Bill Board on Board changing formats

[Haljo1935]

7 hours ago, DCThunder said:

I always wondered whatever happened to Andrew "Dice" Clay.  The Diceman used to tell nursery rhymes too...😈

He's alive and well - spotted this month on K'dam Hawaiian cruise, lol.

Or maybe that was Wayne Newton 🤔 

Edited January 28 by Haljo1935
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[Blackduck59]

34 minutes ago, Haljo1935 said:

He's alive and well - spotted this month on K'dam Hawaiian cruise, lol.

Or maybe that was Wayne Newton 🤔 

Formal night?

[Haljo1935]

Just now, Blackduck59 said:

Formal night?

I don't think it was, which is why it caught my attention,  but I'll go check the dates.

[Blackduck59]

Just now, Haljo1935 said:

I don't think it was, which is why it caught my attention,  but I'll go check the dates.

I wonder if his name was Larry 😁😇

[BarryFromBoston]

10 minutes ago, Blackduck59 said:

Formal night?

LOL! I played for Wayne Newton's show a few months ago. 

[Haljo1935]

15 minutes ago, Blackduck59 said:

Formal night?

So, not Dressy Night, but interestingly it was Ball night w/Officers and Crew. So maybe he was dressed for that; although, the person w/him was not similarly attired. I did not go to the ball as I was traveling solo and didn't feel comfortable, but would love to have seen it.

Why would a ball be scheduled on Casual Night? The ball is billed as "a gala dance."

[Boatdrill]

9 hours ago, DCThunder said:

That's one of the many reasons I hate the Boston Red Sox and their fans. They unleashed the Curse of Sweet Caroline on American sporting venues across the fruited plain.

And across the Atlantic too ?  Fans sing it when the NFL has games in Germany and UK.  

[Blackduck59]

Well it is an interesting look. I probably wouldn't choose it for myself.

[Haljo1935]

1 minute ago, Blackduck59 said:

Well it is an interesting look. I probably wouldn't choose it for myself.

Nor my DH, but honestly that's one of the things I enjoy about cruising - there's room for everyone.

[AtlantaCruiser72]

4 hours ago, jeh10641 said:

I heartily agree about the Casino smoke, my only complaint from our Rotterdam cruise in December 2021.

Jim

I’m onboard now and it’s very pervasive. Can smell it just as you enter bb kings all the way past the casino and RSRR/billboard. I was at the deck 4 forward elevator/stair last night and the smell was strong there too. This is 2024 people. There are multiple ways to mitigate the smoke (enclosed smoking casino area and high flow smoke scrubbing system attached to aircon for example). I guess Carnival Corp is just too cheap to take proper mitigation efforts. Closing in the hole between the casino and RSRR/billboard will only serve to push more of the smell to the forward stair lobby and bb kings I fear

 

Edited January 28 by AtlantaCruiser72

[Hlitner]

1 hour ago, BarryFromBoston said:

LOL! I played for Wayne Newton's show a few months ago. 

Have enjoyed your playing/singing on several cruises (including two VOV voyages) but do not recall ever hearing Danke Schoen!  Thank goodness 🙂

 

Hank

[BarryFromBoston]

It would be  thriled to be back for VOV. We'll see if the new people in the chairs remember me. 

Edited January 28 by BarryFromBoston

[taxmantoo]

9 hours ago, Blackduck59 said:

Formal night?

More like Halloween 🤣

[johnnyswitzerland]

 

On 1/26/2024 at 12:03 AM, iflyrc5 said:

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.

 

8 hours ago, AtlantaCruiser72 said:

I’m onboard now and it’s very pervasive. Can smell it just as you enter bb kings all the way past the casino and RSRR/billboard. I was at the deck 4 forward elevator/stair last night and the smell was strong there too. This is 2024 people. There are multiple ways to mitigate the smoke (enclosed smoking casino area and high flow smoke scrubbing system attached to aircon for example). I guess Carnival Corp is just too cheap to take proper mitigation efforts. Closing in the hole between the casino and RSRR/billboard will only serve to push more of the smell to the forward stair lobby and bb kings I fear

 

I am so disappointed that they removed that beautiful staircase between Music Walk and the casino on NS.  It's a focal point and opens/joins the spaces.  If smoke is the reason, I can name a pretty straightforward solution…  Disallow smoking indoors.  Is this not obvious?  Instead of ruining a beautiful architectural/interior design, maybe eliminate the source of the problem?

 

As @AtlantaCruiser72, said:  This is 2024 people.

[RICHARD@SEA]

On 1/26/2024 at 12:03 AM, 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.

I was on The Rotterdam in late Nov & dual pianos were terrible - they spent most of the time/ set  "chatting" about their day & trying to be funny - key word TRYING!!!

 

It was like being in a retirement / assisted living  home - I'm 65 & it was boring due to the music choices by the duo - instead of a mix of old & new & broadway  - they played mostly 60's  sad songs...

 

The lounge itself was dead - just people sitting at tables not even ordering drinks & the setup w the lounge across the way is stupid -

 

As far as costs - there is a budget & I'd bet HAL / CARNIVORE CORP pays the same $$$ for two pianists as they do for 1 - its all about the quality - which certainly lacking!!

[cruisemom42]

16 minutes ago, johnnyswitzerland said:

 

 

 

I am so disappointed that they removed that beautiful staircase between Music Walk and the casino on NS.  It's a focal point and opens/joins the spaces.  If smoke is the reason, I can name a pretty straightforward solution…  Disallow smoking indoors.  Is this not obvious?  Instead of ruining a beautiful architectural/interior design, maybe eliminate the source of the problem?

 

As @AtlantaCruiser72, said:  This is 2024 people.

 

I suspect the driver for the change wasn't so much the smoke as wanting to enlarge the casino space.

[Annamariealberghetti]

On 1/27/2024 at 3:37 AM, Haljo1935 said:

I don't know their names, but I could not listen to the duo that was performing Dec 21 - Jan 6 on K'dam; I honestly don't know if the man was good or not because the female was painfully bad and I moved on as quickly as possible. I tried a couple times hoping maybe she was having an off night, but it was never good.

Solo, duo, or any number would be ok with me so long as they're good. I think HAL needs better interviewers in the entertainment department.

Same on NA Dec 26 - 23. Painful to watch.

[mcrcruiser]

We can only hope that one day soon Holland America reinstitute  proper shows in the World Theatre since all their competition  has these main shows . 

[Hlitner]

3 hours ago, cruisemom42 said:

 

I suspect the driver for the change wasn't so much the smoke as wanting to enlarge the casino space.

Kind of interesting how HAL has really embraced "casino specials" as a way to fill their ships.  It almost reminds me of how they market Atlantic City Casinos (i.e. free buses and a fistful of quarters).  In my little mind it cheapens the product.  Interesting that cruise lines like Disney and Viking do not see any need to have casinos (they fill their ships without casino promotions).  We were also pleasantly surprised that the new Explora Journeys Line does not have a casino on their first ship and has, so far, shown no desire to put them on their next 5 vessels.  While we have no problem with casinos, we are not big fans of all the smokers that seem to be attracted to gambling.

 

Hank

[mare s.]

I rather liked the duo on Koningsdam at the beginning of January, although their patter was forced at times.   But we really enjoyed the Rolling Stones band...made it a point to get there early for seats because by the time they started their sets, it was standing room only.    Even saw a couple of the ship's officers bopping along.   I would love it if some classical music returned...just for a nice change.  I also enjoyed a bit of playing in the casino (their machines did seem a bit "looser" than on other cruise lines) but, boy oh boy, you needed to get there early on sea days to find a seat!   Wasn't bothered too much by the smoke, but don't understand why people are allowed to smoke in there at all. 

 

[daisy-mae]

24 minutes ago, Hlitner said:

Interesting that cruise lines like Disney and Viking do not see any need to have casinos (they fill their ships without casino promotions). 

 

Hank

I can understand why Disney would eschew gambling as it would tarnish their wholesome family image.

[cruisemom42]

1 hour ago, Hlitner said:

Kind of interesting how HAL has really embraced "casino specials" as a way to fill their ships.  It almost reminds me of how they market Atlantic City Casinos (i.e. free buses and a fistful of quarters).  In my little mind it cheapens the product.  Interesting that cruise lines like Disney and Viking do not see any need to have casinos (they fill their ships without casino promotions).  We were also pleasantly surprised that the new Explora Journeys Line does not have a casino on their first ship and has, so far, shown no desire to put them on their next 5 vessels.  While we have no problem with casinos, we are not big fans of all the smokers that seem to be attracted to gambling.

 

Hank

 

Azamara ships also do not have casinos. 

 

Although numerous lines have now taken the step of not allowing smoking in casinos, HAL seems unwilling to ask passengers to choose between addictions on some ships. Yet they don't allow it on others. 

 

I believe HAL is the most inconsistent cruise line I've ever run across.

[taxmantoo]

27 minutes ago, cruisemom42 said:

I believe HAL is the most inconsistent cruise line I've ever run across.

They are, however, consistently inconsistent.  🤣

[Cruzmama]

On 1/26/2024 at 5:33 PM, AtlantaCruiser72 said:

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. 

I loved Barry from Boston, too. I’d love to know where he is these days. I remember hearing that he was in a lounge in an Aruba hotel, but that was before Covid. 

[Cruzmama]

10 minutes ago, Cruzmama said:

I loved Barry from Boston, too. I’d love to know where he is these days. I remember hearing that he was in a lounge in an Aruba hotel, but that was before Covid. 

Well, I spoke too soon, and was glad to read through the rest of the posts that Barry from Boston is alive and well!   Sure hope to see him on a Holland ship again someday.  
I love having just one piano player.  The last two cruises with duos did not seem to have chemistry. The place was always full, though.