Carnival entertainment goes even further downhill

Just back from our 25th Carnival cruise first one on conquest.

Had an awesome roll call and made some good new friends we hope to cruise with again.

Got to rent our first villa at HMC (thanks Kenny and Debbi) and now understand why people want to dothis.

Thought food and service was good as usual but entertainment has gone even further downhill.

For the first time ever there were no flyons for our 7 day cruise. What we had was two evenings of Hasbro and Hasbro only in the main lounge.

Seriously? And one of these evenings no comedy club and no piano bar going on.

Didnt care for playlist the first time we saw it and think that 8 mediocre singers do not equal the quality of the old style production shows with two decent singers.

How can a company that put on Ticket to Ride and Dancing in the Street think they are putting out quality production when they put out this crap?

On a more positive note will say that Epic Rock was a good one the other three hopefully will never have to sit thru again.

Michael in the pb was very good (apparently he replaced a woman who suddenly left the ship). The four comedians put on some very good shows.

Did we get our money's worth? Yes we did. But we used to love the main lounge entertainment and now it is gone.

Perhaps they will tell us that attendance in the main lounge is dwindling so they will have the excuse to Sunshine it and make them half the size in the future.

Personally think the attendance is shrinking as guests realize what they are giving us is not worth attending.

There have been other post that say the same thing about the shows. I think the Conquest NEW shows are bad. I think the OLD shows on the Dream are some of the best

Seeing the playlist shows once was than enough for me - especially when I did 2 cruises in a row on the Breeze. I don't even bother with the main showroom any more. We stick with the Comedy Club, piano bar and casino!! This is why branching out to other lines is now becoming a bit more important to us. At least we see different shows and entertainment on different ships!

Just back from our 25th Carnival cruise first one on conquest.

 

Had an awesome roll call and made some good new friends we hope to cruise with again.

 

Got to rent our first villa at HMC (thanks Kenny and Debbi) and now understand why people want to dothis.

 

Thought food and service was good as usual but entertainment has gone even further downhill.

 

For the first time ever there were no flyons for our 7 day cruise. What we had was two evenings of Hasbro and Hasbro only in the main lounge.

 

Seriously? And one of these evenings no comedy club and no piano bar going on.

 

Didnt care for playlist the first time we saw it and think that 8 mediocre singers do not equal the quality of the old style production shows with two decent singers.

 

How can a company that put on Ticket to Ride and Dancing in the Street think they are putting out quality production when they put out this crap?

 

On a more positive note will say that Epic Rock was a good one the other three hopefully will never have to sit thru again.

 

Michael in the pb was very good (apparently he replaced a woman who suddenly left the ship). The four comedians put on some very good shows.

 

Did we get our money's worth? Yes we did. But we used to love the main lounge entertainment and now it is gone.

 

Perhaps they will tell us that attendance in the main lounge is dwindling so they will have the excuse to Sunshine it and make them half the size in the future.

 

Personally think the attendance is shrinking as guests realize what they are giving us is not worth attending.

Sorry to hear this, Stu. We've never seen the playlist productions, but I'm not really looking forward to them because of all the bad reviews.

I am sad to hear this. Although I am more of a, "cruise for the port" person than for the ship, good entertainment does enhance my cruise experience. Last year on the Dream we really enjoyed Dancing In The Streets. This was one we had never seen before. We were getting pretty tired of most the other shows. It is disappointing if the entertainment is dwindling.

Sorry to hear this, Stu. We've never seen the playlist productions, but I'm not really looking forward to them because of all the bad reviews.

Well you will on the Conquest in Janaury;)

Just back from our 25th Carnival cruise first one on conquest.

 

Had an awesome roll call and made some good new friends we hope to cruise with again.

 

Got to rent our first villa at HMC (thanks Kenny and Debbi) and now understand why people want to dothis.

 

Thought food and service was good as usual but entertainment has gone even further downhill.

 

For the first time ever there were no flyons for our 7 day cruise. What we had was two evenings of Hasbro and Hasbro only in the main lounge.

 

Seriously? And one of these evenings no comedy club and no piano bar going on.

 

Didnt care for playlist the first time we saw it and think that 8 mediocre singers do not equal the quality of the old style production shows with two decent singers.

 

How can a company that put on Ticket to Ride and Dancing in the Street think they are putting out quality production when they put out this crap?

 

On a more positive note will say that Epic Rock was a good one the other three hopefully will never have to sit thru again.

 

Michael in the pb was very good (apparently he replaced a woman who suddenly left the ship). The four comedians put on some very good shows.

 

Did we get our money's worth? Yes we did. But we used to love the main lounge entertainment and now it is gone.

 

Perhaps they will tell us that attendance in the main lounge is dwindling so they will have the excuse to Sunshine it and make them half the size in the future.

 

Personally think the attendance is shrinking as guests realize what they are giving us is not worth attending.

We leave for this cruise on Sunday -- we are getting the villa in HMC (can't wait!). I had planned on checking out Epic Rock and one Hasbro show for my kids, but what night was there no comedy and no piano bar? That sounds like a night to turn in early.

I like the fly on acts - that's disappointing if they discontinued them (maybe a last minute cancellation for the performer?) - I will report if we do or do not have one.

We were just on the Golden Princess and the entertainment was also low caliber. We even walked out on one show. Seems the entertainment budget has dwindled across the whole corporation. :mad:

We leave for this cruise on Sunday -- we are getting the villa in HMC (can't wait!). I had planned on checking out Epic Rock and one Hasbro show for my kids, but what night was there no comedy and no piano bar? That sounds like a night to turn in early.

 

I like the fly on acts - that's disappointing if they discontinued them (maybe a last minute cancellation for the performer?) - I will report if we do or do not have one.

Mike Pack the CD had a Q and A and asked him about it. He said it was done as they have four playlist shows they are doing. Never had the flyon scheduled.

Apparently the budget doesnt allow for both.

Personally wish they would dump the playlist and just give us flyons.

Ok thanks - that makes sense - I figured that when they added Epic Rock, that they would have dropped one of the other shows.

Ok thanks - that makes sense - I figured that when they added Epic Rock, that they would have dropped one of the other shows.

Wish they would drop about 3 more:)

Just back from our 25th Carnival cruise first one on conquest.

 

Had an awesome roll call and made some good new friends we hope to cruise with again.

 

Got to rent our first villa at HMC (thanks Kenny and Debbi) and now understand why people want to dothis.

 

Thought food and service was good as usual but entertainment has gone even further downhill.

 

For the first time ever there were no flyons for our 7 day cruise. What we had was two evenings of Hasbro and Hasbro only in the main lounge.

 

Seriously? And one of these evenings no comedy club and no piano bar going on.

 

Didnt care for playlist the first time we saw it and think that 8 mediocre singers do not equal the quality of the old style production shows with two decent singers.

 

How can a company that put on Ticket to Ride and Dancing in the Street think they are putting out quality production when they put out this crap?

 

On a more positive note will say that Epic Rock was a good one the other three hopefully will never have to sit thru again.

 

Michael in the pb was very good (apparently he replaced a woman who suddenly left the ship). The four comedians put on some very good shows.

 

Did we get our money's worth? Yes we did. But we used to love the main lounge entertainment and now it is gone.

 

Perhaps they will tell us that attendance in the main lounge is dwindling so they will have the excuse to Sunshine it and make them half the size in the future.

 

Personally think the attendance is shrinking as guests realize what they are giving us is not worth attending.

I seriously fear they are making it so bad in purpose, so they can eventually turn around and say, "Want real entertainment? You can now pay for it, and it will be <here>

If we know it's bad, they certainly know it's bad.

I seriously fear they are making it so bad in purpose, so they can eventually turn around and say, "Want real entertainment? You can now pay for it, and it will be <here>

 

If we know it's bad, they certainly know it's bad.

They are already doing it with their rock concerts.:(

I will be on the Glory. I think they have the playlist productions, which I have never seen. The Splendor had the style of shows with the two main singers and then the back ups, which I really really enjoyed. What type of shows are those called, if they aren't the playlist productions?

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

We got off the Freedom on Labor Day and we both agreed that the Playlist Productions were some of the best we've ever seen! We had 80's Pop to the Max, 88 Keys, Getaway Island and Heart of Soul. We loved all of them! We've only been cruising since 2008 but these were the best we've seen with the exception of perhaps, Ticket to Ride. Hopefully they will continue to improve on the other ships as well.

I seriously fear they are making it so bad in purpose, so they can eventually turn around and say, "Want real entertainment? You can now pay for it, and it will be <here>

 

If we know it's bad, they certainly know it's bad.

You may be right. The Rock Performers that they are bringing to the ships are an up charge. I will never pay.

You may be right. The Rock Performers that they are bringing to the ships are an up charge. I will never pay.

I think that is backfiring anyway. All I keep reading is that they are giving out tickets, in luring the VIP passes.

Sorry to hear this, Stu. We've never seen the playlist productions, but I'm not really looking forward to them because of all the bad reviews.

Not every one dislikes the shows, but certain people beat the subject to death. If they are so disliked, why go to them, pick them apart and post how bad they are?

We got off the Freedom on Labor Day and we both agreed that the Playlist Productions were some of the best we've ever seen! We had 80's Pop to the Max, 88 Keys, Getaway Island and Heart of Soul. We loved all of them! We've only been cruising since 2008 but these were the best we've seen with the exception of perhaps, Ticket to Ride. Hopefully they will continue to improve on the other ships as well.

We also just got off the Freedom a few weeks ago and also loved the shows they put on.

I thought they did a great job.

Not every one dislikes the shows, but certain people beat the subject to death. If they are so disliked, why go to them, pick them apart and post how bad they are?

Stu was kind enough to share his experience onboard the Carnival Conquest with anyone looking for information. As for asking "why someone would go to them, pick them apart and post how bad they are," these entertainment options and venues are offered onboard and are included in the cruise fare. I don't see any problem with posting about it, as it matches the title of this message board, Cruise Critic.

We got off the Miracle on 19 Aug and we thought the entertainment both in the big room and elsewhere was excellent. Fly on entertainer Ned Rifkin is superb "Singing with the Big Band." We didn't see any of the comedians so can't comment there.

Here on the Sunshine. The shows are mediocre at best. Haven't seen Epic Rock yet.

stu, thanks for the report!:) we also did not like the shows on the conquest.

we are going on the liberty the 26th of this month, are the shows better on it?:) I think you were on the liberty awhile back. If not, sorry.

I loved the old shows, but they were starting to get a little old after seeing them multiple times. I've seen The British show and Motor City and both of them were pretty good. I do miss the live band that used to back up the singers.

I'm hoping the entertainment will improve in the future.

We were on Liberty and the entertainment was very nice; actually, fantastic for Carnival (no question Royal blows Carnival away with entertainment). We had the 'Singing with the Big Band' as well as a comedy juggling show (both fly ons) and four different comedians. One Hasbro show but there was so much other stuff going on we did not see it. The cruise director had one of the singers do an evening of singing with the ship orchestra (yes, they had that too) and it was lovely. What I don't understand is how the budgets for these ships are so drastically different. Maybe has to do with size but that much? I have determined that the cruise directors really do make the difference. Clearly how they maximize the usage of the entertainers they have on board make a difference but somehow the way they use their budget and/or fight for their budget is priceless.