No more BB King's on Zuiderdam?

[quack2]

No BB King's on Zuiderdam, but there is a Rolling Stone Lounge.  Did I miss something?

[CruiserBruce]

Was discussed a week or so ago. The Vista class ships are switching from BB King to Rolling Stones.

[dockman]

So a relatively new addition for holland which was packed for every single performance and certainly appeared to be a major hit for HAL is dropped?   Gee one might think that HAL would be proud to have added such a popular feature but I guess one would be wrong.

[VMax1700]

5 hours ago, dockman said:

So a relatively new addition for holland which was packed for every single performance and certainly appeared to be a major hit for HAL is dropped?   Gee one might think that HAL would be proud to have added such a popular feature but I guess one would be wrong.

Inclined to agree with you.

We are currently on Oosterdam which also has Rolling Stone Lounge replacing BBK.  It is good, the musicians are fine, but it just doesn't have the 'bite' of BBK.  I am disappointed at the change.

[CruiserBruce]

And the Rolling Stone Lounge isn't popular? It certainly was on our most recent cruise on KDam. As was BB King.

[canadianbear]

8 hours ago, CruiserBruce said:

Was discussed a week or so ago. The Vista class ships are switching from BB King to Rolling Stones.

Wow-I missed that.   Disappointing for us as we prefer BB King.

[NCTribeFan]

There were 8 of us doing the B2B from 6-1 to 6-15.  We met at the lounge to be escorted off.  While there, staff was covering all the furniture with sheets.  I'm thinking, "what is happening here?"  When we got back on the ship, I walked past and there were big, heavy drapes blocking off the entire venue and I could hear some sort of machinery going.  I was wondering if they were doing a deep-clean because of Covid.

 

Nothing on the Daily for that day for music (so it was very quiet that evening), but for Thursday, it listed the Rolling Stone band.

 

I walked past a couple of times and they sounded like they were good.  My friends enjoyed them.  I personally preferred the BB Kings and of the first week.  I actually was avoiding the club because it was crowded and no one there was masked.  Didn't matter, since I contracted Covid anyway!

 

I'm looking forward to my Rotterdam TA next April where there will be both venues.

[Mosaic]

One vote here for The Rolling Stones! Although both venues are very good additions to the larger ships.

[TiogaCruiser]

So what’s the difference in the furnishings of the venues, and the performances?

[Mary229]

Maybe they lost the licensing deal.  Personally having grown up on jazz, blues and Motown , I wasn’t a fan of BB’s on NS.   I had liked the musicians on the K and did enjoy it.  Maybe consistency played a role. 
 

I have never visited the Rolling Stone 

[Nymich]

It must be cheaper to have RS instead.

[TiogaCruiser]

48 minutes ago, Nymich said:

It must be cheaper to have RS instead.

Don’t the Pinnacle Class ships have both?

[seaoma]

Perhaps trying to appeal to a younger demographic on these older ships?

[Nymich]

9 minutes ago, TiogaCruiser said:

Don’t the Pinnacle Class ships have both?

Yes

[Mary229]

CCL will have a new CEO soon and HAL has a fairly new President.  I assume we will see more changes both as a renewal of brand and as cost cutting.

[aliaschief]

Maybe they are having trouble with enough musicians available to have BB King bands on every ship? Of course this is just speculation!

[albingirl]

What a shame.  That's the entertainment we loved.  Rolling Stone, not so much. BB King was like a dance party sometimes...lots of fun.

[tjcox9]

Perhaps the drink revenue is better in the Rock Room than BB King's. 

[VMax1700]

3 hours ago, Nymich said:

It must be cheaper to have RS instead.

Maybe the licencing fee is less, but there were usually 8 in BBK band (lead g, bass g, trumpet, sax, keyboards, drums, male vocals, female vocals).

The Rolling Stone band on Oosterdam has 7 (lead g, bass g, rhythm g, keyboards, drums, male vocals, female vocals). So that is a saving of 1 salary, 1 room and food onboard.

[CruiserBruce]

13 minutes ago, VMax1700 said:

Maybe the licencing fee is less, but there were usually 8 in BBK band (lead g, bass g, trumpet, sax, keyboards, drums, male vocals, female vocals).

The Rolling Stone band on Oosterdam has 7 (lead g, bass g, rhythm g, keyboards, drums, male vocals, female vocals). So that is a saving of 1 salary, 1 room and food onboard.

This is going to vary widely by band. On our recent KDam cruise, there was 7 or 8 in BBK, and 5 in Rolling Stones. 

[Nymich]

19 minutes ago, VMax1700 said:

Maybe the licencing fee is less, but there were usually 8 in BBK band (lead g, bass g, trumpet, sax, keyboards, drums, male vocals, female vocals).

The Rolling Stone band on Oosterdam has 7 (lead g, bass g, rhythm g, keyboards, drums, male vocals, female vocals). So that is a saving of 1 salary, 1 room and food onboard.

I have seen 2 bands two different cruises with 4.  Lead Guitarist /Bass/keys/drums

[VMax1700]

6 minutes ago, CruiserBruce said:

This is going to vary widely by band. On our recent KDam cruise, there was 7 or 8 in BBK, and 5 in Rolling Stones. 

I am starting to think there is a difference between Rolling Stone Lounge and Rolling Stone Rock Room. Although the HAL website still lists BBK for Oosterdam, Noordam, etc etc.

 

[VMax1700]

[Florida_gal_50]

I like both but prefer the Rolling Stones Rock Lounge.

[CruiserBruce]

@VMax1700, the chart you provided DOESN"T show Oosterdam, Noordam or Zuiderdam having BBK. Just Rolling Stone.