Current entertainment on the Westerdam

[igraf]

My wife and I just got off the Westerdam (end of May 2015) and there has been changes in the HAL entertainment venues, at least for the Vista class ships.

 

The Halcats and the guitar soloist are gone.

 

The jazz ensemble in the Ocean Bar has been replaced by "The Band", which is comprised of five instrumentalists (no vocals) who play conservative dance music. The Band also provides music for the shows. The members of The Band were capable musicians, though the performance lacked soul. It is just music for old-fashioned lounge dancing.

 

The new BB King Blues Club, comprised of six instrumentalists plus two vocalists, is simply outstanding. Lively and exciting. They played a variety of popular music. Performances in the Queen's Lounges, as oppose to cramming a band into the Crow's Nest like they do on the smaller ships, is also a big plus.

 

We also enjoyed an excellent Adagio duo from Ukraine. They played several challenging pieces (my wife is a classical pianist and was impressed). The piano bar appeared to be the same.

 

The shows included the usual stuff. I really enjoyed the comic/juggler but had mixed feelings about the singers/dancers shows.

 

igraf

Edited May 31, 2015 by igraf

[kazu]

My wife and I just got off the Westerdam (end of May 2015) and there has been changes in the HAL entertainment venues, at least for the Vista class ships.

 

The Halcats and the guitar soloist are gone.

 

The jazz ensemble in the Ocean Bar has been replaced by "The Band", which is comprised of five instrumentalists (no vocals) who play conservative dance music. The Band also provides music for the shows. The members of The Band were capable musicians, though the performance lacked soul. It is just music for old-fashioned lounge dancing.

 

The new BB King Blues Club, comprised of six instrumentalists plus two vocalists, is simply outstanding. Lively and exciting. They played a variety of popular music. Performances in the Queen's Lounges, as oppose to cramming a band into the Crow's Nest like they do on the smaller ships, is also a big plus.

 

We also enjoyed an excellent Adagio duo from Ukraine. They played several challenging pieces (my wife is a classical pianist and was impressed). The piano bar appeared to be the same.

 

The shows included the usual stuff. I really enjoyed the comic/juggler but had mixed feelings about the singers/dancers shows.

 

igraf

 

Your report just about matches my reporting in my live thread.

 

Glad you enjoyed the Adagio as much as we did :)

[solocanadian]

I got off the Westerdam on May 2. The BB King Blues band was way too loud:eek: Couldn't even stay for 10 minutes. Had to pass through there to get to the Piano Bar which was excellent. He always played to a packed house when the bar opened at 9:00 PM.:D

[igraf]

I used flesh-colored ear plugs cut to a short length so they wouldn't show so much. I put them in my ears loosely and it was just enough to attenuate the sound without muffling the higher tones too much.

 

I do this for any loud venue and always bring a pack of earplugs when traveling (great for flying). A bit of moistened tissue paper will also work in a pinch.

 

igraf

 

 

 

 

I got off the Westerdam on May 2. The BB King Blues band was way too loud:eek: Couldn't even stay for 10 minutes. Had to pass through there to get to the Piano Bar which was excellent. He always played to a packed house when the bar opened at 9:00 PM.:D

Edited May 31, 2015 by igraf

[boze9999]

I got off the Westerdam on May 2. The BB King Blues band was way too loud:eek: Couldn't even stay for 10 minutes. Had to pass through there to get to the Piano Bar which was excellent. He always played to a packed house when the bar opened at 9:00 PM.:D

 

 

Who was in the Piano Bar?

[igraf]

Jeff Warren was the piano entertainer according to my daily schedules. I did not spend any time in there so I can't comment on his performance.

 

igraf

 

 

 

Who was in the Piano Bar?

[1of4]

I got off the Westerdam on May 2. The BB King Blues band was way too loud:eek: Couldn't even stay for 10 minutes. Had to pass through there to get to the Piano Bar which was excellent. He always played to a packed house when the bar opened at 9:00 PM.:D

 

I didn't know you stayed on to Seattle. How did you get back to Vancouver? We flew home from Vancouver on May 1st.

 

We enjoyed one set of the BB King most nights. But you don't need to go through the Queen's lounge to get to the piano bar. The piano bar is on the bow end of the casino. Was it too loud in the hallway too?

[kazu]

I didn't know you stayed on to Seattle. How did you get back to Vancouver? We flew home from Vancouver on May 1st.

 

We enjoyed one set of the BB King most nights. But you don't need to go through the Queen's lounge to get to the piano bar. The piano bar is on the bow end of the casino. Was it too loud in the hallway too?

 

It wasn't too loud in the hallway for me. I passed by to the Casino and passed by for the piano bar.