Is the style of entertainment on Viking Ocean changing somewhat?

[bookbabe]

We aren’t fans of classical music at all, and fled in horror from most of the entertainment we encountered on our recent West Indies Explorer.  I’m sure they were talented performers, but if that’s not the style of music you enjoy, most of the entertainment was pretty painful.  We didn’t make it to the Beatles or Abba, Murphy’s law that they were the same nights we had our CT/M’s reservations, and the later shows were a little too late for us since we had the first excursion of the day most days.

 

If they’re changing it up a bit, that’s only a good thing as far as we’re concerned.  We’re on In the Wake of the Vikings in the fall, and 15 days of cello is not a part of the cruise we’re looking forward to.  We’re hoping the speakers on that itinerary make up for the other entertainment.  Sure, have the classical somewhere for those who do enjoy it, but bring in some other entertainment for those who’d like a different option.  

[OnTheJourney]

Understood completely. As I said, surveys have likely reflected your thoughts and hence some more variety being added. That said, fleeing from a show “in horror” is surely an exaggeration? My attraction to Viking was partly due to them not being as mainstream in what they generally offer compared to some other larger lines. It all comes down to satisfying and meeting the needs of the demographic that is loyal to them. Surely some devoted fans of classical music likely had your same sort of reaction to the more pop oriented performances. Covid has also changed how the travel industry operates in some ways. I agree that presenting a variety is a good thing but depending on how far it goes it could start to alter other facets of what makes Viking who they are. Suppose enough surveys come back urging them to start letting younger (under 18s) on board, or to allow a bit of casino action, or the opportunity for professional photos. I’m probably going over the top here but just suggesting that any cruise line will probably give in at some point to doing, adding, or changing whatever that will best fill up the ships. 

Edited March 9, 2023 by OnTheJourney

[OnTheJourney]

48 minutes ago, bookbabe said:

15 days of cello

And yet...the cello / violin duo plays alot of pop tunes. We greatly enjoyed listening to them for a bit in the atrium after dinner. But Sofia playing pop stuff on piano somehow just didn't quite work for me. As a musician, I didn't sense the same love or feeling for what she was playing as when she does her amazing classical selections. 

 

 

[OnTheJourney]

16 hours ago, KBs mum said:

Customer service was abysmal compared to pre covid. 

Curious...in what way? 

[bookbabe]

4 minutes ago, OnTheJourney said:

And yet...the cello / violin duo plays alot of pop tunes. We greatly enjoyed listening to them for a bit in the atrium after dinner. But Sofia playing pop stuff on piano somehow just didn't quite work for me. As a musician, I didn't sense the same love or feeling for what she was playing as when she does her amazing classical selections. 

Even playing other genres of music, we just can’t do the strings duo.  Pull out that bow and we’ll flee in the opposite direction.  Just us maybe, but not something that’s going to change no matter how talented the musician or how beautiful or “popular” the selection.  (Ashley MacIsaac possibly being one of the only exceptions.)  Classical piano is something else we just aren’t fans of, regardless of the talent.  We are only moderate “pop” fans in any case, and realize that we are unlikely to find our preferred genres of music on any cruises other than charters.  We accept that, but still wouldn’t have minded a bit more diversity in entertainment offerings.

 

I’ve seen a number of complaints about Viking moving away from its original demographic in terms of entertainment choices, but I personally think that’s a smart business move on their part.  They won’t be able to survive forever on the current 60-70+ crowd, and future 60-70+ cruisers won’t have grown up in the same decades.  Maybe The Beatles will get replaced by Rolling Stones cover bands at some point?

 

[OnTheJourney]

7 minutes ago, bookbabe said:

we just can’t do the strings duo.

LOL....I get it. Each to his or her own for sure! 

 

8 minutes ago, bookbabe said:

Pull out that bow and we’ll flee in the opposite direction.

😆

 

8 minutes ago, bookbabe said:

Classical piano is something else we just aren’t fans of,

Admittedly, this is not my favorite part of classical music. I do enjoy listening...for awhile...and can greatly admire the talent needed to accomplish the pieces. I'm more of an orchestral bent when it comes to classical preference. 

 

10 minutes ago, bookbabe said:

They won’t be able to survive forever on the current 60-70+ crowd

This makes sense given that at some point us baby boomers either won't be here anymore or else no longer in adequate physical condition to hop on cruise ships 🙁

 

12 minutes ago, bookbabe said:

future 60-70+ cruisers won’t have grown up in the same decades.

True enough. As my Mom is fond of saying, "nothing stays the same". Much of what Viking is and has been is a product of Torstein's vision for it. Obviously, he won't be here forever either, so then it falls on Karine, or whomever after her, to continue to help shape the vision of what a Viking cruise should be. Thing is, I can quite honestly get the theatre pop shows done better - and more elaborately - on RCL or X since they have the bigger casts and likely the production $ to accomplish it. Viking was a nice alternative for something different. People, generally speaking, tend to like things that they know and are familiar with. Viking has always sort of defined itself by what it doesn't have - including kids, casinos, photographers, umbrella drinks and such. Target market is surely the 55+ retired group (though 50s appears to be the low end of things) curious about exploring their world "in comfort" (as the advertising goes...). Bring kids onboard and it will lose that sense of greater calmness and quiet not to be found as much on the behemoths of the seas. Bring casinos and that invities a different sort of demographic as well. Musical offerings - in whatever form - are likely to have the least amount of impact as to who decides to travel with Viking or not if the rest of the product remains basically the same. 

[wine-wine-wine]

The pianist was actually one of the few complainants I had from the last cruise.

 

The pianist was ok at classical, made many glaring errors while playing pop. But most importantly she gave ZERO feeling to either genre. Player pianos have more feeling than most of what we heard, at least to my ear. 
 

fyi I have a background in playing both classical and pop piano in my misspent youth.

Our favorite music onboard was the guitarist in the Explorer’s Lounge. 

Edited March 9, 2023 by wine-wine-wine
Add guitar

[OnTheJourney]

31 minutes ago, bookbabe said:

The Beatles will get replaced by Rolling Stones cover bands at some point?

Well, alot better IMHO than bringing on female pop performers covering stuff by Taylor Swift or Adele. That'd be my turn to run the other direction....

Edited March 9, 2023 by OnTheJourney

[OnTheJourney]

38 minutes ago, wine-wine-wine said:

The pianist was actually one of the few complainants I had from the last cruise.

Who was it? Sofia Vasheruk? Can't imagine who would classify her as being merely "ok" at performing classical or any other genre. She's a highly skilled, award-winning concert level performer, and so very good technically. Her pop performances also very well done. Being a pianist, organist, and guitarist myself (music has been my whole career), I zoomed in on her music pad from up above out of curiosity while watching her play. Note for note she executed flawlessly and NOT easy arrangements by any means. I just didn't sense the same depth of feeling that she puts into her classical selections. It may well have been someone else on your sailing. 

Edited March 9, 2023 by OnTheJourney

[OnTheJourney]

39 minutes ago, wine-wine-wine said:

Our favorite music onboard was the guitarist in the Explorer’s Lounge. 

I heard a guy there one night basically singing a variety of pop music. Essentially the guitar was pretty much just to accompany himself. However, we've heard another guitarist on Viking that often played during tea who is primarily an instrumentalist at heart and accomplished. Having been a professional musician and public school music educator my entire life, I'd like to think that I'm a pretty adequate judge of what I'm hearing. 

Edited March 9, 2023 by OnTheJourney

[KBs mum]

For us the issue was not being able to avoid the live music around the ship, most of it was material we like, but done badly and repeatedly. The shows in the theatre are easy to avoid. 

We can listen to any music we like performed by anyone by downloading our choices prior to the cruise and using good quality headphones or buds. Sometimes we listen to audio books or podcasts. We don't need or want somebody else's choice of live music. For live music we go to concerts or theatres of our choice. 

Usually we socialise and people watch. This last cruise was the first time we have been bored on a sea day. The 'entertainment' prevented us from doing things we find enjoyable/entertaining. 

 

[OnTheJourney]

41 minutes ago, wine-wine-wine said:

made many glaring errors while playing pop.

No chance whatsoever that it would have been Sofia! 

[OnTheJourney]

1 minute ago, KBs mum said:

For us the issue was not being able to avoid the live music around the ship,

Huh....find that hard to believe. I can't recall encountering much of any live music unless venturing into a bar or later evening, which we don't do anyway. Except for whomever was playing during tea, theatre shows and either piano or string duo in the atrium at various times, I don't think we heard any other live music. 

[OnTheJourney]

9 minutes ago, KBs mum said:

The 'entertainment' prevented us from doing things we find enjoyable/entertaining. 

Curious...what sort of "things" did you feel you were prevented from doing? There's always the option of just chilling out in the wintergarten. No live music taking place there at all except for during tea. Great place, we always found, for just reading in a quiet setting - or also the seating areas right outside the wintergarten. Explorer's lounge too. During the day...no music at all. Mamson's..same thing. Warmer weather, of course, one's own balcony is always good. The atrium areas, except for when there is live music, also seem quiet and relaxed - people playing various games or working on a jigsaw puzzle. A bit confused as to what you're referring to. 

 

Could it be you're looking for more organized, group-type social events on a sea day? During our cruise the big thing was baggo...crew vs. guests. Threw the bag (or whatever) down the staircase. Once again, somehow expected that sort of thing on a larger cruise line. It was fun for all involved I have no doubt...but made for a good bit of extra noise while passing through the atrium areas. Also lots of people standing around the railings looking down on it. I think they did it every sea day. Will probably become a Viking tradition. Some activities are probably dictated to some extent by who the cruise director is. 

Edited March 9, 2023 by OnTheJourney

[Cienfuegos]

Interesting discussion.  The music in the atrium often defines what folks walking through on the  balconies consider "on the ship".

[OneSixtyToOne]

Let’s face it, Torstein made a tape for our road trip, he owns the car and we are stuck listing to it.

[OnTheJourney]

4 minutes ago, Cienfuegos said:

The music in the atrium often defines what folks walking through on the  balconies consider "on the ship".

Makes sense. Much more ive music taking place when walking around on RCL or X in the various lounges, etc. 

[OnTheJourney]

6 minutes ago, OneSixtyToOne said:

Let’s face it, Torstein made a tape for our road trip, he owns the car and we are stuck listing to it.

LOL..he's a good guy. I have great respect for him after how he handled things with our Northern Lights sailing back in '19, and then also what he publicly stated during the Invitational Chairman's cruise this past May. He was on that sailing, along with Karine, her husband, and the dogs. 

[janetcbl]

1 hour ago, wine-wine-wine said:

The pianist was actually one of the few complainants I had from the last cruise.

 

The pianist was ok at classical, made many glaring errors while playing pop. But most importantly she gave ZERO feeling to either genre. Player pianos have more feeling than most of what we heard, at least to my ear. 
 

fyi I have a background in playing both classical and pop piano in my misspent youth.

Our favorite music onboard was the guitarist in the Explorer’s Lounge. 

The guitarist in the Explorer’s Lounge after dinner on our trip was great! (Homelands/Baltic last summer).

[Vineyard View]

We love the guitarist in Explorers. He is amazing to listen to. We can listen to him through multiple sets on multiple nights and not tire of his talent. 
We’ve listened to the classical in the atrium over a glass and nibble. Not our go to, but we certainly don’t run away.
It’s just enjoyable to be able to hold a conversation in both venues and have live talented musicians in the background. 
I am not sure that sweet Caroline is going after a younger demographic though. Neil wrote that in 1969. 
We don’t go to the shows so not part of the equation for us. 
This is an interesting thread though. 

[rmalbers]

17 hours ago, KBs mum said:

We joined in with the Sweet Caroline singalong. It is an ashes year, and rugby internationals were on. Americans nearby were aghast when told that in the UK it's usually only sung by well lubricated crowds at sports events

 

 

Wait a minute, they use that song (and sing along) at US sporting events ALL the time, I think what you saw was an example of the US demographic that sails on VO.    

[OnTheJourney]

4 minutes ago, Vineyard View said:

We love the guitarist in Explorers.

Any idea what his name is?  I love hearing good instrumental on guitar. The guy that played on two of our sailings was really good. If it's just a strum and sing approach, I tend to lose interest although admire and envy people who have the range to easily sing pop stuff. Not in my cards, having been a Bass II my whole academic and collegiate singing career!  

[OnTheJourney]

8 minutes ago, Vineyard View said:

I am not sure that sweet Caroline is going after a younger demographic though. Neil wrote that in 1969.

good point!

[Vineyard View]

4 minutes ago, OnTheJourney said:

Any idea what his name is?  I love hearing good instrumental on guitar. 

I do not know. It was shortly before Covid and he was way more than just strum and sing. There were a number of people on board who were very impressed with his talent. His voice was perfect with his own style of playing. He was unique in both aspects, in my opinion. I don’t play myself, but I would listen to him again! 

[OnTheJourney]

5 minutes ago, Vineyard View said:

It was shortly before Covid and he was way more than just strum and sing.

May have been the same guy we heard on the Sky in '19. Knew his way around the neck for sure and did both vocals and instrumentals.