What happened to Sting?

I don’t think he has any financial problems. He’s a weird guy. Maybe he’s doing it for fun.

Maybe he likes taking cruises. Lots of people do.

He seems like the kind of dude that would be paranoid of all the germs on a cruise ship. I wonder if he's still having tantric sex?

Ha! I’ll say

[Quote] Maybe he likes taking cruises. Lots of people do.

Yeah but they’re not up on stage warbling for their supper

Eh. He's 73 and mostly deaf. Surely not doing it for the paltry pay, he's worth well over $100M. Maybe this is the kind of one-off gig he still enjoys from time to time.

Well, I suppose it beats traveling around the country, playing at 2nd rate venues or being in Greensboro NC on a Tuesday night. It's probably a big payout, he doesn't have to play a band & if he's playing to people like Alicia Silverstone (nothing great, but not your common hausfrau either), he's playing to a small group of fans. Plus, he has kids/grandkids that he likely has to support in some capacity.

I am sure they fly him in, fly him out and pay him a fortune for the "one off" performance. It is Cunard's QMII, after all.

According to AI (so not sure how valid):

Sting performed on cruise ships primarily to promote his musical The Last Ship, which is inspired by his own childhood experiences in the shipbuilding community of Wallsend, Tyne and Wear. A notable example was his performance aboard Cunard's Queen Mary 2, where he sang songs from both his album and the Broadway musical adaptation to a select group of guests.

This strategy was chosen as a thematic tie-in: the musical revolves around a shipbuilding town, making cruise ships an appropriate and evocative venue for such performances. Additionally, these performances served as unique promotional events, garnering media attention and helping to reach audiences outside of traditional theater settings.

There is no evidence that Sting has a regular career performing on cruise ships; rather, his appearances were special, one-off events centered specifically on The Last Ship

[quote]I don’t think he has any financial problems. He’s a weird guy.

So many musicians/actors are like this (cough, MADONNA, cough). Janet Jackson for example, might need the money, but Madonna (and many others) just do it for the attention.

Which ... I don't understand, but I guess no harm done (except to perhaps themselves).

I guess I will never understand how Alicia Silverstone managed to turn a career that consisted of a lead in a teen movie and being in a Batman movie back in the mid-90s into never-ending fame and money.

R9 Ok, so connected to a weird vanity project. Makes sense.

Yeah R5 but he's smart though. He probably gets to take cruises for free and go nuts at the buffet. I'll bet Sting likes a good buffet if he likes cruises. He probably gets a cabin upgrade, too. Pretty sweet deal if you ask me.

Why is performing on a Cunard ship different from performing in Vegas? Musicians/singers enjoy performing for audiences and being paid well to do it.

Mylène Farmer feat. Sting - Stolen Car (Clip Officiel)

[quote] suppose it beats traveling around the country, playing at 2nd rate venues or being in Greensboro NC on a Tuesday night.

Ummm.

Does he get some free cabinboys as part of his comp?

Him and his wife Trudie Styler own and operate a villa in Tuscany not far outside of Florence - Il Palagio. They produce their own wine and olive oil I believe. And if you go there you can often see them. I think they are spending more and more time there. No, he doesn't need money. He doesn't really need fame anymore either. He performs when and where he wants.

[quote] Plus, he has kids/grandkids that he likely has to support in some capacity.

He has six kids and none of them have any meaningful employment, and they're used to a certain kind of lifestyle. That costs a bloody fortune to support them.

Yes R9 describes it from the article - it's a tie-in to his Broadway musical. They'll video tape it and use it to promote the musical.

However, I've seen billboards for Sting playing at casino theaters here in SoCal.

I think he may like the smaller venues - or it gives him a chance to play mostly new music from his new albums (?).

future and past tour dates

That article at OP is from 2014.

If you had comprehended my post, r22, you’d understand why I posted an old article.

Sheena Easton started on a cruise ship, too. Maybe she'll go back to it.

I think he MAY have financial problems. He supports all his kids and he has around 4.

Also I read somewhere that his wife is a big overspender.

Still, the money is in the songwriting, right? And I think he wrote most if not all of the Police hits.

I don’t think he cares about the germs. I’ve read (on here, of course) that he has BO.

He's an entertainer, he's entertaining, leave him alone.

[quote] I’ve read (on here, of course) that he has BO.

Yes. People were calling him STINK.

ChatGPT sez:

“If you're referring to **Sting**, the legendary musician from The Police and a successful solo artist, his decision to perform on cruise ships may seem surprising at first—but it actually fits within a broader trend among elite performers. Here’s why someone like Sting might perform on a cruise:

### 1. **High-End, Luxury Cruises Are Changing the Game**

Sting is not performing on your average party cruise. He has appeared on **luxury cruises** (e.g., Regent Seven Seas Cruises), which attract wealthy clientele and focus on exclusive, upscale experiences. These events are often:

* **Private concerts** for small, VIP audiences * **Partnerships or branding arrangements** (Sting's music was used in a marketing campaign for Regent Seven Seas)

### 2. **Lucrative Deals**

Top cruise lines pay handsomely for A-list talent. These appearances can include:

* **Multi-million-dollar fees** * Expenses-covered travel in high-end suites * Limited performance obligations

### 3. **Targeting His Demographic**

Sting’s core fan base skews older and wealthier—exactly the demographic that takes luxury cruises. These events provide intimate, high-status venues for fans who can afford premium experiences.

### 4. **Cross-Promotion or Philanthropy**

Sometimes these performances are tied to charitable events, art partnerships, or causes Sting supports. He’s long been involved in humanitarian and environmental activism.

### 5. **Changing Music Industry Economics**

In today’s market, live events, exclusivity, and high-end experiences often generate more revenue and engagement than traditional touring or album sales.

### Bottom Line:

**Sting isn’t “playing cruise ships” in the washed-up Vegas act sense**—he’s making select, highly profitable appearances for ultra-rich audiences, often as part of a branded or private event. It’s less “Cabana Lounge” and more “white-glove gala at sea.””

If he lives an extravagant lifestyle, and supporting 4 adult children and a spendaholic wife is definitely extravagant, it's probably the easiest of easy money gigs for someone his age.

He's not exactly known for vocal acrobatics, he's warbled every note the same disaffected "Sting" way since 1978, so getting up on stage for a few nights a week on a cruise ship to sing for drunken boomers and Xs reliving their youth is not some huge effort for him.

With streaming these days it's not like he can rely on record sales or royalties, and working cruise ships is a lot cushier than actual touring.

Plus he gets away from his wife lol.

He hasn’t had a hit in decades. Broke.

NOBODY GIVES A FLYING FUCK WHAT CHATGPT SAYS.

Who are these retards who are so braindead they have to ask a chatbot how to think?

You weirdos, the man is worth around 500 million dollars. I think he has enough to support a spendthrift wife and pay each of his kids a million dollars a year for the rest of his life if he wanted to.

I'm assuming at this point that they are bots, R34. You see it all over the internet suddenly in the past few months, random "posters" mentioning, without any prompting (pun intended), that they "asked ChatGPT" or sharing what "AI says." In real life no one I know has mentioned using these services. I'm not saying no one does because we all know that incredibly stupid, smooth-brained mouthbreathers surround us at all times now, but it's very suspicious how sudden and forceful the push for using AI for everything is.

Wasn't there an incident years ago in Italy or Switzerland where Sting& his wife Trudy has to call Andy Summers( Police bandmate) to loan them $$$$ so they could pay their very large hotel bill they racked up, the credit cards were bouncing all over the place!! The Hotel demanded payment in full.

One place I read it was "BLIND GOSSIP" and a few others reliable sites.

[quote]and pay each of his kids a million dollars a year

You think a million a year is anywhere near the amount of $$$ these kids require as the children of a huge celebrity? Bless your heart.

Six kids who only have sporadic employment as "actors" and "singers?" He's paying out a staggering amount of $$$ to support them.

[quote] So many musicians/actors are like this (cough, MADONNA, cough). Janet Jackson for example, might need the money, but Madonna (and many others) just do it for the attention.

I've not heard of either performing on a cruise ship.

His ego ate him.

Has anyone else here seen "The Last Ship"? I saw it in tryouts in Chicago. I was quite underwhelmed.

Damn, R37 does Andy Summers even have that kind of dough?

I read somewhere he employs a large staff and a lot of his money goes to paying them. He paid his chef $26k which doesn’t seem like much tbh, even with housing provided.

R38, I am not sure what world you live in. But yes a Million dollars a YEAR for a child is more than enough money. I think they could live well on $83000 a month. And it's probably more than they spend now.

OP, galviggo is on here now

r45 not for the children of a celebrity of Sting's status. One million a year is a pittance.

You don’t like a 10 year old r47. Sting is from a working class background. I wouldn’t be surprised if he only spoiled himself.

One of Sting’s kids played Freddie in the Talented Mr. Ripley miniseries and did a good job.

R45 is hilarious. He thinks wealthy celebrities -- literal rock stars-- teach their kids financial restraint and fiscal responsibility.

R45 imagine their entourages of hangers-on…and security. The kids are paying for a lot of other people. Plus the staff in their own homes.

R45 please just stop already, you are embarrassing yourself.

Those kids should be fine with just a $5 weekly allowance! They're just going to spend it on candy bars and comic books. If they need more than that theycan get a paper route or pick up some babysitting from the neighbors!

Is it a Carnival Cruise ? Does he perform hip-hop and rap ? Do the guests 'fan dance' to his performance ?

At the link, he seems pretty excited about doing it. Maybe they promised his kids discounted rooms and a free buffet.

R50 you can tell you’ve never travelled far from home or haven’t been around wealth to know how most parents raise their kids or treat their adult children This is especially true for parents who didn’t grow up wealthy and want a normal life for their kids. Your world view is half fantasy.

Diana Ross’s kids turned out just fine. I went to college with her daughter. They are about as down to earth and grounded as you can get with having an iconic, legendary mother. Bono has four well adjusted, ivy educated kids who grew up in Ireland. I seriously doubt any of them are getting paid millions by their parents.

But we're talking about Sting's kids here. And Trudie is the mother to four of them. They're not taught restraint, believe me.

[quote] He won 16 Grammies, why is he resorting to this, pardon the expression?

Which expression should we pardon, that he won 16 Grammies, or why he is resorting to this?

R56 You’re half right. When his kids were born in the 80s, he famously told the press he wouldn’t support them, saying something about not being willing to create a cocoon for another person. So it would seem letting them find their own way in the world was his initial plan. Probably his wife convinced him otherwise as the kids grew and showed no signs of interest in college or pursuing careers.

So there are or are not fields of gold fir the Sting Offspring. Good arguments on both sides. I dont know who to beleive.

R60 I don’t believe any of his kids earn enough to fund their homes and lifestyles. What was the last movie you saw Kate Sumner or Eliot Sumner in? The last song you heard by Joe Sumner? One daughter, Mickey, seems to have a decent career as a character actor.

[quote] Diana Ross’s kids turned out just fine. I went to college with her daughter. They are about as down to earth and grounded as you can get with having an iconic, legendary mother. Bono has four well adjusted, ivy educated kids who grew up in Ireland. I seriously doubt any of them are getting paid millions by their parents.

For every Ross and her college educated daughter, there's a Cher and her son Elijah Blue. For every Bono there is a Cyndi Lauper and her son, Declyn. See how that seesaw works ?

With his pending murder trial he really might be doing time after time.

Da doo doo dooo da daaa daaa daaa

Sting is so boring. Cannot stand him or his drippy candle wax looking wife.

[Quote] I wonder if he's still having tantric sex?

YES HE IS I HAD A THREEWAY WITH HIM AND GOOFY ON A DISNEY CRUISE.

Declyn Lauper is so cutting-edge and cool....said no one.

R33 / R36 - At first I didn't know what you were talking about; then I realize I must have R29 (?) blocked already because he's not showing up on the thread.

R56 is correct, everyone. All children of rich people are raised to be financially responsible, and they all turn out fine. If you think otherwise it's because you’ve never travelled far from home or haven’t been around wealth to know how most parents raise their kids or treat their adult children.

Wealthy people always raise responsible children. This message was brought to you by Datalounge.

Seriously. You can't make this shit up.

[Quote] You weirdos, the man is worth around 500 million dollars.

How do you know that, weirdo-caller? Are you his accountant?

Fuck can't we just mock and ridicule an aged ship bound rockstar these days?

What happened to the DL I used to know

[quote] Janet Jackson for example, might need the money, but Madonna (and many others) just do it for the attention. Which ... I don't understand, but I guess no harm done (except to perhaps themselves).

Or maybe, they actually just enjoy their job. Shocker.

Aye, ye watch me perform these shite songs or ye walk the plank!

So what the fuck is wrong with working on a cruise ship?? I'm literally shaking!

I saw him in concert with Billy Joel in February. I’ve never liked his voice bu5 he wasn’t bad live. Sounded less nasally and strained than his recordings.

The Queen Mary 2 is not a “cruise ship.” It’s an ocean liner.

he is filthy rich but he also has huge expenses...lots of properties, kids who want handouts...

R77, his children were raised by Sting, a wealthy person. If you knew anything about wealthy people and their children you would know that all of them are hard working little boot-strappers who would never accept a handout under any circumstances.

Clearly you've never traveled far from home or been around wealth enough to know these things.

Fortunately for you, I have. I hope this was educational for you.

He obviously supports his six kids, none of them have careers where they're raking in millions.

Of course they COULD have “careers.” Thank God they don’t have to.

70 year old musician.

Would you rather get on/off a tour bus & planes, or chill on a marvelous 1 week cruise, 3x a years, while crooning for your supper?

[quote]Janet Jackson for example, might need the money

Janet can't even sell tickets to her 2025 Las Vegas residency to begin to even MAKE any money!

An optimistic cover from BBC’s Brimstone & Treacle

I hope r78 is satire

Now Appearing:

PUPPET SHOW

AND STING

R78 is satirizing R56, who appears to be sincere in their delusional worship of wealthy assholes.

Article is from 2014. He was promoting his musical about shipbuilding.

Nothing more to say.

OP acknowledged it's an old article in his original post. This was already discussed in the comments. Fucking pay attention.

Then why are people talking like he’s been doing this for years and may need the money? Or have you not been fucking paying attention?

R89 can you fucking read? From the OP, the very first post at the top of this thread that you jumped right into to comment and complain about without any context:

[quote][bold]Recently[/bold] saw on Alicia Silverstone’s social media that she was on a cruise and Sting was the entertainment. [bold]I thought, what?, and looked it up....Saw stories going back over a decade of his cruise ship work. [/bold] He won 16 Grammies, why is he resorting to this, pardon the expression?

He has been doing it "for years," at least since the time this was published and whenever OP saw Alicia Silverstone's social media. For that reason people are questioning if he needs the money. This isn't difficult to understand.

How on earth does someone with such a strict vegan lifestyle as Silverstone survive on an ocean liner?

[QUOTE]With his pending murder trial he really might be doing time after time.

Murder? I thought it was sexual assault.

OP may have “seen stories going back over a decade” but they are all about the same single gig.

Google AI response to question “Does Sting perform on cruise ships?”:

[quote] Yes, Sting has performed on a cruise ship. Specifically, he performed songs from his musical The Last Ship on the Queen Mary 2, according to Cunard. The performance was in New York City and included songs from the musical as well as some of his older hits. He also mentioned his past experience performing on cruise ships before his fame with The Police.

Everyone and R69 especially are missing the fucking point. The point isn’t whether these kids are responsible. Actually it’s the fucking opposite. The initial argument was about Sting’s finances and I said Sting has enough money to pay his kids 1 million dollars a YEAR for the rest of his life. And another poster said a million dollars a year was NOTHING to these kids. That they spend much more than that. A million dollars is probably MUCH more than they get a year from their father. A million dollars a year is a lot of fucking money for doing nothing.

A million dollars is a pittance in the circles they travel in.

That's it! I'm calling Sting right now to get to the bottom of this! Wait. I don't have his number. I'll have to send him a message in a bottle. Carry on boys.

Gratuitous nudes.

R96 - Sting has rizz for days. I've always loved him and always found him incredibly attractive in myriad ways.

When I was in college, I wanted to BE him. 🥲

What's going on here?