Top 10 Tips for Making the Most of Your Cruise Ship’s Entertainment
One of the things that can really make a cruise holiday memorable is the entertainment offered onboard your cruise ship.
Whilst it does depend on the type of ship you are sailing on the cruise style of the line, there are plenty of tips that are perfect for making the most of the entertainment on a number of different ships and in this list, we are going to look at what we believe to be the top 10 of those.
Our Top 10 Tips for Making the Most of Your Cruise Ship’s Entertainment
Book In Advance
If you are sailing with a line such as Royal Caribbean or Norwegian who offer the chance to see a West End/Broadway show onboard, these are always hugely popular and whilst you can often get in without booking, we would always recommend doing so.
That not only guarantees that you see the show when you want to see, but you don’t have to stand in a queue for any returned tickets- so to speak.
That not only wastes your time that you could be enjoying on something else, but you may have to do it 2-3 times before getting in if sailing on a full ship.
If there are any pay shows including dining’s shows we would also book these in advance as you often get a discount.
Arrive Early to Performances
If you are heading to one your ships bars or the atrium, getting there early is a must as there is only limited seating and even if you don’t mind standing, there are only so many places where you can stand and see the show.
Even if you are going into one of the bigger venues, such as a theatre or performance area, there is always a huge rush 5-10 minutes before the performance starts.
If you want a good seat in an area you like to sit or if you have any special requirement such as needing an end of row seat or needing a large number of seats together as you are travelling as a group, you really need to beat that rush.
Check Your Dailies
If you have never sailed before, dailies may go by several different names, but they are all the same as line give you a daily plan of the entertainment on offer.
This is normally delivered to your stateroom the night before and whilst you can get most schedules on the line’s app, it’s always worth double checking the dailies for any last minute changes or to see the highlights of the next day.
Learn Locations
On a smaller, older ship the chances are that entertainment will only take place in the main theatre or in the atrium but on huge modern ships, things happen in multiple locations spread all over the ship.
We would always advise not only learning where those locations are, as you don’t want to be late for a performance simply because you couldn’t find it, but we would also recommend visiting them on the first day.
That will give you a great insight into how much space there is, how much seating etc etc and then you will get a good idea just how early you need to be to get the sort of seat you like, or a seat at all in smaller venues.
Download The Cruise Line App
Some apps are great, some are pretty much useless, but most are somewhere in between, so we would always recommend downloading them.
A good one will allow you see the entertainment on offer throughout your journey, add them into your calendar and will send you a reminder a few minutes before which means you never miss a performance that you want to see and don’t have to clock watch beforehand.
You can also plan your nights so that you don’t end up needing to be in two places at once or leaving yourself having to race through a meal because you need to get to a show.
Dinner and a Show
There are a growing number of lines that now offers dining shows, where you have a meal whilst watching a show and the very best of them theme your dining experience around the show.
Some will also have themed drinks, with your meal becoming a huge part of the experience of the show.
This is a great option for those who like to make a night of it by going for a meal, especially if you go to a speciality restaurant, before heading for a show as by combing the two you get the same experience but gain some more time.
Find Out Show Times Well in Advance
If you love to keep a traditional style of dining where you eat at the same time everyday in the main dining room or if you are pre-booking speciality dining, make sure you find out the times of entertainment onboard your ship.
Things such as theatre performances and acts in the main lounges, bars and entertainment areas all tend to take place at around the same times every night.
Try to find out these times before booking to be elsewhere so you don’t miss out on any shows or acts you really want to see.
Keep An Eye Out for Pop Up Performances
Sometimes thing change and lines must adopt and that can even be for your onboard entertainment.
If a change is needed, you may find that a performance happens even when it is not listed in the daily or on your app schedules simply because it wasn’t supposed to happen.
This isn’t something that happens too often, but it is something that has happened on a couple of our cruises.
On one cruise, we saw an act in the theatre that was in my wife’s view the best act we had seen on a cruise and that was set to be their only night of performing. To her excitement, it was announced at the end of that show, that the act would be doing an unplanned afternoon show the next day.
So if you really like an act, make sure you double check schedules and announcements for any last minute changes and you may get to see them again.
Entertainment On Land
If you are lucky enough to be sailing on an itinerary with an overnight stay, many line will offer the opportunity to see a local show on land, and we would recommend do so for an often-unforgettable experience.
This can range from a night at the opera, a theatre or heading to a comedy club or sometimes a more cultural performance is offered just for cruise guests to really immerse themselves in the destination they visit.
This maybe something more likely to be offered when cruising with a more premium line but it is something that several mass market lines also offer for an extra cost.
Look For Themed Cruises
If there is one thing that you love to do and you want to spend as much time on holiday doing as possible, why not try a themed cruise?
Themed cruises have a huge range in variety and theming to them from lines having guest celebrities doing talks, displays or performance to companies hiring full cruise ships to take over the whole holiday.
A popular option for the latter is bands who hire cruise ships and give performances throughout the getaway but who then also give plenty of opportunities for meets and greet experiences and premium interactions.
For the former, plenty of lines will offer the chance to sail with a celebrity chef to gives displays and chances to cook with them or tv presenters with a link to where you are sailing who can give informative talks before you dock.
Both options can make for a great immersive holiday where your hobby or interest remains at the forefront of your entertainment.
