You can take onboard bottles of your favorite corn squeezings on Holland America. No hassle. I don't know about musical(?) instruments, the hired musicians may throw them overboard. A dentist I once had played piano on cruises.

Apply for a job as gigalo, to entertain single women on board. A friend of ours did that for cheap fare on a world cruise. Don't know the qualifications. Or would your wife object?

At one port stop (Caribbean) I bought tax free 151 proof rum (disclaimer- my wife uses it in some recipes).

Artbrooks has it right on H-A tips, etc. We also took that Alaska cruise. Some interesting stops and very enjoyable.