It's official. Production shows are back!!

[Ken the cruiser]

OK, we're now really starting to get excited about cruising with HAL again on their 3+ week cruises! 🕺💃

 

Holland America Line Debuts New Production Shows - Cruise Industry News | Cruise News

 

Beginning in February 2024, Holland America Line is set to debut four shows that unite singing and dancing in a new mainstage experience. The concert-style productions are fronted by three multi-talented headliners, who will be supported by an ensemble of singers and dancers.

 

New shows include “Song & Dance,” which is set on a studio backlot and features two leading men fronting a concert of musical numbers from Broadway, Hollywood and more.

 

Holland America is introducing “Class Act,” a production that aims to bring Las Vegas to the sea with an elaborate show that celebrates iconic female music performers.

 

“All That!” was created to transport guests to a TV studio, where they can be part of the audience of variety shows of the ‘60s, ‘70s and ‘80s.

 

The new program includes “Hey, Mr. DJ,” which will feature iconic radio DJs presenting songs from the ’60s through today.

 

HAL's elimination of the production shows back in 2019 was one huge reason we started cruising with other lines, as we do enjoy going to the theater shows in the evening.

Edited April 11 by Ken the cruiser

[Grandmaanne7]

The article states that the shows debuted on one ship in February 2024. Looks like nothing will be added to my upcoming Volendam cruise. 

Edited April 11 by Grandmaanne7
Correction

[Ken the cruiser]

1 minute ago, Grandmaanne7 said:

The article states that the shows will debut in February 2024. Wouldn't we have heard great reviews by now if that was the case? Looks like nothing will be added to my upcoming Volendam cruise. 

It looks like it will be a slow rollout across the fleet. 

 

The four new shows will be the anchor for entertainment programming, Holland America Line said. The new productions debuted on the Eurodam in February 2024, followed by the Rotterdam, the Zuiderdam and the Nieuw Statendam by the end of June, with more ships to follow.

[CGYCruisingFamily]

We are not fans of the "production" shows. We miss the magicians, comedians, hypnotists and other entertainers they used to have on the mainstage on regular nights. Yes, we did have comedians on our last couple of cruises, but usually in BB Kings and not to the same quality of pre 2020. I wish they would return some of this other types of entertainment.

Edited April 11 by CGYCruisingFamily

[Ken the cruiser]

4 minutes ago, CGYCruisingFamily said:

We are not fans of the "production" shows. We miss the magicians, comedians, hypnotists and other entertainers they used to have on the mainstage on regular nights. Yes, we did have comedians on our last couple of cruises, but usually in BB Kings and not to the same quality of pre 2020. I wish they would return some of this other types of entertainment.

Hopefully they will return too, as we enjoy those types of performances as well.

[Gail & Marty sailing away]

Thanks for sharing.

[Ottawa traveller]

52 minutes ago, CGYCruisingFamily said:

We are not fans of the "production" shows. We miss the magicians, comedians, hypnotists and other entertainers they used to have on the mainstage on regular nights. Yes, we did have comedians on our last couple of cruises, but usually in BB Kings and not to the same quality of pre 2020. I wish they would return some of this other types of entertainment.

Onn my recent cruise on the Rotterdam, they had all of these types of performers on the main stage in addtion to the Step One Dance company.

[jhannah]

Great news! Thanks for the post.

[foodsvcmgr]

Certainly a step in the right direction.

Now just put a classical duo on each ship and we’ll be good to go…

[Mary229]

4 hours ago, Ken the cruiser said:

OK, we're now really starting to get excited about cruising with HAL again on their 3+ week cruises! 🕺💃

 

Holland America Line Debuts New Production Shows - Cruise Industry News | Cruise News

 

Beginning in February 2024, Holland America Line is set to debut four shows that unite singing and dancing in a new mainstage experience. The concert-style productions are fronted by three multi-talented headliners, who will be supported by an ensemble of singers and dancers.

 

New shows include “Song & Dance,” which is set on a studio backlot and features two leading men fronting a concert of musical numbers from Broadway, Hollywood and more.

 

Holland America is introducing “Class Act,” a production that aims to bring Las Vegas to the sea with an elaborate show that celebrates iconic female music performers.

 

“All That!” was created to transport guests to a TV studio, where they can be part of the audience of variety shows of the ‘60s, ‘70s and ‘80s.

 

The new program includes “Hey, Mr. DJ,” which will feature iconic radio DJs presenting songs from the ’60s through today.

 

HAL's elimination of the production shows back in 2019 was one huge reason we started cruising with other lines, as we do enjoy going to the theater shows in the evening.

They had the game shows on my last cruise. I did not attend but friends enjoyed it immensely. To be a participant you had to buy a ticket but they said there were prizes worth the cost 

[Ken the cruiser]

19 minutes ago, Mary229 said:

They had the game shows on my last cruise. I did not attend but friends enjoyed it immensely. To be a participant you had to buy a ticket but they said there were prizes worth the cost 

Really? You have to buy a ticket to participate in a game show? Hopefully you don’t have to buy one to watch them. 😁

 

Edited April 11 by Ken the cruiser

[ChinaShrek]

I hope everyone who complained about missing the Production Shows attends them and does not complain about them on here. When HAL tried something different, many people weren't happy. So now HAL is responding. I do not cruise for the entertainment. I cruise for the itinerary. I just want "something" to watch or listen to at night.

[Kay S]

15 minutes ago, Ken the cruiser said:

Really? You have to buy a ticket to participate in a game show? Hopefully you don’t have to buy one to watch them. 😁

 

I think they would have to pay me to be a participant, but I guess some people might want to be "on the stage."  What were these prizes, I wonder.

[REOVA]

HAL can't please everyone but it got expensive paying "royalty" fees from prior contracts. Change is good, especially if you've seen the same shows 3 years in a row. I doubt these will be great starting out, but give them time to adjust the "channels" and also give them feedback in the surveys. 

[Ken the cruiser]

15 minutes ago, Kay S said:

I think they would have to pay me to be a participant, but I guess some people might want to be "on the stage."  What were these prizes, I wonder.

Us too. Maybe if they offer a free cruise! 😂

[Mary229]

39 minutes ago, Ken the cruiser said:

Really? You have to buy a ticket to participate in a game show? Hopefully you don’t have to buy one to watch them. 😁

 

Not to watch but to participate. I think because it had cash prizes.   From what I could figure out it is done in partnership with the casino   

[Menocchio]

5 hours ago, Ken the cruiser said:

“All That!” was created to transport guests to a TV studio, where they can be part of the audience of variety shows of the ‘60s, ‘70s and ‘80s.

That title is going to confuse and annoy a lot of millennial and gen y passengers. 

 

Also raise a few eyebrows, given what we now know was going on in the TV studios of the 90's and 2000's. 

[Ken the cruiser]

27 minutes ago, ChinaShrek said:

I hope everyone who complained about missing the Production Shows attends them and does not complain about them on here. When HAL tried something different, many people weren't happy. So now HAL is responding. I do not cruise for the entertainment. I cruise for the itinerary. I just want "something" to watch or listen to at night.

And we were definitely part of that disgruntled group back in 2019 that moved on. In our case now being fully retired and dedicated cruiseaholics who mostly book 3-5 week cruises, we want it all. 

 

Awesome itineraries, free laundry, main theater shows, trivias, and funny game shows. As far as the dining aspect, we want to eat early, have the same servers, and of course enjoy tasty meals. We prefer booking an aft-facing cabin whenever possible and at a reasonable price. If any of the 4 cruise lines we now book with fall short in any one of those categories, their competing itinerary has to be that much more awesome to still be considered in the running.
 

In the case of HAL, their prices and early booking perks have definitely improved this past year and with the production shows now coming back, they now check all of our boxes. 😁

[Ken the cruiser]

51 minutes ago, Menocchio said:

That title is going to confuse and annoy a lot of millennial and gen y passengers. 

 

Also raise a few eyebrows, given what we now know was going on in the TV studios of the 90's and 2000's. 

Sorry, I have no idea what you’re referring to. But then I’m in my early 70s which should explain a lot! 😂

[Kay S]

Looking forward to those production shows.  Had enough of the scary snakes. 🤣

[Himself]

That is good news. I just wish HAL would bring back Classical music with some other lika Adagio or the Rosario Strings both of days gone by.

[CHOPPERTESTER]

2 hours ago, Ken the cruiser said:

Really? You have to buy a ticket to participate in a game show? Hopefully you don’t have to buy one to watch them. 😁

 

Not like the Love & Marriage Show. Think Deal/No Deal game show which is just another form of Bingo. And you can watch it just like watching Bingo, no need to participate.

Edited April 11 by CHOPPERTESTER

[Ken the cruiser]

4 minutes ago, CHOPPERTESTER said:

Not like the Love & Marriage Show. Think Deal/No Deal game show which is just another form of Bingo. And you can watch it just like watching Bingo, no need to participate.

Ah, that makes a lot more sense. Heck, Deal or No Deal is also on X, PCL, and NCL ships, and we enjoy sitting there watching the show, as the ship is usually the big winner pretty much every time, considering you pay around $25 for one card!

[mcrcruiser]

Just love the fact that HAL listened & is bringing back stage shows .  

[mcrcruiser]

One thing that HAL could do as it was very popular in days gone by are the Hirse Racing , People actually win a oprize for the best costumed wooden horse . They did these races on the main stage & got good attendances