Bill Board on Board changing formats

[iflyrc5]

We are currently on the Rotterdam and the Bill Board on Board only has one performer instead of the 2 people playing and singing.  According to our Cruise and Travel director HAL is going back to the "Piano Bar" format with just the one person and a crowd sing along style.  So far is seems to be very popular on the Rotterdam.  I assume at some point they will remove the second piano and reconfigure the area.  I just hope at the next drydock they close off the stairway coming down from the casino so we won't keep getting the smoke smell down on the Music walk.

[POA1]

We were on the Nieuw Statendam last month. They removed the stairwell and closed the "hole" during drydock. There is extra space in the casino as a result. There was no smoke smell in Billboard or Rolling Stone areas.

 

I noticed that the deck plan was updated earlier this month to reflect the change.

[montythecat]

I really do hope the two pianos format isn’t removed from the 

other ships where it currently exists. The rapport between the

two is usually part of the joy of the experience. Anybody who

has seen the wonderful Meghan and Gabe will know what I

mean. Surely HAL can afford to pay for two pianists ? Our

evenings will not be the same if this happens.

 

[kazu]

I enjoyed the piano bar format.  that may enable us to get back some of the great singers that were on previously.  

 

I’ve seen some good dual performers on the piano and some not so good.

 

It will be interesting to see how this develops.

[3rdGenCunarder]

I wonder if they will keep the Billboard name. HAL has dropped a few contracts contract with outside "names." 

[Nodakboiler]

There seem to be fewer and fewer duos that are good together. Lately it's been more misses than hits. Better to have a solo that's good than a lousy duo IMO. 

[Sir PMP]

One good piano player is perfect.

[Gail & Marty sailing away]

9 hours ago, iflyrc5 said:

We are currently on the Rotterdam and the Bill Board on Board only has one performer instead of the 2 people playing and singing.  According to our Cruise and Travel director HAL is going back to the "Piano Bar" format with just the one person and a crowd sing along style.  So far is seems to be very popular on the Rotterdam.  I assume at some point they will remove the second piano and reconfigure the area.  I just hope at the next drydock they close off the stairway coming down from the casino so we won't keep getting the smoke smell down on the Music walk.

Thanks for sharing.

[cruisemom42]

6 hours ago, montythecat said:

I really do hope the two pianos format isn’t removed from the 

other ships where it currently exists. The rapport between the

two is usually part of the joy of the experience. Anybody who

has seen the wonderful Meghan and Gabe will know what I

mean. Surely HAL can afford to pay for two pianists ? Our

evenings will not be the same if this happens.

 

 

Sorry to hear that but I've read an overwhelming number of comments about preferring a return to the one-player "singalong" format, so I suspect this will be good news rather than bad news for many.

 

[POA1]

1 hour ago, 3rdGenCunarder said:

I wonder if they will keep the Billboard name. HAL has dropped a few contracts contract with outside "names." 

Those are all licensing deals. The Lincoln Center performers and the Billboard pianists came from the same talent agency. I think the BB King people were sourced differently, but I could be wrong.

 

Quite honestly, I could care less about the branding. (Unless you call it HAL Cats, HAL Cats Classical, and HAL Cats: Bangin' the 88s.)

[Queenvee]

I'm glad to hear about the return to the one singer; as many other posters have stated, the duos were often not so great and that area became raucous.  I missed the daily Lincoln Center on Stage performances on my August 23 NS voyage.  Guess you win some, you lose some...

[3rdGenCunarder]

38 minutes ago, POA1 said:

Those are all licensing deals. The Lincoln Center performers and the Billboard pianists came from the same talent agency. I think the BB King people were sourced differently, but I could be wrong.

 

Quite honestly, I could care less about the branding. (Unless you call it HAL Cats, HAL Cats Classical, and HAL Cats: Bangin' the 88s.)

 

I don't care about the branding, either, although the LCS brought with it amazing quality. And thank you soooo much for reminding me of the days of the HAL Cats. 🙄

 

[JennysUncle]

Maybe they can get "Barry from Boston" back

[canadarocks]

I think this is wonderful news. We have yet to like any of the duos since they changed the format. I wonder if the Eurodam will make the switch before March? 🤞

[Shmoo here]

For the most part, I'm in favor of the single piano format.  We did 2 cruises that had the dual piano format - one the 2 players worked well together, the other they both seemed to be trying to be the only player and didn't mesh well together.

 

I think, if you want a cohesive act, they should put 2 players together that have worked with each other for some time.  

 

 

Edited January 26 by Shmoo here

[electro]

15 hours ago, iflyrc5 said:

We are currently on the Rotterdam and the Bill Board on Board only has one performer instead of the 2 people playing and singing.  According to our Cruise and Travel director HAL is going back to the "Piano Bar" format with just the one person and a crowd sing along style.  So far is seems to be very popular on the Rotterdam.  I assume at some point they will remove the second piano and reconfigure the area.  I just hope at the next drydock they close off the stairway coming down from the casino so we won't keep getting the smoke smell down on the Music walk.

Curious, who is the one piano player?

[FlaMariner]

Going to one piano player/singer is fine with us....Billboard Onboard is our favorite evening venue.....But a couple of times one of the folks was "sick" and we had just as much fun as if there were two...The sets are so short....

 

As long as we can still hear (and sing along) to.....Sweet Home Alabama and Country Roads, we are good to go. 

[DCThunder]

22 minutes ago, FlaMariner said:

Going to one piano player/singer is fine with us....Billboard Onboard is our favorite evening venue.....But a couple of times one of the folks was "sick" and we had just as much fun as if there were two...The sets are so short....

 

As long as we can still hear (and sing along) to.....Sweet Home Alabama and Country Roads, we are good to go. 

No "Sweet Caroline"?

[iflyrc5]

2 hours ago, electro said:

Curious, who is the one piano player?

I don't remember her name but she has long blond hair and a southern US accent

[AtlantaCruiser72]

6 hours ago, JennysUncle said:

Maybe they can get "Barry from Boston" back

Barry Rocklin aka Barry from Boston is a great piano bar performer, but I fear he has long moved on to other ventures and may no longer be interested in being a shipboard performer. 

[kb4683]

5 hours ago, canadarocks said:

I think this is wonderful news. We have yet to like any of the duos since they changed the format. I wonder if the Eurodam will make the switch before March? 🤞

👍🤞

[Sherry H]

Well, I for one loved the two players.  Guess we were lucky as they were really good.

[ArizonaStorm]

I’m currently on the Koningsdam where a duo continues in the Billboard Onboard. I’d prefer a cocktail lounge atmosphere with one pianist playing quietly in the background. 

[Gallivanter'sGal]

I hope they close in the Billboard area on the larger ships so the Rolling Stone can play their sets every 45 minutes instead of alternating with the Billboard.

 

[OrlandoKB]

2 hours ago, iflyrc5 said:

I don't remember her name but she has long blond hair and a southern US accent

Alissa Musto is currently the pianist on Rotterdam, an accomplished singer/songwriter and performer. I sailed when she was on the Westerdam back in July 2019 in Alaska. She’s also a longtime personal friend and from Massachusetts. Alissa would find “southern US accent” hilarious. 😆