Headliner theatre shows and skydome evening shows on Arvia

[Interestedcruisefan]

I'm in the middle of a live report from Arvia in the Caribbean

 

But I'm posting this separately as it could be a  good place for ongoing debate about  the show's on Arvia?

 

It's about the theatre and skydome on Arvia

 

I want to start by saying they are both incredible venues.

 

The theatre is BY FAR the most high tech theatre ive seen on a cruise ship

 

Behind the stage, above the stage and to the sides of the stage are big screens which allow them to enhance any show with videos footage and moving images which create spectacular sets. In addition for the Headliners show an airplane cockpit and a taxi came up from under the stage at the right times to be part of the show. All state of the art stuff

 

I've seen 2 shows there so far. A headliners show called Sky's The Limit and a professional act called Remixed (3 guys who sing well known songs in Harmonys). Saw these guys last night all 3 were brilliant singers. Their show was top notch. The crowd loved it.

 

Now for the Headliners show. It was a 30 minute musical. Its either been written especially for P and O or by someone who specialises in trying to write short musicals. 

 

So basically they are trying to create a story alongside singing and dancing within 30 minutes

 

I feel even Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice at their best would struggle to achieve this. It's too short to create any empathy at all with a character and having been to many musicals in the past most have one or two memorable songs you look forward to hearing

 

In the show we watched it was the same. You are almost enduring songs you've never heard waiting for a song you love. In this case they sang a couple of well known songs interspersed into songs I assume have been written especially for this "mini musical"

 

As such despite some high quality singing and dancing from the young cast I don't think it works.

 

It's a shame because they have all the ingredients for incredible shows in there

 

The 2 highlights were backdrops of New York and the song "Empire State of Mind" which you guys will all know if you heard it and a backdrop of London on the screens and ""London Calling" song

 

Both well known songs

 

I feel strongly the Headliners shows should ALL be songs people know from start to finish backed up by the graphics and videos. If they did that rather than trying to use short musicals with a story they would be on to a real winner every time. As they have a great cast.

 

The skydome exactly the same. Great setting for a show. High tech screens behind the stage. Great acrobatic dancing in the air at one stage. Some high tech props.  A huge "alien" drone plus countless drones creating stars in the  sky at the end. HUGE investment just like the high tech theatre. 

 

But again someone has written a 30 minute musical. Which again doesn't do justice to the setting and the cast IMO. It was called Universe. The highlight was the "Spaceman" song from last year's UK Eurovision. Sang brilliantly by the young lady. Think there was one other song you would know. I've forgotten what it was now.

 

The rest again appeared to be songs specially written to make this musical. Which again don't work. You will never hear these songs again for them to grow on you even if they are good songs.

 

Again the cast were very good, the set and costumes were great. The specials effects excellent and state of the art for a cruise. The singing and dancing excellent. But again I feel for 30 minute musical shows forget about trying to create a story.

 

Instead just perform one classic song after another to the theme of the show. There's plenty of songs that would work with the  space theme for example.  David Bowie wrote a few.

 

Someone mentioned in another thread acoustic issues in the dome. From what I've seen so far this holiday you can hear the songs well. It's any dialogue in the musical that isn't a song that can be hard to hear properly for some reason. 

 

I award Arvia 10 out of 10 for investment in these 2 venues.

 

The young cast 9 out of 10

 

Costumes and set 10 out of 10

 

The decision to create musicals with unknown songs 10 out of 10 for bravery and innovation

 

3 out of 10 for impact on a crowd.  

 

You come out thinking what exactly have I just watched and remembering the highlight songs. Every song could be a highlight if they just created shows around well know classic songs. Simple as that

 

You come out admiring so much of what you've seen. The energy and effects are great. The cast give it everything. And are good quality. But like I say even Lloyd Webber and Rice couldn't deliver a 30 minute musical that works on a cruise ship IMO

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Advanced Diver]

I'm sure Sky's The Limit, and all other shows in the theatre for that matter are 45 minutes, unless they are shorter on Arvia than the other ships

[Interestedcruisefan]

2 hours ago, Advanced Diver said:

I'm sure Sky's The Limit, and all other shows in the theatre for that matter are 45 minutes, unless they are shorter on Arvia than the other ships

It may have been 45 mins

 

The skydome show was closer to 30 mins though

 

The same applies though. It doesn't work for a musical

[Ardennais]

The technology is amazing, but the screens are almost too busy at times. The Festival musical was about 45 mins long and the ‘storyline’ was a bit twee. I thought that Centre Stage was much better - snippets from established shows. 
I can’t remember what the girl group in the Sky Dome was called - something like Vixen - but you couldn’t really hear their harmonies or understand a word they were saying. 

[Interestedcruisefan]

Just watched another headliners show in the theatre called Digital

 

Have to say this show was excellent

 

Really hi-tech. State of the art. Families will absolutely love it

 

Some musical aspects with new songs but mainly songs we know

 

The money that's gone into creating  these shows must be scary!!

 

Great singing and dancing again from the whole cast

 

Huge energy. Really impressed by this one

[terrierjohn]

13 hours ago, Ardennais said:

The technology is amazing, but the screens are almost too busy at times. The Festival musical was about 45 mins long and the ‘storyline’ was a bit twee. I thought that Centre Stage was much better - snippets from established shows. 
I can’t remember what the girl group in the Sky Dome was called - something like Vixen - but you couldn’t really hear their harmonies or understand a word they were saying. 

You still can't, and you were close with the name, it's Voxens. We did hear them say that we would recognize all their songs, strangely enough we didn't recognise any!!!

[Advanced Diver]

We tried "She" on our first night on Iona, in the skydome. Another girl group. The sound was appealing. I don't think the group were appealing just the acoustics. After that we just didn't go to any music shows in the sky done. Pulse did their rock set in the sky dome (probably because they were showing the England-Scotland 6 nations match in the Club House). Would have liked to give that ago as it was the best Pulse we've seen, but gave it a miss being in the sky dome.

[Ardennais]

3 hours ago, terrierjohn said:

You still can't, and you were close with the name, it's Voxens. We did hear them say that we would recognize all their songs, strangely enough we didn't recognise any!!!

Ha, same as us! 

[Interestedcruisefan]

Ukebox a 4 piece  ukelele band from Liverpool performed in Headliners last night. 4 young lads. Very talented

 

Superb show and entertainment. They interact really well with the crowd. You can't fail to enjoy their show

 

Meanwhile in the Club House Pulse put on a great rock show

 

And in the atrium the headliner singers and dancers put on a great singing and acrobatic show

 

Incredible array of entertainment happening on Arvia

[Ardennais]

We’ve seen Ukebox before. They are good! 

[Interestedcruisefan]

Take That Greatest Day show in Headliners last night

 

The official musical condensed into a 60 minute show

 

The passengers loved it. Not sure any cruise ship will have anything to compare to this currently. It's a triumph for P and O. 

 

Great cast of young guys and girls performing it.

 

Maybe Vegas hotels can beat it. But there you pay 80 us dollars extra for the cheap seats for Hotel shows. On top of your holiday price!!

 

To get this included with the cruise is fantastic. 

 

Respect to P and O and Arvia. 

[Britboys]

P&O - and others - seem to be investing in theatre and entertainment facilities. Even on Aurora they have upgraded lighting and stage facilities to provide screens at the back of the stage in the theatre to allow projection during shows. There was a show in Carmen's showlounge last summer that they had set in an Irish Bar. At the back of the stage there was a hologram projection of a fiddle band that was remarkably life-like to the extent that some really thought it was a real band.

I'm sure the quality will be even better on the new ships but it is good to see the investment across the fleet.

 

[Interestedcruisefan]

Last night we watched ODY-C in headliners theatre

 

An International Group who many of you must have seen if you've cruised in the last 18 months on P and O?

 

2 guys from Switzerland and Germany

2 Girls From Sweden and Lincoln

 

They were saying they've pretty much lived on P and O ships for the last 18 months and just switch between them with just a couple days off between contracts

 

Great show, great voices.  Once again perfect for a Cruise ship crowd.

 

5 star  hotels cannot come close to trying to compete with cruise ships when it comes to the quality of entertainers they can bring in

 

 

[paperboy2]

On 2/26/2023 at 10:53 AM, Interestedcruisefan said:

Take That Greatest Day show in Headliners last night

 

The official musical condensed into a 60 minute show

 

The passengers loved it. Not sure any cruise ship will have anything to compare to this currently. It's a triumph for P and O. 

 

Great cast of young guys and girls performing it.

 

Maybe Vegas hotels can beat it. But there you pay 80 us dollars extra for the cheap seats for Hotel shows. On top of your holiday price!!

 

To get this included with the cruise is fantastic. 

 

Respect to P and O and Arvia. 

Can I say thank you for your posts on this and your main thread. Fantastic amount of useful information.

Can I assume that the Greatest Show can only be booked once on board.

Managed to book some shows already for my upcoming cruise but this show is not an option.

[Interestedcruisefan]

6 hours ago, paperboy2 said:

Can I say thank you for your posts on this and your main thread. Fantastic amount of useful information.

Can I assume that the Greatest Show can only be booked once on board.

Managed to book some shows already for my upcoming cruise but this show is not an option.

If it's the second week of your cruise you may need to book once you are on board

 

We were able to book pre boarding ourselves

[molecrochip]

Sky’s the Limit, is in my opinion, the worst show I’ve ever seen on a P&O ship. It completely didn’t click and I like to think I’ve a very broad taste in music, musicals and theatre.

 

I saw ODYC on one of their earlier performances in their current contract. Spectacular.

 

Not yet seen Greatest Day but everyone I know who has have been impressed.

 

Finally, if you want proper well known musicals, the larger Royal Caribbean ships each have a different resident musical on board. Anthem has We Will Rock You and it lasts about 90 minutes.

[Jevsy]

1 hour ago, molecrochip said:

 

Finally, if you want proper well known musicals, the larger Royal Caribbean ships each have a different resident musical on board. Anthem has We Will Rock You and it lasts about 90 minutes.

For a few years now when anyone asks me which is my favourite cruise line I'd always reply "I'd like a pick 'n mix please!"

1 - Entertainment of the big Royal Caribbean ships with shows such as We will rock you (Brian May was actually boarding as we were, to watch the show when Anthem first launched!) Awesome seeing Mamma Mia, Grease etc without paying West End prices! 

2 - Food of Carnival cruise lines, their included dining options of Guy's burgers, Pig and Anchor, Mongolian Wok, Cucina for lunch although the birth of Iona is a good competitor with the likes of Olive Grove and the Quays.

3 - And finally, P&O, with their onboard prices in pounds the value is great! 😄

[happy v]

2 hours ago, molecrochip said:

Sky’s the Limit, is in my opinion, the worst show I’ve ever seen on a P&O ship. It completely didn’t click and I like to think I’ve a very broad taste in music, musicals and theatre.

 

I saw ODYC on one of their earlier performances in their current contract. Spectacular.

 

Not yet seen Greatest Day but everyone I know who has have been impressed.

 

Finally, if you want proper well known musicals, the larger Royal Caribbean ships each have a different resident musical on board. Anthem has We Will Rock You and it lasts about 90 minutes.

Oh no, is Sky's the Limit worse than Gravity? I might have to sit on the end of the row so I can leave

 

[terrierjohn]

1 hour ago, happy v said:

Oh no, is Sky's the Limit worse than Gravity? I might have to sit on the end of the row so I can leave

 

Is Skys the limit the airline one with the Chinese dragons? I thought that was mainly poor but the Beijing section I thought was very good.

[molecrochip]

4 minutes ago, terrierjohn said:

Is Skys the limit the airline one with the Chinese dragons? I thought that was mainly poor but the Beijing section I thought was very good.

Yes! I actually thought one bit was bordering on culturally racist stereotyping. An unusual 'miss' from me. 

 

To add, it wasn't the performers fault - it was executed well. It was just the concept I hated!

[Interestedcruisefan]

17 hours ago, Jevsy said:

For a few years now when anyone asks me which is my favourite cruise line I'd always reply "I'd like a pick 'n mix please!"

1 - Entertainment of the big Royal Caribbean ships with shows such as We will rock you (Brian May was actually boarding as we were, to watch the show when Anthem first launched!) Awesome seeing Mamma Mia, Grease etc without paying West End prices! 

2 - Food of Carnival cruise lines, their included dining options of Guy's burgers, Pig and Anchor, Mongolian Wok, Cucina for lunch although the birth of Iona is a good competitor with the likes of Olive Grove and the Quays.

3 - And finally, P&O, with their onboard prices in pounds the value is great! 😄

Great post. I've cruised on them all.

 

And enjoyed them all.

 

Arvia right up there with best cruises we've ever done. We will be booking again

[Methuselah55]

On 3/4/2023 at 10:17 PM, happy v said:

Sky’s the Limit, is in my opinion, the worst show I’ve ever seen on a P&O ship. It completely didn’t click and I like to think I’ve a very broad taste in music, musicals and theatre.

I'd say it was a toss up between that and Digital both of which relied too much on all the tech gizmos.

Saw Festival on Ventura (I think; might have been Iona though?) and it was awful but the newer version on Arvia was actually quite good.

[Ardennais]

3 hours ago, Methuselah55 said:

I'd say it was a toss up between that and Digital both of which relied too much on all the tech gizmos.

Saw Festival on Ventura (I think; might have been Iona though?) and it was awful but the newer version on Arvia was actually quite good.

I didn’t think Festival was much good on Iona. 

[Interestedcruisefan]

Festival on Arvia is the best show I've seen on numerous cruises on numerous lines by a ships entertainment team

 

Can't be the same show you guys have seen?

 

Maybe the singer's and dancers on Arvia are better?

[terrierjohn]

1 hour ago, Ardennais said:

I didn’t think Festival was much good on Iona. 

My DW thought the same, but I thought it was just about OK.