What’s your favorite music act on any cruise past or present?

[George C]

We have seen same great act in the last few years on our music charters America, Todd Rundgren, Air Supply , Michael McDonald, Boz Scaggs, Rita Coolidge, Foreigner , B J Thomas and many others, in past we saw Al Martino , Captain and Ternille etc 

[Cruzaholic41]

I like the old doo-wop groups. Even though there’s only been 1 surviving member of each group, I liked seeing the Temptations, Drifters, and Platters on various RCI cruises. 

[rkacruiser]

Sailing on the present Nieuw Amsterdam, the group named Cantare performed during the ship's dedication ceremony.  I was fortunate to sail on her when the group was still aboard.  I have never heard a better performance on a ship than when I did on the Nieuw Amsterdam!

[lenquixote66]

1 hour ago, George C said:

We have seen same great act in the last few years on our music charters America, Todd Rundgren, Air Supply , Michael McDonald, Boz Scaggs, Rita Coolidge, Foreigner , B J Thomas and many others, in past we saw Al Martino , Captain and Ternille etc 

Holly Lipton on Carnival in 1994.

[ontheweb]

I wish I could say Slam Allen (from my hometown) on the NCL Epic, but when we sailed it was during his six months off. The next time we saw him, I told him about that.

 

Google him if you like the blues. (Before he went out on his own, he played lead guitar for the James Cotton Blues Band.)

[KEN W]

Elton John impersonator......sounded  exactly like him. RCCL Rhapsody

Edited August 11, 2020 by KEN W

[George C]

51 minutes ago, lenquixote66 said:

Holly Lipton on Carnival in 1994.

Who is Holly Lipton?

[Aquahound]

My favorite music act is the musical Saturday Night Fever on Liberty of the Seas.  RCI also did an excellent job with Hairspray.  

[lenquixote66]

25 minutes ago, George C said:

Who is Holly Lipton?

She is a singer who has been on Broadway and has been all over the world usually with her late husband Vic Arnell.I first saw her in a club in Greenwich Village in 1974.

[Heidi13]

Sonny Souto and band aboard SS Uganda 1976

[donaldsc]

I can't remember his name but I did one cruise with a guy who was a really great saloon singer along the lines of George Shearing.  The lounge was packed whenever he sang and it was impossible to get a seat.  I only heard him on one cruise but he was great.

 

DON

[marco]

Bert Bacharach and Carole Bayer Sager on the " QE2", in the early '80's. And Al Martino on the "Norway" mid 80's

[Joebucks]

Call me crazy, but I don't really follow many of these acts. My go-to is listening to the Carribean drums while in the sun. That's the experience that hits right.

[Sue Do-Over]

Princess had a group called Deja Vu.  Lead singer Katy with 3 guys sang all the 80-90s hits.  She has a great voice, and they did justice to the music.  Very engaging!

 

The best location was adjacent to the casino/bar at a T in the walkways, making a natural dance floor with plenty of seating and a bar close by.  We'd sing along, dance when we felt like it, and really enjoyed the show.

 

Great theme costumes... one night she'd dress like Cyndi Lauper in mesh gloves and a denim jacket, and the guys in checkered Vans with wild jackets.  

 

I was SO excited to see the group on two different ships the same year.  Honestly the best.  I've never before or since gone out of my way to go see a particular group on board.

[ldubs]

Favorite singer on a cruise ship?  Definitely Johnny Fontane.  

[rkacruiser]

Listening to Romy Formica and the Favolosi from the S. S. Oceanic in the early 1970's as I write this.  Never tire of their music; brings back so many good memories of that cruise.  

[Shmoo here]

What’s your favorite music act on any cruise past or present?

 

There's two -

1.  On our HAL PC cruise in 2013, they did a show called "Ovation" that was absolutely stunning.  A major part of it was the showroom cast - they were phenomenal.

 

2.  John Charles - perfect for old people, like me.  https://johncharlesent.wixsite.com/johncharles/promo-video

[Fletch1]

For me, a Philipino covers band called Music Manila. They are the resident band on Carnival Splendor (previously on the Carnival Spirit), sailing here in Australian waters (or were!). They are very good. I booked one cruise just to see these guys perform again. 

 

They once played an afternoon session for more than 2 hours without a break on the Open Deck......very entertaining. 

[marco]

12 hours ago, rkacruiser said:

Listening to Romy Formica and the Favolosi from the S. S. Oceanic in the early 1970's as I write this.  Never tire of their music; brings back so many good memories of that cruise.  

 

 

Yep.....we have the album and listen to it frequently! O, O..ceanic ship...tu se bella bella bella!  Ciao ciao, good bye, arrevederci.

[Hlitner]

Our favorite music act is a decent piano bar player/singer.  Think about it.  On long cruises (we are often on ships for 4-10 weeks) there are the usual guest entertainer acts that vary from so-so to outstanding.  But you generally will hear those acts no more then twice.  But a piano bar player is working nearly every night and for us that can be months.  DW and I will hang-out in a piano bar if it has a decent entertainer and will be there night after night....sometimes for months.  So that person must be good to hold our interest.  Some lines like HAL used to have quite a few excellent piano bar entertainers but, like many lines, they have eliminated many of their piano bars.  Princess still has piano bars (often called Crooners) which we enjoy most nights.  Many of the small ship luxury lines also have a lounge entertainment act which can be either a piano bar person or a small band.

 

I do have a different take on the subject.  While the main theater acts are fine, on longer cruises it is the lounge/piano bar acts that often shine and bond with passengers.  Sit in a piano bar for a month and you get to know the entertainer and he/she often gets to know their audience.  This can result in some fantastic music.  I once stumbled on a piano bar entertainer who primarily played the usual pop music (think Billy Joel, Sinatra, etc).  But as I got to know the man I found out he was a jazz/blues player at heart but avoided much of that because it was not as popular as stuff where folks could sing along.  But when he realized that there some real blues fans he would often do a blues set late at night (when the bar was less crowded).  Tis heaven to my ears.

 

Speaking of Blues,  HAL put "BB King" Clubs on many of its ships.  It was an innovative move for a company that does very little innovation.  HAL hired excellent musicians, rehearsed them on land and put them on the ships.  And they played mostly pop, disco (I kid you not) and no BB King or blues.  I finally complained to one of the group leaders who told me that the band members were all excellent blues/jazz musicians (and they later proved the point) but that is not what the masses want to hear. So rather then BB King classics we would get Irene Cara!  😞

 

 

Hank

[George C]

24 minutes ago, Hlitner said:

Our favorite music act is a decent piano bar player/singer.  Think about it.  On long cruises (we are often on ships for 4-10 weeks) there are the usual guest entertainer acts that vary from so-so to outstanding.  But you generally will hear those acts no more then twice.  But a piano bar player is working nearly every night and for us that can be months.  DW and I will hang-out in a piano bar if it has a decent entertainer and will be there night after night....sometimes for months.  So that person must be good to hold our interest.  Some lines like HAL used to have quite a few excellent piano bar entertainers but, like many lines, they have eliminated many of their piano bars.  Princess still has piano bars (often called Crooners) which we enjoy most nights.  Many of the small ship luxury lines also have a lounge entertainment act which can be either a piano bar person or a small band.

 

I do have a different take on the subject.  While the main theater acts are fine, on longer cruises it is the lounge/piano bar acts that often shine and bond with passengers.  Sit in a piano bar for a month and you get to know the entertainer and he/she often gets to know their audience.  This can result in some fantastic music.  I once stumbled on a piano bar entertainer who primarily played the usual pop music (think Billy Joel, Sinatra, etc).  But as I got to know the man I found out he was a jazz/blues player at heart but avoided much of that because it was not as popular as stuff where folks could sing along.  But when he realized that there some real blues fans he would often do a blues set late at night (when the bar was less crowded).  Tis heaven to my ears.

 

Speaking of Blues,  HAL put "BB King" Clubs on many of its ships.  It was an innovative move for a company that does very little innovation.  HAL hired excellent musicians, rehearsed them on land and put them on the ships.  And they played mostly pop, disco (I kid you not) and no BB King or blues.  I finally complained to one of the group leaders who told me that the band members were all excellent blues/jazz musicians (and they later proved the point) but that is not what the masses want to hear. So rather then BB King classics we would get Irene Cara!  😞

 

 

Hank

I agree many many excellent piano players on the cruise lines , we always love a piano bar on the sea or land. 

[Shmoo here]

16 hours ago, Shmoo here said:

On our HAL PC cruise in 2013, they did a show called "Ovation"

Sorry, have to correct myself.  I didn't think the title was correct - it was called "Encore".  Not to be confused with the "Encore" production we saw on a later cruise (I believe on Princess).  That one was OK, but not the same show (or performance level) of the other.

[TheOldBear]

Anthony Inglis with the English National Symphony - on eastbound QM 2 crossings in 2017 & 2019 [and again in 2021 if things go as planned]. 

[rkacruiser]

3 hours ago, Hlitner said:

Our favorite music act is a decent piano bar player/singer. 

 

Do you remember any that you particularly enjoyed?

[Aquahound]

11 minutes ago, rkacruiser said:

 

Do you remember any that you particularly enjoyed?

 

The best piano entertainer I saw on any cruise line was Matt Yee.  Not sure where he'll be post-COVID, but he was a regular on RCI ships in the Schooner Bar.