Dancing at Sea

[Quo Vadis?]

After having attended a number of different lessons on board many cruises I think I finally have the basics down. What I would like to know is if one ship or cruise line gives more opportunities and provides a choice of dance floors for nightly dancing? Now that I can get my brain to move the correct foot most of the time, I actually look forward to this activity more than any other onboard. Are lessons still a part of most cruises or are they only found on longer sailings?

[ocngypz]

Are you talking about ballroom lessons?

 

Sometimes they do.. and sometimes they don't.

 

Celebrity used to have professional ballroom instructors onboard.. but they cut back on that. They use one of the Celebrity dancers... regardless if they can teach or not.

[tawcat]

on the past two galaxy cruises we always found dancing. both in the savoy lounge and the rendezvous lounge. not always the best bands, but they play enough of a mix.

[NHBob]

After having attended a number of different lessons on board many cruises I think I finally have the basics down. What I would like to know is if one ship or cruise line gives more opportunities and provides a choice of dance floors for nightly dancing? Now that I can get my brain to move the correct foot most of the time, I actually look forward to this activity more than any other onboard. Are lessons still a part of most cruises or are they only found on longer sailings?

 

Came across this post while searching boards for opinions on dance floor space on HAL Vista Class ships. I’m booked on Noordam’s September big band cruise. Dance space looks very limited on deck plans and friends with Vista experience confirm this. Will welcome any info from dancers with Vista experience.

 

In response to poster’s questions, most of my cruising has been on HAL, Cunard and Crystal. The biggest dedicated dance floors are the Queen’s Rooms on QE2 and QM2. I know that they also offer dance classes but have not experienced them since I only got interested in dancing a couple of years ago. I’m booked on QE2 next spring and will post a review after that. You’ll probably never see me on QM2 again, as I really don’t like being one of 2700 passengers.

 

Have had several excellent big band cruises on HAL, but with the exception of Prinsendam, their ships have minimal dance floors. On my last big band cruise on Maasdam the Gentlemen Hosts held classes on sea days. The did a reasonable job but they are not professional instructors.

 

Best by far the best in my opinion is Crystal. They have a professional dance team on every cruise, and they have classes on all sea days. They are very good, and it’s even better if you are willing to pay for some private lessons. Cost is about the same as lessons in a good studio ashore.

 

Both ships have dedicated dance clubs, Starlite on Symphony, with good-size floors and house band playing every night before and after dinner. They play a mix of ballroom, swing and latin - if you are looking for hip hop, disco, etc. find another ship.

 

On big band cruises the featured band plays three hour sets most nights in Palm Court (the equivalent of HAL's Crow's Nests). Reasonably sized dance floor. There are also some small dance floors at one or two other locations.

 

If I appear biased toward Crystal it’s because I am. After my two already-booked Noordam and QE2 cruises I intend to pretty much limit my 3 or 4 cruises a year to Crystal.

Hope this is of some interest.

[The Mommy]

I am a keen dancer and enjoyed dancing on Zenith in the Rendezvous lounge and Fleet Bar most evenings. There were dance escorts on hand for those without a partner and after requests by guests there were classes on some afternoons.

 

Hope this helps.

[Longboysfan]

On our recent Galaxy trip they did heve Dance lessons - well attended.

There were two lounges - our friends told us that you could go into and dance just about every night.

[rebeccalouise]

After having attended a number of different lessons on board many cruises I think I finally have the basics down. What I would like to know is if one ship or cruise line gives more opportunities and provides a choice of dance floors for nightly dancing? Now that I can get my brain to move the correct foot most of the time, I actually look forward to this activity more than any other onboard. Are lessons still a part of most cruises or are they only found on longer sailings?

 

I just got off the Celebrity Constellation 3/06 12- night Caribbean cruise. I took the dance lessons- they are very basic but good and many people attend. The staff was really helpful but I don't think they are going to have intermediate lessons. The dance floors aren't huge but many people dance and it was great fun for me- a novice dancer.

[lucky white heather]

Just wondered if any of you posting here had seen the ongoing discussions for and against, regarding X 's proposal to "drop /phase out" their dance host programme and how you felt about it? First page.... I think???

[NHBob]

In case you dancers missed it, in a recent press release Crystal announced that in addition to the previously announced big-band theme, the November 2007 Serenity transatlantic (#7327), will also have a ballroom dance theme with additonal instruction. If the Atlantic cooperates, it should be a great cruise for dancing, with all those sea days, especially if they have the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra on board as they have on previous big-band cruises.

[NHBob]

Holland America: have just heard from two different sources that the March 15th Zuiderdam transatlantic crossing (Ft. Lauderdale - Rome) will be a big band cruise featuring the Harry James Orchestra. I'm awaiting HAL's confirmation of this (there's nothing on their website yet) and will post confirmation if I get it.

 

Crystal: similar to 2007, the Crystal Serenity's November 2008 Lisbon-Miami crossing will definitely have a big-band theme. Band hasn't been confirmed yet, but Crystal normally books the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra. Only change from 2007 itinerary is a port call at Grand Turk instead of Bermuda.

 

Bob

[BurBunny]

Without a doubt, Cunard has the best dance floors at sea, and the greatest emphasis (and numbers of passengers dancing) of any of the lines. HAL does a good job, but their floors just aren't big enough for their dedicated dance cruises, like the Big Band crossings. Crystal also does a really nice job with their dance hosts.

 

Celebrity does an adequate job, but the three above lines put much more emphasis on the dancing in general, Cunard in specific - a 6-night crossing has 2 balls, for example, not to mention the tea dancing, before and after dinner dances, big band night, etc.

[NHBob]

Without a doubt, Cunard has the best dance floors at sea, and the greatest emphasis (and numbers of passengers dancing) of any of the lines. HAL does a good job, but their floors just aren't big enough for their dedicated dance cruises, like the Big Band crossings. Crystal also does a really nice job with their dance hosts.

 

Totally agree. Too bad we will be losing QE2.

 

Further to my June 25th post, I now have confirmation that there will be two Holland America big band crossings in 2008. As previously noted, the Harry James Orchestra will be featured on the March 15th Zuiderdam crossing.

 

The Noordam October crossing, Rome-NY, will feature the Glen Miller Orchestra. I haven't any experience with them, but have heard they are excellent.

 

I've pretty well decided to book the Zuiderdam March crossing and Crystal Serenity November crossing. Can't decide if I also want to do the Noordam October voyage - not sure I want to do two transatlanctics only a month apart!

 

Bob