Quality of Shows on Cruise Ships
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Impressive Broadway Productions vs. Solo Artist Performances
All cruise lines ensure they entertain passengers on all their ships, and every evening a "main show" takes place, in addition to various music and dance events, quizzes, game shows, and more.
But the differences in the level and quality of the shows—and the theater halls themselves—are enormous: from amazing Broadway productions, full-length musicals with dozens of actors, dancers, and singers lasting two hours, ice-skating shows, performances with many stunts and pyrotechnics, rich in advanced technologies using giant screens, down to a performance by a single singer, magician, or clown lasting 40 minutes gross.
Quality of the Theater Halls on the Ship
There are ships with small halls or halls where, no matter where you sit, there is a pillar blocking the view, and there are those that are spacious, comfortable, and offer a great view from everywhere. There are some where you need to book a seat in advance (free of charge) long before the cruise date, and others where you must arrive forty minutes before the show to manage to catch any seat (without any option for pre-booking).
Differences Between Cruise Lines
The differences start primarily with the companies; some are known for their productions, but: only on the largest and newest ships of those companies can you find the serious productions. Therefore, for those who love shows and expect more than a pair of singers singing 1950s songs or an amateur entertainment crew, it is worth choosing specific ships and not assuming that just because a certain company was chosen—high-level shows are guaranteed.
Another important thing to know: in every ship, during every cruise, the large productions repeat themselves for many years. Therefore, those doing two consecutive cruises or returning to the same ship after a year or two—and sometimes even more—should not be surprised that the main shows are identical. Although the singers/actors/dancers might have changed—the show does not change that quickly...
Hair Spray show on the Symphony of the Seas:
Beatles tribute show
Thanks to the fact that I choose cruises on different ships of different companies, I have had the opportunity to see a very large and varied repertoire, while those who are loyal to the same company and ship tend to repeat themselves a bit... So while it's true that you don't choose a cruise solely based on the size of the hall or the quality of the production, it is another criterion worth considering.
Royal Caribbean
The company with the largest and best productions is undoubtedly Royal Caribbean. In its Oasis class (which today already includes 5 ships), each ship has a different and elaborate Broadway musical in addition to a grandiose ice-skating show with top skaters and a spectacular water/diving/jumping stunt show.
Shows in the AquaTheater at the aft of the ship:
In the Anthem class, there is one unique show that relies heavily on technology and screens. It is likely that in the new Icon class, they will surpass themselves. But on the older and smaller ships—the selection is much more limited and the productions are less impressive. A nice entertainment crew and occasional guest entertainers (ice shows have been around since the Voyager class).
Ice-skating shows:
Shows on the Ovation of the Seas by Royal Caribbean:
Celebrity Cruises
In the Edge class, Celebrity has surpassed themselves and begun producing shows no less impressive than those of Royal Caribbean, with grand productions in the amazing theater—considered the most advanced in the world—with screens of a size and quality not yet seen on other ships.
Theater with a giant screen on Celebrity Beyond:
Additionally, intimate productions in a unique club named "Eden" with characteristics of a paradise on earth.
Show in Eden:
But in Celebrity's previous classes, the shows are quite standard.
Show on the Celebrity Equinox:
Show on the Celebrity Infinity:
Norwegian Cruise Line
From the "Breakaway" class onwards, Norwegian also began producing one or two high-level shows on every cruise, ranging from well-known musicals to stunt and music shows in the style of "Cirque du Soleil."
Jersey Boys show on the Norwegian Bliss:
Hall on the Norwegian Epic:
Virgin Voyages
On Virgin ships (all new from 2021 onwards), there is a high-quality production in the style of "Cirque du Soleil" on every cruise.
Clearly, as there are fewer passengers on the ships, the shows will be much more modest, with a limited entertainment crew, but remember that this is also a policy of a company that chooses whether or not to invest in shows.
Princess and Holland America
Examples of companies with average shows: Princess and Holland America—wonderful companies but with very modest shows.
Shows on Princess ships:
Solo musician performance accompanied by the ship's orchestra on the Sky Princess:
Musician duo on the Sky Princess:
Carnival
At Carnival—whose logo is "Fun Ship"—they apparently don't think that a high-quality show in a comfortable theater is part of the fun and do not invest in the field.
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