Music volumes at 'Sail-a-way' and in the theatres on Cunard

Is it really just me?

In the last couple of years I've found that the volume of the musical productions on all three of the Cunard ships is simply too high. The singers and dancers are wonderful but why is the sound turned up so much. Sure, as we get older, some of us find it harder to hear but we are not deaf. A number of other guests agreed about the volume.

On the QM I asked the sound engineer about the problem. He said the sound levels were fixed by the production company, as though, despite being the sound engineer, he dare not change it. I wrote to the lady who presented the performers but got no reply.

This increase in volume has even reached the 'Sail-a-way' event which is such a shame. It is lovely to meet other guests there and talk but now you have to shout or give up all together. Could it be that the performers, who are many years younger than most guests have got used to loud disco/rap/whatever music and consequently see that as a norm and forget that we are the customers for whom the entertainment is provided?

Would love to hear your thoughts.

I very much agree with you , we find the sound volume in the theatres to be much too high ; mentioning it to the

Cruise Director and continually putting it on the feedback questionnaire has had no effect . My wife takes ear plugs in with her but even then has walked out on occasions . Cunard must think we are all deaf , which most of us are not , but going to the shows will soon make us so !

Oh yes, that high volume of music! Hearing and speech happens to have been my occupation for thirty five years. I am retired now but I refuse to subject myself to unnecessary "noise." That is what happens when the music is too loud and and it becomes distorted. I don't know why they think it is necessary to raise the volume but I have left many performances as a result. If we are not deaf yet, we will be if we continue to listen to it. You are wise to avoid it.

With regards to the sail-away party music, please don't think that the sound level is there for you, the musicians have the volume as it suits them, the passengers are the least of their considerations.

David

I agree with the above comments. I admit that even if the volume was lower, most of the "big shows" would not be to my taste. Every six voyages or so we attend one of the shows in futile hope that there will be something we can enjoy. On our October crossing we went to one show and it started well, with ladies in gowns and gents in white tie and tails accompanied by waltz music at a reasonable volume. Within a few minutes it became a rock show. Aisle seats make for a hasty and unobtrusive exit.

I used to attend sail-aways when there was a brass band quayside or some suitable music on the tannoy, but in the past many years it is just a noise.

Two and a half years ago we had a cruise with Holland America. The racket was worse. There was only one alternative (a violin and piano duo) to the ear-splitting noise in any entertainment venue. I get a chuckle from those who say that HAL is stuffy. Fortunately Cunard has entertainment to suit all tastes and it is easy to avoid that which does not appeal.

Like cheap restaurants that douse their food with salt or MSG to hide their mediocre ingredients, production companies seem to think that the louder the sound, the better their mediocre music will seem. Not only doesn't it work; in more than a few cases we've witnessed it undermines the efforts of truly talented performers.

We too have complained about this on the questionnaire, all to no effect. Fortunately, like David we're not fans of the big shows, although we've enjoyed some, and hope does spring eternal.

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Just so you understand, All the singing and all the music is prerecorded. What you watch is a pantomime.

Just so you understand, All the singing and all the music is prerecorded. What you watch is a pantomime.

On the Behind The Scenes Tour last month on QE we were categorically assured that the sound from the singers and on-stage band is live. The singers and band prerecord their parts for safety purposes, e.g. technical faults or singers losing their voices during a show, in which case the recorded track is brought up to cover the fault, but normally what you see is what you get. Obviously any instruments not actually on stage are prerecorded, but that's another thing.

The keyboard player has a synthesizer keyboard so it's not necessarily true that sounds from apparently missing instruments are pre-recorded.

On the other hand, I think the claim that Cunard is playing people to pantomime playing musical instruments against a prerecorded track is interesting, to say the least.

Just so you understand, All the singing and all the music is prerecorded. What you watch is a pantomime.

Really ? We don't often go to the production shows but I haven't seen anyone mention that the cast are just miming.

Just so you understand, All the singing and all the music is prerecorded. What you watch is a pantomime.

It certainly isn't on Cunard Line. I have a member of my family who performs onboard ( Royal Cunard singers and dancers)

Cunard is one of the few cruise lines around today that has live music in their theatre productions. Only very occasionally is the music pre recorded, however, the singers certainly do not mime.

On the other hand, I think the claim that Cunard is playing people to pantomime playing musical instruments against a prerecorded track is interesting, to say the least.

The same could be claimed of pretty well any professional musical production on land or sea since every theatre that stages musical shows will have the same technical capabilities. I'm not sure how that makes the claim 'interesting' unless DaddyWarbucks follows up with a bit more than a simple assertion that it happens (and by implication all the time).

Just so you understand, All the singing and all the music is prerecorded. What you watch is a pantomime.

As with many musical performances in modern productions (ie West End or Broadway "musicals"), often the musicians and singers play along to a "click track" (like a metronome) to ensure perfect musical timing (esp entrances and exits).

This is widely used on land and sea, as frequently these days the conductor (when there is one) cannot be clearly seen by on-stage performers. Often there is no orchestra pit as these were eliminated to remove a perceived physical barrier between performers and audience (the orchestra may be in the wings, or even behind the performers). The stage comes almost to the front row of seats.

Where a "pit" exists, often the conductor is sat low down with the musicians, rather than standing high on a podium as in years gone by (and therefore blocking someone's view).

In certain cases the on-stage talent cannot even clearly hear the musicians due to stage design.

The "click track" helps to overcome these sight and sound issues.

Sometimes a musician, or more often a singer, will prerecord their role. Then, if they are unwell enough to preform perfectly for a particular performance (a cold maybe) they perform all the notes within range that night, and let their prerecorded self sing/perform the high/difficult notes (for example). This would be rare in practice. Similarly an instrument that is only used rarely during a performance (for a "spot" effect) might be prerecorded.

In both of the above cases the use of the "click track" keeps live performances "on time".

It ("click tracks") is standard procedure in musical theatre on land and sea, as I said.

The performers are not miming, nor is it a pantomime. If that was the case, the bean-counters would have long dispensed with their professional services as an unnecessary luxury, anyone can pretend (and cheaper).

Having said all that, I am not a fan of the production shows put on by the Cunard Singers and Prancers :( .

Just so you understand, All the singing and all the music is prerecorded. What you watch is a pantomime.

I wish Cunard would put on a pantomime (not a mime). My most memorable shows at sea, other than classical concerts, were on the Union-Castle Line which ran liner voyages between England, the Canary Islands and South Africa. The pantomimes were performed entirely by the crew, including purser's staff, officers, stewards, engine room crew. The only "professionals" were in the orchestra. They were hilarious and the amplification was minimal.

My daughter spent just over a year with P&O as the principle Headliner (P&Os equivalent to Royal Cunard Singers & Dancers).

They did record each individual song and called it the "sick tape". She used her's once in 12 months when she had a cold.

This week she just finished a 12 month contract with Colorline where she was Voice Captain.

Having seen shows on all Cunard ships, including QE2, as well as P&O and Colorline, I do have to say that the other two are way ahead of Cunard with Colorline really standing out.

We just returned last night from the Color Fantasy and we were privileged to be invited to watch the two new casts' dress rehearsals as well as two normal shows. All were absolutely fabulous.

Colorline spend more than treble that of other lines on shows and have spectacular sets and great special effects. They also pay more than double the Cunard/P&O rate, so attract many international singers including several West End performers.

Is it really just me?

 

In the last couple of years I've found that the volume of the musical productions on all three of the Cunard ships is simply too high. The singers and dancers are wonderful but why is the sound turned up so much. Sure, as we get older, some of us find it harder to hear but we are not deaf. A number of other guests agreed about the volume.

 

On the QM I asked the sound engineer about the problem. He said the sound levels were fixed by the production company, as though, despite being the sound engineer, he dare not change it. I wrote to the lady who presented the performers but got no reply.

 

This increase in volume has even reached the 'Sail-a-way' event which is such a shame. It is lovely to meet other guests there and talk but now you have to shout or give up all together. Could it be that the performers, who are many years younger than most guests have got used to loud disco/rap/whatever music and consequently see that as a norm and forget that we are the customers for whom the entertainment is provided?

 

Would love to hear your thoughts.

There is an old saying that I am familiar with...."If the Music's Too Loud You're Too Old"

:evilsmile::evilsmile:

Members may wish to make a judgement on this clip, recorded on Queen Mary 2, with Amy Rhiannon Worth paying homage to Edith Piaf...

with the Cunard Singers and Dancers.

Is it really just me?

 

In the last couple of years I've found that the volume of the musical productions on all three of the Cunard ships is simply too high. The singers and dancers are wonderful but why is the sound turned up so much. Sure, as we get older, some of us find it harder to hear but we are not deaf. A number of other guests agreed about the volume.

 

On the QM I asked the sound engineer about the problem. He said the sound levels were fixed by the production company, as though, despite being the sound engineer, he dare not change it. I wrote to the lady who presented the performers but got no reply.

 

This increase in volume has even reached the 'Sail-a-way' event which is such a shame. It is lovely to meet other guests there and talk but now you have to shout or give up all together. Could it be that the performers, who are many years younger than most guests have got used to loud disco/rap/whatever music and consequently see that as a norm and forget that we are the customers for whom the entertainment is provided?

 

Would love to hear your thoughts.

My daughter spent just over a year with P&O as the principle Headliner (P&Os equivalent to Royal Cunard Singers & Dancers).

 

They did record each individual song and called it the "sick tape". She used her's once in 12 months when she had a cold.

 

This week she just finished a 12 month contract with Colorline where she was Voice Captain.

 

Having seen shows on all Cunard ships, including QE2, as well as P&O and Colorline, I do have to say that the other two are way ahead of Cunard with Colorline really standing out.

 

We just returned last night from the Color Fantasy and we were privileged to be invited to watch the two new casts' dress rehearsals as well as two normal shows. All were absolutely fabulous.

 

Colorline spend more than treble that of other lines on shows and have spectacular sets and great special effects. They also pay more than double the Cunard/P&O rate, so attract many international singers including several West End performers.

Hello Big Mac.

But We Are Cunard and there is something about us that keeps hitting the right note.

Having just myself returned from an eye opening cruise on Carnival Dream I can assure all readers here that in terms of Decibels, Cunard have it just right.

And that isn't to take anything from the Carnival singers and Dancers. They put on three pretty awesome shows.

Ah ! the lovely Amy Rhiannon Worth ( from QM2/Q.Vic days ) Now, she's just completed a lead roll in the UK tour of Billy Elliott , as for those dancers, I don't see any prancing around there ,those guys & gals do pretty well on that small stage, not forgetting on a rocky boat .;)

P&O theatre productions way ahead of Cunard Big Mac ? I don't think so. You'll know that these singers/dancers will occasionally rotate between the two cruise lines P&O/Cunard, up until recently they were all part of the same production company Qudos .

Hi BB

We've done 20+ Cunard trips, with three more booked.

As a theatre lover, I can definitely guarantee that P&O productions are far bigger and more elaborate than on any Cunard ship, and Colorline knock the whole lot into a cocked hat.

The cast never rotate. They work on contracts for individual companies.

The reason the casts can never rotate is the fact the prior to commencing the performances, they must spend two months learning the shows and routines and that takes place whilst the previous cast is still performing, so they obviously can't be in two places at once.

Please trust me, I do know what I'm talking about. Others don't.

P&O's contractor was Headliners. Colorline's is 2entertain.

My daughter spent just over a year with P&O as the principle Headliner (P&Os equivalent to Royal Cunard Singers & Dancers).

 

They did record each individual song and called it the "sick tape". She used her's once in 12 months when she had a cold.

 

This week she just finished a 12 month contract with Colorline where she was Voice Captain.

 

Having seen shows on all Cunard ships, including QE2, as well as P&O and Colorline, I do have to say that the other two are way ahead of Cunard with Colorline really standing out.

 

We just returned last night from the Color Fantasy and we were privileged to be invited to watch the two new casts' dress rehearsals as well as two normal shows. All were absolutely fabulous.

 

Colorline spend more than treble that of other lines on shows and have spectacular sets and great special effects. They also pay more than double the Cunard/P&O rate, so attract many international singers including several West End performers.

Hang on Stewart, this Color Line is little more than an upmarket glorified ferry...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MS_Color_Fantasy

...running between Norway and Germany and with a 750 vehicle capacity.

Hardly ocean cruising. How many formal nights do they have?

Hang on Stewart, this Color Line is little more than an upmarket glorified ferry...

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MS_Color_Fantasy

 

...running between Norway and Germany and with a 750 vehicle capacity.

 

Hardly ocean cruising. How many formal nights do they have?

The Color Fantasy and Color Magic are identical. They are 75000t and carry over 2500 pax. They are known as "Cruiseferries"

Facilities on board include a formal restaurant over three floors, a buffet restaurant, a pizza/Italian restaurant, an American style diner, an observation lounge/bar, an "English" pub, a cafe/bar, a tapas bar, a gourmet restaurant, a nightclub/disco, a casino, a conference suite, a gymnasium, various shops including a duty free supermarket, a spa & swimming pool and the most impressive theatre that I've ever seen at sea.

The theatre has a rise and fall stage at the front and a rotating area at the back. As I stated, they pay the cast far better than anyone else in the industry and that's why they attract fantastic performers from all over the world.

Many pax only travel to watch the shows. Hundreds do the round trip every sailing.

The ship would put many cruise ships to shame.

You're quite correct, it is not "ocean cruising" but who said it was? and of course there are no formal nights. I thought the thread drifted to stage performances.

Stewart

The reason the casts can never rotate is the fact the prior to commencing the performances, they must spend two months learning the shows and routines and that takes place whilst the previous cast is still performing, so they obviously can't be in two places at once.

 

Please trust me, I do know what I'm talking about. Others don't.

 

P&O's contractor was Headliners. Colorline's is 2entertain.

Qdos did supply the cast for the P & O Britannia in addition to the 3 Cunard ships. I know of at least 1 dancer who did a contract on the QE and then went to the Britannia for the next one. As the parent of a dancer who was Show Company Manager and Dance Captain for 6 years on the QE and QM2 for Belinda King and Qdos, I also have some knowledge.

I agree with Bell Boy that they do a very good job, especially faced with challenges that dancers on land do not have to contend with. A moving ship does make the performers more susceptible to injuries than on dry land and at times a show will need reblocking between the 1st and 2nd performances if someone sustains an injury during the 1st show. This needs to be done in the short space of time allotted to redoing hair/make up and ensuring costumes are in the correct location again. The choreography is beyond their control and the majority are capable of doing far more complex choreography than the production shows require. To call them prancers, as one poster has said, is a little disparaging in my opinion.

Thank you GolfWidow for the confirmation of Qdos and rotations ( even though I spelt it incorrectly) I count several friends ( including a family member) who have dance or singing contracts onboard Cunard/P&O/ Seabourn.

Mr Bell Boy would never dream of posting a comment on here, Big Mac if he wasn't too sure what he was talking about .;)

Thank you GolfWidow for the confirmation of Qdos and rotations ( even though I spelt it incorrectly) I count several friends ( including a family member) who have dance or singing contracts onboard Cunard/P&O/ Seabourn.

 

Mr Bell Boy would never dream of posting a comment on here, Big Mac if he wasn't too sure what he was talking about .;)

That's ok Bell Boy.

Just spoken to my daughter and she reeled off a list of singers/dancers she knows personally who have performed on Cunard and Britannia. My poor old brain failed to keep count though during the phone conversation!