Entertainment

Thinking of coming back to Oceania this year but can someone inform me about the entertainment please?

Our last cruise with Oceania was in 2013 and although we loved the food and overall ambience on board we found the standard of evening entertainment was too muted.

Has there been any changes over the past couple of years ?

Thanks

Scotslizzy

I like your turn of phrase. It sums up the entertainment on O very well, and I'm looking forward to hearing the responses from people who've cruised this year.

The production shows are a bit more lively but the rest is still "muted"

why we love Oceania ;)

Thinking of coming back to Oceania this year but can someone inform me about the entertainment please?

 

Our last cruise with Oceania was in 2013 and although we loved the food and overall ambience on board we found the standard of evening entertainment was too muted.

 

Has there been any changes over the past couple of years ?

 

Thanks

 

Scotslizzy

Nope....not really... I think that the majority of the passengers sort of like it that way. As you have so noted the dining and ambiance of the dining experience is really the entertainment of its self.

Having a cocktail and listening to a string quartet may sound lame to some, but to others this sort of low key experience is just what they enjoy. Many will after dinner head not to the theater but to their cabin to enjoy a book or movie. While others enjoy continued conversation in one of the bars. Casinos and Disco venues are seldom attended by most

Entertainment is not the focus of the line nor its repeat passengers... who enjoy each others conversation over some honkey tonk production

Just returned from a cruise on Regatta. The shows put on by the cast of 6 singers and dancers was a great improvement. They did shows: Good Lovin (pop and Motown classics of the 60's) Gatsby's (1920's era jazz) Tuxedo (music of the Rat Pack) and a finale called Get on the Floor and Dance (great choreography). These productions were wonderful- a talented group of young performers. Other than that it was the usual string quartet or the pianist from Martinis.

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Hi all, I agree with most, never liked the shows-dinner was more important than rushing to a show that wasn't all that good. But that was a few years ago.

Were back after a long exit do to illness. Just got cleared for travel as everything is good now. We'll be back on "O" soon because we enjoy everything about "O" except the shows., but we booked a 14 day cruise on the Regent's new ship the Explorer in a Grand Suite. Looking forward to it to compare it to "O".

Take care and have a great cruise.

The four performers who are currently on Nautica are quite good. On our 12 day cruise they did three shows. The comedian who was featured 2 nights was okay. I think I skipped the rest of the shows either due to dinner or lack of interest in the event. Though I was sad that dinner took so long that we didn't get to see the local performers while we were overnight in Israel.

Cheers, K

NCL is just starting to provide the entertainment for O. The house performers left Marina after the NYC to Lisbon crossing.

We'll have to wait to see results.

The problem ,such as it is ,is that dinner for us starts around 8.00 so this meant we never got to see the shows and as someone pointed out a lot of people tended to retire for the night after that.

The beautiful lounge where they serve afternoon tea could have been used for some late night entertainment for those of us who wish just a little more in the way of night time choices.

Perhaps this is why NCL are getting involved ?

I know that friends of ours made much the same comments when they were asked for their feedback.

I have recently cruised with Crystal and was impressed with the twice nightly shows and after dinner choices of lounges .

Thanks Again

Scotslizzy

The problem ,such as it is ,is that dinner for us starts around 8.00 so this meant we never got to see the shows and as someone pointed out a lot of people tended to retire for the night after that.

 

The beautiful lounge where they serve afternoon tea could have been used for some late night entertainment for those of us who wish just a little more in the way of night time choices.

 

Scotslizzy

They do have things going on in Horizons after the show but maybe because it is not well attended (people retiring early to get a rest for the next day's adventures) they do not have a lot going on there

dancing, karaoke, name that tune etc...

Some people just go to the bar for a drink & chat with new friends then head off to bed

As for NCL getting involved it is probably more cost effective to have the same in house performers for the 3 brands ... once the contracts expire from the other entertainment companies

I think Marina was the last ship with JAR company so all productions shows should be the NCL in house groups now

I am sure someone will know all the details better than I

They do have things going on in Horizons after the show but maybe because it is not well attended (people retiring early to get a rest for the next day's adventures) they do not have a lot going on there

dancing, karaoke, name that tune etc...

 

Some people just go to the bar for a drink & chat with new friends then head off to bed

 

As for NCL getting involved it is probably more cost effective to have the same in house performers for the 3 brands ... once the contracts expire from the other entertainment companies

I think Marina was the last ship with JAR company so all productions shows should be the NCL in house groups now

I am sure someone will know all the details better than I

I've seen Terry Bishop do an after show chatting/singing slot that was very well attended and on another cruise one of the entertainment staff did a cabaret style slot, again well attended. Otherwise the post show entertainment is dire. That may be why it isn't well attended rather than the other way round.

We're now looking at other cruise lines because of the state of the entertainment on O. If it wasn't for the itineraries and some good deals we'd have moved already.

While I enjoy listening to the string quartet and can be persuaded to have a cocktail :) I don't want to go to bed early while I'm on holiday. A digital juke box in Horizons just doesn't cut it. JMHO.

I've seen Terry Bishop do an after show chatting/singing slot that was very well attended and on another cruise one of the entertainment staff did a cabaret style slot, again well attended. Otherwise the post show entertainment is dire. That may be why it isn't well attended rather than the other way round.

 

We're now looking at other cruise lines because of the state of the entertainment on O. If it wasn't for the itineraries and some good deals we'd have moved already.

 

While I enjoy listening to the string quartet and can be persuaded to have a cocktail :) I don't want to go to bed early while I'm on holiday. A digital juke box in Horizons just doesn't cut it. JMHO.

I hope you find what pleases you... You sound like you love Crystal and its pomp and glam shows caberet, abundant live music and vibe....

For the exact reasons that you are leaving Oceania many of us are attracted to it... I personaly dont enjoy all the las vegas stuff....

..

Different tastes Different values.

I've seen Terry Bishop do an after show chatting/singing slot that was very well attended and on another cruise one of the entertainment staff did a cabaret style slot, again well attended. Otherwise the post show entertainment is dire. That may be why it isn't well attended rather than the other way round.

I guess I have never seen nor heard of Terry Bishop on any of my sailings with O

I have not seen any acts in Horizons after the main show

We have had some singers in Horizons for a special show at 6 or 8 pm on a couple of occasions

Frankly by 11 pm I am knackered

YMMV

I hope you find what pleases you... You sound like you love Crystal and its pomp and glam shows caberet, abundant live music and vibe....

 

For the exact reasons that you are leaving Oceania many of us are attracted to it... I personaly dont enjoy all the las vegas stuff....

..

Different tastes Different values.

Not quite sure why I sound as if I love Crystal since I've never been anywhere near a Crystal ship. The other line we've sailed is Windstar which hardly epitomises Las Vegas.

I mentioned Terry Bishop and a cabaret style set by a singer neither of which reminds me of Las Vegas either. YMMV.

I guess I have never seen nor heard of Terry Bishop on any of my sailings with O

I have not seen any acts in Horizons after the main show

 

We have had some singers in Horizons for a special show at 6 or 8 pm on a couple of occasions

 

Frankly by 11 pm I am knackered

 

YMMV

We've sailed with Terry twice - he is a great lecturer and a very gregarious individual and we really enjoyed him. All his lectures were FULL! Also one evening he had his guitar out and sang for us. Quite good. As for the state of the entertainment on Oceania, I understand soon all the ships will have entertainment which is booked thru NCL. I've been told that NCL has some very good entertainers. We will be on Nautica on June 25th and when we get back, I will report on this topic! ;) Arlene

We've sailed with Terry twice - he is a great lecturer and a very gregarious individual and we really enjoyed him. All his lectures were FULL! Also one evening he had his guitar out and sang for us. Quite good. As for the state of the entertainment on Oceania, I understand soon all the ships will have entertainment which is booked thru NCL. I've been told that NCL has some very good entertainers. We will be on Nautica on June 25th and when we get back, I will report on this topic! ;) Arlene

I have heard of Terry & his lectures but not his singing skills but as yet have not had him on our cruises

As for the entertainment it is like food ... subjective

we did have a crooner on Regatta we saw one of his shows ..not to our tastes

We've sailed with Terry twice - he is a great lecturer and a very gregarious individual and we really enjoyed him. All his lectures were FULL! Also one evening he had his guitar out and sang for us. Quite good. As for the state of the entertainment on Oceania, I understand soon all the ships will have entertainment which is booked thru NCL. I've been told that NCL has some very good entertainers. We will be on Nautica on June 25th and when we get back, I will report on this topic! ;) Arlene

Oh Arlene, please don't do that on my account! For, and I quote 'Entertainment is not the focus of the line nor its repeat passengers... who enjoy each others conversation over some honkey tonk production"

Oops, silly me, I quite forgot that you and I are repeat passengers.

Interestingly I've just read the following on Waynetor's Day 160 report of the World a Cruise.

"This segment has been terrible for nightly entertainment.* Comedian show tonight (done in a funny way but did 4 tricks in 45 minutes that I had all seen done a few times), last night was a Broadway singer (nice for those that like it) but the night prior was just the deck party - basically the band that normally plays in Horizon moved to the open deck, the 2 nights before were movies, the night before that was just the on board pianist that plays in Martinis moving to the main lounge, and the 2 nights before that were regular CD staff doing the shows (good but not what is expected and finally the night before that the wonderful comedian had to share his time with 1 of the CD staff singing - If this segment was my 1st O cruise I would be very unimpressed.*"

We are not late night owls (normally) but when on holiday we do like to have some choices of evening entertainment and this is where Oceania fails quite a way down from other cruise lines.

It will be interesting to read what happens after 25th June in terms of more lively entertainment. And for those who wish to retire early so be it but Oceania has to engage with all their paying customers or like others have stated move to other lines.

Scotslizzy

It will be interesting to read what happens after 25th June in terms of more lively entertainment. And for those who wish to retire early so be it but Oceania has to engage with all their paying customers or like others have stated move to other lines.

If more passengers participated in the late night entertainments, I imagine that there might be more of them organized.

It will be interesting to read what happens after 25th June in terms of more lively entertainment. And for those who wish to retire early so be it but Oceania has to engage with all their paying customers or like others have stated move to other lines.

Scotslizzy

Quite so Scotslizzy. I am on holiday to enjoy dinner....but not to take 3 hours with it. I like to go to a show, listen to a pianist or occasionally, a good comedian. I do NOT want to get up at 6am to go on a long day tour then collapse exhausted into bed at 10pm in order to do it all again tomorrow. :eek:

Entertainment is important for many people on a cruise and it is one of the area's that O falls down. Marina was like a ghost ship after 10 pm, except for us lively eight people in the cocktail bar. Lifelong friends were made there over Lemon Drop Martini's! :)

Hope your having a great time on Sirena Kat and Matt.

It will be interesting to read what happens after 25th June in terms of more lively entertainment.

 

Scotslizzy

I am not sure what June 25th has to do with the entertainment but if it is a magic date then it certainly will be interesting :D

For those people to whom entertainment is so important that they would switch cruise lines because of the lack of it, then they will do so. For us personally we would never consider the quality of shows to be a breaking point. The thing is, for those who are so intent on (say) seeing a good show after dinner that they would go elsewhere -- well, Oceania cannot compete with those other lines. I remember on the QE2 they would fly in new entertainers every 3 nights or so, and they were excellent performers, no question about it. But Cunard is a bit bigger than Oceania ...

I guess it's pretty clear that entertainment is NOT that important to us. We do go to the shows, depending on what they are, but more often than not I take out a good book. (And no, we're not fond of 3 hour dinners either!)

Mura

Fine dining is emphasized on Oceania which we enjoy much more than glitzy shows. Every cruise line we sail has a different focal point. We were just on Disney and of course entertainment and character appearances are their strengths.

However, I wish the shows began at 9:00 pm. The current start time of 9:30 is too late, especially on port days or after a long dinner.

I don't mind the low key entertainment on O. I've enjoyed the simple cabaret singing on the R ships. I think O books too many comedy magicians. I wish they had more stand up comedians.

I am not sure what June 25th has to do with the entertainment but if it is a magic date then it certainly will be interesting :D

If you read your own post #16, or the preceding post #15, which you quote, it may help ;).