Princess new Head of Entertainment comes from Carnival

[Love.II.Cruise]

We saw the Bayou show on Island Princess and loved it in Jan. 2012! I hope all ships continue to do a great production show like that one.

[PescadoAmarillo]

I think the production shows on Princess are very well received (and On the Bayou is one of the very best!). It's the other performers who sometime disappoint. But I completely agree that live music is a key part of the cruise experience for us. The ship's orchestra playing jazz, or Dixieland, or accompanying a vocalist like Mark Preston; the band Sol Provider; the Beatle Maniacs; Kory Simon in Crooners. I can't imagine cruising without these kinds of listening experiences (but really wish they'd return a string quartet to the Emerald Caribbean itinerary!!!!!).

[eroller]

And yet the production shows play to full theaters - even with the reduced to 30 minute shows. Somebody must like 'em.

 

 

Captive audience. Basically it's something to do after dinner, especially if you don't drink or gamble.

[eroller]

After reading all about not having any live music etc on Carnival I last week got off the Legend Med cruise and was surprised they had a 10 piece band at the live shows.

 

 

CARNIVAL LEGEND hasn't received the Carnival 2.0 "enhancements" yet, which is why you were spared the new Playlist Productions. Be thankful!

[eroller]

 

I agree with a previous post that NCL has fantastic shows.

 

 

 

Best shows I've experience at sea are on Disney Cruise Line. Really no surprise here, they are an entertainment company first. No expense is spared on their shows, and they are truly awesome.

 

In second is Royal Caribbean. Frankly it's hard to top the ice skating shows, and on ALLURE and OASIS the diving show and the Broadway productions of Hairspray and Chicago. They are all pretty awesome.

 

I've only sailed on the smaller NCL ships (Gem Class) and the shows were ok. Probably in line with Princess. The EPIC and new Breakaway Class take all the shows up several notches and they are more in line with something you would see in Vegas.

 

Personally I enjoy the shows. I like having something to do after dinner before heading to the dance club or one of the bars. I've found the shows on Princess to be fine. Nothing exceptional but entertaining enough to hold my attention. Nothing like what I experienced on CARNIVAL BREEZE, which was truly a new low in shipboard entertainment.

[eroller]

As for his heavy use of DJs on Carnival, that may just be a Carnival phenomenon based on demographics. If you assume that Mr. Fischer is simply going to map his approach from Carnival over to Princess, then you have to assume that he has no grasp on the different demographic or dynamics of the two lines.

 

 

One can hope and only time will tell. I've found after cruising on just about every cruise line the past 25+ years that not everyone has the right vision, or truly understands the demographic they are catering to. Factor in the added appeal to senior executives of cost cutting and the vision can become even more blurred.

 

In addition the demographics of Carnival and Princess have become more and more similar over the years. The price points are often similar and Princess is now building ships that are even larger than the biggest Carnival ship. Over the years I've found Princess has become more and more mass-market. This is not necessarily a bad thing, it's just how the cruise line has matured. When I started sailing on Princess they were a small 4-ship fleet and quite up-market. Not quite to the standards of Royal Viking Line, but certainly right on their tailcoat. Princess was quite expensive to sail on, and they would never be placed in the same bucket as NCL, Royal Caribbean, or Carnival. Today they often are.

[shofer]

We saw the Bayou show on Island Princess and loved it in Jan. 2012! I hope all ships continue to do a great production show like that one.

 

Just off the Island on 5/27 and LOVED "On the Bayou" and "Shall We Dance".

These were the best shows I have seen on a cruise.

 

Sue

[jpthomas27]

Not good news, we were never impressed with Princess shows. Some of the comedians were great, but over all the stage productions were not what I would call topnotch entertainment.

 

I feel sorry for the performers, they work hard.

 

I hope Princess reads these blogs.

 

Hugh:(

 

My thoughts (almost) exactly. Never been impressed with the entertainment on board, but occasionally enjoyed the comedians. My deviation is that I really don't think it's a big deal since the entertainment has been very lack luster anyways so the worst that could happen is that I continue to avoid most of it.

[simbasmom]

Seatrade Insider has reported that Carnival Cruise Lines VP of Entertainment, Adrian Fischer is moving to Princess Cruises to take over in the same role. He will replace long-time Princess VP of Entertainment Martin Hall who left the company in March after three decades.

 

This has me a little concerned as Fischer is responsible for dumbing down the entertainment on Carnival to new lows. Most live bands were eliminated and replaced with DJ's both in the atrium and out on deck. The shows, now called "Playlist Productions" are reduced from a large ensemble of singers and dancers down to a total of eight performers. There are no longer any backdrops, just a large video screen behind them. As mentioned earlier there is no more show band and the entire performance is done to a recorded "click track". Obviously this was all a cost cutting move.

 

It's a shame as Carnival Cruise Lines once had some of the best entertainment afloat under Roger Blum whom Fischer replaced. Elaborate Las Vegas style shows and great live music all over the ship. No more. I sailed on the newest Carnival ship the BREEZE earlier this year, and the entertainment was probably the worst I have experienced on any ship. The shows were so bad that I felt embarrassed for the performers. Of course I also missed the live bands on the Lido Deck and in the atrium and showlounge. All things of the past under Fischer.

 

I just hope Fischer doesn't being his "style" of entertainment (aka cost cutting) to Princess. His moves are especially puzzling when competing non-Carnival Corp brands such as NCL and Royal Caribbean are amping up the entertainment with Broadway and Vegas name shows.

 

Ernie

 

Wow! It'll be interesting to see what happens with our son's job now, since he's a musician on Princess.

[Nebr.cruiser]

We saw the Bayou show on Island Princess and loved it in Jan. 2012! I hope all ships continue to do a great production show like that one.

 

Now that is a great show--we saw it's first performance, I think, on the Coral last year. Of course, it's in the Vista Lounge, so limited seating.

[kendon]

I agree; hate the 30 minute format and the sets and backdrops have really gone downhill. Fewer dancers all the time, as well.

 

A 30 minute show is not worth the effort of going.

[cruzysuzy]

Just returned from the Golden Alaska cruise. The production show Stardust was pretty bad. The four singers sounded the same. The live band was fine. Skipped Piano Man and the other production shows. Sarge was very funny. His second show was standing room only so we skipped it. There was a single singer but I didn't care for her and many others also skipped her shows. It's only 30 minutes of our time so, no big deal. Played Texas Holdem in the casino instead and that was a lot of fun.

 

I thought Sarge was hilarious and squeezed into both shows. He also sings and plays the piano very well!

 

The lead singer in the Wheelhouse was ear bleed bad. It's normally our favorite small venue on Princess ships but we passed this time.

[JohnBoy in NC]

Personally I enjoy the shows. I like having something to do after dinner before heading to the dance club or one of the bars. I've found the shows on Princess to be fine. Nothing exceptional but entertaining enough to hold my attention. Nothing like what I experienced on CARNIVAL BREEZE, which was truly a new low in shipboard entertainment.

 

I agree - first time on Princess recently and the shows were fine. Not spectacular but ok. Carnival Legend did have a great high-energy magic show (Justin Illusion) that was great/very entertaining. I am looking at the Breeze in the future with one of my daughters/her friends...and have read the reviews w/respect to the evening shows. My co-worker said the same thing---he walked out on 2 of them...main issue with the Breeze....otherwise he loved the ship/"new" Carnival decor and eats.

 

John in NC

[pablo222]

I don't attend events meant for children.

 

Surprising. However, one might be having coffee in the atrium while

some kids event is going on, and encounter Pete.

 

And, he is often introduced during the welcome aboard show,

along with the cruise staff and youth counselors.

 

But, I suppose if one doesn't pay the slightest bit of attention,

they might have missed him.

[PescadoAmarillo]

If we see DJs on Princess ships, we can't necessarily say it's a trend started by the new VP. I lost count of the number of evenings that music videos, or ballroom dancing to DJ-ed music was a featured event in the Patter while on the Emerald Princess. This was in addition to the usual DJ in Skywalkers.

[bdjam]

Captive audience. Basically it's something to do after dinner, especially if you don't drink or gamble.

 

Oh come on Ernie - if the shows are that bad and the people continue to sit there and watch them, then they deserve what they get. I personally like to see the shows and on my last cruise I missed a number of them because I was doing other things.

 

Surprising. However, one might be having coffee in the atrium while

some kids event is going on, and encounter Pete.

 

And, he is often introduced during the welcome aboard show,

along with the cruise staff and youth counselors.

 

But, I suppose if one doesn't pay the slightest bit of attention,

they might have missed him.

Yep I've never seen him...and I really don't recall seeing any of the Youth Counselors being introduced during the welcome aboard show either. But I suspect that you know better or maybe have nothing else to do on your cruise but to pay attention to Pelican Pete. Oh and by the way, those Consumate Host cards? Well received at the end of my last cruise. Maybe you should give Pete one next time you see him.

[DebJ14]

If you want lots of live music, great guest entertainers and production shows then take a look at Royal Caribbean. We had the best entertainment on the Mariner in January than we have seen on over 50 cruises across all the lines. The production shows had elaborate sets and costumes, talented singers and dancers and great music. For guest entertainers we had the Texas Tenors - they were fantastic. The comedians were funny without being raunchy. There was so much live music around the ship in the evenings it was hard to decide which lounge to go to.

[pablo222]

Oh and by the way, those Consumate Host cards? Well received at the end of my last cruise. Maybe you should give Pete one next time you see him.

 

I am glad that you were paying enough attention to see that the names of the cards have changed!

 

I don't have children, but if I wanted to reward Pete (or anyone onboard)

I'd use case, not some silly card. But, to each their own....

[bdjam]

I am glad that you were paying enough attention to see that the names of the cards have changed!

 

I don't have children, but if I wanted to reward Pete (or anyone onboard)

I'd use case, not some silly card. But, to each their own....

 

I only wish I could sail as often as others to know immediately when anything changes on board. Maybe someday. In the meantime, tipping or rewarding staff and crew is a personal matter and certainly one I don't share with strangers no matter how enlightened they claim to be.

[Julia’s Journey’s]

CARNIVAL LEGEND hasn't received the Carnival 2.0 "enhancements" yet, which is why you were spared the new Playlist Productions. Be thankful!

 

Never thought of that:D Guess after that it will be 12 Trivia comps a day:eek:

It was also so port intensive so weren't on the ship much, only 2 sea days on the 12 nights. Guess I will stick with princess for a while and see where that takes us.

[Cruisin' Chick]

Wow! It'll be interesting to see what happens with our son's job now, since he's a musician on Princess.

 

Well, hopefully, he'll still be working as a musician as well as his fellow musicians that we all want to keep enjoying.

[pablo222]

I only wish I could sail as often as others to know immediately when anything changes on board. Maybe someday. In the meantime, tipping or rewarding staff and crew is a personal matter and certainly one I don't share with strangers no matter how enlightened they claim to be.

 

Um ........ the silly cards you keep speaking about are to "reward staff and crew".

 

So, how 'bout walking the walk?

[bdjam]

Um ........ the silly cards you keep speaking about are to "reward staff and crew".

 

So, how 'bout walking the walk?

 

You assume I've told you the whole story. You know what they say about assuming.

[Northender]

We will just have to take a wait and see attitude. I am not a show lover by any means. Although I do enjoy and good comedian now and then. I did see Sarge a number of years ago and really enjoyed his act.

 

I loved Phoenix Rising. I don't know if they are still with Princess or not. Would go to the lounge if they were playing.

 

But, alas, some of the so called bands and singers have not been my cuppa tea.:( Too loud and they "kill" the good songs. Personally, I would rather hear the original songs from a DJ then some horrible rendition by a so-so band and a singer who couldn't find a note in a paper bag.;)

JMHO;)

[eroller]

Personally, I would rather hear the original songs from a DJ then some horrible rendition by a so-so band and a singer who couldn't find a note in a paper bag.;)

JMHO;)

 

 

 

If you want DJ's I suggest you cruise Carnival. They have plenty of them and very little live music. I can listen to my own mix of music from my iPhone. Don't need a DJ for that and would rather listen to live music.