Imminent RCL Entertainment Cutbacks

[cusematt4]

Hi all,

 

Has anyone else heard that the head of RCL entertainment for the past 10 years and RCL have “parted ways” due to imminent entertainment cutbacks?  This is so upsetting.

 

Nick was the mastermind of RCLs entertainment from their investment in live music (tribute bands to stowaway piano to country band to full reggae bands to the 16 piece icon orchestra) to the innovative diving shows, ice shows, 270 shows, broadway shows and interrogation of technology into it all.

 

Nick and his team stressed the importance of investment and innovation, allowing for such variety and high quality not just at Royal Caribbean compared to competition but for any vacation.

 

Some people are saying there have been disagreements with leadership wanting to significantly cut entertainment budgets from the high quality production shows to the significant variety and quality of live music on ships.  

This is so disappointing as many of us cruise RCL compared to NCL and other lines due to their high quality and variety of above and beyond entertainment.  A sad day for the cruise industry and a company we love.  Hopefully they abort their pulling of resources and money into entertainment before it becomes noticeable.

[cruisinfanatic]

21 minutes ago, cusematt4 said:

Hi all,

 

Has anyone else heard that the head of RCL entertainment for the past 10 years and RCL have “parted ways” due to imminent entertainment cutbacks?  This is so upsetting.

 

Nick was the mastermind of RCLs entertainment from their investment in live music (tribute bands to stowaway piano to country band to full reggae bands to the 16 piece icon orchestra) to the innovative diving shows, ice shows, 270 shows, broadway shows and interrogation of technology into it all.

 

Nick and his team stressed the importance of investment and innovation, allowing for such variety and high quality not just at Royal Caribbean compared to competition but for any vacation.

 

Some people are saying there have been disagreements with leadership wanting to significantly cut entertainment budgets from the high quality production shows to the significant variety and quality of live music on ships.  

This is so disappointing as many of us cruise RCL compared to NCL and other lines due to their high quality and variety of above and beyond entertainment.  A sad day for the cruise industry and a company we love.  Hopefully they abort their pulling of resources and money into entertainment before it becomes noticeable.

where are you hearing all this?

[RobInMN]

Don't know where you are getting your information on imminent budget cuts, but the fact that Nick Weir has parted ways (by his choice or theirs wasn't announced) was already being covered in this thread:

Didn't really need to start a new one

Still on page one

[HicksRA]

Jason is slashing budgets everywhere he can, so no surprise that he’d go after entertainment expenses as well. 
If it was up to him, headline entertainment in the theater would be reruns of 1950s Felix The Cat cartoons…. 

[Pratique]

It’s a shakeup for sure. “We wish him well” says it all.

[smokeybandit]

There's no evidence that RC is looking to slash entertainment budgets as a result of this move.

 

 

[Pratique]

4 minutes ago, smokeybandit said:

There's no evidence that RC is looking to slash entertainment budgets as a result of this move.

 

 

Something is up at HQ. Sooner or later we’ll find out. Jason Liberty was interviewed recently and he’s a man on a mission.

[BND]

They've already hired someone to replace him.  She is a former CD.  Why do you think there are cutbacks?  Misleading title.

 

https://www.seatrade-cruise.com/people-opinions/christi-coachman-succeeds-nick-weir-royal-caribbean-entertainment-head?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR1_IHxCJiUTAIGWA2uyERk-cY6tWU7q9JwtrgYdNjfhKD6j7aLvIcgbXiQ_aem_AS0EgrkIwgpn9fDcBNgIuVNyws14JakfF18heb1CXswMo-0C9pNjBXO-zgEcWVgrvHyTeS-1FiFI7hNVe0rKf0m8

Edited May 14 by BND

[cusematt4]

1 minute ago, BND said:

They've already hired someone to replace him.  She is a former CD.  Why do you think there are cutbacks?  Misleading title.

From what some people are saying it seems to be someone who is taking their entertainment in a new direction to oversee budget cut implementation - reduction of live music, live orchestras and large production shows / high cost entertainment.

[RobInMN]

30 minutes ago, cusematt4 said:

From what some people are saying...

= Speculation

 

The fact that he was immediately replaced the way that he was (actively posting Friday) makes it seem like this RCI's choice, not his. If this was his move, there might be an intermediate or temporary replacement until they make a decision on a permanent replacement, but they already had his replacement lined up and ready to go. RCI has made their official statement, at this point, I doubt we we know much more until Nick posts his side.

But the theory that he left because he was not happy with upcoming budget cuts isn't necessarily a bad theory. Just that until we see something official, or even hard insider info, it's nothing more than social media speculation and needs to be labeled as such and not reactionary pseudo fact.

[cruiseboy89130]

Replacing him with a dancer and CD girl says it all!

[twangster]

Be careful when assuming rumors are true.  

 

In this day and age ten years at one company is a very long time.  Nick's departure could be for any number of reasons.  This includes that there needed to be some adjustments in his areas and he didn't like that.  However without knowing details, which likely will never know, we can't draw conclusions.  

[Cruising89143]

5 hours ago, cusematt4 said:

From what some people are saying it seems to be someone who is taking their entertainment in a new direction to oversee budget cut implementation - reduction of live music, live orchestras and large production shows / high cost entertainment.

And what people would this be? Time will tell but right now it’s all hearsay. 

[Cruise a holic]

Just replace CATs asap.

[gonole1972]

Who is "some people"?  And how do YOU, Cussmatt4, know Nick didn't voluntary resign for some personal reason, etc.  Get back to us when you have identified the "some people". 

 

 

[gumshoe958]

30 minutes ago, gonole1972 said:

Who is "some people"?  And how do YOU, Cussmatt4, know Nick didn't voluntary resign for some personal reason, etc.  Get back to us when you have identified the "some people". 

 

 

If he’d resigned, Royal would have released a much longer and warmer statement paying tribute to his many achievements.

 

But they didn’t, and anyone with even a basic knowledge of corporate PR will confirm that tells you all you need to know.

[Ourusualbeach]

9 hours ago, smokeybandit said:

There's no evidence that RC is looking to slash entertainment budgets as a result of this move.

 

 

The slashing had already started.  

 

Look at the music hall.  There used to be Tribute bands in there on every cruise.  Since last year nothing but the hose band playing other than Icon.  My own personal feeling is that there were disagreements in the direction the company is heading.

[Ourusualbeach]

7 hours ago, cruiseboy89130 said:

Replacing him with a dancer and CD girl says it all!

Where a person started in the company years ago is entirely irrelevant.  Look at Michael Bayley, he started as a purser on the ships.

[smokeybandit]

1 minute ago, Ourusualbeach said:

The slashing had already started.  

 

Look at the music hall.  There used to be Tribute bands in there on every cruise.  Since last year nothing but the hose band playing other than Icon.  My own personal feeling is that there were disagreements in the direction the company is heading.

Is that really slashing though? Or just changing the approach? Those bands can't cost all that much against the bottom line.

[BND]

1 minute ago, Ourusualbeach said:

The slashing had already started.  

 

Look at the music hall.  There used to be Tribute bands in there on every cruise.  Since last year nothing but the hose band playing other than Icon.  My own personal feeling is that there were disagreements in the direction the company is heading.

Well, with prices on everything going up, people still want cruise prices to be low even though it's not realistic at all.

[cruiseboy89130]

10 minutes ago, Ourusualbeach said:

Look at Michael Bayley, he started as a purser on the ships.

You think he is doing a great job? Maybe he should be a purser again....

[kernow]

7 hours ago, cruiseboy89130 said:

Replacing him with a dancer and CD girl says it all!

Nick Weir was a CD, we had him on a Celebrity Eclipse Baltic cruise in 2010, his brother was Hotel Director on that cruise. Previous to that he was a gameshow host on UK tv (Catchphrase).

[Ocean Boy]

Great. Bring back the RC Singers and Dancers. Invitation to Dance should be back on every ship.🥺🥺🥺

 

Maybe RCI can start selling a new ship tour where people get to see all the high tech in the theaters that is no longer used.

[lovesthebeach2]

38 minutes ago, smokeybandit said:

Is that really slashing though? Or just changing the approach? Those bands can't cost all that much against the bottom line.

IMO house bands are less expensive because they have a long contract, compared to  Tribute bands that are more like other entertainers, coming and going. Maybe I’m incorrect but that’s my take on it.

[FOXTROT]

2 hours ago, Cruise a holic said:

Just replace CATs asap.

Agree 100%. Great show to put you to sleep.