Sky Take Five / Crooners

[jeanandjim]

On 11/5/2019 at 12:10 PM, lx200gps said:

Thanks for the offer to report back, much appreciated. I'd love to know more about this venue, as Crooners was our go-to bar and will be missed. A couple of requests if I may be so bold: if at all possible, could you post some pictures, as that would help some of us understand the layout, Also, could you report back on the availability of seating for two, (particularly any against the windows) as the few images I've seen didn't seem to show much. Hopefully, there will be as many tables for two as in the old Crooners. Thanks again....

Well, after a couple of very long port days, I have finally got some time to report on the music venues of the Sky Princess.

 

Take five has twelve seats for 2, mostly against the windows. There are also six 4's, and three 5's. There are also twelve individual seats surrounding the performance area if you want to be intently entertained by the jazz. The bar has 10 stools for a total seating capacity of 85. This venue is strictly jazz entertainment, and so far has been very good, if poorly attended. We have had some tiring days so maybe once we head out on the T/A, attendance will improve. I have not noticed any smoke issue from either the casino or Churchill Lounge.

 

The Piano bar looks like it will be the new Crown Grill Bar. There is limited seating for 2, maybe 4 individual spots scattered throughout. There are plenty of couch/chair type areas that will seat 4-5 or 5-6. 6 bar stools for a total seating of around 66. I have not spent much time here, but it looks little crowded as I pass through after late seating. I will try to get a better in-person experience in the next couple of days. 

 

Jim😎

[Colo Cruiser]

On 11/3/2019 at 1:20 PM, Tedferg said:

We travel with another couple and always enjoy our time in Crooners or Wheelhouse Bar. Looking at Canada New England September 2020. Two itineraries are Sky and one Caribbean. Does Take Five adequately replace Crooners for casual drinks before or after dinner ? Also what is the sound like in Take Five ? I enjoy Jazz but concerned that it might be too noisy for conversation. We might be inclined towards Caribbean because of Crooners.

 

Any reason to avoid Caribbean because of her age ?

After checking out Take 5 several times now IMO it does not.

It is dark and closed in versus Crooners.

Music and drinks yes but similar ambiance? No.

It has the exact same feel as Club 6 on other Royal Class ships.

Yes it is a tad wider and the bar has been pushed back out of the middle of the room rather than jutting out  as in past locations.

Still feel IMO it is an after thought as to how to utilize that space.

[voljeep]

1 hour ago, jeanandjim said:

The Piano bar looks like it will be the new Crown Grill Bar. There is limited seating for 2, maybe 4 individual spots scattered throughout. There are plenty of couch/chair type areas that will seat 4-5 or 5-6. 6 bar stools for a total seating of around 66. I have not spent much time here, but it looks little crowded as I pass through after late seating. I will try to get a better in-person experience in the next couple of days. 

deleted after re-reading ... Crown Grill bar ... thanks

Edited November 13, 2019 by voljeep

[lx200gps]

1 hour ago, jeanandjim said:

Well, after a couple of very long port days, I have finally got some time to report on the music venues of the Sky Princess.

 

Take five has twelve seats for 2, mostly against the windows. There are also six 4's, and three 5's. There are also twelve individual seats surrounding the performance area if you want to be intently entertained by the jazz. The bar has 10 stools for a total seating capacity of 85. This venue is strictly jazz entertainment, and so far has been very good, if poorly attended. We have had some tiring days so maybe once we head out on the T/A, attendance will improve. I have not noticed any smoke issue from either the casino or Churchill Lounge.

 

The Piano bar looks like it will be the new Crown Grill Bar. There is limited seating for 2, maybe 4 individual spots scattered throughout. There are plenty of couch/chair type areas that will seat 4-5 or 5-6. 6 bar stools for a total seating of around 66. I have not spent much time here, but it looks little crowded as I pass through after late seating. I will try to get a better in-person experience in the next couple of days. 

 

Jim😎

Thanks Jim. I like the fact that the tables for 2 are window seating like in the old Crooners, but the fact that Take 5 is a closed-in venue has me worried. We never did care for Club 6 at all. We'll have to wait until April for our first trip on the Sky, and if the all-important bar options fall short of our needs, then we'll simply pass on further trips on her, as there other beautiful Princess ships that do meet our needs. We're booked on the Enchanted as well, hopefully that one will be a better fit for us.

[USCcruisecrazy]

So, the question I have:  since we used to meet as a group (we have 12 of us) in Crooners before dinner for drinks, will Take-Five adequately replace that?  In other words, can we find a spot that we can pull a few tables together and sit?  And if not, where would you guys recommend?

[MusicalBear]

10 hours ago, jeanandjim said:

Well, after a couple of very long port days, I have finally got some time to report on the music venues of the Sky Princess.

 

Take five has twelve seats for 2, mostly against the windows. There are also six 4's, and three 5's. There are also twelve individual seats surrounding the performance area if you want to be intently entertained by the jazz. The bar has 10 stools for a total seating capacity of 85. This venue is strictly jazz entertainment, and so far has been very good, if poorly attended. We have had some tiring days so maybe once we head out on the T/A, attendance will improve. I have not noticed any smoke issue from either the casino or Churchill Lounge.

 

The Piano bar looks like it will be the new Crown Grill Bar. There is limited seating for 2, maybe 4 individual spots scattered throughout. There are plenty of couch/chair type areas that will seat 4-5 or 5-6. 6 bar stools for a total seating of around 66. I have not spent much time here, but it looks little crowded as I pass through after late seating. I will try to get a better in-person experience in the next couple of days. 

 

Jim😎

Thanks for your take on Take 5.  Since jazz is my favorite type of music I am looking forward to this area on our cruise in January.  What instruments make up the jazz band?

[hobbyfarmer2]

On 11/4/2019 at 6:38 AM, Geoffa30 said:

Take Five also smells of smoke from the adjacent casino as it has doors between the two venues. 

On Sky right now.  Zero smell of cigarette smoke in Take 5 the 3 times we have spent time there listening to mostly jazz.  We are not fans of Club 6 on Regal & Royal but Take 5 seems "wider" and is a friendlier venue.  DW and I both give it a thumbs up.  Same with the revamped Princess Live - a definite improvement.  The demise of Crooner's on Sky seems to have made the Piazza busier than the other ships though this is just an impression.  Could also be the colder weather outside.

Edited November 16, 2019 by hobbyfarmer2
Sp

[Dawniepoo]

How about trying Bellini's for cocktails? It's now in a bigger venue and I've always enjoyed their drinks. I wonder if the menu is limited like on Regal...