Does this disturbing new trend bother anyone else?

[NYcruzzer]

2 hours ago, jimbo5544 said:

We were on the Orchestra when they first came over.  By far, the moat boring entertainment we have ever seen on a ship. 

Orchestra was first in NYC more than 15 years ago.  I can only speak from my recent experience on MSC Meraviglia. The Production shows were all excellent. High energy. Great music and dancing numbers. Over the last few years MSC has been "Americanizing" their product to tailor to American's taste in food and entertainment. 

 

I am a big Carnival fan. Big production shows aren't a deal breaker for me. I am just as happy going to Comedy shows and the Piano Bar. 

[tonit964]

The Love & Marriage show is always packed, at least the ones I’ve gone too and I think people like these because they can relate. People laugh at themselves and have been there at one time or another. 

[carohs]

I don't really care much for passenger participation type entertainment but certain ones can be very entertaining at times. The masses obviously enjoy watching everyday people do some kind of bit, just look at the success of tiktok. I would love more production shows, but at least by time I sailed Carnival the shows weren't as high quality as I've enjoyed elsewhere. The one thing to be said about things like Newlyweds or Deal are that each time you attend it will be somewhat different than the last. Bottom line is, sometimes I'll still choose Carnival but sometimes I won't, depending on what kind of vacation I'm looking to have. 

[DanJ]

Funny, I didn't even notice the lack of a passenger talent show on the Venezia a few weeks ago. I definitely have noticed a downgrade in the production shows. I said to my wife "Remember that ship that had the orchestra pit in front of the stage?". I can't remember which one now, but I want to say Grand Princess and that was 25 years ago now. But I will say I was impressed with Deal or No Deal and Family Feud. I played Family Feud about 15 years ago and it was a pretty hokey experience. Sitting on bar stools with cheesy sound effects the host had to play on a glorified boombox he held the mic up to. And the scoreboard was a paper easel with markers lol. And not only are these games a passenger participation, or "passengers entertaining passengers" thing, they are also contests that those people compete to be on to win money. 

 

Karaoke has been a thing on the ships for over 30 years, but it's always been in a smaller lounge as one of the regular nightly entertainment options. I did notice there were no guest performers like I was accustomed to though. The comedians were there  the first couple nights and then they got off in Bermuda and 2 others joined us. Wasn't a fan of the first 2 so never bothered going to see these other 2. The Love and Marriage (or Newlywed and Not So Newlywed Game as it was known before) has also been an age old staple that people seem to really enjoy still too.

Edited 16 hours ago by DanJ

[mz-s]

44 minutes ago, stobe1 said:

Oh. Right. Complain and still spend money while complaining.

 

If i get crappy service from my preferred restaurant and I still go there and give them my money after years of going downhill and declining service that I am unhappy with that's on me. 

 

Are we supposed to love everything about Carnival or something?

[stobe1]

1 hour ago, mz-s said:

 

Are we supposed to love everything about Carnival or something?

Of course not. But I certainly don't think it rises to the level of "disturbing". If that were the case my $$$ would be going elsewhere.

[Honolulu Blue]

20 hours ago, Jeafl said:

Just for reference, we are Platinum on Carnival so we have been on many cruises over the year and have seen many changes, most not for the better.  We just returned from a 7-day on the Firenze.  We also did a 10-day on the Venezia and an 8-day on the Magic this year.  What is really standing out to me is that Carnival is moving away from from professional entertainers and is leaning more towards passengers entertaining other passengers at night.  

 

For example, it used to be on a 7-8 day cruise you would have at least 4-5 production shows in the theater.  Last week there were TWO. Plus a juggler who couldn't hold onto what he was juggling to save his soul.  I was embarrassed for him.  The other nights are now Family Feud, Deal or No Deal, Love and Marriage show, some other game show which was where a parent and a child went on stage and answered questions about each other like the Newlywed Game.  There was also a Guess the Lyrics game show, as well as Karaoke every night, and other passenger led entertainment as well.

 

Yesterday I saw a poll from John Heald asking if people would be interested in an "open mic night" in the comedy clubs.  I, for one, enjoy most of the professional comedians, but would not enjoy watching my fellow drunk passengers attempt comedy on stage. 

 

I understand that Carnival lost a lot of money during Covid and is trying to recoup their losses, but honestly, enough is enough with the passengers being your entertainment.

 

Am I the only one who is usually not entertained by the talents or non-talents of fellow passengers?  Or am I just getting old and cranky?

 

My expectations for entertainment on my Carnival cruises have always been fairly low - if there's a show or two that sounds entertaining and turns out to be so, that's great.  If not, I'll find other things to do.  

[jimbo5544]

9 hours ago, MsTabbyKats said:

And we were on the Davina....the best entertainment imho.  This included an opera matinee by a well known performer. 

See, it just goes to show that there are different things that people like and dislike (which is totally fine).  That would not hit the like button for me (also fine). Options are a good thing.

[jimbo5544]

9 hours ago, NYcruzzer said:

Orchestra was first in NYC more than 15 years ago.  I can only speak from my recent experience on MSC Meraviglia. The Production shows were all excellent. High energy. Great music and dancing numbers. Over the last few years MSC has been "Americanizing" their product to tailor to American's taste in food and entertainment. 

 

I am a big Carnival fan. Big production shows aren't a deal breaker for me. I am just as happy going to Comedy shows and the Piano Bar. 

I have seen some of the reviews.  It was more than the entertainment factor for us.  We may try again, but that said, we still prefer CCL and are trying some other lines.  

[jimbo5544]

9 hours ago, tonit964 said:

The Love & Marriage show is always packed, at least the ones I’ve gone too and I think people like these because they can relate. People laugh at themselves and have been there at one time or another. 

You hit the nail on the head (I almost said bingo….but was not referring to the game….😅

Edited 7 hours ago by jimbo5544

[jimbo5544]

8 hours ago, mz-s said:

 

Are we supposed to love everything about Carnival or something?

Maybe just not rip it, consistently on every single thread night be a start (only answered the question because you asked).

Edited 7 hours ago by jimbo5544

[jimbo5544]

9 hours ago, Linsuesue said:

Perhaps this discussion ties in a bit to the feeling that Carnival doesn’t appreciate their loyal cruisers as much. There is an extent to how many times you are going to see Getaway Island, Heart of Soul, Color My World, Dear Future Husband, 80’s Pop to the Max, 88 Keys, Epic Rock… Frequent cruisers have been there an done that and those productions might be left in place for the Blues, Reds, and Golds. If we are not attending those shows, we will be at the casino, perhaps a leisurlely specialty meal, or focusing more on the other musical/comedic entertainment on the ship. On a behind the scene tour, a Playlist Production entertainer told us it costs 1 million to put on a new production. That sure must limit how man new shows will be coming. For us, it feels like the gap is closing between Carnival being the most cost effective cruise—compared to other cruise lines. 

You bring up interesting points, from my view they cannot plan their entertainment around cruisers the sail frequently (at least several times a year).  Instead, they plan on what their intel and marketing plan are, which is to attract new cruisers from as many home ports as is feasible.   They execute on that plan.  Loyalty plan changes have been in the pipeline for years, when they finally arrive, there will be much grinding of teeth and tearing of cloth, no matter what these changes will be.

[Riles34]

1 hour ago, jimbo5544 said:

Maybe just not rip it, consistently on every single thread night be a start (only answered the question because you asked).

I have never seen a positive comment from mz...

 

As for me, I am a simple man who enjoys cruising with my familiy and friends. The production shows have never been important to me, the cast is like watching a single A baseball team. Decent for the money but not the professionals. I think the shows that I have stumbled upon over my years are cheesy. 

 

I prefer the game show style and incorporating the passengers to engage in the fun. Times have changed in the cruising industry and the elegant times have been dwindling away for over a decade. This isn't 1999 anymore, smaller ships, less passengers, and on and on...

 

I can truely say that all the cutbacks from Carnival and every other big name cruise line has had ZERO effect on me. Yea I don't get a chocolate on my pillow, a white table cloth at dinner, or anything else they have cut back on, but I do get to have a stress free week without making dinner and having plenty of cocktails while enjoying whatever "show" is in front of me.

 

 

[Jeafl]

15 hours ago, jimbo5544 said:

 

For the record, we have seen and heard some pretty darn good vocal talent, but the real point is that what they do, their clients want.  Not sure why you mentioned your level or how many cruises you had done.  

I mentioned my level only to show that I have been cruising a long time and have noticed a sharp decline in the level of entertainment over the years.  I think you are fooling yourself to think that Carnival is using more passenger entertainment for any other reason than to save money.  I personally know of no one who would rather watch amateurs than professionals.  Your mileage may vary, however.

[Jeafl]

14 hours ago, LatinaInTexas said:

All I know is if there isn't a production show on any given night we find ourselves at either the casino or a bar..... spending money.

This may well be another reason why Carnival is cutting back on production shows.

[Jeafl]

13 hours ago, stobe1 said:

Oh. Right. Complain and still spend money while complaining.

 

If i get crappy service from my preferred restaurant and I still go there and give them my money after years of going downhill and declining service that I am unhappy with that's on me. 

This is a very simplistic view.  The entertainment is one small part of the cruise experience.  If you are happy with every other aspect of the experience there is no reason to change, until you no longer feel it is worth the money you are spending.

[jimbo5544]

21 minutes ago, Jeafl said:

I mentioned my level only to show that I have been cruising a long time and have noticed a sharp decline in the level of entertainment over the years.  I think you are fooling yourself to think that Carnival is using more passenger entertainment for any other reason than to save money.  I personally know of no one who would rather watch amateurs than professionals.  Your mileage may vary, however.

There are plenty of posts here to speak to the contrary, but your opinion counts just like theirs.  I fool myself all the time, for the record, I was talking about what ALL the cruisers think (demonstrated by their attendance to these events).  

[aborgman]

48 minutes ago, Jeafl said:

 I personally know of no one who would rather watch amateurs than professionals.  Your mileage may vary, however.

 

Eh... I'd rather watch just about anything than Broadway style production shows, even actual high end shows ON Broadway.

 

I'd rather watch a busker in a subway station that Les Mis on Broadway.

 

[StephPS79]

13 hours ago, Linsuesue said:

Perhaps this discussion ties in a bit to the feeling that Carnival doesn’t appreciate their loyal cruisers as much. There is an extent to how many times you are going to see Getaway Island, Heart of Soul, Color My World, Dear Future Husband, 80’s Pop to the Max, 88 Keys, Epic Rock… Frequent cruisers have been there an done that and those productions might be left in place for the Blues, Reds, and Golds. If we are not attending those shows, we will be at the casino, perhaps a leisurlely specialty meal, or focusing more on the other musical/comedic entertainment on the ship. On a behind the scene tour, a Playlist Production entertainer told us it costs 1 million to put on a new production. That sure must limit how man new shows will be coming. For us, it feels like the gap is closing between Carnival being the most cost effective cruise—compared to other cruise lines. 

 

I'm confused at the direction of point here.  In one statement, you say the loyal cruiser is tired of the same ol' same ol', and you can only see a show so many times.  But the potential changes being discussed are offering, in simplistic terms, a new show every night.  Wouldn't that help with the humdrum?  I mean, I've seen Love and Marriage a number of times, but every one has been different.

 

If the expectation is frequent different Playlist Production shows, that doesn't change on most cruise lines in Carnival's competition.  Some are different by ship, but repeated.  Oasis of the Seas has been performing Cats every cruise since it started sailing, and will continue to do so.

[Linsuesue]

44 minutes ago, StephPS79 said:

 

I'm confused at the direction of point here.  In one statement, you say the loyal cruiser is tired of the same ol' same ol', and you can only see a show so many times.  But the potential changes being discussed are offering, in simplistic terms, a new show every night.  Wouldn't that help with the humdrum?  I mean, I've seen Love and Marriage a number of times, but every one has been different.

 

If the expectation is frequent different Playlist Production shows, that doesn't change on most cruise lines in Carnival's competition.  Some are different by ship, but repeated.  Oasis of the Seas has been performing Cats every cruise since it started sailing, and will continue to do so.

The point is the shows you refer to that change nightly rely on customer participation. Without audience participation there is no Love and Marriage, Deal or no Deal, open mike for comedians,  Karaoke nights… The point of this thread is that Carnival is leaning towards more and more customer involved entertainment. I have definitely noticed it on my recent sailings. 

[CruisinArn]

My wife and I go on a cruise(and only been on Carnival) for a simple reason. It is the time to just not worry about anything, relax, eat, & drink. That is what real life is for, to worry about the day to day things. Meeting others on board and having random conversations while having a drink has become our new favorite past time. 

[i_love_long_islands]

It's been said that the cruise lines are targeting families in the 24-40 demographic. They are trying to pull them away from hotel based vacations.

 

I think this poses a conundrum for the cruise lines as they will need to adapt the entertainment to that demo in order to keep people interested.

 

I think Royal is doing this very well with their more "modern" entertainment efforts and shows that are more than just singing and dancing on a stage.

[MommytoAsquared]

Even with the "Paid" entertainment, like the comics, Carnival seems to keep them too long.  Maybe to avoid paying their travel expenses to/from the ship?  On our Legend cruise a few months ago, the comics seemed to run out of material.  By the end of their stint, they just stood up on stage and interacted with the audience.  It was mildly entertaining, but not really a comedy show.

[stobe1]

4 hours ago, Jeafl said:

This is a very simplistic view.  The entertainment is one small part of the cruise experience.  If you are happy with every other aspect of the experience there is no reason to change, until you no longer feel it is worth the money you are spending.

You're right. I am a simple man and easy to please.