A coworker came back today from a cruise on Royal Caribbean. One of his complaints is that they didn't have any "named" entertainers. He said they were just differnt vairety acts such as singers and dancers, a juggler, a magician, and the sort. The only one he was "impressed" with was the ice show. He stated that with 3,000 paying customers on board, the cruise line should be able to pay for big name entertainers. As an example, he mentioned his first cruise (some years back I am sure) had Charo.

I have never heard of big name entertainers on cruise ships. Has anyone who cruised in the past actually had big name entertainers? If so, can you drop some names?

Well I agree it was some years ago, but we've seen Jerry VanDyke, Melissa Manchester, Barbara someone (not Striesand), "Rain" which is the group that does the Beatles show and are amazing (they are actually doing a show here in VA at Wolftrap park this summer) and I know Captain and Tennille have done cruise ships, also Inkspots, Drifters, among others. But as I said it was many years ago I'd say at least 10-15 or more.

NCL used to have named entertainers. I don't know if they still do that, but RCII never did that sort of thing.

We were on RCCL Splendour of the Seas for our Honeymoon for two weeks. They had The Platters and they had the comedian, Gallagher. I know that I have seen some others, but, I am having a senior moment.

In our world, Frankie Holliday, Kenny Smiles and Hal Fraser are named entertainers!

Many years ago we did a few cruises on Royal Caribbean and NCL. It seemed typical at that time to have "celebrity" entertainers on board...not sure if you'd consider them "big name." :) We can remember Pat Boone, Connie Stevens, and the Drifters. Not that any of those would have influenced our decision to take the trip!

Dena

Mark Russell has been on several World Cruises ('06,'07,'08 - maybe more). Other than that, I don't think we've had any "names". Elaine?

Royal Viking used to have some names: the McGuire Sisters, Neil Sedaka, Charo, Carol Channing, Debby Reynolds.

One of the nice things I remember is that Debby Reynolds did a show for the crew after she did her passenger show. Everyone appreciated that!

Peggy

Marc,

Crystal does have named entertainers from time to time, particularly on World cruise segments. Tommy Tune was on a recent segment of Crystal's World Cruise. I do know that Frankie Avalon and Marvin Hamlish will be on the Crystal Symphony soon.

Nancy

Peggy, on 2005 WC we had Lucy Arnaz.....also we had Ted Koppel (not an entertainer). I think Mark Russell is the BEST we have.

>>Lucy Arnez<< Right Marcie. Her musical - blond pony tail - is the brother of our dentist.

Terry Waite was a lecturer in 2008.

Mark Russell is terrific . . .

Peggy

Lucie Arnez was also on one of the Crystal WC segments this year and is scheduled to be on another voyage later this year. Also, Barbara Walters is one of the lecturers on the Cyrstal Symphony's July 31st cruise. Crystal's entertainment and enrichment/lecturers are usually pretty amazing, not just on the World Cruise.

While I've never cruised with Mark Russell he did perform at a Gala I went to several years ago...he's terrific.

Nancy

Marvin Hamlish, Tommy Tune, Patti Lupone and Joel Grey (he was the best) had also performed on the Royal Viking. This past winter the Theater At Sea group (including Patricia Neal and many others) were on the Mariner around SA. The same group is going to be on the Crystal this summer or fall. Unfortunately there are too many of them to be on a WC as they need too many cabins.

So true Elaine....I remember Ted Koppel taking up about 5 cabins with himself, kids and their spouses etc, We ate dinner next to their large table some evenings and there were a lot of family members!
Lucy Arnaz also had quite a few cabins with her entourage she toured with.

I've often wondered if in lieu of being paid taxable $$, some of these guest entertainers/lectures bring their families along instead (as Ted Koppel did). Anyone know?

Nancy,
Ray and I were on Barbara Walters' first cruise on the Crystal. When she gave her lecture/talk there wasn't a seat in the Galaxy Lounge cruisers as well as staff were lined up in every nook and cranny.Largest turnout we have ever seen.Barbara was terrific.

Also sailed in 2004 with Marvin Hamlish and his wife and they joined us for drinks, celebrating our 40th, at Hotel Splendido in Portofino

It's always nice when a cruise line books such top lecturers and speakers,such as Cousteau on the recent Amazon cruise.

I know Michael Buble got discovered on a cruise ship (probably doing the Alaska circuit), anybody know for sure which line it was? So whoever saw him then could say they saw him first!

Wow Pat...you sure have cruised with some great folks! I am reading Barbara Walter's autobiography right now. I sure wish I was on the July 31st sailing. Please don't feel bad for me, I'm on the Norway/North Cape itinerary leaveing on June 29th!!!

Nancy

PS. Do you have any Crystal cruises planned. If you want, feel free to send me a private message or email me..should be in my profile.

I know that on our Voyager cruise last Nov/Dec we were told by one of the staff that the Manhattan Transfer had worked out a deal with Regent in order to bring their friends and family onboard.

To find "named" entertainers, look no furthur than the Jazz cruise that will begin on the Voyager in 4 days, on the 26th. Bucky Pizzarelli. Ken Poplowski, Nikki Parrott, Check Redd, and Johnny Varro(most of whom were among the 11 jazz people we saw on the Navigator in 2004) definitely are name entertainers, at least to jazz buffs.

I am very much looking forward to our jazz cruise. It is just that with a port every day, and wonderful meals with wonderful friends and trivia and daily quiz; it seems a waste to have all these great entertainers with no time to watch them.

Bon Voyage. Your Voyager cruise will start two days before our Alaska cruise on the Mariner.

The Canada-New England jazz cruise in 2004 was also port intensive, which limited our seeing the jazz people perform to no more than 12-15 times in 8 days. No kidding! There were jazz performers by the pool every day. There were one or two afternoon indoor concerts. There was at least one evening performance every day, either in the main showroom or the largest lounge. There were some late night performances. They even played just before, or just after, trivia. Most of the time, 3 to 5 performers formed the combo.

In addition, I saw Bucky on the plane to Montreal, and we saw performers at meals, on shore excursions, and around the ship. Of course, we had 11 performers instead of your five, so there was time off for everyone except poor Nikki (who was on the bass for every performance). She must have enjoyed it anyway, or she wouldn't be on your cruise.

We seriously considered taking your cruise instead of the Alaska one; but we had family obligations this weekend that prevented us from leaving on vacation until next Monday. If your cruise were starting on Wednesday, we would have been on it.

How timely, I just got this Google alert that discusses World Renowned Stars and Broadway-Class Productions Are Transforming Entertainment at Sea. Here is the Regent mention:

The nine-piece "Regent Signature Orchestra" performs aboard Seven Seas Mariner, Seven Seas Voyager, and Seven Seas Navigator, lending concert-quality musical support to production shows and breaking into smaller units for combo performances around the ships. Regent Seven Seas Cruises recently hosted a "Theatre at Sea" voyage on the Amazon River that featured such performers as Ed Asner, Tovah Feldshuh, Anne Jackson, Karen Mason, Patricia Neal, Lee Roy Reams and Eli Wallach. A "Cabaret Convention at Sea" featured many of the biggest names in Broadway cabaret, including Marilyn Maye, Billy Stritch, and Steve Ross. On Nov. 15, 2008, Regent will host a "Public Television at Sea" voyage aboard Seven Seas Voyager. Acclaimed hosts of public broadcasting will lead accomplished figures from the media, politics, and academia in stimulating discussions of current affairs, art, theater and television.

I am assuming that not many here are Rock and Roll fans, but REO Speedwagon is performing on a cruise ship in some rock and roll show this year. I do a some work of one of the members and they did it before a few years ago, I think with Boston or Styx but I don't remember which line it was - maybe it was NCL or Carnival.

Kathy, I'm a rocker, :banana: though I won't go on a cruise to see REO Speedwagon, Boston or Styx. A few years back I did hear a waiter mention that Michael McDonald had been on the previous cruise, but it was a charter. Now I would have enjoyed that cruise.

I'm a rocker too but I don't think the Black Crowes will be on a cruise ship any time soon ;)

Count me in too for R&B.....I'd love to see the Stones on a cruise ship.
Pat

Oh me too - I am a KR's girl (woman I mean)

Joanna, You can take KR, I'll have Mick!!

OMG you can have them both....give me Bobby Darren...Marty Robbins...Buddy Holly or Elvis.
I must be a tad older than you youngins :banana: :banana:

I think Bobby, Marty, Buddy are in Rock and Roll Heaven. As we all know, Elvis is still alive.

LOL....true but they live on in my heart.

Radisson in either 2003 or 2004, when Navigator was on the Bermuda run had Maureen McGovern. In the old, old days, the Norway usually had name entertainers on board.
Lynn

Face it, we aren't going to see Mick or Keith on a cruise ship. For the most part, I'd rather see the entertainers on their way up rather than on their way down.

I have to admit that my bias comes from my first RSSC cruise 11 years ago. My cabin was right next to the hall where the entertainers were staying, and so I got to know them over the course of the cruise, and was utterly charmed by them. Ever since then, I've enjoyed watching the young entertainers get their start on cruise ships. I've seen some wonderful talent as well as a few best forgotten. But I enjoy watching people who view where they are as an opportunity rather than a come-down.