrewprzybyla8871]

Man, you make me laugh! Yes, the Cruise staff bar is the best place on the ship. One of my last cruise ship jobs, not my last, was as a passenger on a Country and Western Cruise. We flew out of Nashville. I found out that it really didn't fell that different with passenger status, and of course, I would go to the cruise ship bar. Good figure! Being 61 years old, 62 years in July 2024, I found it interesting to hear about your 64 year old roommate. Wow, I suppose he was on a Buddy Rich album? The Buddy Rich tapes our awesome! When I first got on ships, I was ready to play "Count Down" et cetera, but I was soon playing on lessor cool tunes, albeit I played them the best I could! I have continued to play gigs on land, as I have been masquerading as a music teacher, but I am ready to move back to being myself. Did you have to do a "Fitness for Duty" exam when you started playing on Cruceros? Below, is a comment I wrote on another video: Hmm, I accepted a job playing piano again on a ship in the "orchestra" for seven weeks this summer. I haven't played on a ship since the end of the summer of 1993. I will then go back to my job teaching elementary music, as I am not ready to retire. My family is alright with it as long as I sent money home, I will miss my cat. I suppose I should get a flight case for my small and light, Casio Privia, PX-350M. THE BIGGEST HANGUP I HAVE IS THE COST OF A FITNESS FOR DUTY PHYSICAL. When I was last on ships we never had to do this exam. On my first ship in 1985, I never saw the medical doctor, on my second ship on saw him once in his office, and many times in the disco. Oh, and yes, I do have stories,.... Please comment. Cheers, ap

[@TheAaronRodgersTao]

You get to go to a place where everyone can start new. In general, Nobody knows anybody. You don’t have to be defined by your hometown, your school peers, your family… that’s an absolutely awesome aspect.

[@felixol]

First! Was waiting for this video to come out, awesome!!

[@slogan9105]

dayton has my heart

[@mariebrooks7341]

I understand what you love and what you hate about cruise ships and agree about traveling and seeing the world. I was in the Army Reserve and traveled a lot. Now I am retired and a travel agent who loves to travel. I love cruising and going to resorts everywhere. I love it HOWEVER I love being home based in my city too and volunteering at the arts theaters and doing intermittent work at a medical school. I am also an actor and a lifestyle model so that means traveling for projects. Life is good so I totally get it why you loved and hated your time on cruise ships the ups and downs, the pay. Have a wonderful life after cruise ships and enjoy every moment everyday. Love the videos. Please keep them coming.

[@Sirvalorsax]

Awesome comment. Thanks for posting

[@shipsahoy1793]

Spot on about TV !!😵‍💫

[@thesuncollective1475]

I got to agree with number 1. I always say the best thing about any job is the people.

[@jakeballtrumpet]

Much Love brother! We had some fun.

[@Sirvalorsax]

No doubt!

[@Lennyp4]

really glad this was recommended to me: you’re hilarious and you have a great story!

[@nc4494]

i watched both videos and they are so cool

[@bassax7045]

Sirvalosax , reporting in, aye captain stubing ♥boat tours

[@shipsahoy1793]

Very nice, thanks for sharing Adrien

[@byrnmarx6451]

I enjoyed you sharing your experiences both ups and the downs

[@FunkOsax]

Great advice, Adrien. Good video.

[@octaviano7360]

Cool final pictures!

[@slydog75]

I originally started as a performance major in college (didn't end up working out but that's an entire different story). I REALLY wanted to play on a cruise ship.

[@pitzu]

I thought you kinda look like Wendell Pierce, the actor. Glooks for the info! Wish I'll get to do this sometime in my life, as it seems like a unique experience that teaches you a lot of stuff.

[@fluteluc1]

Did the south Asian 5 star hotel tour for 5 years. Bought a house when I got back.

[@rayfraser1773]

You are great and I dig ya !

[@maruune4447]

I’m going to go into music performance in college (for oboe) so both of these videos were super informative and helpful to me! Thank you!!

[@Sirvalorsax]

Glad it was helpful!

[@Koffieleuter]

Love this 😎

[@gymbry]

great stuff. both videos!

[@cillamoke]

I’d love to hear more of your experiences on cruise ships ❤

[@hainesworld1]

Last contract I did in 2018 was 2900 dollars sax in party band

[@ThunderBroomPilot]

You are super cool.

[@birdismygod]

Nice video my dude!

[@shonm94]

out off all the places you have sailed to where would you say is the worst choppy water?

[@Sirvalorsax]

Cape Horn... by far

[@morganeconessa7567]

Hi! I’m a trumpet player. One of my dreams is to play on a cruseship but I’m to not be good enough. My reading is so so. I’m looking for exemples of sharts and/or video. Can you help me with that? Or do a video?

[@Sirvalorsax]

You should check out my video "Why I hate cruise ships" first though

[@illzwillzwatuz963]

Yo I'm from Philadelphia I have no idea what you talking about but you're amazing

[@Sirvalorsax]

Thanks 😊

[@dmitchy4904]

Thank you soo much for these cruise ship videos i’m a 16 year old bass guitar player thinking of pursuing music in the future so they have been very helpful. What kind of qualifications would i need to be able to play on a cruise ship ?

[@Sirvalorsax]

You have to be able to read music well if you are with the orchestra. You can join with your own band and that's a different ballgame. You will need to be at least 21 years old, have a valid passport and pass a full medical exam. Also, you will need to pass a background check

[@Ludwig_Cox]

It also probably helped that you were a literal walking battle tank haha

[@Sirvalorsax]

Lol

[@schmittmusicsaxophoneshop4451]

Hey Adrian, I've been following your channel for awhile now! I just sent you a message on your website. Be in touch!

[@axe4sax651]

How many times have you been asked - "Do these stairs go up?" !!

[@Sirvalorsax]

OMG!! Way too many. 😆

[@TheSteelDialga]

tried looking this up, what does it mean?

[@axe4sax651]

@TheSteelDialga Certain nationalities (one in particular) have a tendency to speak before they think! When passengers first board a ship it obviously takes them a while to get familiar/orientated with the ships’ layout - Do these stairs go up and does this elevator go up are questions we often get asked as crew. Translated (American - to English, oops!) What they usually mean is, “will the stairs/elevator take them to the upper/outside deck?"

[@Sirvalorsax]

It's a common thing where cruise ship guests will leave their brain at home and ask stupid questions when they get on a cruise ship. @@TheSteelDialga

[@Pillowpetlover]

Have you been to Chicago

[@ken40able]

You'd be a shoe-in in the studios in LA

[@markquiroz3460]

How long are the contracts? Would a 60 year old Alto player of intermediate level have a shot of getting hired with any cruise ship company today?

[@sol6700]

Most contracts are 6-7 months. Occasionally you can get put in as a fill in for someone who couldn't finish a contract. Those are more like 3 months. Most of the musicians I worked with on ships weren't anything crazy special, but you do need some base line skills. You need to be able to improvise and read most styles of music. Edit: you also need to play tenor. Not just alto. I think just being an alto would limit you quite a lot on ships.

[@Sirvalorsax]

You will need alto, tenor, flute and clarinet. If you can pass the medical, have a valid passport and can pass a background check, you should be good to go

[@markquiroz3460]

@@Sirvalorsax Thank you for all your videos and speedy response!!❤️ Instead of a clarinet would a Soprano Sax be sufficient?

[@amanra1595]

Do you have any music 🎶 of your own on CD?

[@Sirvalorsax]

I've shifted my focus to do more writing and recording since I've left ctuise ships. I don't have anything yet but it is a work in progress

[@amanra1595]

@@Sirvalorsax I'll keep my ears and eyes for your debut CD

[@xs10z]

I came here for the thumbnail. Hilarious! Old school rules! I've had enough of the AI thumbnails... keep doing them the old school way, bro!

[@johnnywesleysaxophone]

*Do you have jazz transcriptions to sell? I see that there is a lot on the internet, but most of them are incomplete, like there's missing notes etc. I want transcriptions that are actually perfect so i can develop my skills.*

[@slydog75]

That $1900, is that every two weeks? a Month? A cruise?

[@dooday1]

lmao big chef from south park vibes on number 2

[@Sirvalorsax]

😆

[@shipsahoy1793]

Thanks to the uptick in inflation in this decade, it’s more like $4800 instead of $3600. 😉

[@janeweightman9863]

I'm gonna start calling tooth paste teeth soap now.

[@Sirvalorsax]

😁

[@rlrihards948]

Did they really make you an offer or just did that as laugh?

[@Sirvalorsax]

They made me an offer, it was insulting, hilarious, and kind of expected

[@yungfiend6830]

Sounds like a bunch of debauchery to me, not for me tbh.