Thread: HAL Entertainment Enhancements

Holland America Line Delivers Entertainment Enhancements

Friday September 19, 3:15 pm ET


SEATTLE, Sept. 19 /PRNewswire/ -- As part of Holland America Line's latest Signature of Excellence enhancements, entertainment on board five popular ships is evolving to feature a new music program, the new Showroom at Sea, expanded entertainment and enrichment activities and a video game room featuring the latest craze in high-tech entertainment. The enhancements are part of an extensive $200-million program that will occur during nearly month-long dry docks on ms Statendam, ms Maasdam, ms Ryndam, ms Veendam and ms Rotterdam beginning in spring 2009.


"The new musical offerings and entertainment initiatives are designed to be even more compelling and relevant to today's premium cruiser," said Richard D. Meadows, CTC, executive vice president, marketing, sales and guest programs, Holland America Line. "These enhancements will allow us to offer more venues and more choices to our guests."
Signature Bands Featured on All Ships
Joining the resident shipboard entertainment staff are three new musical groups catering to a wide audience: The HALCats, The Neptunes and Adaggio. Each ship in the fleet will now feature an ensemble of these signature musical groups.
An eight-piece party band, The HALCats play the music of the '60s, '70s and '80s throughout the ship. Charged with creating a sophisticated and sultry mood, The Neptunes, a three-piece combo, feature music from the Great American Songbook. Adaggio, a string quartet, comprised of a viola, cello and two violins, perform light classics in the Explorer's Lounge. Guests can dance to the tunes of Tony Bennett, Frank Sinatra and Harry Connick Jr. in the newly refurbished Ocean Bar.

Showroom at Sea
Holland America Line has redesigned its main show space to combine modern stage technology and decor with the ambiance of a glamorous nightclub. Called Showroom at Sea, this venue will feature new show concepts along with production-style shows. Remodeled seating and a larger parquet dance floor will also feature movable tables and chairs complete with white-linen tablecloths and cafe lamps. The old-Hollywood atmosphere in this intimate room is just the place to dance the night away.

High-Tech Entertainment
The latest video game craze across the nation is now coming to Holland America Line ships. Interactive games and other high-tech entertainment, complete with large flatscreen televisions, are being installed in a new space called the Sky Room and will test players' game skills. This high-tech game room features several "rooms within a room" and will include plenty of lounging chairs and couches for onlookers and participants alike.

Explorations Team Expands Activities
Entertainment and enrichment are taking on a new, contemporary look and feel across the fleet. A new Explorations Team employs cruise staff, each specializing in a particular area, to educate and entertain guests with an expanded menu of activities including flower arranging, hands-on cooking, dancing and working with digital photos, blogs and movies. Each team consists of a cruise director, a party planner, a travel guide, dance directors and a "techspert." On longer cruises, a book club leader joins the team to lead lively group discussions.
This $200-million phase in the Signature of Excellence commitment brings the latest innovations at sea to Holland America Line's Statendam, Maasdam, Ryndam, Veendam and Rotterdam. The first of the extensive dry dock periods begins with the Veendam in spring 2009 and the last will be completed on the Maasdam in late 2010. While in dry dock, ships will expand the aft deck to create a new resort pool concept, The Retreat, and create a new bar concept called Mix that features separate areas -- Martinis, Champagne and Spirits & Ales. Enhancements will be made to all existing staterooms and additional staterooms will be added to the five ships. The ships also will introduce 46 innovative lanai staterooms with direct access to the Lower Promenade Deck. New spa staterooms near the Greenhouse Spa and Salon will offer special in-room spa amenities.

Originally Posted by Krazy Kruizers

Holland America Line Delivers Entertainment Enhancements



Signature Bands Featured on All Ships
Joining the resident shipboard entertainment staff are three new musical groups catering to a wide audience: The HALCats, The Neptunes and Adaggio. Each ship in the fleet will now feature an ensemble of these signature musical groups.
An eight-piece party band, The HALCats play the music of the '60s, '70s and '80s throughout the ship.

This part sounds especially GOOD to me!

HAL has had the HALCats on the ships for over a year now. Some of them are good -- some the girl can't even sign.

They play mostly at sail aways -- some evenings in the Ocean Bar or Northern Lights (on Vista class ships).

I have seen the Halcats play a few times in the crows nest. they are okay
nothing great but okay. Iam glad to see that HAL is trying to improve the
entertainment . its a bout time

How if only HAL would go back to the original show times.

This really is WONDERFUL News!

Always, I've wondered if HAL was giving their faithful what they really wanted ....

Maybe best stated by a couple we met on our last HAL cruise (totally lovely people -- she, a retired teacher ... he, a retired judge): "We're retired and can sit around alone and read anytime we wish at home. On cruises we would enjoy being entertained."