Are P&O passengers "too snotty" when it comes to entertainment?

[snow flake]

Tom O'Connor was on Aurora at Christmas, two good shows. He also did a session one afternoon as an extra when we could not dock at Lisbon due to weather, full houses for each performance.

[wilson2579]

Beatles Celebration?[/quote

 

Beatles Experience UK:cool:

[cruisefan2012]

I found this thread very entertaining because I spend my spare time travelling everywhere from Cork to Paris to Aberdeen to see artists - some of the BIGGEST names in the music industry at the moment - perform their concerts live and there are some EXCEPTIONAL performers out there !!

 

I`ve been on 5 P&O Cruises, part of the cruise "experience" for me is seeing the shows, nothing beats a LIVE show, comedy, music, Headliners Theatre Company

 

I have seen some INCREDIBLE shows on each ship, Headliners especially are ALWAYS fantastic...

 

On my first cruise on Arcadia, Tom O`Connor was a guest act, I didnt go to his shows because I didnt think his material would suit me as I wasnt familiar with him, anyways was told by other passengers how incredible he was, so thought I would go along to his last show on the cruise which was a Q&A with the cruise director, I`m so thankful I went as he was truly hilarious, poor Cruise Director couldnt get a word in edge ways, he talked non stop for an hour and I swear he never came up for air !! Even got the chance to meet him in the lift, his cabin was a few doors down from mine - Very funny man and nice to talk too aswell

 

Some of the acts were terrible, I wont names names but the guy that did the Freddie Mercury tribute act was terrible... I`ve grown up listening to Queen, Whole family are big fans... Poor Freddie would be turning in his grave..

 

So yes I think we are snotty or snooty when it comes to entertainment - I`ve been guilty of walking out of the theatre when an act has in my mind "butchered" a favourite song of mine...

Edited April 29, 2014 by cruisefan2012

[Josy1953]

I found this thread very entertaining because I spend my spare time travelling everywhere from Cork to Paris to Aberdeen to see artists - some of the BIGGEST names in the music industry at the moment - perform their concerts live and there are some EXCEPTIONAL performers out there !!

 

I`ve been on 5 P&O Cruises, part of the cruise "experience" for me is seeing the shows, nothing beats a LIVE show, comedy, music, Headliners Theatre Company

 

I have seen some INCREDIBLE shows on each ship, Headliners especially are ALWAYS fantastic...

 

On my first cruise on Arcadia, Tom O`Connor was a guest act, I didnt go to his shows because I didnt think his material would suit me as I wasnt familiar with him, anyways was told by other passengers how incredible he was, so thought I would go along to his last show on the cruise which was a Q&A with the cruise director, I`m so thankful I went as he was truly hilarious, poor Cruise Director couldnt get a word in edge ways, he talked non stop for an hour and I swear he never came up for air !! Even got the chance to meet him in the lift, his cabin was a few doors down from mine - Very funny man and nice to talk too aswell

 

Some of the acts were terrible, I wont names names but the guy that did the Freddie Mercury tribute act was terrible... I`ve grown up listening to Queen, Whole family are big fans... Poor Freddie would be turning in his grave..

 

So yes I think we are snotty or snooty when it comes to entertainment - I`ve been guilty of walking out of the theatre when an act has in my mind "butchered" a favourite song of mine...

It is not that we are necessarily snotty or snooty but more a case of "different strokes for different folks". The only time that we have ever left a show before the end was the Freddie Mercury Tribute, I would agree that he was the terrible but there were a lot of passengers who were raving about how good he was. On the same cruise Micheal Ball was a guest entertainer and if I had been able to I would have gone to all 3 concerts that he did because we were allocated tickets to the first one and he was wonderful, but again around the ship there were a few people moaning that he was not as good as they expected, in my opinion he was far better in live concert than any television appearance or show that I have seen him in. We just all need to accept that no matter what entertainment is on board it will not suit everyone.

[groovechick]

On Aurora 2 years ago we had Maurice Grumbleweed, of "The Grumbleweeds" fame. Now I remember them from my childhood as being pretty funny and thought he would be worth watching. For some reason we didn't get to the show, but our dining companions did and they said it was awful - tired, dated and not at all suitable for the family audience on board. They weren't prudish either, because we all watched the comedy magician who was on the same cruise. He was just the tiniest bit risqué, but knew when to draw the line, and was also very, very funny.

 

Last year on Azura we saw the Freddie Mercury tribute and thought he was OK but not great, a Phil Collins tribute that I refused to even go and see because I heard him rehearsing on deck for an outdoor show and he was just TOO loud, comedy pianist Kevin Orkian, who was brilliant, and singer/pianist Elio Pace who was fabulous.

[pete14]

I agree that the issue is one of personal taste. I don't like the Headliners so rarely will I go to one of their shows. I know a lot of people like their show containing Queen songs, I hated it and quietly slipped out from my seat at the back. One of the best singers I have seen onboard was Rebecca Storm who I thought was excellent (some others didn't) and surprisingly the Bachelors (or what is left of the original group) who were slick, professional and easy to listen to. I agree that Tom O'Connor does an excellent show although I probably would not choose to watch him on TV.

[sunnysennen]

We just come back from P &O Oceanea we went to see the show killer queen everyone raved about how good it was husband loved it I thought it was rubbish. So in the end its often personal taste mine you I would posdible avoid a 70's because they won't be as you remember them so possible disappointment.

Sunny sennen

[cruisefan2012]

I`ve sat in Manhattan on Azura watching and listening to the Elton John and Annie Lennox tribute acts - Who I thought were both FANTASTIC !!

 

Guest speakers that I`ve enjoyed listening too are the former British Airways concorde pilot and a man that was a bodyguard or personal pilot to Princess Diana - both very interesting to listen too

 

Last year on Azura there was a ventriloquist act that featured on Britains got Talent (Susan Boyles year) who was amazing, very talented and a Brummie comedian Roy or Ray somebody who was very funny !!

 

Headliners have quite often had a standing ovation at the end of the show, I`ve never been to a headliners theatre company show that I didnt enjoy... after watching them part of me wishes I had gone to Stage school...

 

One time Sam Kane (ex Corrie - Married to Linda Lusardi) came on and sang but was terrible...

[AchileLauro]

The only name as such that I've seen on a P&O cruise was Phil Daniels (Paul Daniels son) & he was very good, having said that I saw him again two years later on Royal Caribbean & it was virtually the same set so was a tad disappointed.)

 

Was the crude comedian a Cuban by any chance ? we had one on Ventura for New Year 2010/11 and he was pretty rubbish.

 

Saw Tom O'Connor on RCI and he was brilliant.

 

Are you sure it isn't Martin Daniels and not Phil?

[bluemug]

our first cruise was on Sundream and the entertainers were "the crankies". Shades of crackerjack I thought. Their show had us rolling in the isles with laughter. The same goes for Tom O'Conner. Another show we went to was in the Millenium cantre Cardiff. tHE SINGER WAS ATROCIOUS.Low and behold she was on another of our cruises so when she came on we went out. as for racist acts; Stand up and say so. Don't be afraid. If the cruise director gets adverse comments about an act, then that act will be made to leave.

[wilson2579]

Did see a really good Dusty Springfield last year. Very talented young girl.

[Francisdrake]

Thinking about it the son of Paul we saw was Martin, not Phil, he must have more than one in the business.

 

Nah it was a faux pas on my part, it was actually Martin Daniels I saw no idea where I got Phil from.

[dgs1956]

When I saw "Dusty Springfield" she also did some Callsical at the end of her act. She is very good.

David

[richleeds]

When I saw "Dusty Springfield" she also did some Callsical at the end of her act. She is very good.

David

 

The Dusty doing the ships is Katy Setterfield, good voice and likeness. When the bbc did a rip off of ITV's Stars in your Eyes she won the final.

 

Surprised about the Sam Kane comment above as he works lots in musical theatre and has a good vocal.

[dgs1956]

bluemug

I missed your earlier comment about racist comedians.

You are of course absolutely right. No way would I sit in an audience and listen to racist comments and that includes comments about Germans and the war. I would also complain to the CD. Too many people who are offended by these things put up with it rather than make a scene.

In saying that I have never experienced it on a P&O cruise.

David

Edited May 2, 2014 by dgs1956

[Somerset Cruiser]

The Dusty doing the ships is Katy Setterfield, good voice and likeness. When the bbc did a rip off of ITV's Stars in your Eyes she won the final.

 

It was Maxine Mazumder on Azura in February.

[besberry]

It was Maxine Mazumder on the Aurora last year too. She didtwo different people. Dusty Springfield was one, but for the life of me I can't remember who the other was. Her husband was on board and he's a tribute act as well.

[dgs1956]

Two "Dusty Springfields" ??

That reminds me of a friend of mine in Benidorm asking where the Michael Buble Tribute was performing. "Which one mate? There are four of them".

Not that I've ever been to Benidorm I'm much to Snooty and Snotty for that. HaHa

David

Edited May 2, 2014 by dgs1956

[Brayman]

It was Maxine Mazumder on the Aurora last year too. She didtwo different people. Dusty Springfield was one, but for the life of me I can't remember who the other was. Her husband was on board and he's a tribute act as well.

 

I think it might have been Lulu, who doesn't have much of a catalogue so she did some other songs too.

 

Someone did a Doris Day story but I don't think it was Maxine.

[wilson2579]

Maxine did perform with Take that when on board and her 2nd show of the cruise was her singing as herself, not another tribute act.

[richleeds]

Two "Dusty Springfields" ??

That reminds me of a friend of mine in Benidorm asking where the Michael Buble Tribute was performing. "Which one mate? There are four of them".

Not that I've ever been to Benidorm I'm much to Snooty and Snotty for that. HaHa

David

 

In Benidorm you can see Take That, go to another bar and see Westlife and then back to the first bar and see Boyzone - yes it's the same lads doing all 3!

[dgs1956]

Yep! Richleeds

I've seen them all.

I used to live an hour and a half from Benidorm and had a few good nights out there.

David

[Denarius]

One man's meat is another man's poison.

This was amply demonstrated for me on a Caribbean cruise on Ventura last January. In Sint Maarten we were tied up across from a Holland America ship which was hosting a specialist blues music cruise. At the time of our sailaway they had a live blues band playing on deck. They were really good with an excellent singer, guitarist and keyboard player and together with many other Ventura passengers I enjoyed listening to them. This was not the case for other passengers, who complained that the "noise" was spoiling their enjoyment of our entertainment team dancing.

You cannot please all of the people all of the time. only aim to please all of the people some of the time.

Edited May 2, 2014 by Denarius

[dgs1956]

Denarius

Everyone's a critic nowadays though. Obviously there are a few acts or entertainers on cruises that we don't particularly like but we don't make it our vocation to tell everyone that we didn't like something. We prefer the "Glass is half full" rather than "half empty" attitude. As you say "One man's meat ...etc".

David

[scifimonkey]

Interesting to see the criticism of the Freddy Mercury tribute act in some earlier posts. We were on Ventura in 2010 and Azura in 2012 and Steve Larkins 'Mercury Rising' show went down a storm on both cruises. Maybe the previous posters saw someone else ??Having seen Freddie at Wembley and being a fan Steve clearly isn't as good as the real thing but then neither are any of the other tribute acts. The fact is he puts on a tremendous show which offers a good enough portrayal of the music including playing the piano as well as singing, mixed with some great humour and a portrayal of the man which I'm sure would have Freddie laughing his socks off. I wasn't aware of anyone walking out. People were too busy singing along, clapping their hands above their heads and rolling around at each outrageous segue from hit into hit. There are a few clips of his act on you tube which IMHO don't do him full justice but they give an idea.

If our cruises were anything to go by, then I suggest that if he is on your cruise and you want to see him you get there early. Certainly the most enjoyable tribute act we have ever seen. If I want accuracy then I will watch Freddie himself on bluray.