Where did the music go?

I have a question.....I started cruising about 12 years ago and have cruised 13 times. When we started we enjoyed awesome "Music Manila" Bands. They were groups of 4 or 5 guys that could play just about anything and were spot on! They just kind of disappeared the last few cruises and music or lack of has really gone down hill. What happened to these great bands? Our first 2 cruises on Miracle had the best bands ever!!!

What ship were you on?

I was on the Carnival Magic last week and they had bands all over the place. Lobby, Casino, a guitar player on Lido, (the DJ there some as well, but I don't count that as live music), The Red Frog had a guitar player in there in the evenings, the show band played in the Ocean Plaza a couple of times.

Just off the Conquest and live music for sail away, and the two guitarist switched off from lobby to casino, or did dueling guitars. Quite good

It's not cutbacks, that's for sure. It's probably measures to maximize profit and decrease scheduling complexity for the smaller entertainment staff to allow them to make the best use of their time.

:D:D:D

Just off "Liberty", and that ship too has LOTS of fantastic music, including one of the "music" groups you mentioned. My recent sailings of "Dream" also prove that Carnival supplies GREAT groups, with which you can sing, dance, and enjoy the beat. "Paradise" offers lots of outstanding music as well!

"SKY"

It's hit or miss. :( On the Glory the live music was subpar but just off the 10-14 Splendor and the live music was very good. :)

You just have to be on the right ship. I agree that Dream is a great ship for live music. And from what I've heard, Liberty & Paradise are also good choices. My most recent cruise, Splendor, had perhaps the most live music of any ship that I've been on. Half, or probably more than half, of Carnival's ships are very slim with the live music. They'll still have some, which will be enough to satisfy some people, but it's a far cry from what these better ships have.

The live music has been thrown overboard. No more live music on deck, no showroom band, no more Chuck and the pot roasts. And what the dj plays is not music.

I have a question.....I started cruising about 12 years ago and have cruised 13 times. When we started we enjoyed awesome "Music Manila" Bands. They were groups of 4 or 5 guys that could play just about anything and were spot on! They just kind of disappeared the last few cruises and music or lack of has really gone down hill. What happened to these great bands? Our first 2 cruises on Miracle had the best bands ever!!!

We seemed to have always sailed with a group called Music Society. They'd play almost anything perfect in the lounge, in the show room, up on deck.

The live music has been thrown overboard. No more live music on deck, no showroom band, no more Chuck and the pot roasts. And what the dj plays is not music.

Not totally true. The Triumph and the Magic, which I have been on both this year, have at least a 8 member show band, Music in the Lobby, Music in the Casino, some on the deck (it was about half live music, half DJ or music from the big screen), music in the lounge on a couple of evenings so it is dependent on the ship.

I am on the Breeze in January and have heard that the don't have a show band (which I hope is not true.)

This is the setup as far as I can tell for the ships that have gone to Playlist Productions:

1) Party Band - playing different themed sets every night (90s, 80s, Motown, etc.)

2) Latin duo or trio

3 & 4) Two different guitar soloists

5) Piano Bar player

Not a ton of choices, but to say that live music on the ships is dead is a bit of hyperbole.

This is the setup as far as I can tell for the ships that have gone to Playlist Productions:

 

1) Party Band - playing different themed sets every night (90s, 80s, Motown, etc.)

 

2) Latin duo or trio

 

3 & 4) Two different guitar soloists

 

5) Piano Bar player

 

Not a ton of choices, but to say that live music on the ships is dead is a bit of hyperbole.

Yes, this is spot on. I would add that there is usually a duo that plays in the atrium as well. They are playing to prerecorded tracks so whether that is live or not is up for debate.

This is the setup as far as I can tell for the ships that have gone to Playlist Productions:

 

1) Party Band - playing different themed sets every night (90s, 80s, Motown, etc.)

 

2) Latin duo or trio

 

3 & 4) Two different guitar soloists

 

5) Piano Bar player

 

Not a ton of choices, but to say that live music on the ships is dead is a bit of hyperbole.

Yes, there is SOME live music, but nothing in comparison to 10 years ago, with great steel drum bands on lido, full orchestras in shows.....not duos, or solo guitarists....but bands/groups all over the ship. It is much decreased on all CCL ships these days in comparison, which is what OP was pointing out.

Not totally true. The Triumph and the Magic, which I have been on both this year, have at least a 8 member show band, Music in the Lobby, Music in the Casino, some on the deck (it was about half live music, half DJ or music from the big screen), music in the lounge on a couple of evenings so it is dependent on the ship.

 

I am on the Breeze in January and have heard that the don't have a show band (which I hope is not true.)

Unless things have changed on the Breeze, there will be no show band. They did away with the show band with the Playlist Productions. These shows have recorded music. Not live music.

There have been a large number of complaints about the music offerings. Carnival has said they are returning to more live music, but it will probably be a committee decision, which means .....

that since it is a committee, it will be a long time coming.

And I totally agree with a previous poster, the DJ thing....painful....let him work the late night disco, and let him sleep in all day and save the passengers from the painful cRAP that gets played at the pool.

Yes.........I was referring to live bands that played in the lounges. The groups of Filipino guys playing were amazing and so much fun. They would pack the bars and everyone would be on the dance floors. Now we walk by a bar after dinner and one or 2 people are playing guitar or they have karaoke with the same people singing over and over again. One can only take so much karaoke and Carnival seems to be obsessed with that right now!

BTW......this is no way stops me from cruising....just an observation.

This is the setup as far as I can tell for the ships that have gone to Playlist Productions:

 

1) Party Band - playing different themed sets every night (90s, 80s, Motown, etc.)

 

2) Latin duo or trio

 

3 & 4) Two different guitar soloists

 

5) Piano Bar player

 

Not a ton of choices, but to say that live music on the ships is dead is a bit of hyperbole.

The Pride had the party band , one solo guitar player and a piano bar player . Sure felt like a cutback

I have a question.....I started cruising about 12 years ago and have cruised 13 times. When we started we enjoyed awesome "Music Manila" Bands. They were groups of 4 or 5 guys that could play just about anything and were spot on! They just kind of disappeared the last few cruises and music or lack of has really gone down hill. What happened to these great bands? Our first 2 cruises on Miracle had the best bands ever!!!

I miss the Calypso bands on Lido deck. I agree with the others that the DJs are awful.

I miss the Calypso bands on Lido deck. I agree with the others that the DJs are awful.

I 100% agree. Every time I fill out a cruise survey I put on there to bring the calypso bands back and leave the dj in the nightclub. Hopefully if enough people comment, they will someday bring them back.

Party Band - "Music Boardwalk" on the Paradise until February.

Party Band - "Music Unlimited" on the Miracle until March....

Party Band - "Music Boardwalk" on the Paradise until February.

 

Party Band - "Music Unlimited" on the Miracle until March....

Hello Mary49, Both are great bands and very friendly. i believe "Music Degree" is still on the Sensation and I hope to listen to

"Music Mix" onboard the Liberty in Dec.;)Pink

I have a question.....I started cruising about 12 years ago and have cruised 13 times. When we started we enjoyed awesome "Music Manila" Bands. They were groups of 4 or 5 guys that could play just about anything and were spot on! They just kind of disappeared the last few cruises and music or lack of has really gone down hill. What happened to these great bands? Our first 2 cruises on Miracle had the best bands ever!!!

Its now loud annoying recorded music with a dj, which is one of the reasons we have stopped sailing Carnival

Hello Mary49, Both are great bands and very friendly. i believe "Music Degree" is still on the Sensation and I hope to listen to

"Music Mix" onboard the Liberty in Dec.;)Pink

Hi Pink - Let me know how Music Mix is. When I saw them in 2008 on the Legend they had a lady singer who was great. I hope she is still with them.

Also just to let you know, Music Boardwalk is coming to the Splendor in May until November.

Ike and his band will be going home in March and I hope it's not for good.

Enjoy your cruise. My next one will be sometime next year on the Splendor again and I will make it to platinum level. Finally. can't wait. Mary49

The Pride had the party band , one solo guitar player and a piano bar player . Sure felt like a cutback

The "band" playing in the atrium on Pride last week sounded like a really, really bad karaoke bunch. The guy playing guitar on Lido did okay as did the DJ, wasn't blasting.

If you want me to cruise Carnival again - bring back the live music - especially "old rock & roll".