Dueling pianos on the Oostedam

[JPH814]

I have to admit, I did not think any entertainer could beat Jimmy Maddox, until I spent 12 days on board with Stryker.

 

Then I boarded the new Oosterdam with he dueling pianos concept, I was very skeptical.

 

I can honestly say it was not too bad.

 

The new venue - which opened up the whole starboard side of the ship by the casino - provides a very nice place for some rowdy entertainment. . A lot more more seating and a lot of room to stand than the old piano bar The noise from the casino is not really an issue - and, in fact, I enjoyed listening to the music while shooting craps.

 

The two kids playing were really pretty good! Give them a few years and they will be even better. Danny O'Neil and Anderson Danial did a very nice job with their three sets each night,. A lot of people were singing along. Their music was more concentrated on pop and rock and a little country - don't expect much sinatra or show tunes. But it was enjoyable and it attracted quite a crowd.

[RuthC]

Then I boarded the new Oosterdam with he dueling pianos concept, I was very skeptical.

 

I can honestly say it was not too bad.[/quote]

Not exactly a ringing endorsement there.

Personally, I prefer a true Piano Bar. I have missed the piano bar atmosphere on the ships that have The Mix, and have no doubt that the Dueling Pianos atmosphere is not that of a piano bar, either. :(

[JPH814]

Then I boarded the new Oosterdam with he dueling pianos concept, I was very skeptical.

 

I can honestly say it was not too bad.[/quote]

Not exactly a ringing endorsement there.

Personally, I prefer a true Piano Bar. I have missed the piano bar atmosphere on the ships that have The Mix, and have no doubt that the Dueling Pianos atmosphere is not that of a piano bar, either. :(

 

 

 

I do not want to down play it...it was quite enjoyable. If I give Jimmy Madox an A and Stryker an A+. I would give these guys a sold B

[taxmantoo]

Thanks for the review Joe. That pretty well sums up our observations from our time on the Oosterdam in September, albeit with two different piano entertainers.

 

We do prefer the traditional piano bar concept of the other Vista and Signature ships but the new Billboard concept can still be enjoyable.

[Copper10-8]

 

 

 

I do not want to down play it...it was quite enjoyable. If I give Jimmy Madox an A and Stryker an A+. I would give these guys a sold B

 

Good news, Thanks! :D

[Cruizer Bill]

We have sailed with Jimmy Maddox on the Noordam in 2011 and then on the Oosterdam in January 2017, we liked Jimmy Maddox much better.

[kelleherdl]

The traditional piano bar would be our preference if EVERY one had Jimmy Maddox, but sadly.... We were on the Zuiderdam last month. We stayed for literally 1/2 a song. Don't even ask for a name. I wanted to wipe it from my memory. We were on the Oosterdam last April with the premier of the Music Walk concept. We'll take it any day. Sooner all ships have it the better. We certainly will not miss the 'smoke' that still seems to waft into the piano bar from the casino. Oosterdam was great with the openness.

 

Dennis

[baja mama]

I have always loved the dueling pianos in Vegas so looking forward to our cruise on the Westerdam in November.

[sevenseasnomad]

DH & I board the Oosterdam in 26 days. I've read negative and positive reviews of the dueling piano concept. Like Ruth, we enjoyed the Piano Bar when the performer was good. We've been on many cruises where we stayed for a few minutes and left, not to return during that cruise, shaking our heads. But we've also experienced some remarkable entertainers there and would beat a path to the door each night before the 1st set started just to get a decent seat.

 

We'll reserve judgement about the new venue until we hear it, but it's encouraging to read that not everyone views the change negatively. Thanks for the review.

[G&G]

We were recently on the Oosterdam for 21 days. The piano players were talented but every 3-4 days they would repeat the same shows/songs.

[POA1]

One thing to remember is that Billboard Onboard isn't dueling pianos in the traditional sense. It's more like piano duet.

[baja mama]

So it is not like the shows I have seen in Vegas with music and some comedy?

[POA1]

So it is not like the shows I have seen in Vegas with music and some comedy?

Not really. Think 2 pianists sharing duties and doing harmonies. I was expecting dueling pianos and it definitely was not.

[veryseasonedtraveler]

I enjoyed both concepts. Keeping the piano bar the smaller ships and dueling on the larger ships might be the answer.

[Happily@Sea]

The traditional piano bar would be our preference if EVERY one had Jimmy Maddox, but sadly.... We were on the Zuiderdam last month. We stayed for literally 1/2 a song. Don't even ask for a name. I wanted to wipe it from my memory. We were on the Oosterdam last April with the premier of the Music Walk concept. We'll take it any day. Sooner all ships have it the better. We certainly will not miss the 'smoke' that still seems to waft into the piano bar from the casino. Oosterdam was great with the openness.

 

Dennis

 

If the smoke does not affect the dueling piano venue, I will try it. Every other ship - the adjacent rooms always reek. I will be on O at the end of the month.

[kelleherdl]

The casino was 'non-smoking' on the Oosterdam when we sailed in April. That was a change with opening the Gallery Bar and Billboard Onboard (dueling pianos). Sorry should have made the reason more clear.

 

Dennis

[Tinknock50]

Billboard on Board is starting to sound very interesting. And since I am claustrophobic, especially in crowded rooms, the larger room may be more enjoyable for me. Oosterdam here I come!

[herbparty]

Had the Music Walk on the Koningsdam during its first summer and loved it. We were occasionally annoyed when folks walked by talking loudly when we were in the Lincoln Center room listening to classical music but otherwise it was a great concept. We'll be on the Oosterdam in May and were delighted that they added Music Walk there also. There's nothing quite like sitting in comfy chairs in a lovely room drinking a glass of wine while listening to a string quartet. :-)

[Mr.Henry]

I love the Duelling Pianos concept. It is such an interactive and fun night of entertainment.

[Sea girl 23]

Billboard on Board is starting to sound very interesting. And since I am claustrophobic, especially in crowded rooms, the larger room may be more enjoyable for me. Oosterdam here I come!

 

Also claustrophobic and much prefer Billboard Live. A controversial opinion I know.;p

[idiebabe]

 

 

 

I do not want to down play it...it was quite enjoyable. If I give Jimmy Madox an A and Stryker an A+. I would give these guys a sold B

 

Agree! (y)

[TAD2005]

We have experienced both the small, intimate piano bars and the new, Billboard Onboard. The advantage of the old style piano bar is that the musician is in total control of his/her performance and the songs he plays. Many artists also will supplement their piano with an electronic accompaniment. Plus they can play anything they want or is requested.

Billboard Onboard musicians are provided and controlled by Billboard Corp. They may not use any additional accompaniment, and their playlists are controlled by Billboard. Usually the 2 musicians are very talented. But they only accept requests on the last set of the evening, and many requests that were presented were rejected because they were not allowed to play those songs. All popular music is licensed by BMI, SESAC, and ASCAP. I'm sure that Billboard musicians are covered under those licenses, but for some unknown reason, there are songs they cannot play. They know them, but can't play them,according to the musicians.

[Aquahound]

Billboard Onboard musicians are provided and controlled by Billboard Corp. They may not use any additional accompaniment, and their playlists are controlled by Billboard. Usually the 2 musicians are very talented. But they only accept requests on the last set of the evening, and many requests that were presented were rejected because they were not allowed to play those songs.

 

That wasn't my experience at all on Koningsdam. They took requests during their entire performances and they played...or at least attempted to play...pretty much everything that was sent their way. Every table had paper and pencils for sending up requests.

 

To shift notes, I also agree with the earlier post that said they are not dueling pianos.

[taxmantoo]

That wasn't my experience at all on Koningsdam. They took requests during their entire performances and they played...or at least attempted to play...pretty much everything that was sent their way. Every table had paper and pencils for sending up requests.

 

To shift notes, I also agree with the earlier post that said they are not dueling pianos.

Totally agree. That was our Koningsdam experience also.

I might also add that I doubt very much that their own compositions were "licensed by BMI, SESAC, and ASCAP" yet they saw no problem in doing those numbers. The two players pretty much played and sang what they wanted to. It seemed that their only restriction was that they had to play something with words, i.e. they could not play instrumentals.

[Tinknock50]

We really enjoyed the "Billboard" while on the Oosterdam in June and went there often. I like that it is totally open to the aisle and very roomy. All they need is to put more comfortable chairs in than those yellow ones.

 

I liked the whole entertainment concept strung out along the ship so you could go from one to the next and hit them all.

 

( Unfortunately, BB Kings was painfully loud for me so I couldn't stay long. A shame because they were very talented!)