Ipeeinthepools

Enjoy your trip, I'm looking forward to your review.

This is excellent news

If you want to follow this logic, since HAL makes the decision on everything, maybe we close out most of the discussions on Cruise Critic.

I hope the streaming package works on your new cruise line.

You really need to quote all of "my words". Please read and quote my entire post instead of removing part of the post. My comment referenced guests interacting with the performer and becoming part of the performance. Most guests won't enjoy watching you or me playing games or interacting with the performer. I stand by that comment unless you are going to tell me that you would enjoy watching me be part of the performance. Enough said.

You really need to re-read my posts. True I don't like sing-a-longs but I never talked about how many people would like sing-a-longs. But the topic grew to how much individual guests became a part of the program. People then talked about how they played a game with the performer. That's what I said guests would not appreciate as much as that individual guest. I'm sure you have zero desire to watch me play a game with the performer and as entertaining as I am, that would not be memorable for most guests. I also have zero desire to spend time watching you interact with the performer. That's what my most guests comment referenced and I stand by that statement.

Hold on a minute. I have experienced many different type of performances where the guests interact with the performers and none of them were memorable. The people that were with me felt the same way. I'm not sure how you would know how my acquaintances felt about those performances. Other guests include a lot more than the handful of people following this thread. In any case, I'm sailing in a few weeks and I'll be sure to let you know what people think.

Please stop with the personal attacks.

I am confused. Please explain to me why I can't have the opinion that I don't like the new concept and I believe that it's only being done for cost cutting and not because they think it's an improvement? I also don't like it when entertainers make the guests part of the show. It has nothing to do with any particular person. I'm sure it was great for them. For me and the rest of the guests, not so much. Why can't I have that opinion? You're certainly entitled to your opinion, but please stop the personal attacks. BTW, you don't need to yell.

Maybe the tours in Jamaica need to adopt the approach used on our tour visiting the pyramids several years ago. Each bus had a guard with an Uzi under his suit coat sitting at the front of the bus. No one bothered the buses traveling across the desert.

I'm sorry, but I'm afraid you're the one that just doesn't understand. You and several others like the concept and I'm fine with that. I never said that you can't have your own point of view. Please tell me why you are so upset that I don't like the concept. Please tell me why I can't express my opinion that I wish they would keep the dueling piano concept without you attacking me? My opinion is that it's just more cost cutting, just like the elimination of the Lincoln Center performers. I'm glad you had a memorable evening when you were part of the show. Great for you, but I don't need to see that. But you are probably correct, it's better for you to save your breath rather than telling people they can't have their own opinion.

Haha. I doubt it. Did HAL listen to all of the comments about the Lincoln Center performers?

Most people would agree with you. 😉

That's one of the reasons I don't go to the circus anymore.

Please save this one for the time when the sing-a-longs go away.

I'm sorry but I'm afraid that you can't seem to grasp the concept that it's all about cost cutting and not implementing something that will appeal to more passengers. If HAL was truly trying to see if more people enjoyed the sing-a-long concept it would have been easy. The dueling pianos didn't play every night. It would have been easy to use have one of the piano players do sing-a-longs instead of having the venue dark that night. They could have even added a special evening for sing-a-longs. Maybe do sing-a-longs with two pianos. If they would have tried any of these options, I'm suggesting that they would not have had all the tables packed and people standing in the hallways during those performances. Maybe I'm right or maybe I'm wrong but we'll never know because HAL didn't do the comparison. Instead they just cut costs and eliminated a piano player without considering if it would be an improvement to the entertainment options. I hope you enjoy the sing-a-longs while they last, if HAL is really paying attention they won't be around very long.

Past experience would tell me that this isn't true but there is no doubt that you really enjoyed the evening because you were part of the show. This is the same as the elimination of the Lincoln Center performers, cost cutting at it's worst. Both are cost cutting at features that were enjoyed by many passengers and the performances were packed every night. Shame on HAL for cost cutting on things that brought people on board the ships. Here's an idea. Maybe HAL should eliminate all live piano players. Maybe they should generate an AI based Barry, they would pay Barry one time, and an artificial Barry would perform with a computer operated piano. People can then talk to an image of Barry on the screen and the computer will respond the same way Barry would have and then the computer will play the same sing-a-long songs. No need for breaks and the computer can perform continuously all evening until the last person leaves the bar. HAL can call it Barry on Board. Please note that this is not an attack on Barry. I'm sure he's a great guy and a great performer and HAL could select any piano player. For more money maybe they could generate an AI version of Billy Joel and have Billy on Board. Maybe HAL can even make some money from this concept. The only way you would get Barry or Billy's attention is through your Navigator app and of course 4 and 5 star Mariners would get priority. It would cost $5 to talk to Barry and $10 to have your song selected. This could be another great way to use up non-refundable OBC. I hope everyone enjoys the sing-a-longs. Karaoke anyone?

Or maybe, HAL should keep the dueling piano player concept because Billboard on Board was packed to capacity every night and you can enjoy the sing-a-long on the World Stage. BTW I can guarantee that when the performer plays a game with one or more of the guests, it was not as memorable for the other 99% of the guests.

I have no desire to attend a performance where you or any other guest is part of the performance and listen to you or any other guest play games. I'm sure it was memorable for you but not so much for the other guests.

The dueling concept sounds great, too bad HAL has walked away from it.

More important they are changing the overall nature of the performance. The original was a performance between two talented performers and the other is a performance between one professional and amateur guests. I really have no desire for the other guests to be involved in the performance.

I agree 1000%. I would rather have 2 professional entertainers performing rather than 1 entertainer and a room full of amateurs that only want to entertain themselves.

Nope

Someone needs to tell the port workers in San Diego that we are the customers and they should be working to make us happy.

Really sad. Sorry to see this.