Cruise ship guests expect to be entertained, and cruise lines are giving those guests what they want. There's diverse entertainment options geared toward every age - everything from jugglers performing in the piazza on Ruby Princess to a classical trio playing Mozart selections on Crystal Symphony. In a ship's piano bar, guests can request favorite songs and sing along. No matter the ship, there is a bar, lounge or disco where guests can listen to or dance to their favorite music.
All guests seem to enjoy one specific form of live entertainment - the tributes to Broadway and Hollywood. This may explain why such tributes are often presented on Princess Cruises, Royal Caribbean International, Holland America Line, Crystal Cruises, Carnival Cruise Lines, Celebrity Cruises and other cruise lines.
Popular, classic and nostalgic songs made famous on stage and in film are enhanced by imaginative sets, gorgeous costumes, special effects and spectacular choreography in these cruise lines' show lounges.
Holland America Line Features a Showroom at Sea
On Holland America Line, more than 200 entertainers perform more than 90 shows on the 15 ships in the fleet. Aside from resident performers, guests are entertained by a variety of comedians, musicians and magicians.
Back in 2009, Holland America Line’s Signature of Excellence enhancements brought new entertainment programs to the line’s ships. These enhancements included new musical groups offering music from the Great American Songbook as well as light classics, and tunes made popular by the likes of Tony Bennett and Frank Sinatra.
In an August 4, 2010 press release, “Holland America Line Introduces Intimate Approach to Shipboard Entertainment,” Richard D. Meadows, the cruise line’s executive vice president of marketing, sales and guest programs, said, “We’re looking to share meaningful entertainment experiences with our guests through the quality of the music and performances, as well as deliver increasingly innovative and enriching options.”
Production shows aboard Nieuw Amsterdam have included a musical tour of the Big Apple, an all-female revue, an extravaganza of ballroom dance and music, and a revue of famous duets and duos. These shows began aboard Nieuw Amsterdam and have stretched across other ships in the Holland America fleet.
Holland America Line’s entertainment is certainly innovative. Showroom at Sea is the onboard show lounge, featuring a large dance floor and tables with white linen tablecloths and café lamps, all reminiscent of a glamorous, old Hollywood-style nightclub.
Showroom at Sea is aboard Nieuw Amsterdam, ms Veendam, ms Rotterdam, ms Statendam and ms Ryndam. It’s part of Holland America’s fabulous $525 million Signature of Excellence program of enhancements.
Allure of the Seas Offers Plenty of Entertainment Options
On Royal Caribbean International, the Oasis class of ships spares nothing in order to dazzle and delight guests. On Allure of the Seas, the almost non-stop entertainment includes “Chicago: The Musical;” costumed world-class skaters performing on the ice rink; plenty of laughs at Comedy Live, the onboard comedy club; live jazz performances in the intimate club, Jazz on 4; music, vocals and dancing that bring added excitement to the ship’s acrobatic and aquatic shows.
Enjoy Comedy and Revues on Carnival Cruise Lines' Ships
When it debuts in June 2012, Carnival Cruise Lines’ Carnival Breeze will introduce Playlist Productions, music-driven revues – four of them to begin with - that will eventually be presented on other Carnival ships.
“Divas” will celebrate famous one-name female artists like Beyonce, Madonna and Cher. “Latin Nights” celebrates the music of Gloria Estefan, Enrique Iglesias, Jennifer Lopez and Shakira. “Motor City” pays homage to the R&B Motown sound and, naturally, “The Brits!” will highlight songs by The Beatles, Elton John and other British vocal artists.
Entertainer George Lopez has partnered with Carnival to serve as creative director for comedy, which means he will bring plenty of laughs to the onboard Punchliner Comedy Club Presented by George Lopez. In addition, guests will discover that food and laughter are a great combination at the main dining room’s Punchliner Comedy Brunch.
Cruise ships are so packed with entertainment that guests find themselves toe-tapping in their seats, singing along, laughing, letting loose on the dance floor and applauding a potpourri of talent. It’s as though cruise ships took their inspiration from those catchy words from the musical, “Gypsy”: Let me entertain you; let me make you smile.
Roberta Sandler - Roberta Sandler has written more than 1,000 articles that have appeared in scores of magazines and newspapers including Miami Herald, ...
