Entertainment Reports

We loved the singers and dancers and the ballroom dancers and loved interacting with them while they were doing additional duties such as trivia etc (I laughed when I read a previous post about some of the trivia players taking the game way too seriously and almost turning the scene into a bloodbath - we have had similar experiences and ended up not going back after watching adults act like 6 year olds several times in a row - all for a tee shirt or coffee mug - LOL) - sure wish Azamara would bring back the singers and dancers - we have two upcoming cruises and hope they have reconsidered the entertainment before we cruise.

I'm booked later this year for the Journey and I just got an email from Azamara about the new entertainment onboard. Something called "Opera on the High Seas" with four (supposed) opera singers and a pianist, doing highlights from operas and art song recitals.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but don't you really need more than a pianist and four young artist (not even tried and true established) singers to really do opera justice? And who really wants to sit through static recitals of obscure art song that no one but a handful of classical music lovers might enjoy?

Don't think this is going to go over well, IMO. Sounds like my nightmare flashbacks of playing college opera scenes in undergrad. No gracias.

I'm booked later this year for the Journey and I just got an email from Azamara about the new entertainment onboard. Something called "Opera on the High Seas" with four (supposed) opera singers and a pianist, doing highlights from operas and art song recitals.

 

Correct me if I'm wrong, but don't you really need more than a pianist and four young artist (not even tried and true established) singers to really do opera justice? And who really wants to sit through static recitals of obscure art song that no one but a handful of classical music lovers might enjoy?

 

Don't think this is going to go over well, IMO. Sounds like my nightmare flashbacks of playing college opera scenes in undergrad. No gracias.

I believe that we will have the Magic Opera on Journey this cruise. I think it is excerpts from operas but I will report back. Could be very good I’m hoping it will be!

The new trio Riviera Sounds are - to us- very good pleasant sound. They’ve only played as a trio in the Living Room not sure if they separate and do duo/ solo. So far there has been no entertainment only muzak in Spirits each night - I’m trying to find out if this was a temporary blip or it’s the new reality.

54 Below last night was a huge disappointment. The singer told the audience he was surprised to be asked as he thought he was a Vegas has been - I applaud him for his very accurate assessment.

It was as well it was only a five piece orchestra!

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I believe that we will have the Magic Opera on Journey this cruise. I think it is excerpts from operas but I will report back. Could be very good I’m hoping it will be!

The new trio Riviera Sounds are - to us- very good pleasant sound. They’ve only played as a trio in the Living Room not sure if they separate and do duo/ solo. So far there has been no entertainment only muzak in Spirits each night - I’m trying to find out if this was a temporary blip or it’s the new reality.

54 Below last night was a huge disappointment. The singer told the audience he was surprised to be asked as he thought he was a Vegas has been - I applaud him for his very accurate assessment.

It was as well it was only a five piece orchestra!

The trio on Journey apparently--and maybe unexpectedly--does not separate to allow a solo piano in Spirits.

The trio on Quest now does. Tonight's schedule:

8 Duo in Living Room

8:15 Piano in Spirits

9:30 Jazz night with orchestra in Living Room

9:45 City Theatre

10:15 Trio in Spirits

11:15 Trio in Spirits

The trio on Journey apparently--and maybe unexpectedly--does not separate to allow a solo piano in Spirits.

 

The trio on Quest now does. Tonight's schedule:

 

8 Duo in Living Room

8:15 Piano in Spirits

9:30 Jazz night with orchestra in Living Room

9:45 City Theatre

10:15 Trio in Spirits

11:15 Trio in Spirits

you are saying no live music anywhere from 6 to 8? going to make the pre dinner drink boring.

you are saying no live music anywhere from 6 to 8? going to make the pre dinner drink boring.

Today is embarkation day. Tomorrow there will be guitar melodies at 6 in the Living Room, a 54 Below singer at 8 and 9:30 in Cabaret, and the Trio at 9 and 11 in Spirits.

Today is embarkation day. Tomorrow there will be guitar melodies at 6 in the Living Room, a 54 Below singer at 8 and 9:30 in Cabaret, and the Trio at 9 and 11 in Spirits.

This sounds better but still nothing in Spirits pre dinner. I use to switch it up between both bars. Can see no real time I will enjoy the new,.not improved Spirits.

The update on Journey the pianist in the orchestra is doing sets tonight in Spirits immediately before and after the show. This has been done as an attempt to put music into Spirits and depended on the goodwill of the member of staff and we thank her.

The trio is not scheduled to split but are very good. They play 45 min sets at 1730, 1930 and 2100 at present.

Now for the BAD news imho. On Journey the fireplace has been removed and the TV screen above it. They are awaiting delivery of a video wall that will screen “bands” and Muzak. It’s not live music as we were assured on these boards. It’s not here so I can’t judge what this electronic offering will look or sound like. Unfortunately I’ve got my pessimistic boots on.

Tonight we also have the first “opera” offering. I’m pinning my hopes that the dreadful 54 below show was a one off.

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It's as I said all along....and was shot down in flames by some for saying it. It will be canned Muzak in Spirits Bar in the future. 🙁

Hoping the Opera show will be good Ann. I love Opera and I would really enjoy this type of show. Please let us know how it goes.

It's as I said all along....and was shot down in flames by some for saying it. It will be canned Muzak in Spirits Bar in the future. 🙁

 

Hoping the Opera show will be good Ann. I love Opera and I would really enjoy this type of show. Please let us know how it goes.

Lottie, don't write it off just yet. They can change it if the feedback is bad, which it looks like it is at present.

Phil

Put me down as strongly in favor of live music in Spirits.

Also, will there be live music outside Discoveries pre-dinner?

Hasn’t been live music outside Discoveries for a couple of years now

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Hasn’t been live music outside Discoveries for a couple of years now

 

 

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Last April there was on Journey. Each night pre dinner--guitar player set up in the far corner by the bar. We would have a drink there each night no matter where we were having dinner.

Last April there was on Journey. Each night pre dinner--guitar player set up in the far corner by the bar. We would have a drink there each night no matter where we were having dinner.

Correction..we were on Quest not Journey

So, let us see. Tonight pre-dinner music is in the Living Room. Someone wants it in Spirits. Someone else wants it in Discoveries bar. Folks, it's unrealistic to expect pre-dinner live music in three places. Really, it is. It may be that those wanting pre-dinner live music will just have to go where the live music is.

So, let us see. Tonight pre-dinner music is in the Living Room. Someone wants it in Spirits. Someone else wants it in Discoveries bar. Folks, it's unrealistic to expect pre-dinner live music in three places. Really, it is. It may be that those wanting pre-dinner live music will just have to go where the live music is.

I can do that!

So, let us see. Tonight pre-dinner music is in the Living Room. Someone wants it in Spirits. Someone else wants it in Discoveries bar. Folks, it's unrealistic to expect pre-dinner live music in three places. Really, it is. It may be that those wanting pre-dinner live music will just have to go where the live music is.

In the old days it was always in two. In the new days..2017.. always in two. Now in 2018 you have to search for it. My last choice is the Discovwries bar, my first would be LR fir views.

So, let us see. Tonight pre-dinner music is in the Living Room. Someone wants it in Spirits. Someone else wants it in Discoveries bar. Folks, it's unrealistic to expect pre-dinner live music in three places. Really, it is. It may be that those wanting pre-dinner live music will just have to go where the live music is.

I don't really care about pre dinner music. It's post dinner and post show music I care about. That should be in a convivial area where people can chat and listen to live music. That should be in Spirits Bar and not The Living Room where you cannot hear any conversation over the loud music. It's great to have a dance in The Living Room but it's no place for a quiet drink and a chat.

Discoveries Bar does occasionally have the guitar player there but it's only for a brief time while people are waiting to go into dinner. It's a dead area post dinner.

However it seems that Spirits Bar is now to become a Sales Area. Not good. Azamara does not have many relaxing chill out area's or bars and they are losing the best one.

As Phil says, Azamara may reconsider given the overwhelmingly negative feedback...but knowing the source of these entertainment changes I somehow doubt it. :(

I don't really care about pre dinner music. It's post dinner and post show music I care about. That should be in a convivial area where people can chat and listen to live music. That should be in Spirits Bar and not The Living Room where you cannot hear any conversation over the loud music. It's great to have a dance in The Living Room but it's no place for a quiet drink and a chat.

 

Discoveries Bar does occasionally have the guitar player there but it's only for a brief time while people are waiting to go into dinner. It's a dead area post dinner.

However it seems that Spirits Bar is now to become a Sales Area. Not good. Azamara does not have many relaxing chill out area's or bars and they are losing the best one.

 

As Phil says, Azamara may reconsider given the overwhelmingly negative feedback...but knowing the source of these entertainment changes I somehow doubt it. :(

I'm not understanding how you're drawing the conclusion that we are losing the Spirits Bar? What will no longer be there is the Casino to the left (if one was sitting at the Spirits Bar.) To the right of the bar, the sitting area where there is often live music, is still as it was.

There will be a few desks where you're used to there being game tables in the casino, but the shorex and cruise sales desks typically close shop by 8pm or earlier. So your post-dinner Spirits Bar experience will not be marred by sales activity.

But will it be enhanced with live music or is there going to be a big screen showing videos?

I don't really care about pre dinner music. It's post dinner and post show music I care about. That should be in a convivial area where people can chat and listen to live music. That should be in Spirits Bar and not The Living Room where you cannot hear any conversation over the loud music. It's great to have a dance in The Living Room but it's no place for a quiet drink and a chat. :(

If you'd read what I wrote in post 56 you would have seen the Trio is performing tonight at 9 and 11 in Spirits. That's "post-dinner" and "post-show."

If you'd read what I wrote in post 56 you would have seen the Trio is performing tonight at 9 and 11 in Spirits. That's "post-dinner" and "post-show."

Thank you for that post. I think several of us are looking for pre dinners music-from say 6 to 8. i would go to any bar but some perfer one to another.

I did get a private message fro ma guest on the JR now -she said post dinner she went to the ashier to get whatever you need to play the slots or table and no one was there fro 30 minutes. think they were having a drink with Jason. found that very weird.

I'm not understanding how you're drawing the conclusion that we are losing the Spirits Bar? What will no longer be there is the Casino to the left (if one was sitting at the Spirits Bar.) To the right of the bar, the sitting area where there is often live music, is still as it was.

There will be a few desks where you're used to there being game tables in the casino, but the shorex and cruise sales desks typically close shop by 8pm or earlier. So your post-dinner Spirits Bar experience will not be marred by sales activity.

Bonnie, Spirits Bar is going to be materially changed. The ambience will be ruined. That horrible big casino screen, the big TV with canned Muzak being put in where the lovely fireplace was, the lack of a live piano player or guitarist every night...this won't be the Spirits Bar that I have enjoyed since 2010. It will be nice if the shorex and cruise sales desks do close by 8pm but I have heard it will be more like 10 pm....and that's from someone who should know! There is also now a lack of seating and it was difficult to get seats in Spirits before. I know it's your job to give positive spin to the changes but those of us who know Azamara well are anxious about them.

Marinaro, I heard the experimental "trio" performances in Spirits in October. They were trying them out. It was not a success. Too loud in such a small area. Many people left...including us. I hope you enjoy them.

My friends were onboard two weeks ago. They always enjoy Azamara entertainment but said that this time it was so bad it was embarrassing. Many people walked out of the cabaret lounge and the second shows were almost empty. I really hope there is some improvement by our B2B in June...but being a realist, I don't think it's likely. I'm hoping UKtog is going to report back that the Opera Show on JR was a good experience.

I'm really struggling with this thread. There's someone here who wants pre-dinner music in Spirits when I point out tonight it's in Living Room. Then later says Living Room would be first choice for pre-dinner music because of the views.

Someone else, when I point out there's pre-dinner music in Living Room, says it's post-dinner and post-show music she's concerned about. So I post there's post-dinner and post-show music in Spirits and she quotes me and replies "I think several of us are looking for pre dinners music-from say 6 to 8."

I give up. Measuring the "small tablets" of soap was more productive.

I'm really struggling with this thread. There's someone here who wants pre-dinner music in Spirits when I point out tonight it's in Living Room. Then later says Living Room would be first choice for pre-dinner music because of the views.

 

Someone else, when I point out there's pre-dinner music in Living Room, says it's post-dinner and post-show music she's concerned about. So I post there's post-dinner and post-show music in Spirits and she quotes me and replies "I think several of us are looking for pre dinners music-from say 6 to 8."

I give up. Measuring the "small tablets" of soap was more productive.

Marinaro....Why is it that when someone disagrees with your viewpoint you get so irritated?

This is a forum where everyone is supposed to be free to have various opinions, yet you seem to feel the need to correct people all the time. I believe in live and let live....let Robin have her opinion, me have mine and you can by all means measure the bar of soap, if that's what floats your boat! 😄