Entertainment changes again

[rabin1]

I know I really don;t count because I most probably will not do another cruise with Azamara after the one in April but I personally could care less about pianists or guitars. I have never in all my cruises sat and listened to one..................ever. Someone asked on one of the previous posts how many people actually do sit and listen. I think that is a good point as this thread is a small number of people. However there are a lot of people who read and don;t post.

Kathy

[Lottie A]

Kathy, you may not like listening to live music on the ship but you did ask how many people do? The answer to that would be the vast majority of us. To sit and listen to live music, have a drink and a chat and sometimes sing along is one of the quiet pleasures of an Azamara cruise.

 

It is hard to find a seat in Spirits Bar most nights because of the popularity of Max and Ed. Yes there are a lot of people who read and don't post. There are a lot of Azamara cruisers who are not CC members at all, so they won't know until they board that this pleasant and valued entertainment of Azamara is no more.

[excitedofharpenden]

Kathy, you may not like listening to live music on the ship but you did ask how many people do? The answer to that would be the vast majority of us. To sit and listen to live music, have a drink and a chat and sometimes sing along is one of the quiet pleasures of an Azamara cruise.

 

It is hard to find a seat in Spirits Bar most nights because of the popularity of Max and Ed. Yes there are a lot of people who read and don't post. There are a lot of Azamara cruisers who are not CC members at all, so they won't know until they board that this pleasant and valued entertainment of Azamara is no more.

Lottie, I also would mention when they play in Living Room prior to dinner. I’ve enjoyed Ed a few times there. Also on the pool deck from time to time along with Simon and Anton, the guitarists. Ed is my favourite. I will be sad if and when he goes.

 

Poor decision IMHO, but there seem to be a few Azamara stumbles at present. Perhaps as a result of a change in focus and direction.

 

Phil

[martini cruiser]

Since there is a wealth of info in this thread, can anyone tell me who will be the entertainers ( in Spirits and the Living room) on the Quest Dec 16th, 2017?

[Melissaghoti]

Seems like a poor budgeting choice. No individual musicians x 3 ships will finance some Pursuit refurbishments. I've enjoyed all of these fine entertainers in various venues on Journey and have met new, music- loving friends many times. As a solo, that's important to me. I'm not booked until next October, so will hope this comes full circle by then. If not, I'll miss the music, but only for that cruise. The one I have booked after that may well be canceled.

Muzak? Please don't insult me.

[Lottie A]

Lottie, I also would mention when they play in Living Room prior to dinner. I’ve enjoyed Ed a few times there. Also on the pool deck from time to time along with Simon and Anton, the guitarists. Ed is my favourite. I will be sad if and when he goes.

 

Poor decision IMHO, but there seem to be a few Azamara stumbles at present. Perhaps as a result of a change in focus and direction.

 

Phil

 

I kind of forgot the Living Room prior to dinner Phil. Yes, I love listening to Max and Ed there too. Ed did a great set on our last Journey cruise in October. I think you were there sitting next to me! 😄

 

Simon and Anton will be missed as well. Also the wonderful dancers Sasha and Dima and Alina and Alex. I absolutely love watching their dance performances. I really don't know what Azamara are thinking of. Yes, revamp the Cabaret shows because we have had the same ones since 2011 and they need to be changed, but leave the piano players, guitarists and dancers alone. If this is a change in focus and direction ....well I don't like the way they are going. ☹️

[Spursgirl]

This is more than a poor decision IMO - those pianists, guitarists and beautiful ballroom dancers will be very much missed.

 

Am interested to hear about Azamara's new plans for entertainment but if part of that is canned Muzak in Spirits it doesn't do it for me. A place that had a lovely ambience after dinner will become totally soulless. Just my opinion

[munch1]

Kathy, you may not like listening to live music on the ship but you did ask how many people do? The answer to that would be the vast majority of us. To sit and listen to live music, have a drink and a chat and sometimes sing along is one of the quiet pleasures of an Azamara cruise.

 

It is hard to find a seat in Spirits Bar most nights because of the popularity of Max and Ed. Yes there are a lot of people who read and don't post. There are a lot of Azamara cruisers who are not CC members at all, so they won't know until they board that this pleasant and valued entertainment of Azamara is no more.

 

Thank you Lottie. Could not have said it better myself. The live piano players and guitarists certainly add a great deal to each cruise and as you say some nights it is hard to find seating. Piped in music certainly will not work for a lot of us. Glad to see you verify that this us not a rumor but indeed fact !! Why on earth Azamara is going this route is certainly questionable ? Makes one wonder what is next on the agenda ? Trying not to lose faith in Azamara !! First time in many cruises we have not done an onboard booking or future cruise purchase !!

[josumello]

Have only been on 2 Azamara Cruises. Ed was the piano player and was very entertaining and also very congenial. Frankly he was the highlight of our evening entertainment.

We have been on many different cruise lines. They all have their strengths. Azamara ‘s is the itinerary’s which often means Port intensive cruises. This allows for little need for much evening entertainment as many passengers dine and call it a night. And let’s be honest the entertainment has never been overwhelming.

With these new changes I don’t see us ever booking Azamara again. For the fares they charge we can do much better elsewhere and will. Sad........... [emoji22]

 

 

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[workingtocruise-59]

Lottie, I also would mention when they play in Living Room prior to dinner. I’ve enjoyed Ed a few times there. Also on the pool deck from time to time along with Simon and Anton, the guitarists. Ed is my favourite. I will be sad if and when he goes.

 

Poor decision IMHO, but there seem to be a few Azamara stumbles at present. Perhaps as a result of a change in focus and direction.

 

Phil

 

Tapas, cocktails & listening to Ed in the Living Room and pre/post dinner/show in Spirits are most certainly some of the entertainment highlights of cruising on Azamara.

I am really struggling to envisage cruising on Azamara without this.

We took our first Celebrity cruise last year and, while we enjoyed the variety of entertainment, we really missed listening to a pianist.

Ed is also our favourite. I always struggle to suggest requests but, one evening in March this year, I asked if he knew any Coldplay songs. He said yes but that he hadn't played any for some time. The next evening he played the songs as though he played them every night - a true talent that Azamara really shouldn't lose.

I cannot comprehend Azamara's thinking on this.

What "live" entertainment will there be?

Perhaps, as on our Yangtze river cruise, there will be a crew talent show every night ( and I remember that when we had crew talent shows on Azamara there was certainly a lot of talent amongst the crew). Or, maybe, the guests could audition? ( We once had a very talented pianist/singer on a TA). (Please take these latter comments as, ever so slightly, " tongue-in-cheek"!)

Edited December 8, 2017 by workingtocruise-59
Spelling/punctuation

[excitedofharpenden]

Ed is also our favourite. I always struggle to suggest requests but, one evening last March, I asked if he knew any Coldplay songs. He said yes but that he hadn't played any for some time. The next evening he played the songs as though he played them every night - a true talent that Azamara really shouldn't lose.

That’s funny. Ed knows I love his playing of “Clocks” by Coldplay. Last cruise I went and sat in LR one evening for some tapas and to listen to him. He saw me sit down and next song he played was “Clocks”.

 

Phil

[workingtocruise-59]

Sadly I do know for a fact ....and it's most definitely not just a rumour, that the piano players in Spirits bar will be no more after the end of March 2018. It is really going to be a deal breaker for me.

 

Whether they will have a mixture of the "reduced" band playing and canned Muzak is immaterial to me. Spirits is just meant to be a piano bar with live music being played. I don't know what the Miami bean counters are thinking of, but personally I think it's a huge mistake to lose such talented performers as Max and Ed. They are a big part of what makes that Azamara vibe special.

 

Very sadly I know for a fact too.. I had a message yesterday from an entertainer on Azamara "Just heard .... no guitarist, no pianist, no dancers, no cast & no casino staff"

[workingtocruise-59]

That’s funny. Ed knows I love his playing of “Clocks” by Coldplay. Last cruise I went and sat in LR one evening for some tapas and to listen to him. He saw me sit down and next song he played was “Clocks”.

 

Phil

 

 

And he did the same for us at White Night...

 

And Victor Cruz the (ex-Azamara and now Celebrity) guitarist always played Corcovado ( one of DH's favourite songs) whenever he saw us (even after a gap of a couple of years).

 

These are special memories that cannot be replaced by "muzak".

Edited December 8, 2017 by workingtocruise-59

[norn iron]

Very sadly I know for a fact too.. I had a message yesterday from an entertainer on Azamara "Just heard .... no guitarist, no pianist, no dancers, no cast & no casino staff"

 

Sounds a bit like a ghost ship, something I'm not looking forward to.

[uktog]

Sounds a bit like a ghost ship, something I'm not looking forward to.

 

aren't they going to be short at the safety drills on this ghost....

[josumello]

aren't they going to be short at the safety drills on this ghost....

 

 

 

They may be more short of guests!!

 

 

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[mare s.]

I am glad our January cruise will still have live music before/after dinner. After a full day of touring, we love coming back and unwinding with a drink and interacting with the pianists/guitarists. We have another Azamara cruise in 2019 and I'm already looking at alternatives. Why bother to cruise at all if it's just a matter of being transported from one place to another with some food/drink thrown in. A land tour will do just as well (and in many cases at less cost.) I guess I'm old fashioned, but I love the ambience of an elegant cruise ship (I'm not talking now of the mega ships with their climbing walls and roller coasters) We've loved our several cruises on Azamara but I guess everything changes. We tried Oceania and there were many things to like about it and we're hearing good things about Viking and Crystal. So we have choices. I sincerely hope that Azamara management realizes that and still values their loyal customers...but it's not looking that way.

[excitedofharpenden]

To those going to the London LCV event on Monday I hope you can find out some more details and make sure they are aware of opinions if live music around the ship is discontinued. I know we will have good representation here.

 

Phil

[cinnamon]

So, will there be any entertainment at all?

 

 

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[Lottie A]

We will certainly try Phil.

[Riocca]

Does seem unfair on those that booked the full (half) World Cruise on Journey, no casino and no live music. Having done a World Cruise we know that this sort of entertainment becomes more important as you can’t keep going to the same shows.

Hopefully there’s no plans for Muzak all around the ship like Celebrity has now, it would certainly drive us away.

 

 

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[workingtocruise-59]

So, will there be any entertainment at all?

 

 

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According to a post from Bonnie:-

 

As part of our continued efforts to provide you with the finest entertainment at sea, we’re currently reimagining our onboard programming based on feedback from our valued guests.

Rest assured, we’ll continue to offer evening showcases and live music before and after dinner.

We look forward to sharing these exciting new enhancements with you in early 2018.

Bonnie B. MacLaird

[Travels with Lisa]

I feel very disheartened. We love listening to Ed and or Max in Spirits before dinner. I just don’t understand who came up with this bright idea. We will be looking elsewhere as well

[aussie travel bird]

To those going to the London LCV event on Monday I hope you can find out some more details and make sure they are aware of opinions if live music around the ship is discontinued. I know we will have good representation here.

 

 

 

Phil

 

 

 

Phil, please add me to the ‘not happy’ list when you go to the LCV event if you get a chance to discuss. It’s fast becoming a deal breaker for us. With an additional 4 booked after the next three that are paid for I think we’ll be looking at our options. I’m now dreading our next TA in April with the perceived changes. Jenny

 

 

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[florisdekort]

As part of our continued efforts to provide you with the finest entertainment at sea, we’re currently reimagining our onboard programming based on feedback from our valued guests.

 

Rest assured, we’ll continue to offer evening showcases and live music before and after dinner.

 

We look forward to sharing these exciting new enhancements with you in early 2018.

 

 

I really don’t understand what everybody is so upset about. As long as there is live music before and after dinner and an evening show, I’m happy.

 

It’s about time the production shows get replaced. I’m all for a wider variety of guest entertainers instead of new production shows, which get stale as soon as you’ve seen them once (and are stuck with until 2021) so really don’t care if there’s no on-board cast. As for Max, etc. - yes they are good but they’ve been on board for a gazillion years now and I’m ready for some fresh faces and different types of live music before and after my meal.

 

Floris