What can be done to address crowding at the Punchliner?

[Joebucks]

The Punchliner is one of my favorite things about a Carnival cruise. The comedians are great, and the atmosphere is fun. With that said, it is getting pretty crowded. You have to show up very early to get a seat, let alone a good one. I hear it's even worse on the bigger ships.

 

With that said, what are your thoughts? Does something need to be done? Or is it fine the way it is? Here are couple of suggestions. Maybe you have something better?

 

1.) Charge a $5 cover

2.) Mandate minimum of 1 drink per person (deposit placed on card, free for cheers members)

3.) Move to a bigger venue

4.) Nothing. Need more other night life choices though.

5.) Nothing. It is not a problem.

[MisterOJ2]

I personally don't see it as a problem. Yeah, you have to show up early to get a decent seat. But, I'm fine with that. I'm on vacation and, for the most part, I don't have anyplace else I need to be. So it's no big deal just hanging out for 15 minutes or so, chatting with my family and having a drink while we wait on the show to start.

[Midwestgal]

I like how it was on the Allure , everything is pre booked.

[Midwestgal]

How far in advance should we arrive to get in line?

[MisterOJ2]

How far in advance should we arrive to get in line?

 

It probably depends on the ship. The last couple years on the Dream, there hasn't been a line. If you want a good seat, you need to show up to the lounge about 15-20 minutes early. But, for the most part, even if you get there right as the show is about to begin, you can find someplace to sit - it just isn't optimal viewing.

[PrincessArlena'sDad]

There is one other option. "Free" tickets you pick up in advance of the show. This way they don't have to worry about overcrowding, and you can come last minute to get a seat somewhere.

 

 

For a couple of shows, overcrowding was an issue. They had to stop letting people in because it reached capacity.

 

 

If they go with the tickets, they can limit you to having tickets for 1 show at a time (after you use the tickets, you can request more for future shows). This would make sure everyone gets a chance to see a show, and prevent hoarding.

 

 

To deal with no-shows, there can be a wait-list line. If ticket holders don't arrive within 5 minutes to showtime, they can fill the theater with those in line to get in. If tickets are gone, you can go to the club 5 min to show time and see if you can get in.

[Indytraveler83]

I’ve honestly never seen this as a problem, but I’ve only sailed fantasy and dream class. Is it worse on others?

 

Definitely no pre-booking or cover charge. One of the reasons I won’t sail RCL is that I don’t want every evening of my vacation planned in advance. And I don’t want to be given yet another stupid charge by Carnival.

 

I feel like the lines to get into anytime dining and the lines at the buffet are far longer waits and a much bigger issue than the 15-20 minutes early you have to show up to the comedy shows.

[PrincessArlena'sDad]

How far in advance should we arrive to get in line?

 

There isn't a line. You just go in and sit when you get there. 30 min before showtime for prime seats. 15 before showtime for decent seats. Arrive less than that, you could be sitting in the back, or possibly get shut out if they reach capacity.

[bingomamma19]

There isn't a line. You just go in and sit when you get there. 30 min before showtime for prime seats. 15 before showtime for decent seats. Arrive less than that' date=' you could be sitting in the back, or possibly get shut out if they reach capacity.[/quote']

 

On all my cruises there is definitely a line after the 1st show of the night. 1st one you can walk in and sit until full. For subsequent shows you line up outside the doors until they start letting people in for the next show (after the club empties out from last show). This line can reach around several areas. (this is on the bigger ships --dream, breeze etc--I only sailed 1 smaller ship, fascination, and I don't remember how that one was)

 

I don't like waiting in that kind of line and would prefer it either be in the big theater or reserve a time.

[SadieN]

Last cruise they blocked off seats because the comedians couldn’t fill the lounge. There was a huge country group onboard that preferred line dancing to comedy.

 

 

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[A&Jfamily]

I am also one that does not see it as a problem. We tend to go to earlier shows and recognize that if we chose to go to a show in the main lounge at say 730, we may not get seats for an 830 comedian. We just pick and chose our priorities.

 

I would likely stop going for a $5 cover charge - that would be $20 for a family of 4 and not worth it for a 30 min show. And the last thing I want to have to do on a cruise is pre-schedule a show (you already have to pre-schedule specialty restaurants) as I am there to relax and not run on a schedule like I do at home. Also, the ticket thing is a problem - lets say I go get 20 tickets for my family and then we don't show - you end up with wasted space.

 

I really think that people just need to relax over punchliner. One of the comedians on our last cruise was simply NOT funny (the room was DEAD silent) and I would have been furious if I paid to see her. If a show matters, go early, relax and have a drink and play cards or chat.

 

Let's not turn a cruise into the same rat races as the lives we live on land!

[Knights Templar]

The Punchliner is one of my favorite things about a Carnival cruise. The comedians are great, and the atmosphere is fun. With that said, it is getting pretty crowded. You have to show up very early to get a seat, let alone a good one. I hear it's even worse on the bigger ships.

 

With that said, what are your thoughts? Does something need to be done? Or is it fine the way it is? Here are couple of suggestions. Maybe you have something better?

 

1.) Charge a $5 cover

2.) Mandate minimum of 1 drink per person (deposit placed on card, free for cheers members)

3.) Move to a bigger venue

4.) Nothing. Need more other night life choices though.

5.) Nothing. It is not a problem.

 

I like the ideas, just my opinion:

 

1) i believe the $5 cover would thin the crowd, but i think you would have a revolt and complaints if you charged a cover charge. People get crazy if they dont get their towel animals, if you ask them to pay, they would lose their minds

2) The non drinkers would go nuts if you made them pay for something they dont use

3) unless there is a large screen, stand up comedy is difficult in a larger venue. the audience in the back miss the subtle facial expressions many comics use

 

I think one small solution is to enforce the age restrictions for the "R" rated comedy shows. Not saying it would make a huge difference, but i see more than a handful of underage children that attend these "R" rated shows. It is noted in the Fun Times and right outside the venue there are signs that say over 18. Why people dont follow the rules is beyond me, but hey, they feel its THEIR vacation and they should do what they want

[mdsgu]

At Thanksgiving on the Dream, we went to the 18+ comedy shows, arrived about 15 minutes before they started, and didn't have a problem getting good seats.

 

NCL makes you pre-book for comedy shows, and that is just really inconvenient.

 

I think most people know you should arrive a bit early, so, right now, I wouldn't change anything.

[beachbum53]

We stopped going to the Punchliner several cruises ago. First, because no one enforces the "no seat saving" policy. Second, the few times that we were able to get a seat, I never saw any comedian that was worth waiting in line for 30-45 minutes to see. My suggestion would be to do away with the horrible Playlist Productions, and have a comedian do a stand-up routine for 15 - 20 minutes, followed by a live band or orchestra in the main theater.

[SuntanaGirl]

I sailed the Breeze February 19, 2017 and heading out this weekend on her again. The comedy club manager that week cleared the room after each performance. Meaning there was no way to keep your seat for the second show. You have to leave out one door then they opened the other set of doors where people had already lined up to go in. If you made it to the end of the line and there were still seats available you could see the second show. Otherwise they shut the doors when they reached capacity and that was it.

[trirae]

We also haven't had much of an issue. We usually try to do both PG shows when we can, and we do have to leave after the first, which means we run to the back of the line, and then typically don't get a very good seat for the 2nd show, but it's not been especially bothersome and so far we've always gotten in even if it was way in the back.

 

It is one of our Carnival favorites, and I'd be opposed to anything that added cost to it. Pre-reserved or picking up tickets might be fine but at the end of the day, I just don't know that it's a bit enough problem to solve.

[Micahs Grandad]

ffor R rated shows which are the ones that fill up do it in main lounge.

 

On Sunshine and Vista class comedy club ridiculously small venue so we will not even go on those ships.

[siestakeys04]

I think you just have to get there early. I personally would not pay to see it. I just arrive at least 30-40 minutes early.

[Mutumbojimbo]

I'd like to see the main lounge used for comedy, maybe as a trial. We were just on the Fantasy and the lounge used for comedy was very small. We went once, but the chairs were right on top of one another and it was very uncomfortable.

[mara93]

We usually see the early & late shows in the Punchliner each night. I HATE getting there early, to be escorted out at the end of the show & not being able to find good seats for the 2nd. I wish they'd use a larger venue.

 

I would not pay to see the comedians. We've had a few duds where we've walked out. Not a good option.

[Athankfulheart]

One thing that has changed over time (ships?) is that they have added titles to thier routines. On some ships they do a very good job of letting people know that "my next performance is a repeat of tonight's so if you're here now, let someone else see me later and I will see you _____ for my other set titled ____" or something to that effect.

 

Mostly, I think it just depends on the crowd. Some sailings are heavy on comedy, some on karaoke etc... Some comedians have a loyal following or develop one during thier days on the ship. The entertainment team should be able to tell who draws the bigger crowds and move show locations occasionally if needed. I have only stood for comedy one time and I was glad for it that night because the comedian was beyond awful and made much of the room feel as if she had stepped over the line beyond the line. It was easy and non disruptive to walk out when we were already standing in the back.

[Tyhunt]

Last 3 cruises have not made it into the comedy clubs. Do not want to stand in line for 45 min to an hour just to.. get in. On the breeze the last cruise we went 30 min early and the line was to the coffee shop so did not go all cruise. if they are going to put more people on the ships they need to make the venue bigger. Conversely there was never and issue to see the stage shows as they were mostly empty.

 

Just our experience

[Knights Templar]

i think that is one of the biggest oversights. The comedy venues are basically the same size (seating area) across all classes of ships. A ship carrying 3500 people is going to be a lot more crowded as far as the comedy venue as a smaller ship carrying 2000 people

[h3yitsvictoria]

How far in advance should we arrive to get in line?

 

 

 

Last week on the Sunshine, you needed to be in line at least 45 minutes prior.

 

 

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[Knights Templar]

Last week on the Sunshine, you needed to be in line at least 45 minutes prior.

 

 

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I get it H3, its crazy....then again some people seem to enjoy just standing around waiting. Last cruise i was on, it was around 5 pm. I am in the Atrium area, strolling around having a cocktail, window shopping. I see a bunch of people standing around. So i walk over and there has to be 40-50 people just milling around. I am looking around figuring whats going on (Magic show, they setting up some sort of sale for something). So i asked a guy, whats going on. He says to me "Just waiting for dinner"....i look at my watch and Early Seating isnt for 45 mins. I look around and it appears the 40-50 people were all waiting for the same thing. So i said to him "Dinner isnt for 45 mins". He said to me "I know".....Alrighty then, lol, whatever winds your watch i guess :')