P&O vs Royal Caribbean

[Yorkypete]

6 hours ago, JDB78 said:

I thought that would be obvious. They didn't just fly in to do 1 or 2 performances of Grease then go back to Broadway 🤣🤣🤣. The last RC cruise we went on also coincidently had a Grease on. Maybe they just flew in for us too? It had been advertised on the RC website for months in advance. As you've already said RC choose a Broadway show and then run it for x number of weeks and forms part of the cruise experience for that year.

Maybe 'obvious' but the cast left the ship after two ports. I don't know where they went but the lead was going back to Broadway ,or so he said! Another group may be on the ship but they are still not the crew entertainers but a professional  cast.

[terrierjohn]

1 minute ago, Yorkypete said:

Maybe 'obvious' but the cast left the ship after two ports. I don't know where they went but the lead was going back to Broadway ,or so he said! Another group may be on the ship but they are still not the crew entertainers but a professional  cast.

Why dont you consider that the crew cast are professionals, AFAIK the headliners troups on each ship are a professional group of singers and dancers put together to perform for an agreed contract period, and the West End Show casts on Royal Caribbean are the same.

Of course if you are still fixated on The Jersey Boys group, these are a well known Tribute act that perform all over Europe and on cruise ships.

[Yorkypete]

55 minutes ago, terrierjohn said:

Why dont you consider that the crew cast are professionals, AFAIK the headliners troups on each ship are a professional group of singers and dancers put together to perform for an agreed contract period, and the West End Show casts on Royal Caribbean are the same.

Of course if you are still fixated on The Jersey Boys group, these are a well known Tribute act that perform all over Europe and on cruise ships.

Wy are many on here so sarcastic with their comments. I am not 'fixated' on anyone, just using them as an example. The crew cast are only semi professional as they do other jobs around the ship in many cases.. The shows on RCI are not West End shows but Broadway shows. Certainly many of the shows we have seen on RCI have NOT been put together for a set period but have often left the ship after a couple of performances  to go back to the theatres they came from. They do NOT stay on the ship. I am tired of pointing this out to some people who just ignore the facts. Thank you..end of subject.

[Interestedcruisefan]

Am I understanding correctly that Pete believes the cast of a Broadway show fly from Broadway to perform their Broadway show twice on Royal Caribbean and then fly back to the theatre to continue performing the show on Broadway?

 

 

[Interestedcruisefan]

https://www.royalcaribbeanpresscenter.com/video/421/a-search-for-broadway-talent-royal-caribbean-auditions-for-mamma-mia-stars/

 

This link shows Royal Caribbean's own video showing how they recruit entire casts for their "Broadway" shows. They then learn and rehearse the show together before performing together

 

Without a doubt they find brilliant talent and create brilliant shows. And these are professional entertainers. 

 

But these shows arent direct from Broadway. They are shows that have shown on Broadway that RC are recreating with their own cast. 

 

The current contracts on RC run for 11 months approx including rehearsal time and require the successful actors/actresses to perform 3 or 4 of their Broadway show per week and 3 or 4 of a separate signature show alongside that each week

 

There's nothing to stop individual applicants with Broadway experience to audition or for cast members to have jobs lined up in Broadway after their contract

 

Hence one of the cast may have seriously said they are leaving the ship to go to Broadway

 

I love these kind of shows and admire RC for creating them. Just wanted to clarify what exactly these shows are

 

The cast will have to be brilliant to get a part. 

 

 

[Yorkypete]

27 minutes ago, Interestedcruisefan said:

Am I understanding correctly that Pete believes the cast of a Broadway show fly from Broadway to perform their Broadway show twice on Royal Caribbean and then fly back to the theatre to continue performing the show on Broadway?

 

 

As I said, some people cannot help but be sarcastic.Why bother.  Talking to a few cast members they were leaving after 4 shows over two days and going on to the SAME SHOW on Broadway. I have to presume they were lying.

[Interestedcruisefan]

https://fb.watch/jJzi1-P0XM/

 

Above is the P and O auditions for Headliners Theatre

 

They audition dancers and singers separately 

 

Successful applicants then do 8 weeks of rehearsals before heading to ships

 

These are similarly brilliant professional dancers and singers to RC

 

Only difference is P and O professional singers and dancers aren't learning Broadway shows to perform together

 

Speaking to one of the Headliners cast on Arvia when their contract is up should they want to work a future P and O cruise they have to apply again from scratch and go through the audition process each time

 

Any complaints about Headliner shows on P and O is not down to talent IMO. Can only be down to what they are being asked to perform. Only the best of the best get the chance to appear in these shows

Edited April 5, 2023 by Interestedcruisefan

[Megabear2]

14 minutes ago, Interestedcruisefan said:

Am I understanding correctly that Pete believes the cast of a Broadway show fly from Broadway to perform their Broadway show twice on Royal Caribbean and then fly back to the theatre to continue performing the show on Broadway?

 

 

Actually I think he is saying some of the cast members of the shows not the whole cast perform on the RCI ships, particularly those sailing out of FL and Miami.  In my experience sailing on Allure that has occurred on several occasions and also on a Barcelona to FLL Allure repositioning we had a large contingent of west end performers guesting in the Mama Mia performances onboard.  Several of those performing were actually in the current West End production of Les Miserables and performed a couple of intimate concerts in a side venue where they took audience requests for songs from famous musicals. 

 

From what I recall the casts of the RCI productions are fairly small, I think around 10 in total, and multi task several roles.  

 

Pete is I think referring to the fact these productions are 90 to 120 minutes and offer a "full" theatre experience rather than a specific 45 to 60 minute show designed just for the cruise line.

 

Of course the quality of the individuals is subjective and down to personal tastes!  On Regal Princess last year a very highly rated opera singer from New York had half her audience walk out after only a couple of songs - just proves everyone likes different things.

 

[Interestedcruisefan]

1 minute ago, Yorkypete said:

As I said, some people cannot help but be sarcastic.Why bother.  Talking to a few cast members they were leaving after 4 shows over two days and going on to the SAME SHOW on Broadway. I have to presume they were lying.

Im not being sarcastic. I just like to understand what these shows are. 

[Interestedcruisefan]

11 minutes ago, Yorkypete said:

As I said, some people cannot help but be sarcastic.Why bother.  Talking to a few cast members they were leaving after 4 shows over two days and going on to the SAME SHOW on Broadway. I have to presume they were lying.

Maybe it was the end of their  contract on RC and they had a job lined up at the same show in Broadway. That's possible

 

But they will have done months of shows on the ship. And learnt the show together alongside the rest of the cast to perform a show especially for the ship.

 

The cruise show is not a Broadway show transporting to a cruise ship and back for a few shows at a time

 

Regardless of how brilliant it is. 

 

 

Edited April 5, 2023 by Interestedcruisefan

[Interestedcruisefan]

 

 

 

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Headline Act Cruise Ship Contracts $1500 - $2500+ (£1000 - £2000+) Per Week

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[Megabear2]

Well this is going nowhere!  Overall the OP asked for what differences he could expect.  I think he probably knows now on the big RCI ships they'll be treated to a 90 minute theatre style experience as part of the entertainment - with or without Broadway/West End stars - which P&O don't have.  However these offerings aren't on all the RC ships, how do P&O measure up against the Freedom class and older ships?  I sailed on Splendour before she went off to become TUI/Marella Explorer and recall most of the theatre offerings being very similar to the Azura ones I experienced around the same time with the exception of the aerial acrobatics in the main atrium.  Guest acts were people I'd seen on both Cunard and P&O - yes we had a Frankie Valli act onboard all three!

 

As the two main protagonists on the theatre offerings who have both sailed recently on Iona and Arvia can either of you enlighten me on what I may expect on my upcoming sailings on these new P&O ships?  I understand there are acrobats and trapeze acts in the Atriums of these ships, anything else new I can enjoy when I board Arvia in May?

 

 

 

 

[Interestedcruisefan]

The post above shows whats offered to normal professional acts away from the cast shows on cruise lines. P and O would also be offering the same I'm sure

 

On Arvia there were 4 singers in a group (forget the name but they were all different nationalities) who said they have been doing back to back cruise work for 18 months ish between all the P and O ships so we've probably all seen them! Think they said they had only had 4 days off the ships (or something like that)

 

They were very good

 

But I assume a band with 4 members negotiates special deals for their pay to share out how they see fit?

[Interestedcruisefan]

25 minutes ago, Megabear2 said:

Well this is going nowhere!  Overall the OP asked for what differences he could expect.  I think he probably knows now on the big RCI ships they'll be treated to a 90 minute theatre style experience as part of the entertainment - with or without Broadway/West End stars - which P&O don't have.  However these offerings aren't on all the RC ships, how do P&O measure up against the Freedom class and older ships?  I sailed on Splendour before she went off to become TUI/Marella Explorer and recall most of the theatre offerings being very similar to the Azura ones I experienced around the same time with the exception of the aerial acrobatics in the main atrium.  Guest acts were people I'd seen on both Cunard and P&O - yes we had a Frankie Valli act onboard all three!

 

As the two main protagonists on the theatre offerings who have both sailed recently on Iona and Arvia can either of you enlighten me on what I may expect on my upcoming sailings on these new P&O ships?  I understand there are acrobats and trapeze acts in the Atriums of these ships, anything else new I can enjoy when I board Arvia in May?

 

 

 

 

On Arvia I'm pretty sure we had Headliner Theatre shows every night. Easy to book pre-cruise for first 7 nights at least. Singers and dancers from Headliners cast were really good. Shows hit and miss but all entertaining. The Take That Musical show was 60 mins. The others 45 mins

 

Shows in the Dome most nights (some with drones flying etc). Some were tribute acts there. Some of the resident bands and singers as well. 

 

710 Club had 4 shows per night - hard to  book once on the cruise. Very cosy in there. If you can't book then try turning up 10 mins before the show starts and good chance the manager will find you a table

 

Limelight had shows pretty much every night. You can pre-book them before the cruise. Think it's cheaper if you do. The food was really great quality in there. For those shows they seat you in best tables according to first come first served so maybe queue early for that.

 

Clubhouse had multiple shows every night. No booking here.  Some of the headline pro shows went in there as well as doing the theatre on separate nights. 

 

Atrium had random shows like the acrobatics you mentioned that were good

 

Also one of the bars off the Atrium had a pianist most of the time. A second pianist was on in Crows Nest most nights from 6pm. There was also an acoustic  singer mixing in all these. I guess they just rotated venues

 

At Limelight before the main act there was a live band with singer entertaining (think that was between starters and main). The same band performed from 10.30pm each night after the main show open to the public

 

There were karaoke nights etc happening in Brodies on various nights usual quizzes etc

 

On deck 8 at the back of the ship there were outdoor discos from about 7pm onwards I think most nights

You've also got Mission Control escape room if that's your thing. They are great fun. But we didn't try on our cruise 

 

Cinema FOC all the time no booking. Odd night with outdoor cinema in the dome. 

 

Bingo was happening somewhere every Day/Night I'm sure

 

Ive no doubt I've missed lots of stuff. But I'm sure everybody could find something they like every night in more than one place

 

Edited April 5, 2023 by Interestedcruisefan

[Leomins]

15 minutes ago, Megabear2 said:

Well this is going nowhere!  Overall the OP asked for what differences he could expect.  I think he probably knows now on the big RCI ships they'll be treated to a 90 minute theatre style experience as part of the entertainment - with or without Broadway/West End stars - which P&O don't have.  However these offerings aren't on all the RC ships, how do P&O measure up against the Freedom class and older ships?  I sailed on Splendour before she went off to become TUI/Marella Explorer and recall most of the theatre offerings being very similar to the Azura ones I experienced around the same time with the exception of the aerial acrobatics in the main atrium.  Guest acts were people I'd seen on both Cunard and P&O - yes we had a Frankie Valli act onboard all three!

 

As the two main protagonists on the theatre offerings who have both sailed recently on Iona and Arvia can either of you enlighten me on what I may expect on my upcoming sailings on these new P&O ships?  I understand there are acrobats and trapeze acts in the Atriums of these ships, anything else new I can enjoy when I board Arvia in May?

 

 

 

 

Hi Megabear,

You are right, they do have acrobatic acts in the atrium although I never saw them on Iona as they didn’t advertise them in Horizon, trying to keep them impromptu. They also have full acrobatic (Cirque de Soleil style) shows in the Skydome which many people enjoyed.

On other nights in the Skydome they had singers and tribute acts but the acoustics were very poor, making them sound awful at times. It sounded a bit better upstairs and you should avoid sitting downstairs by the pool in rough seas as some people were getting wet feet as the pool overflowed. 
The show lounge also had an act each evening (singers or comedians) who performed their act three times a night. Sometimes the comedian’s last show was an adult only one.

As has already been mentioned, the Limelight club opens up to the general public after the main show and we enjoyed watching Pulse perform in there.

I can’t tell you about Brodies as I never go there.

Overall, we really enjoyed the entertainment as we used to fit three things in each night.

[Megabear2]

Thank you, most helpful. Did the Limelight offer 2 or 3 acts in rotation? On Britannia we had three different acts in 14 days so I assumed Arvia would possibly have more.

 

Pushing my luck for deck parties in mid May in the Med but you never can say never!  

 

 

[Leomins]

When I was on Iona, they only had two acts in Limelight, each for one week. I didn’t fancy either so didn’t book. Previously on Britannia on a 14 nighter there were four and I went to two of them.

I would also recommend the 710 club, it reminded me of Ronnie Scott’s, an intimate little venue where all drinks are served before the show so everyone listens to the music for the whole 45 minutes.

[Megabear2]

All sounds great. Can apparently book entertainment on 29/4 and dining on 30/4. Any tips what to 

go for first, ie sell out quickest?  I tend to eat early around 6.00pm apart from specialist restaurants where I still go for earliest available. As I'm on my own this time I have flexibility.  Apart from La Spezia I have no excursions to worry about so for the first time in an age late nights aren't off the agenda..

 

[Leomins]

I think the 710 club gets booked up very quickly and the Limelight if there’s an act you want to see.

The theatre can be booked ahead and I think the middle show (8.30?) can be very popular.

The Skydome and the lounge are not bookable, just turn up.

[Interestedcruisefan]

2 minutes ago, Megabear2 said:

All sounds great. Can apparently book entertainment on 29/4 and dining on 30/4. Any tips what to 

go for first, ie sell out quickest?  I tend to eat early around 6.00pm apart from specialist restaurants where I still go for earliest available. As I'm on my own this time I have flexibility.  Apart from La Spezia I have no excursions to worry about so for the first time in an age late nights aren't off the agenda..

 

710 club will sell out first day on board early on but like I say they should squeeze you in regardless

 

Epicurean I'm certain will get you in for 6pm bookings if you ask restaurant manager in advance for days if you can't book in advance

 

I reckon 6pm dining means you will get in pretty much everywhere you want when you want

 

Limelight was just 2 acts on Arvia for 14 nights

 

Have a great  cruise!!!

 

We are doing Iona 20th May for 7 nights

 

 

[Megabear2]

Thank you, that's all really helpful. Sounds like I need a plan. Fingers crossed the app will load okay for me as last two cruises on Britannia they gave up on my equipment and told me to go manual!

 

 

[Megabear2]

Thanks to you both. Hopefully it will go well, presumably my boarding time will affect my ability to book onboard but unless they're very strict on timing I hope I can get on okay as my lift will drop me in Southampton around 12.30 before departing to play rugby!

ICF I will look forward to reading your next blog while I'm on Arvia, I board on 14th. Will be interesting to see your comparison between the two ladies. Unfortunately I lost my 18 March Iona cruise due to my accident but I'm hoping Arvia will be a good replacement. I specifically booked this one for La Spezia and the chance to visit the Bocelli family vineyards. Now all I have to hope is that we can get in port okay on the day.  

My last couple of cruises on Britannia the buffet choice wasn't very good for me so I'm look8ng forward to all the other options on the new ships, though I am back to Britannia end of July.

 

 

 

[Interestedcruisefan]

7 hours ago, Megabear2 said:

Thanks to you both. Hopefully it will go well, presumably my boarding time will affect my ability to book onboard but unless they're very strict on timing I hope I can get on okay as my lift will drop me in Southampton around 12.30 before departing to play rugby!

ICF I will look forward to reading your next blog while I'm on Arvia, I board on 14th. Will be interesting to see your comparison between the two ladies. Unfortunately I lost my 18 March Iona cruise due to my accident but I'm hoping Arvia will be a good replacement. I specifically booked this one for La Spezia and the chance to visit the Bocelli family vineyards. Now all I have to hope is that we can get in port okay on the day.  

My last couple of cruises on Britannia the buffet choice wasn't very good for me so I'm look8ng forward to all the other options on the new ships, though I am back to Britannia end of July.

 

 

 

The Quays is also a great  alternative to the buffet. Nice breakfast choices there as well

 

We heard great reports of Green and Co but never tried it

 

Mizhuana we really enjoyed

 

Glasshouse food wasn't as good as on previous ships we thought

[P&O SUE]

On 4/1/2023 at 11:55 AM, Jennizor said:

He’s a singer and actor. He’s was in Brookside many years ago and has been on several reality programmes (not that I have watched any). He’s an excellent singer and entertainer, as was confirmed by the standing ovation.

We saw him on Britannia too, a great entertainer. The ambience in the Limelight is great too and I like the food and act all in one place.

 

I have also seen a Jersey Boys show for free on Azura and they were brilliant.

[smokey01]

16 hours ago, Megabear2 said:

All sounds great. Can apparently book entertainment on 29/4 and dining on 30/4. Any tips what to 

go for first, ie sell out quickest?  I tend to eat early around 6.00pm apart from specialist restaurants where I still go for earliest available. As I'm on my own this time I have flexibility.  Apart from La Spezia I have no excursions to worry about so for the first time in an age late nights aren't off the agenda..

 

I would book dining first. For the April 16th Arvia cruise most days in the MDRs for the 6pm slot are greyed out i.e. full. That said I’m sure once onboard you will get in easily using the virtual queue. But if you prefer to pre book don’t leave it to long. We could book dining from April 2nd but I’m pretty sure the 6pm slots have been gone for a few days now.

 

There seems to be plenty times available for Epicurean.