Why does Celebrity Have the WORST Entertainment on board?

[Feelin' Nauti']

Some of that entertainment still exists but some is gone.

 

A Capella groups are gone. String quartets are gone. Pool parties are diminished. Less solo entertainment but it still exists. Party band at the pool replaced largely by DJ or no music. Trivia reduced on most sailings. Some of the is due to the cutbacks in the activity staff down to 2 plus the DJ.

 

Our last 2 sailings (April/May of this year) quite different from the past. Doesn't affect us much since we are long over the Newlywed Games, 70s nights, etc. but there are those that still enjoy it.

This is what we've noticed as well.

 

On our last cruise, they had a house band play pool side a couple of days for 30 mins. And on other days, in the lobby.

Playing the same songs and wearing the same outfits.

 

Up in the disco area (sorry don't recall the name) Each night they played Latin music.... Never changed. :rolleyes:

[miched]

Have to agree that some times the performers and entertainers on Celebrity are rather weak and amateurish. Have attended a few production shows that were not any better than high school or local small town community theater.

 

There was one lounge group on the Eclipse. They were terrible. The young female singer had a real ego problem and would ignore or look thru you as if you didn't exist when not performing. I think they were fired from their contract midway thru the cruise because of many complaining. One passenger mentioned to me about the terrible singer in a lounge and I mentioned that he may have been where there was Karaoke. He laughed and said no it was a definite lounge group. Turned out to be the same female.

 

Happy cruising 🌊🚢🇺🇸🌅

[royalcruz]

Aw, c'mon it's not THAT bad! Entertainers/bands are hit or miss on every line. I like that Celebrity isn't trying to be a holiday camp at sea, like RCL and Carnival, but most of the Celebrity cruise directors make it lots of fun, including some passenger participation games. That's why if we sail for more than a few days we prefer Celebrity...I can only take so much of the hooting and hollering.

Edited October 4, 2014 by royalcruz

[Orator]

Agree with the OP and I'll keep returning until they get it right! Might take a very long time, but I'll just try to endure.

Edited October 4, 2014 by Orator

[Cruise Raider]

I thought this might be a joke as just off a Celebrity cruise and think the entertainment was absolutely top notch!! We couldn't believe they had such a wide array of talent on one sailing!!

To each his own, I guess, but this is something I think Celebrity does so very well. There were times when we just couldn't do everything. Guess we will have to go back again, and again, and again....:D

[monicajay]

We must cruise together.

:D

Martini Bar does it for me.

 

 

I don't really need to be entertained on a ship. A good book, a good beer, and some fun and fun people at a bar such as the Martini Bar is fine by me.

 

Looking out at the sea is my favorite entertainment.

[Tatka]

What happened to the entertainment on Celebrity?

 

We have seen some nice shows, listened to great live music twice on Century and once on Mercury. Although our last X cruise was in 2007.

 

By the way, if you love entertainment try MSC. The best production shows out of all lines. Every day. You might not like some other things, but this one they do the best.

[antsnanny]

Why does Celebrity out of all the other cruise lines lack variety of live music performances' date=' game shows where pax can participate, activities near pool, guest star comedy acts, and unique and creative shows?[/b']

 

We just sailed for 14 days on Celebrity and enjoyed the shows every night. I was not crazy about the flutist (just not my thing) but people interested in that type of thing loved him. I thought the entertainment was awesome. They had the typical game shows seen on any other cruise line and comedy acts.

[antsnanny]

I thought this might be a joke as just off a Celebrity cruise and think the entertainment was absolutely top notch!! We couldn't believe they had such a wide array of talent on one sailing!!

To each his own, I guess, but this is something I think Celebrity does so very well. There were times when we just couldn't do everything. Guess we will have to go back again, and again, and again....:D

 

Ditto Cruise Raider, just booked another one today!

[ECCruise]

In the final analysis, I think Celebrity's production shows are as good as any and probably better than they ever have been. Their second tier entertainment falls short of Princess (there seems to be more opportunities for other entertainment on Princess and to some degree, NCL) but I would not classify as terrible. The third level entertainment (game shows and such) is virtually a clone of every other cruise line (as every other line is a clone of them). As I mentioned in an earlier post, we are long over the same old, same old of that but to each their own.

 

There definitely is less non-revenue generating activities in the past, of that there is no escaping. But similar someone else said, a good book, a couple good meals, the passing sea and great destinations and we are good to go.

[BubMunkeyBles]

We thought the entertainment was pretty good. Enough to rebook the same cruise for next year. :)

[swsfrail]

I have never been disappointed with Celebrity's entertainment. Much is very good, while some is only good. But from my experience, none is bad, and certainly not "the worst".

[peter spain]

I disagree! I am a bit younger then the average X cruiser, but think they have great entertainment!

[iancal]

It is not great. But it certainly is not the worst.

 

If you want to experience the worst entertainment, book a Holland America cruise.

[tbmrt]

We've always enjoyed sailaway with watching cruisers dance, live music, etc....Seemed like it was the time vacation really started to us.

 

Does Celebrity still do this?

 

If not, I guess we're headed to the Sunset Bar or our own balcony!

[Minoushka]

Anyone who criticizes a company without actually have ever been on one of their ships is talking nonsense ,?i have been on most companies....and entertainment goes from good to great on some .By the way Carnival has great entertainment ...the comedy clubs are our favorite ...nice to laugh before bedtime

The best I have seen is on Epic and NCL.....amazing shows esp cirque

I found Celebrity was very very very quiet at night ...on most Celebrity cruises I have taken ....people ate early and retired early .I was asked to leave the casino at 11:30 twice because ?...there was no one there ....so maybe its not in their best interest to spend $$$$$ for entertainment no one watches

[Tatka]

We sailed on Carnival ships three times, and entertainment was lacking. Very limited live music in lounges, couple of average shows in theater, I believe that on one evening they even had crew show instead professional entertainment. We still are puzzled about "fun ship" thing.

[RCKM43]

This is why there are different lines to choose from. While I have not sailed Carnival, I know many who have. I have heard about their entertainment in detail. I have sailed on other lines aside from a Celebrity. But I prefer Celebrity because it doesn't have the loud pool activities, entertainment is subjective. I don't love everything a Celebrity does, but I pick and choose and do not expect broadway quality. If one finds the entertainment horrible, instead of trying to change the line, maybe try picking a line that is an overall better fit would be a better choice. That is why there are so many lines to choose from. Maybe RCCL might be a better fit if one wants more nightlife, or as others stated NCL.

[chamima]

Hmmm, not sure which ships you have been sailing but we have never felt this way, and we have done both M & S Ships.

 

There are the traditional nightly theatre shows... Singing, Dancing, Magicians etc. And on the S-Class Ships the aerobatic Cirque de Soleil type performances, as well as Late Night Comics (adult content) in the Celebrity Central venue.

 

And sometimes Celebrity does feature cruises with big name performers... You just have to know when those are sailing

 

During the Day and Early Evening... There are Musicians & Musical Performances at various venues... Classical Guitarist - String Quartet - Rock Band - Acapella Group - Singer Soloist etc.

 

Late Night Jazz in the Ensemble Lounge, or a Dance Band in the Rendezvous or Sky Lounges

 

Have also seen Themed Revue Shows that took place in the Atrium / Grand Foyer

 

As for Game Shows and the like...

 

I've seen the Newlywed / Anniversary Game - played Daily Trivia and gone to or participated in several of the Crew & You Events such as... Dancing with the Stripes - Liars Club - Officers vs Pax Water Polo Match - and the Iron Chef Cook Off

 

We have also been to an Under The Stars Party (Live Band, Dancing & Food) that happened at the Pool one night.

 

And on S-Class Ships Picnic in the Park (with live entertainment) as well as the Corning Glass Show (on select ships)

 

Honestly, I have never been bored... And have been impressed by the variety

 

Have found that for us, there has always been something happening pretty much around the clock wherever we happen to be onboard

 

Perhaps you need to read your issue of Celebrity Today more closely ???

 

Cheers!

 

Both of our Celebrity Cruises we have felt this way. I can't say Worst because we don't attend much, but I will say lacking. There really wasn't much going on that we were interested in. On Princess there's usually something to look forward too each night. Doesn't really bother me, I'm happy in the martini bar, but we definitely noticed it

 

We also loved the above (highlighted in red) but they are pretty much gone from Celebrity.

When we first started cruising with Celebrity we loved all of the live classical music around the ship in the evening but one by one they have been cut back.

Also have to agree with FeelinNautical and CruiseJunky above.

[TMLAalum]

Our first cruise experience was on the NCL Pearl to Alaska. On a 7 night cruise the theatre show had the same Neil Diamond impersonator for 2 of those nights with minimal variation in repertoire. IMO, that is pretty lame. Wonder if my experience should have me starting a thread with the same title as this one over on the NCL board:rolleyes:?

[poeticlicensed]

Haven't sailed Celebrity yet, so I really cannot comment on quality of entertainment. However, I have sailed both Carnival and RCL and frankly, part of the reason we decided to try X is because I was so over the hairy chest contests, bellly flop contests, the really loud music blared at is non-stop on deck. It got to the point on our last cruise on Carnival that I wouldn't go out by the pool anymore. To be honest, that wasn't the only reason, it was also the sight of drunk, trashy people with their pack of cigs stuffed in the bathing suits. But that's a whole other topic.

 

I guess it all goes to what you expectations are. On a cruise ship, I expect better than high school, but certainly not Broadway level. The shows on both Carnival and RCL were pretty lame and cheesy, but that's cruise ship entertainment for you. I admit my experiences on RCL were not on their mega ships.

 

Give me a good piano player over a lame stage show anytime.

[Tatka]

Well we saw belly flop contests on Celebrity. No hairy chest/legs though. :)

 

One of the worst contests we witnessed happened on HAL Zuiderdam in 2004. It was swimming rally. Participants had to swim to the end of the pool, drink can of beer, loudly burp and swim back. You never know...

[TLCOhio]

One of the worst contests we witnessed happened on HAL Zuiderdam in 2004. It was swimming rally. Participants had to swim to the end of the pool, drink can of beer, loudly burp and swim back. You never know...

 

Sure glad that on our two Celebrity Solstice cruises that we never got to witness such "Swim, Beer & Burp" events. Happy to have missed such "excitement".

 

During our two Solstice cruises, including earlier this year, Australia to NZ, we were happy with the shows, performers, etc. Not all are perfect or the "best", but things worked fine. It's not Broadway or London's West End with the stage shows, however, we liked the quality, timing, performer spirit/skill etc. Below are some samples of my photo "evidence" to the staging. Our main cruise objective is about the ports, places/areas to be visited. The ship's entertainment is not our main need. For us, it works out as a nice "frosting on the cake" as a part of the overall package in doing such sailing.

 

Many more details for ship entertainment from the live/blog connected below.

 

THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

 

Back from doing a 14-day Celebrity Solstice, Jan. 20-Feb. 3, 2014, Sydney to Auckland adventure on this ship and getting a big sampling for the wonders of "down under” before and after this cruise. Go to:

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1974139

for much more information and lots of wonderful pictures on these amazing sights in this great part of the world. Now at 80,096 views for this fun posting.

 

 

Here are two of my photo highlights from the Solstice production show called "Ghostlight--The Spirit of Broadway". Lots of great tunes, including many from the Four Seasons as done on Broadway with Jersey Boys. Other very good tunes that connected with many of the Baby Boomers (and older) on this cruise. The singers and dancers really worked hard and did a super good job. Great voices!! Lots of energy and excitement. Nice lighting, staging, sets, etc. First-class for a cruise ship. Not quite Broadway and London's West End. And, all done in less than hour. Worked extremely well for a night's entertainment either before or after dinner!!

 

 

 

[Lois R]

Isn't entertainment subjective? Just like food? Just like a lot of things?

What one person likes, another person may hate...well, hate may be

a strong word, but you get the idea. What you like, may not appeal to

me and I what I enjoy, you may think is ridiculous. I am guessing they

are not going to please everyone.

[patty1955]

Isn't entertainment subjective? Just like food? Just like a lot of things?

What one person likes, another person may hate...well, hate may be

a strong word, but you get the idea. What you like, may not appeal to

me and I what I enjoy, you may think is ridiculous. I am guessing they

are not going to please everyone.

Isn't that the truth! On our last cruise, there was a performer that we hated. We thought he was horrible. Then when we got home and read the reviews from our cruise, it looks like most people love him. Go figure.