NEWS: Celebrity Cruises' Entertainment Has Guests Seeing Stars

[jsea]

[b]Celebrity Cruises' Entertainment Has Guests Seeing Stars[/b]

MIAMI, April 5 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Vividly illustrating its commitment to "treat guests famously," Celebrity Cruises is rolling out a significantly expanded entertainment program onboard its award-winning fleet, featuring enrichment lectures by stars of stage and screen, and new shows featuring some of Broadway's hottest numbers.

"Our guests are experienced, savvy travelers who have seen a variety of acclaimed shows, so it's essential that we offer new and innovative productions along with classic favorites to satisfy their entertainment needs," said Celebrity's Director of Entertainment and Cruise Programs, Michael Thomas.

Celebrity is accomplishing that goal this year by introducing six entirely new production shows that will join the seven shows introduced last year, for a total of 13 new production shows in just 18 months.

"This has been a very aggressive entertainment initiative, and one we're very excited about," said Thomas. "Our ultimate standard is to present four production shows on every ship and every cruise, including our seven-night cruises."

Shows such as "Fantasea" -- whose premiere on Millennium met with consecutive standing ovations -- feature performers using silks, straps, hoops and webs to perform awe-inspiring aerial acts.

Meanwhile, guests' ever-present interest in Broadway classics is met with shows like "A Touch of Broadway" onboard Century, offering a combination of standards from new hit shows and contemporary classics.

Premiering onboard Zenith in June is "Thoroughly Broadway," featuring numbers from hit shows, revivals and the hottest tickets on Broadway.

Celebrity's "Celebrate The World" show premiering on Constellation during the ship's transatlantic crossing to Europe in May will display the most spectacular array of costumes in Celebrity's history, and will utilize the newest projection technology in the industry, including the catalyst DL1, a digital light system that merges moving light technology with digital video projections, offering virtually limitless possibilities with video displays and projections.

Two new shows will debut onboard Galaxy, including "Elements," an aerobatic show in May, and a yet-to-be-named spectacular slated for October. True to its name, Celebrity also is securing noted artists for special performances, most recently booking nine-time Tony Award winner Tommy Tune, the Manhattan Rhythm Kings and, direct from Las Vegas, musical impressionist Stephen Sorrentino.

With entertainment options ideally extending beyond the theatre, Celebrity last year introduced a piano and jazz bar concept within its cozy Michael's Club venues, a Spanish guitarist performing live on the aft deck for romantic sunset sailaways, live comedy acts in the discos, and "Celebrity Discoveries," an intensified enrichment lecture series featuring actual celebrities and recognized authorities discussing their life experiences, accomplishments and challenges.

Among the celebrities entertaining Celebrity guests this year are Hugh Downs, whose more than 60 years of experience in radio and television most recently included co-anchoring ABC's "20/20"; famed talk- and game-show host Regis Philbin; Academy Award winner Ernest Borgnine; celebrated news correspondents Ike Pappas and Irving R. Levine; actor Theodore Bikel; astronaut Col. Jack Lousma; actor Bernie Kopell, best-known for his role as "Doc" on "The Love Boat," and acclaimed maritime historians Bill Miller and John Maxtone-Graham.

Celebrity Cruises is the industry's highest rated premium cruise brand with a taste of luxury. The cruise line has 10 ships in its fleet, which is the youngest of any major line. Celebrity sails in the Arctic, Antarctic, Alaska, Bermuda, California, the Caribbean, Europe, the Galapagos Islands, Hawaii, the Mexican Riviera, the Panama Canal and South America. For more information, call your travel agent, dial 1-800-437-3111, or visit the Celebrity web site at [url="http://www.celebrity.com"]www.celebrity.com[/url] .

[url="http://www.corporate-ir.net/ireye/ir_site.zhtml?ticker=rcl&script=410&layout=9&item_id=511747"]Press release in original context[/url].

[ecowen]

"Shows such as "Fantasea" -- whose premiere on Millennium met with consecutive standing ovations"

This is so hard to believe. I saw Fantasea in December, and the only people standing were those getting up and running for cover. [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]

I'm glad Celebrity seems to be making an effort to improve the quality of the shows, and bringing in outside talent is a move in the right direction. But Ernest Borgnine??? Celebrity must have had a long, long list of potential stars. How many refusals do you suppose they received before getting to Ernest?

[superjerryw]

Based on his experience in McHale's Navy at least Ernest Borgnine could help steer the ship.... [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif[/img]

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Donuts, is there anything they can't do....

[excitedofharpenden]

Wasn't he in the Poseidon Adventure too? [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_eek.gif[/img]

Phil

Mercury Western Caribbean November 2002
Galaxy Eastern Caribbean November 2003

[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=0000ff&cdt=2004;11;13;18;0;00&timezone=GMT-0600[/img]
Until Galaxy Panama Canal Out Of Galveston
13th November 2004

[Lois R]

Hi Phil[img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif[/img]...yes, he was in the Posieden Adventure...we are aging each other by the minute [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif[/img]

Next up...HORIZON Sept 18th to Bermuda!

[excitedofharpenden]

Hi Lois.

Yes, but the film had been around a long time before we saw it, hadn't it? [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif[/img] [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif[/img]

Phil

Mercury Western Caribbean November 2002
Galaxy Eastern Caribbean November 2003

[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=0000ff&cdt=2004;11;13;18;0;00&timezone=GMT-0600[/img]
Until Galaxy Panama Canal Out Of Galveston
13th November 2004

[Lois R]

Phil...you are too cute. [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif[/img] [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif[/img]..that film is not that old...I believe it came out in the 70's...along with all those other disaster films....AIRPORT....EARTHQUAKE....etc...

Next up...HORIZON Sept 18th to Bermuda!

[L11]

AAK! Cut it out you two. I was eighteen when that movie came out and we do NOT need to remond me that it this year will be the 34th anniversary of my 18th birthday! [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_redface.gif[/img]

Linda

Infinitinis and Infinatics to Hawaii
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[jimbo23]

Ernies wife TOVA might be able to give the girls some makeup tips though ,if she isn't doing QVC

Norwegian Dream April 2003



soon to be on board .Thats the life
constellation
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[smudge's mom]

Ernest Borgnine? Guess he's free now that Milwaukee will not be having it's Circus Parade this year. (Ernest Borgnine is the head clown for the parade.)

I thought EB was out of place at the Circus Parade, I can't imagine him as a guest star with anything to offer. Even at his peak, he wasn't a solo entertainer or a member of a song/dance troup, was he?

Weird.

[birders]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>This is so hard to believe. I saw Fantasea in December, and the only people standing were those getting up and running for cover. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

ecowen, we agree with you - walked out of that one. Unmemorable music, overmiked, and all sounding the same. Went back to our verandah and watched the waves.

[CaribbeanBound]

Hey, I always liked Ernest Borgnine.

[Princess-of-Quite-alot]

"It's got to be the morning after....." [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]

Celebrity Century 5/8/04 -Western Caribbean
[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=9400d3&cdt=2004;5;8;16;30;00&timezone=GMT-0800[/img]

Carnival Ecstasy 2/04 - Baja
Tahitian Princess 2/03- French Polynesia
Sea Princess 7/02 - Alaska
Carnival Ecstasy 5/02 - Baja
Royal Caribbean Monarch 10/00 - Southern Caribbean
Carnival Elation 10/99 - Mexican Riviera
Royal Caribbean Monarch 1/97 - Southern Caribbean

[nealberk]

If we have to have someone from McHale's Navy couldn't it be Tim Conway? He is funny....

[Jacqueline]

We also left halfway through Fantasea...The pace was too slow and it all seemed the same.
Loved the Boradway show though, perhaps because we had a talented cast that could really sing.

Jacqueline
Constellation 3/20/04
HAL Westerdam 7/30/04
Tahitian Princess August 2003
Grand Princess Western Caribbean 2003
Brilliance of the Seas Baltic 2002
Ocean Princess- Alaska 2001
Celebrity Zenith- Bermuda 2001
Grand Princess Med 2000

[scapel]

We were on the Infinity in Feb and Ernest Borgnine was aboard. He just got on stage and gave some notes about his career. He answered questions and was quite entertaining. He would be seen around the ship and was on on the shuttle bus into Puerta Madryn with us. He loves to talk and when asked to take a picture with us stated "I thought you would never ask"
He is 87 years old and his brain works very well. He was a joy to be around. His secretary and her husband were also wonderful people to be around.

Joe Reynolds

[Rustynail]

I heard that William Hung guy from American Idol was singing in Fantasea starting in December 2004.

She bangs...she bangs....ol yea

[img]http://www.animatedgif.net/animals/dogs/stikdog_e0.gif[/img]

CARRIBEAN PRINCESS JAN 2005
[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=ff0000&cdt=2005;01;22;17;00;00&timezone=GMT-0500[/img]

CARNIVAL'S LEGEND JAN 2003
CELEBRITY'S CENTURY DEC 2003
[img]http://www.animatedgif.net/animals/dogs/cflbird2dog_e0.gif[/img]

[excitedofharpenden]

Rusty

They are apparently bringing him out for the emergency evacuation drill. He can clear the Theatre in minutes, so I'm told [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif[/img]

Phil

Mercury Western Caribbean November 2002
Galaxy Eastern Caribbean November 2003

[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=0000ff&cdt=2004;11;13;18;0;00&timezone=GMT-0600[/img]
Until Galaxy Panama Canal Out Of Galveston
13th November 2004

[tn1728]

Is there any way of finding out prior to sailing, who the lecturer/guests are going to be?

Infinity to Alaska

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[mango14217]

Saw Regis on Celebrity ships before but as a passengewr not an entertainer he's very nice and frienly. i would have enjoyed meeting earnest cb had i been there.

[img]http://image.fg-a.com/bearfish_1.gif[/img]

[barquitodepapel]

Is Ernest Borgnine 87!?!?!?! OMG I'm getting old!!! [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_eek.gif[/img]

[Dave&Ann]

Good grief! I just almost fell over laughing at the comments about Ernest Borgnine being about 850 out of 851 on the list of potential "stars." It's sort of like the list of people in line for the British throne (I imagine I'd feel important if I were 389th in line, but it's more of a bragging right than anything else). These ideas of bringing stars on board reminds me of what they always say about European nobility - if you pay, they'll go wherever you ask. Some of these celebrities seem to make a part-time job out of traveling on cruise lines (Regis pops up like a mushroom on this line or that - last I knew, he was boasting on his show that he was cruising on Seabourn). Oh, well, I imagine they're entertaining if nothing else. I wonder what Jerry Mathers is doing lately? Hmm.....

Dave & Ann

[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=4169e1&cdt=2004;10;12;15;00;00&timezone=GMT+0100[/img]
Countdown until our first Millennium cruise!

[Ma Bell]

Regis is on TV about as much as anyone could be. I don't think he's been MIA. Maybe he just likes to cruise. Celebrities like to enjoy the same kinds of things we all do.

[celebritycruiser2007]

My wife and I cruise quite a bit on Celebrity. I am just wondering who you all think are the best guest entertainers? We have enjoyed Matilda, Lindsay Hamilton, and David Meyer quite a bit. On our cruise just a few days ago, we saw a young woman from the production cast premiere her guest entertaining show. Her name is Abby Powell, and she was phenomenal. Very nice, too. We met her after her show. Who are your favorites?

[jaxon41]

"Touch of Broadway" on the Century was the worst large production show I had ever seen on any ship. The choice of numbers, and the really weak singing voices accounted for less than a memorable experience. The dancers, however, were very good, and the second production show -- Dance around the World, or something like that -- was decent, with good spectacle.

I prefer Celebrity to other lines, but I must say, the best production shows I ever saw were on NCL's med cruise.

I always enjoy the comics, but can't say I'd get excited about any of the "stars" listed in the article -- and I am not a youngster.