What do You Think of This Idea???

[innlady1]

I have to admit that the first time I discovered the piano bar was on my last cruise on the Noordam. It was packed with SRO, and I loved it. I was also in the one on the Zuiderdam for renewal of vows. I tend to bypass the sports bars because of the smoke.

 

I wonder why some of the piano bars tend to be busy and some are so empty. Do you think it has to do with the ship or the featured player.If they really are empty, a different type of use of the area might be fun.

 

Wonder what Ruth C would say about all this? Guess we won't know till she comes back.

 

And this is my 5000 post.

 

Congratulations on 5000, Carol! ;)

We went to the piano bar several evenings on the Noordam, mainly because I had to check it out, reading Ruth's rave reviews about Kory Simon who was the pianist on the Noordam in the winter of '07 (didn't go then, unfortunately). Nonetheless, we loved it this time around, and you're right...there was SRO only every night!

It quickly became one of my favorite things to do after dinner or the show on the Noordam. Love it.

His name was Brad Stevens, BTW.

[sail7seas]

Congratulations on 5,000, Carol.

 

Keep your great posts coming. :)

 

[ctsally]

Congratulations on 5000, Carol! ;)

 

 

His name was Brad Stevens, BTW.

 

Brad was on the Noordam on the 2/27 - 3/8 cruise this year. Does anyone know where he is now? He made the cruise very special for a lot of us.

 

Does anyone know who will be in the Piano Bar in November of this year?

[PathfinderEss]

Piano Bars on the ships are not always full or and sometimes barely used from our observation. Cruise after cruise, ship after ship, we often see few people in there and truthfully, the talent isn't always fabulous IMO

 

So, how about converting Piano Bar into Pub type Bars? I think it would be fun. Offer light pub food (even charge us for it, if they want), good selection of beer and ale and wine, even some tv's to show the ball games/sports events.

 

This idea is growing on me.

 

Your thoughts?

OK now you've got my attention. Piano bars are my favorite places on a ship. I will spend the majority of my evenings in them but and this is a big but, that is if the entertainment is any good. You are right Sail, a lot of time those bars are empty but and this is another big but, that is because Hal does such a lousy job of hiring good entertainers, and I also understand they don't pay their entertainers as much money as let say Princess, Celebrity, etc. but that is another story. Now I know that the last Hal enterainment guru passed away some months ago, so maybe the replacement might do better, one can only hope.....in saying all this, my point is if you have good entertainment in your Piano Bars they will be full. Perry Grant (now working for Celebrity) and J.P. Nadeau always keep their bars full because they are taletned, personable people, who love to entertain and it shows in their work. So don't blame the Piano Bar for being empty, blame Hal for their hiring practices. Please I beg of you, don't get rite of my Piano Bar.......

[sail7seas]

I well remember Perry Grant. Many, many cruises with him before he went to Celebrity. Didn't he go briefly to Crystal?

 

So far as I know, Bill Prince is in charge of entertainment on the ships and has been in that position for years. I hope he doesn't hear reports he has pased :eek: as he is very alive!!! Thankfully for him and family and friends. :)

 

[doone]

What, no piano bar!!!!! Wonder what Ruthc will think of that idea.

 

Pub food on a ship, no thanks, don't care for that idea at all.

[CinWin]

One of our favorite hangouts on a ship is the piano bar. The pub idea would be boring for us.

Cindy

[Kolleen]

Leave the Piano Bar. Change one of the other bars with nothing going on in them to a Pub. I think that would be a great idea.

 

Why take something away when you can simply add something?

[PathfinderEss]

I well remember Perry Grant. Many, many cruises with him before he went to Celebrity. Didn't he go briefly to Crystal?

 

So far as I know, Bill Prince is in charge of entertainment on the ships and has been in that position for years. I hope he doesn't hear reports he has pased :eek: as he is very alive!!! Thankfully for him and family and friends. :)

 

I don't know if Perry went to Crystal, I do know he did try RC a couple of times.

I apologize, I thought the head entertainer guru was Jerry Quesada not Bill Prince. I'm sure his family and he would not be happy with what I said. I'm sorry for my mistake, please forgive my stupidity!

[Odd Ball]

Keep the Piano Bar, it is a favorite hang out. :) On some cruises I have seen more people in the Piano Bar than in the Ocean Bar.

I couldn't imagine replacing it with a pub serving greasy pub food that you can get at home and paying for it no less......... :eek:

Sliders, wings, no thank you.

The TV's in the Casino Bar are enough.

[Krazy Kruizers]

Keep the Piano Bar, it is a favorite hang out. :) On some cruises I have seen more people in the Piano Bar than in the Ocean Bar.

 

I couldn't imagine replacing it with a pub serving greasy pub food that you can get at home and paying for it no less......... :eek:

 

Sliders, wings, no thank you.

 

The TV's in the Casino Bar are enough.

 

Thank you -- I so agree with you!!!

[Krazy Kruizers]

Leave the Piano Bar. Change one of the other bars with nothing going on in them to a Pub. I think that would be a great idea.

 

Why take something away when you can simply add something?

 

Right on!!

[grandsix]

:D Perry Grant........ Is he still wearing only white suits? Does he have a small spot light directed at him while he plays? I remember him well. :)

 

He has a disco ball and always a picture of Judy Garland on his piano. He does dress in fancy outfits. Forgot to mention that like others, we have enjoyed Randall and Kory who at times can also be flamboyant. They also draw great crowds.

[Taxguy7]

To me, pubs are small, dark and full of smoke. Not appealing on the high seas.

 

In England, pubs are very often large with fewer than 30% smokers and very little smoke smell. Since my grandsons were small when we visited them there, we often had to find pubs that would accept children. The one closest ot DD home had a park, childrens play area, and picnic tables:) The beer, ale and APPLE CIDER were delish. :D

[Taxguy7]

Piano Bars on the ships are not always full or and sometimes barely used from our observation. Cruise after cruise, ship after ship, we often see few people in there and truthfully, the talent isn't always fabulous IMO

 

So, how about converting Piano Bar into Pub type Bars? I think it would be fun. Offer light pub food (even charge us for it, if they want), good selection of beer and ale and wine, even some tv's to show the ball games/sports events.

 

This idea is growing on me.

 

Your thoughts?

 

Your idea is great, but a lot of posters like the piano bar. Find another place, let them keep it and HAL can evaluate after a year.

Draft beer and ale, DON'T forget the cider, and wine will all pull people in.

Pub food. I like it but some don't. One well prepared dish like Sheppard Pie per day as a featured lunch would draw me a few days per cruise, and I like two beers with the meal.:) It wouldn't take many passengers to show a profit at lunch.

Bufalo wings, ugh, that's bar c--- (even if I do like it:o )

No charge, limited items, changing daily.

No TV except if they can receive major sports events. They can bring TV's in for those.

Live entertainment wouldn't hurt, but it's the entertainer that determines the value. Some always have a great following, while others just don't hit the passengers as being worth listening to.

[Desdemona01]

DON'T forget the cider.

 

Oh, it would be heaven to find Bulmers (a/k/a Magners) on a HAL ship....I've been going through withdrawal since our trip to Ireland last fall.....:( As a non-beer drinker it was wonderful to discover this lovely beverage and I haven't been able to find something comparable since we came home.

[travelite]

I enjoy the piano bar/lounge. It is very relaxing and conversations can take place without loud noise in the background. I choose HAL because of the more classic atmosphere on their ships. I would hate to see it replaced with a sports bar or pub.

[Odd Ball]

OK now you've got my attention. Piano bars are my favorite places on a ship. I will spend the majority of my evenings in them but and this is a big but, that is if the entertainment is any good. You are right Sail, a lot of time those bars are empty but and this is another big but, that is because Hal does such a lousy job of hiring good entertainers, and I also understand they don't pay their entertainers as much money as let say Princess, Celebrity, etc. but that is another story. Now I know that the last Hal enterainment guru passed away some months ago, so maybe the replacement might do better, one can only hope.....in saying all this, my point is if you have good entertainment in your Piano Bars they will be full. Perry Grant (now working for Celebrity) and J.P. Nadeau always keep their bars full because they are taletned, personable people, who love to entertain and it shows in their work. So don't blame the Piano Bar for being empty, blame Hal for their hiring practices. Please I beg of you, don't get rite of my Piano Bar.......

 

You made some good comments. IF it was empty, it would be that the entertainment was not so hot.

[PathfinderEss]

You made some good comments. IF it was empty, it would be that the entertainment was not so hot.

 

Thanks Odd Ball, ofcourse that was my humble opinion about the piano bars being empty. If I'm not in the piano bar in the evening, it is because the entertainment is not good, cause other wise I'm there every night. They truly are my favorite place for entertainment at night on land or on a ship.

[Oceanwench]

Keep the Piano Bar, it is a favorite hang out. :) On some cruises I have seen more people in the Piano Bar than in the Ocean Bar.

I couldn't imagine replacing it with a pub serving greasy pub food that you can get at home and paying for it no less......... :eek:

Sliders, wings, no thank you.

The TV's in the Casino Bar are enough.

 

I also agree with everything you say!

[Desdemona01]

I agree, too! We had to make serious choices on the Feb Westerdam--we had Jimmy Maddox in the piano bar and Joel Mason & Julie Barr in the main show lounge--talk about a tough call! We at least started the evening and finished it in the piano bar with jimmy, even if we took a little time out in the middle for Joel and Julie :D

[Taxguy7]

Oh, it would be heaven to find Bulmers (a/k/a Magners) on a HAL ship....I've been going through withdrawal since our trip to Ireland last fall.....:( As a non-beer drinker it was wonderful to discover this lovely beverage and I haven't been able to find something comparable since we came home.

Sorry I didn't answer sooner. I have't either. They opened a pub on the island a few monthes ago, and STILL haven't been able to get a keg of apple cider from their wholesaler. They have a peach cider which is a good palatte cleanser, but keep tring to get apple cider! The wife and co-owner is from Surrey, and I know from experience there are pubs there that have 2 or 3 ciders!:p

If we meet, ask me about the cider from a field trip in college!:D

[AlohaPride]

The Piano Bar created a funny memory for DH and me on the Noordam Christmas cruise in 06. It was our first night on board. I was in the cabin getting ready to go to bed, but my DH wanted to "explore" the ship. About an hour later he calls me and tells me to come down to the piano bar. They are singing a bunch of Broadway songs and he thinks I'll enjoy it. I'm confused that my husband is having fun with a piano player and Broadway songs. So I get dressed and make my way to the piano bar. Never in my life have I seen a bar full of men singing Broadway songs. And never have I been greeted with a collective moan as I walk in and kiss my husband. It was one of the best nights on the ship. We had so much fun.

 

However, with that said, I would like to see a location on the ship devoted to a pub-like atmosphere. Beer tasting classes could also be held.

 

What about sharing? Couldn't the piano bar also serve as a pub on select nights?

[RuthC]

Wonder what Ruth C would say about all this? Guess we won't know till she comes back.

She's back. And she says keep your cotton-pickin' hands off my Piano Bar. It's bad enough when the piano player is lousy, but to have no Piano Bar at all? :eek: There'd be no point in booking a cruise!

Oh, and Carol, I'd congratulate you on 5000 posts, but now you're up to 5100! Congrats. :)

Oh my, yes! Wienies! Nothing like 3 "gaggers" with the works at midnight to help this lady from Rhode Island have a great nights sleep!

 

Martha

NY System, comin' up! You want Del's with that? ;)

I well remember Perry Grant. Many, many cruises with him before he went to Celebrity. Didn't he go briefly to Crystal?

It was Radisson (now Regent). He did the World Cruise with them, then went to X, where he has stayed.

The Piano Lounges on the R-class ships have an entirely different atmosphere than a Piano Bar, IMO. And I think it's much harder to "hold" the room. Those lounges were set up for chatting in small groups, with the music as a background.

The Piano Bars are much more cozy, and are designed for a camaraderie around a mutual enjoyment of the music. A good entertainer in there makes for a fun evening. He doesn't have to be a great singer, either. He has to know how to make a party.

 

I suspect, sail, that the cruises where you're noticing few people in the Piano Lounge are those with a port-intensive itinerary. When you have to get up early in the morning, most every morning, the the lounges tend to close down for lack of patrons. That, and poor selection of entertainers in many cases, are the two primary reasons if the joint isn't jumpin'.

[bepsf]

The Piano Bar created a funny memory for DH and me on the Noordam Christmas cruise in 06. It was our first night on board. I was in the cabin getting ready to go to bed, but my DH wanted to "explore" the ship. About an hour later he calls me and tells me to come down to the piano bar. They are singing a bunch of Broadway songs and he thinks I'll enjoy it. I'm confused that my husband is having fun with a piano player and Broadway songs. So I get dressed and make my way to the piano bar. Never in my life have I seen a bar full of men singing Broadway songs. And never have I been greeted with a collective moan as I walk in and kiss my husband. It was one of the best nights on the ship. We had so much fun.

 

ROFL!!!

 

Mary -

That story is priceless!

:D