Dancing on Westerdam

[Mekka]

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to everyone.

 

We are sailing on the Westerdam in January and we have always enjoyed Ballroom Dancing in the Ocean Bar. I realize this is being phased out, but would like to know what the current status of dancing is on the Westerdam. Is it now a piano player in the Ocean Bar during dinner hours? Does he/she take requests that are suitable for dancing (rumba, fox trot, cha cha, etc.) ? Is anybody dancing, or is it just for listening?

 

I would like to hear from someone who has sailed in the last few months to get the current situation. Thank you in advance and Happy Holidays.

[Carnevale]

We sailed on her in October and, like you, we love to dance. We were disappointed most days as the Band usually only played for 1 hour as they had to be on stage for the shows. When they weren't needed on stage they played more which was great but that didn't happen often. Whenever they played the floor was crowded as there were many dancers and too many tables/chairs on the floor to accommodate all who wanted to dance.

 

It is so sad to see HAL move away from dancing in the OB and replacing it with just a pianist. All it would take is 2 more musicans to make a trio for the OB which would then create a lot more time for dancing and for HAL to sell drinks in the OB.

 

As HAL seems to be in the midst of changes to its entertainment it would be best to hear from someone who has sailed more recently than October. We have a Noordam cruise booked for next Sept and are doing what you are doing - following along to see what is happening to the dancing. If the OB has gone to just a pianist on Noordam by that time we'll rebook on Cunard. It will be sad to have to leave HAL.

[Krazy Kruizers]

We had the same experience when we were on the Westerdam spring 2016.

The Band was rarely in the Ocean Bar. They had to play for the shows. Even though we can no longer dance we do like watching others dance.

It was a big disappointment each evening to have an after dinner cocktail and no music.

[cb at sea]

If there is music that moves you, dance to it! There are no rules about when or where dancing is allowed!DANCE!

[Carnevale]

If there is music that moves you, dance to it! There are no rules about when or where dancing is allowed!DANCE!

 

Totally agree! And we often dance to canned or any other music when there is a steady beat to dance to. The challenge with the changes to the OB is that lounge pianists don't always play a steady beat for dancing (they often do mash ups that are delightful to listen to but not danceable).

 

Even though the floor was ridiculously small in the K'dam OB (12 feet across) we tried to get the pianist to play something we could dance to but he refused - said it wasn't in his contract. And our request for canned dance music in the K'dam Queens Lounge when it wasn't used for other things was ignored by the Cruise Director.

 

So, if Westerdam and other Vista class ships go in the direction of the K'dam (which seems to be the case across the fleet) there will be very little dancing apart from the BB Kings and they are just too loud to enjoy and understandably don't play a good range of musical dance styles.