A Question for Recent Cruisers

[Himself]

Recently, I was on a 10 day cruise on the Elegant and Beautiful m.s. VOLENDAM. The EXPLORERS Louge featured the Rosario Strings and the place was packed each night of the cruise. I mean they had to bring in extra folding chairs each night to accomodate the cruise. At one time the Rosario strings played on each of the Holland Ships. A little over a year ago they vanished off all the Holland America Ships. I know TOMC said they were on the ROTTERDAM when he cruised several weeks ago. The Rosario Strings are doing their fourth ten day cruise on the Volendam. How many other HAL Ships are the currently on?

HIMSELF

[Peggy Sue]

We were also on the Volendam .. I was the person who asked if you were "himself". We too enjoyed the Rosario Strings ..and went to the lounge almost every night to enjoy the music and meet up with other cruise critic members. We purchased their CD....They are a fantastic group, and I hope they, or one of the other groups, will be on the Zaandam when we sail next year!!

It was a pleasure meeting you!

Peggy Sue

[tomc]

I didn't know they had a cd. A generic RS cd, or one from that specific group? And how did you find it? The Rotter RS did not advertise one.

[Sage]

We also love the Rosario Strings and would love to see them. Does anyone know how long they will be aboard the Volendam? We are hoping they will still be there when we board on the 6th of December.

[Krazy Kruizers]

We didn't have the Rosario Strings on our Statendam 21 day cruise. We had a trio - Moonlight something - they were okay - not great. They didn't draw any crowds in the Explorers Lounge.

[mrswynn]

The CD we purchased from Rosario Strings during our 11/6-16 Volendam cruise (on board with Himself, Peggy Sue and many others) was from the three piece group themselves. They don't promote it - I asked if they had a CD and they did. They charged $20 and signed it for us. Many of our group then purchased one. It's wonderful music and I would highly recommend it to anyone else. Unfortunately, it would have to be purchased directly from the group themselves. Too bad - I think they could do well if it were nationally promoted.
Leslie

[Himself]

TOMC
I don't know if each group of the Rosario Strings has cut a CD. The three who are currently on the Volendam have one. They put them out and one was free to purchase them or not. I did and enjoy it very much.
Himself

Peggy Sue:

It was nice to meet you. Sorry I didn't run into you again. I have to meet people several times before they "register" with me. One time I was starting to work in a place and I was introduced to this person. I was meeting a lot of people and I was introduced to this person several days later. On the fourth introduction the person said "You have already met me three times!"
Believe it or not we became good friends. This party is now in another part of the country and we still correspond at Christmas.
Himself

[Himself]

I see your location is "Beverly". Where?

Himself

[Esme]

I didn't know they had a cd. A generic RS cd, or one from that specific group? And how did you find it? The Rotter RS did not advertise one.

Tom - I have an old tape of the Rosario strings featuring Virgil, Noli and Jay - remember them? I think Virgil was the son of Mr. Rosario. His son Roger was an incredible concert pianist and we used to love to sit and listen to him play the piano. Jay apparently has gone on to be a big star in the Phllipines.

The Rosario strings we are now seeing on the HAL ships, are just small groups that are employed by the Rosario family who no longer perform on the ships. They are still the best.

[lknick]

The "Rosario Strings" is a generic term owned by HAL and applies to any of the chamber music groups from the Philippines. The "Champagne Strings" is the same for any European group.

So says the man at HAL assigned the booking of musicians.

[tealady]

We also love the Rosario Strings and would love to see them. Does anyone know how long they will be aboard the Volendam? We are hoping they will still be there when we board on the 6th of December.
I think I heard they will be aboard the Volendam until May.
Jan

[Himself]

The Rosario Strings currently on the m.s. VOLENDAM are two guys and a lady who plays the paino. The lady is kind of "boss" of the group and her name is Evangeline Perilla. This group is OUTSTANDING. The name of the Album is
"Rosario Strings with Evaneline Perilla."

When I was on the Volendam in June the Group was the Chamaigne Strings and they were ok, but only ok.

Himself

[RevNeal]

Thinking back ....

We've had the Rosario Strings a few times -- on the Maasdam in 2000, the Statendam in 2002, and the Volendam in 2003.

We've had the Champaign Strings several -- on the Rotterdam in 1995 and 1996, the Maasdam in 2001, the Volendam in 2002.

In each case the identity of the group, and their quality, varied greatly. I remember that on the Statendam the Rosario group was fair and they put a lot of heart into it, while on the Maasdam in 2000 they were outstanding. The Champaign group on the Volendam in 2002 was excellent, but in 2001 on the Maasdam they only seemed to play 4 different songs.

On the Zaandam this year we had the "Atlantic Strings." They were a nice Trio -- 2 lovely young ladies and a handsome young man (Violin, Flute, Cello). I got to know the fellow who played the cello ... he was English and quite good ... but VERY VERY young.

[RevNeal]

Here's the Rosario Strings Website, incase anyone is interested:

http://www.rosariostrings.net/

Wish I could figure out how to purchase a CD.

[Cruising Illini]

We had a very good group of Rosario Strings on the Crystal Symphony to the North Cape/Fjords in June 2003 so they are on many different lines. I would also like to have Perry Grant return to HAL but hear he is just on Raddison at present -- the evening in the Piano Bar is dull without his entertainment!!!.

[Cruising Illini]

Did you go to JTHS? I graduated from there in '46 I believe.

[RuthC]

I would also like to have Perry Grant return to HAL but hear he is just on Raddison at present.Where did you hear that, may I ask?

[Cruising Illini]

Can't remember the original source but it was several months ago. Have asked on board the ships and no one seems to know the true story but have heard several times he is on Radisson. Some friends are on the Radisson out of Tampa this week and they have been with him on HAL so will get a report when they return the Wed. before Thanksgiving. I'll report if they see him -- I forgot to tell them to investigate on board. The original answer came on this board but not sure when.

[Himself]

I did not go to JTHS. I grew up in Chicago and went the old St. Mel High School for boys when it was located at the corner of Madison and Kildare in Chicago. I graduated in 1957. I have lived in Joliet for about four and a half years.
Himself

[Himself]

Thanks for the Website on the Rosario Strings. If you e-mail
virgil@rosariostrings.net he might be able to tell you how to purchase a copy of a CD. The one I have is the "ROSARIO STRINGS with Eviangeline Perilla.
Hope this helps.

Himself

[RuthC]

Can't remember the original source but it was several months ago. The original answer came on this board but not sure when.O.K., that explains it. Thanks.
As far as I know Perry left Radisson last June, and after a vacation returned to brand X. This info is recent.

[Santa Fe Jim]

On the Zaandam this year we had the "Atlantic Strings." They were a nice Trio -- 2 lovely young ladies and a handsome young man (Violin, Flute, Cello). I got to know the fellow who played the cello ... he was English and quite good ... but VERY VERY young.Last week they had audiences that ranged from 1/2 full to NO ONE. It varied dramatically depending on what other entertainment was available at the time, although the afternoon teas were attended quite well. There were obviously some pieces in their repertoire that they hadn't practiced together often, but they were more assertive on some of the "popular" chamber music. They had the usual competition from groups of people who apparently think of the Explorer's Lounge as a place to talk without music interfering with their partying. I've always thought of it as a performance, not Muzak.

SFJ