Entertainment
Holland America Line is not known for lavish entertainment (the budgets aren’t high enough). The production shows, while a good attempt, fall short on story line, choreography and performance, while colorful costuming and lighting hide the weak spots. Each ship carries its own resident troupe of singers and dancers and audio-visual support staff. HAL also offers a consistently good, tried and tested array of cabaret acts that constantly pop up on the cruise ship circuit. All showlounges are non-smoking venues.
A number of bands, a string ensemble and solo musicians present live music for dancing and listening in many of the lounges and bars. Each ship has a Crow’s Nest Lounge (by day an observation lounge) for social dancing, and there is always serenading string music in the Explorer’s Lounge and dining room.
Each cruise includes a Crew Show; these vary from poor to very entertaining, depending on your taste. Passengers always seem enthusiastic, because they like connecting staff that they know and have seen during their cruise.
Berlitz Guide © Apa Publishing 2010
