On Board Entertainment...Come on Now!

[Badfinger]

Okay so the typical show I have seen on a cruise ship is a live band, some singers, dancers and actors.

 

If these types and quality of shows were being shown on the local park for free...I would not go. My family would not go. My co-workers would not go. My neighbors would not go. I do not know anyone who would go.

 

So what makes these such a big attraction on a cruise ship? I mean people wait in line and run into the theatre when the doors open (I know..we got caught up in this one our first cruise.....never again). Is it the captive audience syndrome? Or limited seating means it must be good? I don't get it.

 

How many here go to these types of shows on a regular basis when not on a cruise..even if they were better than what you see on a cruise? Would you pay for it?

 

Just curious.

 

I do like the comedians in the lounge though.

[KLD1019]

we dont go to these kinds of shows at home. mostly because these kinds of shows are held in big cities (most are a good 2hrs drive from us) where traffic is crazy, prices are crazy, and crowds are crazy

 

But on cruises, we take full advantage! i LOVE the shows i see on cruises! Last week on the Magic, we saw the magician Jason Byrne! he has a contract with the Magic and they fly him in from Vegas!! his show was outstanding! definitely not a show i'd see anywhere around here at home!

[golfadj]

Production shows used to be rather good. when they switched to playlist boy did it go downhill.

 

Than they made love and marriage game an evening entertainment when it used to be on a sea day afternoon.

 

Hasbro would be good if we were a bunch of 9 year olds but for evening entertainment? Good grief.

 

Lately when they have rock band they put them outside casino with lots of people walking back and forth in a noisy and smoky atmosphere. Used to put them in a lounge with an environment made to hear them sing and you could dance to.

 

Leaves us with piano bar and comedy club.

[Cruise, J.D.]

Okay so the typical show I have seen on a cruise ship is a live band, some singers, dancers and actors.

 

If these types and quality of shows were being shown on the local park for free...I would not go. My family would not go. My co-workers would not go. My neighbors would not go. I do not know anyone who would go.

 

So what makes these such a big attraction on a cruise ship? I mean people wait in line and run into the theatre when the doors open (I know..we got caught up in this one our first cruise.....never again). Is it the captive audience syndrome? Or limited seating means it must be good? I don't get it.

 

How many here go to these types of shows on a regular basis when not on a cruise..even if they were better than what you see on a cruise? Would you pay for it?

 

Just curious.

 

I do like the comedians in the lounge though.

 

We pay cover charges at clubs and piano bars and buy tickets for comedy clubs several times throughout the year. We don't typically go to the types of shows in the theater though.

[Cruise, J.D.]

Lately when they have rock band they put them outside casino with lots of people walking back and forth in a noisy and smoky atmosphere. Used to put them in a lounge with an environment made to hear them sing and you could dance to.

 

Agree. I don't understand this. The band did play the last night in one of the lounges on our last cruise.

[nwo4life]

From what I have seen over the years, when the band is in a small lounge the lounge is typically empty. When they are near the casino bar, a crowd will gather to hear them.

[Catmomma]

I have never been impressed by the onboard entertainment on any of the cruise ships i have been on. I am especially bored with the big production shows and I usually avoid them. The comedians are usually pretty good and the small bands out by the pool are hit or miss. the "Broadway Shows" usually suck.

[S.S.Oceanlover]

I have never been impressed by the onboard entertainment on any of the cruise ships i have been on. I am especially bored with the big production shows and I usually avoid them. The comedians are usually pretty good and the small bands out by the pool are hit or miss. the "Broadway Shows" usually suck.

 

 

 

Small bands out by the pool? On Carnival?

 

Bill

 

 

Sent from Iphone 4S using Cruise Critic App

[Seago2]

Tradition. It has to be the only reason. The shows are painful. The only cruise ship show I've seen that I was impressed by was Bollywood on NCL. You're so right that no one I know would ever go to anything like them shoreside. They're brutal. Agreed.

[MsTabbyKats]

Tradition. It has to be the only reason. The shows are painful. The only cruise ship show I've seen that I was impressed by was Bollywood on NCL. You're so right that no one I know would ever go to anything like them shoreside. They're brutal. Agreed.

 

I would. DH loves them.

 

I live about 20 minutes from B'way...and see a musical about once a month.

 

Although not the same quality....they are entertaining.

 

Everyone has different tastes.....

[PA Dutchman]

Production shows used to be rather good. when they switched to playlist boy did it go downhill.

 

Than they made love and marriage game an evening entertainment when it used to be on a sea day afternoon.

 

Hasbro would be good if we were a bunch of 9 year olds but for evening entertainment? Good grief.

 

Lately when they have rock band they put them outside casino with lots of people walking back and forth in a noisy and smoky atmosphere. Used to put them in a lounge with an environment made to hear them sing and you could dance to.

 

Leaves us with piano bar and comedy club.

 

You got it , bring back the Vegas style shows, and the bands on the lido deck on sea days. The shows are now only half full or less, used to have to get there early to get a seat don't need to worry about that anymore. Down hill is a mild term, the new management at Carnival must have never went on a cruise. Maybe they just look at how much money they can save and get away with not spending any. They are interested in getting the blue cards on all the ships, they don't know any difference of what has been.

[elliair]

Okay so the typical show I have seen on a cruise ship is a live band, some singers, dancers and actors.

 

If these types and quality of shows were being shown on the local park for free...I would not go. My family would not go. My co-workers would not go. My neighbors would not go. I do not know anyone who would go.

 

So what makes these such a big attraction on a cruise ship? I mean people wait in line and run into the theatre when the doors open (I know..we got caught up in this one our first cruise.....never again). Is it the captive audience syndrome? Or limited seating means it must be good? I don't get it.

 

How many here go to these types of shows on a regular basis when not on a cruise..even if they were better than what you see on a cruise? Would you pay for it?

 

Just curious.

 

I do like the comedians in the lounge though.

 

I hate them! They are the worst production shows I have ever seen. The last one I went to (years ago), they were dancing with cardboard cars wrapped around them. It reminded me of a high school theatrical play but only worse. DH and I got up and walked out.

[kurukthemal]

Here's why I like them...the dancers and singers...IMHO...put in a tremendous amount of effort. Yes, one of the dancers is serving your lunch and the singer may be working in the gym. But so far, I truly have seen effort in them trying to be Broadway's best...which many of them will never be.

 

The best caliber shows so far has been on the Disney Dream. However, I expect them to be good and extremely well done given the cruise fare you pay.

 

My family and I will continue to go to watch some of the most hard working folks in the entertainment business.

[wrigley80]

We were on the Carnival Pride last week. The first production show was awful but the second was called "Vroom" and it was amazing.

 

A lot of work goes into these shows. That's the reason why we continue to go to check them out

[AMDPhenomX4]

I was on the Norwegian Dawn in May of 2013. The shows on the ship were incredible. The comedians made the whole theater laugh and they used the audience to the fullest extent. They had an Irish comedian/singer and he was absolutely fantastic as well. The actors put on easily worth paying to see shows on and apparently the group was new so it wasn't a well practiced thing. It was the one thing I greatly missed from the NCL cruise. The comedian Tim Kaminski and cruise director Gio also had a bit of joking amongst themselves with a little, swish swish swish imaginary sword move which I'll always remember.

 

When I was on the Breeze in June/July it seemed like they used flashy lights and special effects instead of having good shows. I tried to watch the comedians but the humor was to put it very short, horrible. Even in the lounge they were in, there wasn't much laughter. I basically skipped every show except for the couples show and walked around the ship or watched a movie after seeing a bit of a stage performance.

 

I also laughed at the "Adult Game Show" they held in the lounge. It was literally Quest from NCL but without having a comedian to have it fun for everyone. They even kept the "This quest is done/finished/closed/over" phrase.

 

Carnival really needs to improve the shows and entertainment quality to say the least.

 

I'll still cruise Carnival but the shows on the Breeze were horrible compared to the Dawn.

Edited August 7, 2014 by AMDPhenomX4

[Disconnections]

Carnival really needs to improve the shows and entertainment quality to say the least.

 

They did. It's called Carnival Live and HASBRO! The Game Show. Both are shown alongside the Love & Marriage show, Carnival Legends show, as well as Game Show Mania in the Main Show Lounge. If you want to sit down and enjoy a nice show before visiting the Punchliner's Comedy Club, you can experience one of Carnival's new shows featured in Playlist Productions

[jwalk03]

I am not a fan of these types of shows, land or sea. That said I have enjoyed exactly 1 Carnival production show in 3 cruises:

 

Ticket to Ride

 

 

Now if you want good Production shows try Disney! I don't even like these types of shows as I mentioned, but all 3 Disney ones I saw on my last cruise were AWESOME!

[Havingfun2010]

Mama Mia

Saturday night Live

Chicago

Hairspray

Ice skating shows

Diving shows

Headliner shows

Acrobatic shows

 

Shows exist that are good, but this is a Carnival board. Although not all shows appeal to everyone, many cruise ships, including Disney and RCCL have upped their shows to a better level, where Carnival has dramatically cut back on the budget for shows.

[golfadj]

They did. It's called Carnival Live and HASBRO! The Game Show. Both are shown alongside the Love & Marriage show, Carnival Legends show, as well as Game Show Mania in the Main Show Lounge. If you want to sit down and enjoy a nice show before visiting the Punchliner's Comedy Club, you can experience one of Carnival's new shows featured in Playlist Productions

 

Seriously???????

[golfadj]

I was on the Norwegian Dawn in May of 2013. The shows on the ship were incredible. The comedians made the whole theater laugh and they used the audience to the fullest extent. They had an Irish comedian/singer and he was absolutely fantastic as well. The actors put on easily worth paying to see shows on and apparently the group was new so it wasn't a well practiced thing. It was the one thing I greatly missed from the NCL cruise. The comedian Tim Kaminski and cruise director Gio also had a bit of joking amongst themselves with a little, swish swish swish imaginary sword move which I'll always remember.

 

When I was on the Breeze in June/July it seemed like they used flashy lights and special effects instead of having good shows. I tried to watch the comedians but the humor was to put it very short, horrible. Even in the lounge they were in, there wasn't much laughter. I basically skipped every show except for the couples show and walked around the ship or watched a movie after seeing a bit of a stage performance.

 

I also laughed at the "Adult Game Show" they held in the lounge. It was literally Quest from NCL but without having a comedian to have it fun for everyone. They even kept the "This quest is done/finished/closed/over" phrase.

 

Carnival really needs to improve the shows and entertainment quality to say the least.

 

I'll still cruise Carnival but the shows on the Breeze were horrible compared to the Dawn.

 

We did see the adult version of quest on the Liberty in June and were amazed what people would do to compete for an SOS. Lot of fun to watch though.

[golfadj]

From what I have seen over the years, when the band is in a small lounge the lounge is typically empty. When they are near the casino bar, a crowd will gather to hear them.

 

We have seen good bands draw very well

[Disconnections]

Seriously???????

 

Stu, you don't find that to be high quality entertainment? :rolleyes:

 

In all seriousness, after the Playlist Productions feedback, they did introduce Carnival Live which has been "positive."

Edited August 7, 2014 by Disconnections

[Seago2]

I hate them! They are the worst production shows I have ever seen. The last one I went to (years ago), they were dancing with cardboard cars wrapped around them. It reminded me of a high school theatrical play but only worse. DH and I got up and walked out.

 

That one was brutal! I remember it well. NCL seems to always have a "rock and roll through the decades" show. The first one I saw, in 2005, was just as bad as the cardboard car one. They had costumes with styrofoam balls on them that supposedly made them look like astronauts- to illustrate music during the "space age". It was insanely bad. So bad it was good!

[jmcancruise]

While the shows on the ship may not be top quality entertainment, they are better than anything we can see at home which is nothing. Between working two jobs and living in the middle of nowhere we never get to go to anything. For us going to any show on a ship is a real treat, no matter the quality.

[elliair]

That one was brutal! I remember it well. NCL seems to always have a "rock and roll through the decades" show. The first one I saw, in 2005, was just as bad as the cardboard car one. They had costumes with styrofoam balls on them that supposedly made them look like astronauts- to illustrate music during the "space age". It was insanely bad. So bad it was good!

 

That made me laugh! :D