The Limelight Club - not what I expected

[Cruisemeister2002]

On 11/18/2021 at 2:16 PM, Adawn47 said:

I remember them very well wowzz,  the height of  sophistication😉

We had a local nightclub/casino called Club Baba and was hosted by the hilarious, local comedien Charlie Williams. There were some good acts, although not 'famous', John Rowles and the Fantastics are two I remember,

My favourite nightclub was Batley Variety, where we saw the fabulous Roy Orbison. Also Freddie and the Dreamers, Sacha Distel, remember him?  Shirley Bassey and MIcheal Bentine are a few that come to mind. Good times.

Avril

P&O are apparently serving Soup in a basket. When I was young if you went out clubbing you would wear a loin cloth and drag a girl back to your cave by the hair.

[zap99]

4 minutes ago, Cruisemeister2002 said:

P&O are apparently serving Soup in a basket. When I was young if you went out clubbing you would wear a loin cloth and drag a girl back to your cave by the hair.

Not appropriate in this day and age, if ever it was.🤔

[Cruisemeister2002]

15 minutes ago, zap99 said:

Not appropriate in this day and age, if ever it was.🤔

I find it very sad if you can't have a joke. It was meant in jest and I have never mistreated any woman/lady I have come across in my life. 

[indiana123]

3 hours ago, Cruisemeister2002 said:

It was meant in jest

Of course it was.  Anyone could see that.

 

Well I thought it was funny anyway.

[Cruisemeister2002]

On 11/18/2021 at 10:31 PM, Britboys said:

Fortunately for me, the ships I sail on don't have a Limelight Club. I think it is terrible to set aside a venue to charge pax extra for entertainment, thereby denying others the opportunity of seeing an artist or using a lounge/bar venue for most of the evening without paying for the privilege.

Sadly these are the times we are in. many, many things that were free you now pay for the privilege. I know I will be shot down by some saying "Look how cheap cruises are now" I often look at say Saga cruises where you get 3,4,5 excursions included and drinks are included. I don't say free as they are not. P&O offer a cruise at a much cheaper price. But it's getting so you will have to pay for virtually everything as extra. The restaurant food isn't as good as it used to be, no silver service. No Chocoholics or if there is nowhere near as good. Tours of the Galley and if permitted the Bridge are charged for whereas I have been on both free. Toiletries came in a P&O bag now they are loose. Drinking chocolate could be had with sarnies for late night supper. Now you have to pay for a drinking chocolate (Unless your like me and take some with you). I worked for a great British Company (I.C.I.) the part of which I worked for was taken over by an American Company. How things have changed. The wages are lower, relatively. The conditions nowhere near as good and the pensions have gone from final salary to annuity type pensions. Anything to do with the Americans will always revert to " Bottom Line"

[Cruisemeister2002]

On 11/22/2021 at 10:08 PM, indiana123 said:

Of course it was.  Anyone could see that.

 

Well I thought it was funny anyway.

Sadly I'm not the "Lunch Pack of Notting Ham" I stood more chance of pulling a muscle than a "Bird" When I split up with a girl Mum used to say " Never mind, plenty more fish in the sea" I'd reply " Yes mum, but the one's I get are washed up"

[majortom10]

3 hours ago, Cruisemeister2002 said:

Sadly these are the times we are in. many, many things that were free you now pay for the privilege. I know I will be shot down by some saying "Look how cheap cruises are now" I often look at say Saga cruises where you get 3,4,5 excursions included and drinks are included. I don't say free as they are not. P&O offer a cruise at a much cheaper price. But it's getting so you will have to pay for virtually everything as extra. The restaurant food isn't as good as it used to be, no silver service. No Chocoholics or if there is nowhere near as good. Tours of the Galley and if permitted the Bridge are charged for whereas I have been on both free. Toiletries came in a P&O bag now they are loose. Drinking chocolate could be had with sarnies for late night supper. Now you have to pay for a drinking chocolate (Unless your like me and take some with you). I worked for a great British Company (I.C.I.) the part of which I worked for was taken over by an American Company. How things have changed. The wages are lower, relatively. The conditions nowhere near as good and the pensions have gone from final salary to annuity type pensions. Anything to do with the Americans will always revert to " Bottom Line"

P&O have not done "silver service" in the true definition for well over 20yrears. What they did is serve the plated meal with meat/fish and then serve vegetables separately which is not silver service. Also if you are on a table for 8 and have the manners to wait until everyone has been served if you were served vegetables first by the time you get to the end of your meal your food was cold so for me the move to full plated meals was a good move. Hot drinking chocolate is still free in buffet restaurant at night you just have to ask for it and it is usually made and served over the counter.

[jimbo1683]

On 11/18/2021 at 8:36 AM, Interestedcruisefan said:

We paid to dine in the Limelight Club in August on Britannia. It was the Eric and Ernie Tribute. They were great the food was good and service good as well.

 

But thats where my praise stops. 

 

A cabaret restaurant with a stage and great entertainment alongside a meal is a great concept but that's not what we experienced.

 

We were all basically served our meals,  then a fifteen minute break then we watched the show. Rather than being entertained whilst we dined

 

I understand certain acts won't work well with people eating and food and drink being served whilst they perform. No problem with that at all. But if I go for a cabaret dinner anywhere else there is always multiple entertainment during and after the meal

Its not really my sort of thing so am not very experienced in cabaret but those I have been to have been this format - dinner followed by a show.

Personally I don't think it would work to be eating whilst a performance is happening -it's unpleasant to eat with loud music and you can't have a conversation with your dinner companion. Lights would normally be dimmed for a performance so you wouldn't see what you were eating either. Sounds like a terrible idea to me.

[zap99]

11 hours ago, jimbo1683 said:

Its not really my sort of thing so am not very experienced in cabaret but those I have been to have been this format - dinner followed by a show.

Personally I don't think it would work to be eating whilst a performance is happening -it's unpleasant to eat with loud music and you can't have a conversation with your dinner companion. Lights would normally be dimmed for a performance so you wouldn't see what you were eating either. Sounds like a terrible idea to me.

The performers may find it a bit rude as well.🤔.

[Interestedcruisefan]

On 11/24/2021 at 10:25 PM, jimbo1683 said:

Its not really my sort of thing so am not very experienced in cabaret but those I have been to have been this format - dinner followed by a show.

Personally I don't think it would work to be eating whilst a performance is happening -it's unpleasant to eat with loud music and you can't have a conversation with your dinner companion. Lights would normally be dimmed for a performance so you wouldn't see what you were eating either. Sounds like a terrible idea to me.

Music that is traditionally paid at normal cabaret dinners whilst you eat isn't loud 

 

It's background music deliberately designed to accompany meals

 

It's quite simply the norm to have this in a cabaret restaurant

 

And at the very least to have spots of entertainment between courses as clearly has happened at some Limelight Clubs

 

What we experienced. A 90 minute meal then a short break before entertainment is NOT a cabaret dinner at all

 

 

[Interestedcruisefan]

21 hours ago, zap99 said:

The performers may find it a bit rude as well.🤔.

The majority of performers in the world of cabaret are not main acts 

 

I know many of them. I know a ratpack style singer who makes more than half has annual income each year singing background songs at cabaret dinners

 

Not every entertainer is a headline act?

[jimbo1683]

39 minutes ago, Interestedcruisefan said:

Music that is traditionally paid at normal cabaret dinners whilst you eat isn't loud 

 

It's background music deliberately designed to accompany meals

 

It's quite simply the norm to have this in a cabaret restaurant

 

And at the very least to have spots of entertainment between courses as clearly has happened at some Limelight Clubs

 

What we experienced. A 90 minute meal then a short break before entertainment is NOT a cabaret dinner at all

 

 

If you say so

[wowzz]

I've been in some cabaret clubs where, if you are dining alone, single ladies will sit with you and share a bottle of something fizzy. It makes for an enjoyable evening, and a happy ending to the day.

Does this happen in the Limelight Club ?

 

[Cruisemeister2002]

On 11/24/2021 at 6:06 PM, majortom10 said:

P&O have not done "silver service" in the true definition for well over 20yrears. What they did is serve the plated meal with meat/fish and then serve vegetables separately which is not silver service. Also if you are on a table for 8 and have the manners to wait until everyone has been served if you were served vegetables first by the time you get to the end of your meal your food was cold so for me the move to full plated meals was a good move. Hot drinking chocolate is still free in buffet restaurant at night you just have to ask for it and it is usually made and served over the counter.

I am aware what silver service is. I was trained as a waiter back in the 60's and worked in a major hotel in Norwich. As for cold veg if the dishes are hot when leaving the kitchen along with the plates and some sort of heater is on the service station veg need not be cold. With regards to a table of eight with a senior and junior waiter serving it shouldn't take so long that the food is cold. I never had a problem when they served veg from a dish and you could have as much or little as you liked. In my humble opinion P&O are dumbing down on everything. How long before they do away with waiters altogether and it becomes "Help yourself" Obviously not in current conditions, but later on. Again in my opinion they pushed anytime/freedom dining until they achieved their aim. I am led to believe that in the future there may only be Freedom Dining. This may or may not be true. I hope it's not. There are still, whether P&O like it or not a lot of us oldies who prefer to make friends, dine at a certain time and dress up occasionally.  

[zap99]

2 hours ago, Interestedcruisefan said:

The majority of performers in the world of cabaret are not main acts 

 

I know many of them. I know a ratpack style singer who makes more than half has annual income each year singing background songs at cabaret dinners

 

Not every entertainer is a headline act?

Perhaps not, but folk pay to see and listen to the headline act. If a background singer, croons away in the background I will be happy to get on with my prawn cocktail without thinking I am insulting their artistry.

[zap99]

1 hour ago, wowzz said:

I've been in some cabaret clubs where, if you are dining alone, single ladies will sit with you and share a bottle of something fizzy. It makes for an enjoyable evening, and a happy ending to the day.

Does this happen in the Limelight Club ?

 

Is that the fake champagne at 200 quid a bottle type of club?.If so, not on P&O. You need to upgrade. Saga perhaps?.🤣

[Son of Anarchy]

1 minute ago, zap99 said:

Is that the fake champagne at 200 quid a bottle type of club?.If so, not on P&O. You need to upgrade. Saga perhaps?.🤣

I wondered the same.

[majortom10]

43 minutes ago, Cruisemeister2002 said:

I am aware what silver service is. I was trained as a waiter back in the 60's and worked in a major hotel in Norwich. As for cold veg if the dishes are hot when leaving the kitchen along with the plates and some sort of heater is on the service station veg need not be cold. With regards to a table of eight with a senior and junior waiter serving it shouldn't take so long that the food is cold. I never had a problem when they served veg from a dish and you could have as much or little as you liked. In my humble opinion P&O are dumbing down on everything. How long before they do away with waiters altogether and it becomes "Help yourself" Obviously not in current conditions, but later on. Again in my opinion they pushed anytime/freedom dining until they achieved their aim. I am led to believe that in the future there may only be Freedom Dining. This may or may not be true. I hope it's not. There are still, whether P&O like it or not a lot of us oldies who prefer to make friends, dine at a certain time and dress up occasionally.  

They pushed Freedom dining because of public demand as P&O were behind many others main line cruise companies with regards to offering it as Princess had been offering it long before. It has proved to be a great success and Freedom dining is now more popular than the archaic fixed dining with the same people for the whole cruise. People want to eat at a time that suits them and not the cruise company and I am afraid you are correct in you assumption that Iona/Arvia are or will be Freedom dining only and will not be long before Britannia/Azura/Ventura follow suit. Aurora/Arcadia may stay at original dining to please traditional cruisers but P&O make them pay for the pleasure and their days are certainly numbered.

[Britboys]

1 hour ago, zap99 said:

Is that the fake champagne at 200 quid a bottle type of club?.If so, not on P&O. You need to upgrade. Saga perhaps?.🤣

Well of course, on Saga Cruises you can see artists like Jools Holland perform in the Supper Club for no extra charge. The cruise however will cost you considerably more... 

[wowzz]

2 hours ago, zap99 said:

Is that the fake champagne at 200 quid a bottle type of club?.If so, not on P&O. You need to upgrade. Saga perhaps?.🤣

Are you saying that it was not proper champagne ? I need to go back to the Club Caresse and get my money  back  !

[wowzz]

1 hour ago, majortom10 said:

Again in my opinion they pushed anytime/freedom dining until they achieved their aim.

No, they responded to customer demand. 

[majortom10]

37 minutes ago, wowzz said:

No, they responded to customer demand. 

 

Is exactly what I said if you read my comment correctly and not what you stated that is what Cruisemeister2002 said not me. Please if you are going to quote me get your facts right.

 

Edited November 26, 2021 by majortom10

[wowzz]

11 minutes ago, majortom10 said:

Is exactly what I said if you read my comment correctly and not what you stated that is what Cruisemeister2002 said not me. Please if you are going to quote me get your facts right.

 

Sorry Tom, I meant to quote from the Cruisemeister post, not your post.

I agree 100% with you.

[zap99]

1 hour ago, wowzz said:

Are you saying that it was not proper champagne ? I need to go back to the Club Caresse and get my money  back  !

Good luck with that.🤣

[Cruisemeister2002]

5 hours ago, majortom10 said:

They pushed Freedom dining because of public demand as P&O were behind many others main line cruise companies with regards to offering it as Princess had been offering it long before. It has proved to be a great success and Freedom dining is now more popular than the archaic fixed dining with the same people for the whole cruise. People want to eat at a time that suits them and not the cruise company and I am afraid you are correct in you assumption that Iona/Arvia are or will be Freedom dining only and will not be long before Britannia/Azura/Ventura follow suit. Aurora/Arcadia may stay at original dining to please traditional cruisers but P&O make them pay for the pleasure and their days are certainly numbered.

Whilst I don't wish to sound like an old fossil and am aware that many don't go on holiday to eat at a certain time I still feel that it is nice to be with people of a similar age at a certain time. We may on occasion have an afternoon snooze, catch up on what's going on at home, have a drink in the cabin whilst getting ready for diner. Go to the bar and have a pre diner drink. Diner and then the 10.30 show.