Can Someone Explain the Piano Bar.... Does Every Ship Have One ?

[FlaGrl4Evr]

I am planning an all-girls cruse with a friend of mine on the Paradise.... We are both single, empty-nesters and in our 50's. We are light drinkers , night-owls and love a good party. We enjoy the shows, comedy clubs , dance clubs etc.... One thing however, that I have never done is visit the Piano Bar.

 

This may be a dumb question, but I really don't know the concept. Does everyone sit around the piano and the player plays and encourages a sing-along? If so, this sounds like a lot of fun. We are not great singers but would love to participate. Do they play all show tunes or is it a mix of different types of music?

 

Also, does every ship have a piano bar and if so.... is there really a difference in who is playing based on personality or is one piano entertainer basically the same as the next.

 

 

We would enjoy any input about what were hoping will be a fun venue.

 

Thank-you.

 

 

 

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[nybumpkin]

Every Carnival ship I've sailed has had a piano bar. The overall concept is to have the piano player play and lead a sing-along. You'll find that some people are very comfortable gathering around the piano and singing while others prefer to be observers from elsewhere in the bar. I've done both. DH isn't as fond of it, so I'm usually on my own.

 

The piano entertainers vary greatly. We've had some very good ones and some not-so-good ones. (We had one who skipped the bar piano entirely and brought his own electronic keyboard - not so good.:eek:) Some seem to have a fairly limited set of music - on one cruise I heard the entertainer play "New York State of Mind" twice in one hour. (While I like the song, I live in New York State and when I'm on a cruise I'm definitely not in a New York State of Mind!:p) If you request a song, tipping is usually expected. Some are fairly explicit in requesting tips.

[falkcor]

yes, every ship has a piano bar. you've got the concept down pretty well - there is a round bar area around the piano with about 20 or so seats, and then other tables throughout the room - the piano player will play and definitely encourages interaction / sing-a-long.

 

typically, most piano bar entertainers will have a list of songs they know (typically pretty lengthy), and they'll take requests from that, as well as songs that may not be on the list... i've even had a piano player learn a song, just for me. there's a huge variety of music, based on what the piano player knows... some old time show tune type stuff, some current top 40 type music, music from movies, sometimes even their own songs - it's a big mixed bag based on the piano player's repertoire.

 

that said, there REALLY IS a difference based on the piano bar entertainer... i've had a few that have been GREAT!, and there are some that are GOOD, and some i'd probably pass on if it weren't my favorite spot on the ship. some are highly interactive, ad lib with guests, and have a definite comedic aspect to their performances - those are the best... some might not be as great, and it could be 'they play piano well, but don't sing that well', 'they're not interacting with the crowd as much', 'they don't play songs we can sing to', etc. you get the point.

 

in my opinion, it is the most fun spot on the ship, and i am always a regular there every night - from some time around when it opens until close! (which is typically pretty late). you don't have to be the best singer in the world, most people aren't... it's not like karaoke where you're on the spot - the PBE leads the song, and typically it'll be half the rest of the bar singing along - there is strength in numbers :)

 

i'd highly suggest you check it out, i bet you'll love it :D

[bury me at sea]

Others have explained the concept well. I am not a night owl but I make it a point to stop by the piano bar early days during a cruise. If the entertainer is good I go back night after night.

[mrpayroll]

We stop by usually on the second night. If it is crowded, we know he is good. Only takes the first night to make or break the place.

[pirate4me2]

There is a difference in the players. We have had really good ones (Bob on Sunshine is good, and Barry on Liberty was good) and we have had OK ones (the guy on the Breeze in 2013 was OK) and bad ones (I was not a fan of the guy we had on Pride on our first cruise). We always stop by every night after dinner, with a good player it is a really fun hangout!

[SadieN]

yes, every ship has a piano bar. you've got the concept down pretty well - there is a round bar area around the piano with about 20 or so seats, and then other tables throughout the room - the piano player will play and definitely encourages interaction / sing-a-long.

 

typically, most piano bar entertainers will have a list of songs they know (typically pretty lengthy), and they'll take requests from that, as well as songs that may not be on the list... i've even had a piano player learn a song, just for me. there's a huge variety of music, based on what the piano player knows... some old time show tune type stuff, some current top 40 type music, music from movies, sometimes even their own songs - it's a big mixed bag based on the piano player's repertoire.

 

that said, there REALLY IS a difference based on the piano bar entertainer... i've had a few that have been GREAT!, and there are some that are GOOD, and some i'd probably pass on if it weren't my favorite spot on the ship. some are highly interactive, ad lib with guests, and have a definite comedic aspect to their performances - those are the best... some might not be as great, and it could be 'they play piano well, but don't sing that well', 'they're not interacting with the crowd as much', 'they don't play songs we can sing to', etc. you get the point.

 

in my opinion, it is the most fun spot on the ship, and i am always a regular there every night - from some time around when it opens until close! (which is typically pretty late). you don't have to be the best singer in the world, most people aren't... it's not like karaoke where you're on the spot - the PBE leads the song, and typically it'll be half the rest of the bar singing along - there is strength in numbers :)

 

i'd highly suggest you check it out, i bet you'll love it :D

 

 

Agree

 

The best ones are entertainers. We've experienced some very good pianists who weren't necessarily good entertainers.

 

Everybody sings well after most have had a drink or two. It's the piano bar version of beer goggles. Lol

Edited March 15, 2015 by SadieN

[Velvetwater]

We are personally not a fan of them and avoid them at all costs...this is mainly due to hating karaoke.

 

It always seems to be full on cruises and on our last cruise was taken over by a group of experienced cruisers who actually put hats on the seats around the piano in the afternoon each day and no-one else really got a look in which was a shame...it was chogging in a different light.

[BigB0882]

I would have moved those hats in a heartbeat. I can't wait to try out the piano bar and see how we like it.

[MissCruiseAddict]

Ben on the Breeze was good. He's not the best singer but he got the crowd going and knows A LOT of songs. He also had props he passed out like big sunglasses for Elton John songs and funny hats.

 

Check your fun times, depending on your CD, he might lead a sing along. Our CD Matt led two sing alongs during our cruise two weeks ago on the Breeze. It was listed as Motown trivia with Matt and 80s and 90s song trivia with Matt. So much fun, I even got pulled up to sing Killing Me Softly with him.

[Velvetwater]

I would have moved those hats in a heartbeat. I can't wait to try out the piano bar and see how we like it.

 

we wondered if anyone ever did (we didnt want to go in anyway lol)

 

It was Stormin Norm and his peeps that set up the hats.

[Frank12]

Some of the best times I've ever had on a ship were in the piano bars.

It really depends on the piano player and your fellow passengers.

[Jenhem31]

I was on the Breeze 2 weeks ago and the guy at the Piano bar was awesome! We had the best time. We didn't make it until the last night and are still kicking ourselves because we would have gone nightly.

[HawkIVette]

I was on the Breeze 2 weeks ago and the guy at the Piano bar was awesome! We had the best time. We didn't make it until the last night and are still kicking ourselves because we would have gone nightly.

[ATTACH]343332[/ATTACH]

That's a picture of Ben. He is very good. As stated not the best singer, but makes up for it in comedy. Takes requests (including a dollar bill) that he makes you throw it in a miniature basketball hoop in the center of the piano.

Once you make it, he makes you run around the room, giving a high 5 to everybody, while the whole room sing Olay, olay olay olay.

Great at getting the whole crowd to participate. Makes for a real fun night.

 

As stated, some Piano players are better than others. I think Ben is the best I have ever seen.

Edited March 16, 2015 by HawkIVette

[MissCruiseAddict]

Oh and yes if you were on the Feb 28th sailing I was the one who fell asleep at the piano bar. I was exhausted after spending the day in St Thomas and going snorkeling. :p

[Jenhem31]

Oh and yes if you were on the Feb 28th sailing I was the one who fell asleep at the piano bar. I was exhausted after spending the day in St Thomas and going snorkeling. :p

 

 

Nope, I was on the 22nd-28th!

[Jenhem31]

That's a picture of Ben. He is very good. As stated not the best singer, but makes up for it in comedy. Takes requests (including a dollar bill) that he makes you throw it in a miniature basketball hoop in the center of the piano.

Once you make it, he makes you run around the room, giving a high 5 to everybody, while the whole room sing Olay, olay olay olay.

Great at getting the whole crowd to participate. Makes for a real fun night.

 

As stated, some Piano players are better than others. I think Ben is the best I have ever seen.

 

 

Ben made us want to scope out the Piano Bar on every cruise from now on! He also made us sing if we needed a bartender. Now I have Olay in my head!

[falkcor]

we wondered if anyone ever did (we didnt want to go in anyway lol)

 

 

 

It was Stormin Norm and his peeps that set up the hats.

 

 

I would have turned those hats in to lost and found if that's indeed what they were doing.

 

I show up to piano bar (with my friends!) like others show up for comedy or main shows 30 mins early to secure good seats.

 

I've never heard of chair hogging like that in the piano bar. That guy seems to think he's the king of carnival on whatever ship he on. What I've read of his antics is very unbecoming and in this case extremely rude

[FlaGrl4Evr]

Thanks to everyone for the awesome input on the Piano Bar.

 

I can't wait to try it out on our girls-cruise...... I am willing to bet that it will become our go-to place for some evening fun !!

 

 

Cari in Tampa Bay :)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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[framboesa]

We love the piano bar :) It's allways fun to sing along songs that everybody knows ;)

[dettlja]

Beware that it can get quite raunchy after 10 pm. Of course we think that's fun, but I could see someone thinking "sing a long" and bring the kids and then complain to John Heald that their moral sensibilities were offended.

[keh13jlw12]

Yep, you've pretty much got it down. Basically, sit around the piano, enjoy some drinks, and sing along! The piano bar is one "funnest" things on the ship. My wife and I often hit the piano bar anytime we find one when on vacation.

 

Another valid point, probably don't wanna take the kids after 10 or so....gets a little R rated, lol

[ncbeachteacher]

A couple of added points.... it is not necessarily "show tunes" but pop tunes over the decades. Believe me, you will know these songs, unless you have lived under a rock the last 50 years.

 

They will take special requests, especially if you tip them. Most have some sort of system for making requests and they do try very hard to honor them.

 

As the night progresses, the songs get a bit racier or raunchy. More adult oriented. Not all of them, but some.

 

You are NOT required to sing along but it is hard not to do so!

 

We thoroughly enjoy the piano bar every evening.... usually after the show or some casino action. Highly recommend it. Honestly, we have never experienced a bad piano bar.... but there have been some we have enjoyed more than others.

[ldenk]

If your lucky enough to have Bob as your piano man then your bound to have a good time. HOLY SHIP COME ON IN! :-)

 

 

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[cruisecraze96]

Oh and yes if you were on the Feb 28th sailing I was the one who fell asleep at the piano bar. I was exhausted after spending the day in St Thomas and going snorkeling. :p

 

 

I missed that night [emoji5] I think I feel asleep early that night too but not at the piano bar. I had so much fun the nights we were I there with Ben, he was great. Meet a ton of great people there as well which was fun with too.