Discovery Princess Take 5

[Shaver John]

We are boarding the Discovery Princess in a few days. We have heard that Take 5 is changing.This info came from a bloggers, so not sure if correct or not. Is that true or will Take 5 still be the Jazz club as in the past. Any help will be appreciated.

[1025cruise]

On Enchanted, Take 5 was changed to a non-smoking casino/slot room. I believe the same change is being made across the fleet.

[startedwithamouse]

1 hour ago, Shaver John said:

We are boarding the Discovery Princess in a few days. We have heard that Take 5 is changing.This info came from a bloggers, so not sure if correct or not. Is that true or will Take 5 still be the Jazz club as in the past. Any help will be appreciated.

post photos when you board!

 

[tampacruiser]

I had heard that same thing and we are boarding 10/5 and hope it is still going to be Take 5!

[azbirdmom]

Yes.  Slot machines will be moved in there sometime in October.  A reliable staff member told me that when I was onboard in July.  I just didn't think to ask if the machines would take over half of Take 5 as had happened on other ships as of that time or if they are taking over the entire lounge except for the bar as has been reported since then as happening on the Enchanted.

[Serious Cruisers]

Currently sailing discovery still take 5

[Have2Cruise]

Please note this post is my opinion on my experience, take it for what you will.  If you do not agree with my comments, that is fine, move on to another post. 

 

We are newly retired, platinum level, seasoned cruisers.  We just completed 7-day Inside Passage R/T Seattle on Discovery Princess.  Besides Glacier Bay National Park being on the itinerary, we chose Discovery Princess due to the Take Five Jazz Bar.  Onboard, the James Faherty Jazz trio performed daily in Take Five.  We attended roughly a dozen or so sessions and enjoyed the talented musicians immensely, they were by far the most talented on the ship, we even tipped them at cruise end to show our appreciation.  Our cruise highlights were 1) Viewing Northern Lights 2) James Faherty Jazz Trio Take Five sessions 3) Glacier Bay NP, in that order.  So, as you can imagine by the ranking, the trio was outstanding. We found out towards the end of the week that Princess is removing Take Five on 9/28/24 and using the space to expand the casino.  I did not care for the layout of the Discovery, not enough space to get people into events and shows, but since Take Five is being eliminated there is no reason for me to sail that ship again, less public space and less quality entertainment.  Not everyone wants to see live game shows on a cruise.  Sad, that in 2019 Princess hyped up Take Five as being the only jazz bar at sea.  I don’t know if this applies to the other ships, I am posting this as an FYI for anyone that may have been planning to spend time in Take Five, so they are not disappointed once onboard. 

 

Bottom line, I feel Princess is shifting away from their customer base and going for a new demographic, which does not include us.

[that]

@Shaver John

Latest on your Take Five

[startedwithamouse]

Adding to the elimination of the Guest Soprano, Princess can eliminate 3 more entertainment staff (jazz trio) due to budget cut backs. That's how Princess looks at it. And turn the space into more revenue.

[Ellipooh]

I've never been on Discovery Princess, but that sounds like a venue I would frequent.  Do other ships have the Jazz club?

[lx200gps]

13 minutes ago, Ellipooh said:

I've never been on Discovery Princess, but that sounds like a venue I would frequent.  Do other ships have the Jazz club?

Take 5 was our favorite go to place on sea days for peace and quiet (as it was always empty during the day), as well as a great venue for live jazz in the evenings. It was on the Discovery, the Sky and the Enchanted but sadly now seems to be on its way out, replaced by an expansion of the casino which is located right next door.  It's possible that one of the justifications that Princess used in deleting it was the fact that, at least during the day, very few people were using it.

[CACruiser1973]

I am so sorry to see this, we are booked on the 10/5 Discover sailing and Take Five is a large part of why we chose this cruise.  I have sailed on this ship multiple times, and always enjoyed spending each evening there.  Not only was the jazz music a huge draw, but it also had really nice seating options by the window.  My mom will be heartbroken next week as this was her favorite feature on the Discovery.  

[jdacombe]

Disappointing news if this decision will include Sky at some point. Take5 is my favourite location on the ship, good music, good cocktails and a lovely atmosphere and I never do the casinos.

BTW as Have2Cruise  mentioned, the James Faherty trio are very talented, we went to see them every evening when they were on Sky last year.

 

[rheathslc]

One more reason I won't sail on Discovery again. She's a beautiful ship but the spaces I love most across the fleet are either missing, being removed, or are substantially less appealing than on other ships. Even other Royal class ships.

 

This is off topic but another big reason is that the Adults only Retreat Pool is barely deeper than a kiddie wading pool. I love the Retreat on Royal and Regal and the Hollywood Pool on Majestic. And the Lotus Pools on the older shops. The one on Discovery is pointless.

[JamieLogical]

Take Five as a music venue has been eliminated on Enchanted Princess as well. Only the area directly in front of the bar now has any seating and there is no space for a band. More than 1/2 of the old space is now full of slot machines.

[dreaminofcruisin]

Same thing done to the venue on the Royal, though it is called "Double Down Bar".

[startedwithamouse]

I'm telling you, entertainment cuts across the fleet. 

 

12 musicians (3 trios on 3 ships)

3 guest sopranos (3 ships)

 

15 entertainers lost their jobs.

 

Do Sun Princess shows have a live orchestra accompaniment?

[Cruise Raider]

3 hours ago, lx200gps said:

Take 5 was our favorite go to place on sea days for peace and quiet (as it was always empty during the day), as well as a great venue for live jazz in the evenings. It was on the Discovery, the Sky and the Enchanted but sadly now seems to be on its way out, replaced by an expansion of the casino which is located right next door.  It's possible that one of the justifications that Princess used in deleting it was the fact that, at least during the day, very few people were using it.

I am sure that is exactly why they are expanding the casino and closing down Take5.  Every time I see it is someone’s favorite because it is quiet and peaceful, it’s a dead give away that prime venue is being underutilized.  

 

[lx200gps]

14 hours ago, Cruise Raider said:

I am sure that is exactly why they are expanding the casino and closing down Take5.  Every time I see it is someone’s favorite because it is quiet and peaceful, it’s a dead give away that prime venue is being underutilized.  

 

I'd love to see some recent photos from any of the ships that have had Take 5 decommissioned. There are a few photos in another thread which seem to show that the slot machines only occupy the aft half of the venue and it still retains the old sofas and window seats in the forward half.

[Cruise Raider]

29 minutes ago, lx200gps said:

I'd love to see some recent photos from any of the ships that have had Take 5 decommissioned. There are a few photos in another thread which seem to show that the slot machines only occupy the aft half of the venue and it still retains the old sofas and window seats in the forward half.

That’s exactly how the Royal Princess has been set up.  It works for us although they needed a better variety of machines in there.  I saw that on the Majestic, they had a set of craps tables in the forward section of the Take 5 / Double Down bar.  I understand it used to be their VIP casino area.  I thought I had a photo but must have deleted it.  

[WisCruiser2]

@Have2Cruise the James Faherty Trio was on the Enchanted in February during our B2B - we caught one of their sets every night! So disappointed Princess has eliminated that venue...

[Kineticoh20]

We were on her earlier in year when construction was going on. We were told Take 5 was not going away just being downsized for additional slot machines.

[vakamalua]

We were on the Enchanted a few weeks ago where Take Five was cut in half with slots on one side & the bar & some seating on the other.  An officer told us that there is a plan to eliminate all of the seating in the remaining half of Take Five & expand the casino leaving only the bar in order to generate as much revenue as possible from all available space.

 

 

[startedwithamouse]

25 minutes ago, Kineticoh20 said:

We were on her earlier in year when construction was going on. We were told Take 5 was not going away just being downsized for additional slot machines.

Sounds like they didn't want the trio to know they needed to look for other employment.