Entertainment Reports

[Spursgirl]

I'm not understanding how you're drawing the conclusion that we are losing the Spirits Bar? What will no longer be there is the Casino to the left (if one was sitting at the Spirits Bar.) To the right of the bar, the sitting area where there is often live music, is still as it was.

There will be a few desks where you're used to there being game tables in the casino, but the shorex and cruise sales desks typically close shop by 8pm or earlier. So your post-dinner Spirits Bar experience will not be marred by sales activity.

 

Bonnie, I appreciate that you are trying to reassure us but must admit to feeling rather dispirited by the way things appear to be evolving.

 

Manned or unmanned desks where shore excursions can be booked or future cruises can be discussed do not work in an area where guests want to relax, chat and enjoy entertainment ( whatever that entertainment might be). Just my opinion of course, but it seems that Spirits is becoming a rather soulless space. And someone on board at the moment reports that there is now only seating for 22 guests. That is clearly ridiculous.

 

I am trying to reserve my opinion until June when I will experience these changes for myself. But if my fears that Azamara are chasing dollars to the extent that my cruise experience is materially affected, my dollars will be going elsewhere.

 

I so hope that I am wrong.

[ellbon]

Marinaro....Why is it that when someone disagrees with your viewpoint you get so irritated?

 

This is a forum where everyone is supposed to be free to have various opinions, yet you seem to feel the need to correct people all the time. I believe in live and let live....let Robin have her opinion, me have mine and you can by all means measure the bar of soap, if that's what floats your boat! 😄

 

Thank you Lottie. I did not realize you were on AZ since 2010. My first cruise was late Dec 2010. If you remember the piano was in the middle of deck 5 with Dan Daily. We had harp music. Spirits as we knew it- or at least me- was not my idea of a piano bar as it had less seats. then the redid those chairs to the awful chairs - I have been praying for new ones ever since.

Most nights pre dinner I am in one bar of the other. I like live music- so i switch from the LR to Spirits. I wanted not to favor a musician. sometimes i picked a bar for the bartender. if they had crew bar i could see them an hour or so a day when giving a person a break.

before dinner music is important for me. after dinner it could be show and then dance. some nights i just went to listen to Ed play and then go dance.

I totally believe adding the crap they are adding to that area will ruin it for my loyal guests who have not posted here or on the other thread. i know guests on now. one is posting about daily to facebook. all good vibes. the other PM me about a lack of cashier the other night after dinner.i do not gamble and i had hoped for more seating-more seats at night for those who sing along.

Like Lottie and others I have looked at and booked other lines. face it they all have bigger cabins- no overnights and no late nights but they are not moving their deck 4 to 5 or 5 to 6.

No one will be happy all the time but we do have the right to have music before and after dinner each night.

[mare s.]

Unlike some others posting here, we've been able to cruise only once a year. Our first voyage on Azamara was in 2010 also, and we were hooked! We've strayed only once (to Oceania, which was pleasant but not Azamara.) Certainly, itineraries are extremely important to us, as are late nights and overnights. But the ambience, the food, the wonderful fellow passengers, and the music, and the crew kept us coming back. We were disappointed when we lost the wonderful harpist, but we were glad we had someone like Max on the piano before and after dinner. We found Discoveries bar always too busy before dinner and the Living Room on 10 forward (we always choose staterooms aft) just too much of a trek, so we gravitated to Spirits. Mosaic and Spirits are the heart of the ship. Now more of Spirits is being lost apparently to sales desks and huge video screens with piped in music. No relaxing ambience there! Disappointing for sure. I realize that those of us on Cruise Critic represent just a fraction of the pool of possible passengers but we care passionately about our "little cruise line." Change isn't easy and you can't please everyone, but it is clear that what is currently happening is a big concern to many, previously loyal, passengers. I can only hope that the Azamara experience will not be completely lost, but it's been a good run for us.

[uktog]

I'm not understanding how you're drawing the conclusion that we are losing the Spirits Bar? What will no longer be there is the Casino to the left (if one was sitting at the Spirits Bar.) To the right of the bar, the sitting area where there is often live music, is still as it was.

 

There will be a few desks where you're used to there being game tables in the casino, but the shorex and cruise sales desks typically close shop by 8pm or earlier. So your post-dinner Spirits Bar experience will not be marred by sales activity.

 

 

 

And in that sitting area the music will be provided through a video wall most nights. I don’t count that as live music or appropriate imho.

You also generally have three choices where to face, a very large flashing rotating dial of roulette numbers in red and white, advertising material, pop up banners a table covered in leaflets and at times an assistant selling cruises or a wall with the soon to be added video wall.

Sales activity goes on until 10 so for many post dinner drinks are in that time frame.

Maybe everyone will be ecstatic about the new change when it’s installed but that’s certainly not the vibe from the current guests onboard.

 

 

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[Port Power]

I've been reading this thread with great interest. We board Quest next week for 21 nights, including a transatlantic cruise. Spirits was also the venue for trivia and became very crowded in the late afternoon. I'm really becoming concerned. Evening shows are also important on the longer TA's where there is no opportunity to bring on local performers to supplement.

 

By the way, removing casino tables and installing whatever: will this also impact on the use and enjoyment of Spirits?

 

It looks like we might me creating our own fun out on deck 9 of an evening.

[marinaro44]

Tonight's--and Saturday night's--54 Below performer:

https://www.broadway.com/buzz/153994/its-a-new-age-at-phantom-in-sara-jean-fords-calming-dressing-room/

[uktog]

The update from Journey

 

Last night we had Opera Magic at Sea. It really divided the audience. Many walked out, many absolutely loved it. There were some recognisable pieces and others less well known. For many when something is not in English it’s an understandable challenge. The next two programmes from the Opera group will be Opera meets Broadway and a programme devoted to excerpts from Carmen. Guests may like that better and maybe there first show should have been one of these though I understand why they chose the content they did to explain Opera and the structure of roles and typical storylines to the audience.

 

My view on the Opera, I loved it, the singers explained things well - two Canadians and two from US with a Russian (I think) accompanist. They were excellent really high standard, different league to the 54 below debacle of the other night.

 

Tonight we have Trifecta a female trio of violin, viola and cello under the 54 below brand. Have good hopes for them.

 

Last night the bandmaster Tina was really gracious with her time in Spirits looking for numbers to please everyone before and after the show. She’s going to backfill until the dreaded wall appears by doing a few nights - but the band has other commitments and has to have time off and she’s a professional orchestra rather than solo performer. Because many had already given up on Spirits the audience numbers were low but for those who were there it was back to the conversations of old and appreciation of easy listening music.

 

Riviera Sounds is getting a huge following pre early dinner. There were no seats except in the card room or on the white temp chairs by 1735. There 1930 slot wasn’t well attended but those that are there absolutely love their sound. I don’t know how the 2100 show went.

 

Jury is still very much out on the entertainment It’s still certainly not right and most people I speak to are negative particularly first time guests who account for over 50% this cruise.

 

 

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[ellbon]

No one yet has said a word on if we have a DJ or not at 10:30. Some of us still like dancing at night. Also are they still doing the same old theme nights or what? No, nit live music but I have been in some lines with lack of late night bars and dancing

[uktog]

There is a DJ each night

 

 

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[Jem 12]

There is a DJ each night

 

 

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Oh thank goodness for that at least. Thank you.

 

 

 

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[ellbon]

There is a DJ each night

 

 

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One good piece of news. Many nights i got up between 1030 and 1130. Thank you for the info

[uktog]

Trifecta from 54 Below disappointed. Not in their technical skill but in their strange choice of music. Would have been far better doing more popular stuff for their first show. What they did was more edgy and rather than doing shorter pieces we had elongated versions. Not an issue on a two hour land based program but did not show a recognition of a 45-50 minute ship slot. More variety more mainstream and shorter pieces might have worked.

The show was very badly attended and several left early.

I’ve reached the conclusion whoever came up with this new idea was trying to do something far too way out and they’ve lost a lot of guests along the way.

I’ve also discovered the 54 below performers are no different to other entertainers on for a short period then off. At least previous entertainment by folks no longer being used like Bruce Parker and Brookes Aeron hit the spot. They understood their audience none of the 54 below or Opera folks have ever worked on a cruise ship and it shows. It’s not fair on them either, Trifecta and the Opera are very talented but are going to struggle.

 

So 6 days in it’s a massive thumbs down for us on the entertainment but we have 26 more to go.

 

Oh and White Nights tonight no entertainment before 2015 because the trio are needed for the Party music.

 

 

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[Spursgirl]

Trifecta from 54 Below disappointed. Not in their technical skill but in their strange choice of music. Would have been far better doing more popular stuff for their first show. What they did was more edgy and rather than doing shorter pieces we had elongated versions. Not an issue on a two hour land based program but did not show a recognition of a 45-50 minute ship slot. More variety more mainstream and shorter pieces might have worked.

The show was very badly attended and several left early.

I’ve reached the conclusion whoever came up with this new idea was trying to do something far too way out and they’ve lost a lot of guests along the way.

I’ve also discovered the 54 below performers are no different to other entertainers on for a short period then off. At least previous entertainment by folks no longer being used like Bruce Parker and Brookes Aeron hit the spot. They understood their audience none of the 54 below or Opera folks have ever worked on a cruise ship and it shows. It’s not fair on them either, Trifecta and the Opera are very talented but are going to struggle.

 

So 6 days in it’s a massive thumbs down for us on the entertainment but we have 26 more to go.

 

Oh and White Nights tonight no entertainment before 2015 because the trio are needed for the Party music.

 

 

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Ann, thank you for continuing to update us though I am finding the content of your posts increasingly depressing.

 

Am assuming Azamara will review their new entertainment offerings maybe six months in and make tweaks as appropriate.

 

Appreciate that our CC community is only a small fraction of the guests on board but the low attendance of shows speaks volumes.

 

Hope your disappointment at the entertainment is not impacting the enjoyment of your cruise too much.

 

Will be very interested to read your assessment of White Night.

[excitedofharpenden]

Thanks for the report Ann. Oh dear!:(

 

Phil

[Lottie A]

Yes thanks Ann for continuing to give us an honest evaluation of the entertainment changes. It does not sound good. If even the Newbies are giving it a miss then the shows can't be that good. As you point out, the entertainers are inexperienced at cruise ship entertainment but surely whoever decided on this changed programme in Miami is not?

 

Hopefully by our June B2B cruise the lack of audiences will have dawned on the "powers that be" in Miami and they will be changing things back to some kind of sensible normality. I'm sure the wonderful Azamara CD's must be unhappy st seeing people walk out of the shows?

[uktog]

Just to reassure you we are having a lovely cruise we’ve discovered the delights of having an evening drink on the balcony and we’ve got our own music with us anyway.

We are giving honest feedback to the ship as are others. I’d say lots of tweaking will happen before you sail especially as Quest is a month ahead in the process. This is Journeys first full cruise with the brave new world

 

 

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[nordski]

Just to reassure you we are having a lovely cruise we’ve discovered the delights of having an evening drink on the balcony and we’ve got our own music with us anyway.

We are giving honest feedback to the ship as are others. I’d say lots of tweaking will happen before you sail especially as Quest is a month ahead in the process. This is Journeys first full cruise with the brave new world

 

 

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Appreciate the time and effort you are taking to keep us up to speed on this issue.

 

Also appreciate your commitment to providing feedback whilst on board.

 

Enjoy your balcony!

[ellbon]

I do wish the other cruise critic people who are on ship would post here. I have that people walk out of shows there too. But on this thread I am learning more about the mess in Spirits.

[Food galore]

Just come off Journey at Singapore. Fabulous cruise but felt sorry for the ships entertainers and dancers who now have no work. They all were brilliant compared to what I saw from 54 down under. The magician was the worst I have ever seen and the singer who was on twice was so nervous as this was the first time on a cruise ship. I hope your opera singers are better and they also know how to host the activities!!!

[tgg]

Ann, your feedback is very much appreciated. Thanks for taking the time to post during your cruise.

[takemewithyou]

Thank you for the live reports from Onboard Journey. They mirror the onboard reports that I did from Quest in February, except that we had two 54 Below singers......one that I thought was very good and the other I felt was so-so. We did not have magicians or the Opera.

 

Are you having any of the short plays? If so, how has the audience response been? It was not good at all on our cruise. Many walked out and the audience was less and less. The last night it was cancelled due to “rough seas”.

 

Thank you so much for your reports. I appreciate it and am following along. Very interested in your thoughts as you go along.

[gkm]

Oh and White Nights tonight no entertainment before 2015 because the trio are needed for the Party music.

 

TakeMeWithYou, since you were on the Quest in February, I'd like to know how things were with White Night? I'll be leaving on the Quest transatlantic cruise next Saturday. Boy am I going to miss Max! Did the music start late on your cruise?

 

Ann, thank you for your reports. I'm glad you're having such a good time even if the entertainment is not up to par.

 

Garry

[Azamarajunkie]

Currently on Journey, I agree with most of UKTogs comments with respect to the entertainment so far. Trifecta were very good technically and look forward to their next show which hopefully will be more mainstream. As always, music like food is very subjective, I found the Opera singers too heavy for a first show, I prefer lighter more popular operetta, whereas I know of others who liked their performance.

 

We didn’t go to White Nights as we were late back from our private tour, but I did attend the Jazz session in the Cabaret Lounge for a short while, there was something lacking in the sound, clearly was not as good as it used to be when it was the seven piece orchestra.

 

Ellbon, to me Spirits is ruined by the ghastly electronic gaming tables. The seating hasn’t changed, apart from the loss of a settee which has now been replaced by a screened off table, variously manned by either the IT man, or Cruise Refer and Receive promotion.

 

Apart from these gripes the rest of the ship and crew are simply outstanding as usual

[ellbon]

 

Ellbon, to me Spirits is ruined by the ghastly electronic gaming tables. The seating hasn’t changed, apart from the loss of a settee which has now been replaced by a screened off table, variously manned by either the IT man, or Cruise Refer and Receive promotion.

 

Apart from these gripes the rest of the ship and crew are simply outstanding as usual

 

Thank you for posting.i know others on the JR now. They are not posting. One couple has over 20 cruises so I am sure they have thoughts. I know they were on for 2 legs but thought longer. Also another CC person on Quest.

How is Heike and Eric dealing with all this? I am not a gamer but would of liked to have seen more seats for music. I have a feeling i will be only in there if i like the bartender- can name many. This cruise I would be in the bar Jason working .

Maybe we will be on NCL with Ed soon. Not sure where Max is.

[excitedofharpenden]

Currently on Journey, I agree with most of UKTogs comments with respect to the entertainment so far. Trifecta were very good technically and look forward to their next show which hopefully will be more mainstream. As always, music like food is very subjective, I found the Opera singers too heavy for a first show, I prefer lighter more popular operetta, whereas I know of others who liked their performance.

 

We didn’t go to White Nights as we were late back from our private tour, but I did attend the Jazz session in the Cabaret Lounge for a short while, there was something lacking in the sound, clearly was not as good as it used to be when it was the seven piece orchestra.

 

Ellbon, to me Spirits is ruined by the ghastly electronic gaming tables. The seating hasn’t changed, apart from the loss of a settee which has now been replaced by a screened off table, variously manned by either the IT man, or Cruise Refer and Receive promotion.

 

Apart from these gripes the rest of the ship and crew are simply outstanding as usual

Thanks for the further report Steve and thoughts. Azamara seem to have some serious rethinking to do. I hope guests are feeding it back.

 

Do we know whose bright idea the change in entertainment was?

 

Phil