HAL Entertainment Rocks

[MightyQuinn]

Wow! HAL is old school no more. :cool::cool:
http://travel.usatoday.com/cruises/post/2010/08/american-idol-holland-america-nieuw-amsterdam-cruise-ship-line/104294/1

[aliaschief]

Thanks for bringing the article to our attention. Will be anxious to experience the new shows.

[Kween Karen]

Sounds good. On my last 14 day trip I enjoyed the entertainment...however all but one show was a repeat of something I had seen before. Always more fun to see something new.....AND...I love American Idol so any of them would be a familiar face.

[aliaschief]

Sorry double post. Got caught in a Timeout

[Jade13]

Wow! HAL is old school no more. :cool::cool:
http://travel.usatoday.com/cruises/post/2010/08/american-idol-holland-america-nieuw-amsterdam-cruise-ship-line/104294/1

Having groups such ad an all-male quartet is something that has been missing on the HAL ships. These type of smaller performances have been on Celebrity though.

[inverted1]

"Holland America notes the Nieuw Amsterdam is one of a growing number of the line's ships to have a "Showroom at Sea" -- a modern-day take on the classic nightclub that features state-of-the-art technology and a different show and themed atmosphere nightly. The line has added the showrooms on four ships -- the Veendam, Rotterdam, Statendam and Ryndam -- during recent dry dock overhauls."

So, since it's one of the newer ships, and is a sister...... is the "Showroom at Sea" on the Eurodam as well, or only those listed that have had dry dock overhauls?

[Krazy Kruizers]

I have been following the reports of this new Showroom At Sea and have mixed feelings.

I don't like American Idol -- watched it one time and that was enough.

We are the type that much prefer Broardway shows -- and from I understand with this new concept of the Showroom At Sea the number of singers and dancers has been cut way back -- thus the ships are not having the shows of the past.

[MightyQuinn]

Having groups such ad an all-male quartet is something that has been missing on the HAL ships.I agree. But American Idol contestants performing on HAL? The mind boggles! :D:D

[Krazy Kruizers]

"Holland America notes the Nieuw Amsterdam is one of a growing number of the line's ships to have a "Showroom at Sea" -- a modern-day take on the classic nightclub that features state-of-the-art technology and a different show and themed atmosphere nightly. The line has added the showrooms on four ships -- the Veendam, Rotterdam, Statendam and Ryndam -- during recent dry dock overhauls."

So, since it's one of the newer ships, and is a sister...... is the "Showroom at Sea" on the Eurodam as well, or only those listed that have had dry dock overhauls?

It is not on the Eurodam -- yet.

Just the ships listed.

But there is talk about having it added to all ships in the future.

[inverted1]

Thanks for the reply. Strange how, until last month Eurodam was their newest ship, yet it's not on it. We cruise in November, so perhaps by then they might.




It is not on the Eurodam -- yet.

Just the ships listed.

But there is talk about having it added to all ships in the future.

[Copper10-8]

Showroom at Sea, so far is on Statendam, Ryndam, Veendam, Rotterdam and Nieuw Amsterdam. Maasdam will be next and word had it on Statendam that this new concept will be spreading to all fifteen ships in the future.

This, like the food on the ships, is subjective of course but, having seen the four main production shows on Statendam less than two weeks ago, it is a major improvement and a huge step forward by HAL!

Statendam's cast included a tenor from the San Diego Lyric Opera and a "Swing" (alternate is the other term, I believe) from the Broadway production of 'Rent'. The other four vocalists, one was a female by the name of Tamika Peoples (performed contracts in Japan), were very good also. One of the males by the name of David Green, at first glance, looks to be the odd man out, physically but is really not and winds up playing a leading role in the last show, 'Stardust Lounge' - You would have to see it/him to know what I'm talking about

The big difference from the current productions shows are the talent and the numbers. From ten cast members (singers and dancers) on the "S" and "R" class ships, eight on Prinsendam and up to fourteen on the Vista's, the new concept cuts those down to four male singers, two female singers and two female dancers (on the 'S' class Statendam, at least, can't speak for the other ships 'cause I haven't seen them) so, yes, the dancers took a hit. The quality of the singers went way up though.

Under the showroom at sea concept, the physical lay-out of the main show lounge has also changed. The first four or so rows from the stage now consist of little round tables, each with four chairs around them. They're trying to give us pax more the feel of a night or jazz club. The lay-out, stage, props, etc. changes with every show, i.e. during the 'Street Singin' show, it was changed to more of a diner atmosphere. At least two of the HAL Cats band members played a prominent role in some of the shows. During 'Encore' the Adagio Strings classical group plus the guitar player from Mix join the cast and HAL Cats on stage, also a different concept.

During Statendam's one-week cruise, there were a total of four production shows, five if you count the opening act called ''Nothin's Gonna Stop Us Now' on embarkation night (which was a semi-short one, followed by the audience participation icebreaker 'Hit that Golf Ball' nonsense.) The oher four were 'full-time' production shows by the names of 'Bob Mackie's Broadway', 'Street Singin', 'Encore' and 'Stardust Lounge' (performed on the last! night which is new). Great vocals in all shows; the two dancers were used as intro's, modeling costumes and, yes, dance numbers including ballet (I'm not really a fan but they were good) and the entire cast received several standing ovations.

For those of you going to the five listed ships in the near future, just give it a chance and you just might be pleasantly surprised. If you don't like 'American Idol' which, btw, these production shows have absolutely nothing to do with, well, what is a mother to do?:cool: Bed-time and counting sheep at 8:00 pm, I guess

[AlexandNessa]

Couldn't William Hung be considered an American Idol star? :p

[kakalina]

I have never watched American Idol so I can't comment on the calibre of their performers. I do know that I didn't care for the showroom at sea on our last 33 day cruise. I truly loved and greatly miss the big production shows. Everyone has a different idea of entertainment.

[inverted1]

I have never watched American Idol so I can't comment on the calibre of their performers. I do know that I didn't care for the showroom at sea on our last 33 day cruise. I truly loved and greatly miss the big production shows. Everyone has a different idea of entertainment.


We too love the big production shows; but I was under the impression that the new setup was in addition to the already-in-place shows, rather than a replacement for them?

Guess I misunderstood!

[Copper10-8]

Some pics:

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs217.snc4/39171_469528125728_551215728_6714228_4691275_n.jpg (http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=6714229&id=551215728)


http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs286.snc4/40663_469528145728_551215728_6714229_8098305_n.jpg (http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=6714227&id=551215728)


http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs146.ash2/40645_469528100728_551215728_6714227_2952529_n.jpg (http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=6714228&id=551215728)

[airlink diva]

Thanks Copper 10-8 for the info!
I also read this article in USA today.
Frankly to me most of the singers in many of the shows were overall weak singers. I just say this because of people I know that preform in Las Vegas,New York and national tours that sound alot better.
Quite a few of the singers who make it to Hollywood on Idol are good. I recall that Jennifer Hudson at one time was a singer on Disney cruises.
You know that HAL is not thinking about the rejects if that what you fear.
The story also mention people from broadway acts preforming.
Give me a mixture of both "old school",classics, broadway hits, and "new school" and I will attend more shows.
I'm willing to give it a try!

[frbob]

If this means the end of those very amateurish production shows then I'm all for it. Those young, cute (very!!!), enthusiastic people who dress in lavish costumes and display high school level talent shouldn't get a free pass or a free cruise, free meals or free excursions. Maybe they should try out for American Idol or So You Think You Can Dance. Why should we have to be subjected to amateur entertainment? Maybe the cost savings could be passed down to the cruise customers? I'm just saying!!!

But I'd like to go back to the "cute" part...WOW!

[iancal]

This is great news. I cannot say that we have been impressed with entertainment on HAL ships. We usually skip the theatre show...they tend to be repetitive and as others have said more like a high school production w/ better costumes.

[Himself]

I experienced the Showroom at Sea on the Rotterdam several weeks ago and I thought it was terriffic.

[HALFans]

<SNIP>The quality of the singers went way up though...

John, I'm so VERY glad to hear this! That's been my biggest complaint about the shows.

The female singers always seemed to far outshine the male singers, who almost never had the range to sing their entire song selections in the same register. Most of them had to switch octaves or re-write the melody to fit their vocal range.

We'll be on the Rotterdam 4 weeks from tomorrow and I, for one, am really looking forward to performers that come up to the calibre of the costumes for a change. ;)

[odd man out]

Just got back from a Ryndam Cruise to Alaska and enjoyed the Showroom at sea very much. This was our first cruise, so I can't make comparisons to other lines or earlier HAL shows. I wasn't aware the Showroom was part of the recent upgrades. I would say that on the Ryndam, some of sight lines were not very good, especially from the balcony. Also, I found the benches were a bit uncomfortabletable (they seemed to have you leaning forward). Also, alot of the benches seemed to accomodate three and since many people come in pairs, seating wasn't always very efficient.

As for the peformers, there were 4 male and 2 female vocalists and 2 female dancers. Most had Broadway experience. Also to clarify some confusion, there may be ex-American Idol contestants on some ships as part of the Showroom cast (but not on our Cruise). This should not be confused with the "Ryndam Idol" competition held up in the lounge where passengers sing karioke.

We found the production shows to be very entertaining. The cast members were all very talented and worked very hard. Were they as good as what you would get on Broadway? Probably not, but if that was what you expect on a ship with 1200 passangers in the middle of the Gulf of Alaska, then the problem is not with the cast but your expectations. I was impressed by the use of a live band. It would be easy for them to have used "canned" music, but I believe the ship's "orchestra" played in every show. In fact on on occasion, the show started with the curtain closed and I assumed they were using pre-recorded music until the curtain opened and I saw the band playing. There was a nice variety (a Broadway salute, an evening of Doo-wop/classic rock, a night for operatic/classic songs, and a Vegas themed evening).

Another tip. If you go to the 11 PM buffet in the Lido Restaurant, you can occasionally run into the performers eating supper and have a chat with them.

Also note that the Showroom was used for other activities such as Bingo, Trivia, disembarkation presentation/meet the crew, Captain's Toast (free Champagne!).