Entertainment schedules delayed until on board- New Norm?

[CK57]

Previously you could go online to select your entertainment once you were paid and within 90 days of departure.  When going online now their are no options and only a message to book once onboard.  I can read this a number of ways with one being the cruise line does not have staff and or entertainers scheduled.  Without entertainers committed to return on board they have elected to differ any mention of which shows with return.  We so looked forward to the entertainment on Symphony and now question that we will get what we have paid for.  Should the cruise line fail to deliver on a full and complete entertainment line up as advertised there will be some serious repercussions from cruisers.  Has anyone else come across this on there bookings with departures after Sept 15th?.  Ours is set for Sept 19th.

[LuCruise]

Thinking they still have to figure out how entertainment will work.  If they only allow shows to be filled at 50%, then they probably will have to add more shows if time permits. Am guessing scheduling will change from current schedules.

 

I'm with you...entertainment is a big part of the cruise experience for us and could be a factor if we keep the cruise.

Edited June 24, 2020 by LuCruise

[Biker19]

30 minutes ago, CK57 said:

Ours is set for Sept 19th.

Maybe having the ship sail at all may be a higher priority than entertainment availability in the Planner.

[Jimbo]

I don't think you will have to worry about since eventually all sailings in 2020 will be canceled.

[bigrednole]

3 minutes ago, Jimbo said:

I don't think you will have to worry about since eventually all sailings in 2020 will be canceled.

Unfortunately, I think this will be the case. I just wish I didn't have to wait 2-3 months to find out.

 

My feeling on this is that the entertainment will need to be re-staged. They have to get them there, have them trained, and ready for the cruise. I think it is not in your planner because they have no clue.

[Biker19]

11 minutes ago, bigrednole said:

I just wish I didn't have to wait 2-3 months to find out.

You probably won't, figure on the next round of cancellations (or other info) by early August.

[ToroAzul]

I have a Sept 20 sailing; same thing. I thought maybe it would allow a res under the 90 day mark but it will not.

 

 

[Ourusualbeach]

2 minutes ago, ToroAzul said:

I have a Sept 20 sailing; same thing. I thought maybe it would allow a res under the 90 day mark but it will not.

 

 

The timing to book shows has always been variable.  The 90 days was a very rough guideline but I have had many sailings where I couldn’t book entertainment until closer to the 45 day mark. 

[twangster]

If I'm not mistaken the entertainment schedule is created by the cruise director staff.  Are they even working right now? 

 

With all the uncertainties about what can be open for the initial return to cruising I'm not sure they have figured out all the details like entertainment.  Combine all this and the result is nothing pushed into the cruise planner to book.

[fandash]

On 6/24/2020 at 1:56 PM, LuCruise said:

Thinking they still have to figure out how entertainment will work.  If they only allow shows to be filled at 50%, then they probably will have to add more shows if time permits. Am guessing scheduling will change from current schedules.

 

I'm with you...entertainment is a big part of the cruise experience for us and could be a factor if we keep the cruise.

I agree, the cruise lines dont know what is happening so they can't confirm entertainment yet until things are more certain. Thats why i dont understand why they are allowed to continue to advertised cruises. Again I fully agree the entertainment on cruises are the reason why my family and i cruise due to the choice available. If this wasnt available, we would not cruise.

[BND]

On 6/25/2020 at 10:01 AM, Ourusualbeach said:

The timing to book shows has always been variable.  The 90 days was a very rough guideline but I have had many sailings where I couldn’t book entertainment until closer to the 45 day mark. 

This.  We've had a couple of trips on ships you can book entertainment on that were much  closer to 45 days than 90.  

[bouhunter]

On 6/24/2020 at 9:00 AM, Biker19 said:

Maybe having the ship sail at all may be a higher priority than entertainment availability in the Planner.

Yeah I think so.  🙂

 

[Georgia_Peaches]

I'm thinking there may not be much in the way of theater shows to start.  May pick up with time but lots of other stuff to figure out first.

[PhillyFan33579]

On 6/24/2020 at 9:02 AM, Jimbo said:

I don't think you will have to worry about since eventually all sailings in 2020 will be canceled.

Unfortunately I agree with you. In my mind our cruise in October has already been cancelled. I am also worried that our cruises in January and February won’t happen either.  

[zonacruiser25]

43 minutes ago, PhillyFan33579 said:

Unfortunately I agree with you. In my mind our cruise in October has already been cancelled. I am also worried that our cruises in January and February won’t happen either.  

We have had so much speculation and this is really going to turn into a longer wait than any of us wanted.  So many moving parts will need to be restarted and the cruise line can probably react fairly quickly but what they have to react to or comply with are still the big unknown.  Entertainment will be interesting since it went to a full stop like everything else.  It has always seemed that being a cruise entertainer was a stepping stone for an entertainers career.  They stopped filling that funnel of talent and will need to get it started again.  I wish them all the best!

[lauren0309]

I would assume there are no schedules out yet because they don't even know yet how they are going to manage everything else. There is so much involved on a cruise ship. How will they limit how many people get on elevators, how will they manage the dining room, how about Bars, casinos, and what about cabins. The stewards go from room to room which can easily transfer germs. I don't see any cruises happening anytime soon. Hopefully by next year. I am so glad my switched my cruise until then, one less thing to stress me out.

[gatour]

12 hours ago, fandash said:

I agree, the cruise lines dont know what is happening so they can't confirm entertainment yet until things are more certain. Thats why i dont understand why they are allowed to continue to advertised cruises. Again I fully agree the entertainment on cruises are the reason why my family and i cruise due to the choice available. If this wasnt available, we would not cruise.

Businesses all of the time advertise when they are still under construction.  Construction timelines can and will slip.  This is something that is similiar.

[Milwaukee Eight]

I bet it’s because they don’t know when ships are going to sail  
 

M8