The team here at GetCruising.co.uk love a good night out, and that might be part of the reason why we are such fans cruise holidays.
That’s because, when you compare it to a traditional stay in a hotel, the amount of entertainment that is available on an evening is on a whole new level…
Whilst it’s true that you can always leave a hotel and go off to explore the entertainment options elsewhere in a resort, the beauty of a cruise is that those different options will be found in one place - meaning you’ll be somewhat spoilt for choice when it comes to how to spend your evenings.
One thing that is for sure is that the entertainment waiting for you in 2020 is way more than just a cabaret singer or a comedian, with huge investments being made in ever more impressive shows and productions that wouldn’t look out of place on a broadway stage.
With that in mind, here’s a look at some of the options available with the major cruise lines…
Royal Caribbean:
Book a trip with Royal Caribbean and you’ll certainly have no shortage of options when it comes to how you spend your evenings, with the cruise line having put in place some of the most impressive shows in the industry.
That’s because Royal Caribbean offers a number of shows that have come direct from the boards of broadway, and which are certain to impress. From the ABBA and Queen classics that feature in Mama Mia! and We Will Rock You, to award-winning shows like CATS and Hairspray, Royal Caribbean has really nailed it when it comes to musical productions.
And that’s before you consider high-flying stunts in The Fine Line and Hiro - two more shows unlike anything else.
Add into the mix more traditional options like live music, discos and casinos and it’s easy to see why you certainly won’t be bored when the sun goes down…
Disney Cruises:
If you want a cruise where there is plenty of evening entertainment to suit all ages, then Disney Cruises - unsurprisingly - have a wealth of things to suit all ages.
Sail on the Disney Dream and you will be able to enjoy the tale as old as time on an evening as you settle down to be enchanted by the classic story of Beauty and the Beast whilst fans of Frozen will see the story of Elsa and Anna brought to life on both the Disney Wonder and Disney Fantasy.
Shows based on Aladdin are also popular with both the young and the young as heart, with Cinderella and Tangled: The Musical telling the story of Rapunzel as the hit movie is transformed from screen to stage.
While character-led performances are a major part of the Disney entertainment offered, there are also various places where you can enjoy live music or dance until the early hours.
Norwegian Cruise Line:
There is plenty of award-winning entertainment available if you decide to travel with Norwegian Cruise Line thanks to a varied range of shows across the fleet.
Popular productions include the famous Broadway musicals Footloose, After Midnight, Burn the Floor and Priscilla, Queen of the Desert while the cultural phenomenon Six - which has taken the theatre world by storm all over the world - is a celebration of girl power through the ages.
Timeless classics are a major part of the blockbuster musical The Jersey Boys, whilst Choir of Men is a riotous show where a group of men belt out of a series of songs telling their own stories as if they are spending their evening together in an Irish bar.
Travel on the Norwegian Breakaway, Norwegian Getaway or the Norwegian Epic meanwhile and you’ll also be able to enjoy the spectacular extravaganza that is Cirque Dreams, featuring world-class acrobatics and live music in one unique show.
There is certainly no shortage of options if you just want to sit back with a drink on an evening with up to 22 award-winning bars and lounges, with live music being a key feature.
Cunard:
Cunard as a brand is well known for providing a little bit of luxury during a cruise at sea, and that certainly applies when it comes to the kind of entertainment you can expect to enjoy on an evening.
Head for the main theatre and you can enjoy performances from a wide range of different guest performers on every trip Cunard offers on its three ships, from live music to comedy, and from variety acts to magicians.
You can also enjoy impressive dance shows, including La Danza and Rhythm of the Night (which take you on a journey around Latin America), whilst there is even the possibility of sitting down to watch a performance of Shakespeare.
P&O:
There is no shortage of things to do when the sun goes down on an evening when cruising with P&O, with plenty of different options available every evening across the fleet.
West-End style performances in the main theatres are a major draw, whilst you can also expect to find plenty of live music, head for the nightclub if you want to dance the night away or visit the casino to try your hand at various traditional games.
A major new draw for travellers with P&O will come when the new Iona takes to the seas for the first time, with Gary Barlow - one of Britain’s most successful songwriters and a man who has sold more than 45 million records with Take That - coming onboard as a brand ambassador.
Head for The 710 Club onboard the Iona and you can enjoy live music from an eclectic mix of performers, with Barlow in the role of musical director helping to guide the resident band and helping new talent to shine.
MSC Cruises:
As with many other cruise lines, MSC offers a range of theatre-based options when it comes to evening entertainment on its ships, with a selection of Broadway-style shows featuring top class performers from around the world.
Unique to MSC however is a long-running partnership with Cirque du Soleil, which has seen a number of original shows created especially for the cruise line - and which can be enjoyed on the MSC Meraviglia, MSC Bellissima, MSC Grandiosa and, from this year, the MSC Virtuosa.
Each of the unique shows provides the chance to be astonished by the extraordinary skills of the performers and is certain to live long in the memory, with a lively disco following the show every evening.
