Carnival ships have big showlounges (all non-smoking), and large-scale flesh-and-feather production shows. On a typical cruise, there will be one or two large-scale production shows, with male and female lead singers and a clutch of dancers backed by a 10-piece live orchestra (supported by “click” tracks). These are ritzy-glitzy, razzle-dazzle, Las Vegas-style revues with little or no story line or flow (lots of running around on stage and stepping in place, but little dancing). However, the skimpy costumes are very colorful, as is the lighting (with extensive use of “color mover” lights).
They are, for the most part, loud, in-your-face shows, with colorful if skimpy costumes and stage “smoke” that seems to be a theme central to all shows (much overused to the annoyance and irritation of anyone seated in the front few rows). But, hey, this is Splash Vegas, remember, so what else could you expect?
Specialty acts (Carnival rotates entertainers aboard its ships, so passengers see different acts each night) take center stage on nights when there is no production show. There’s also live music in just about every bar and lounge (although there appears to be a trend to replace live music with more DJs), and always smutty late-night adults-only comedy, in addition to cabaret acts such as vocalists, magic acts, ventriloquists, and comedy jugglers. Each cruise features karaoke nights, and a Passenger Talent show. Each ship has a discotheque with ear-splitting volumes and megaphones so you can converse with your partner.
Berlitz Guide © Apa Publishing 2010
