The shipboard experience will be different not only for guests but also entertainers when cruising resumes. And Norwegian Cruise Line is providing a tease of the new format of socially distanced shows in a program it’s calling Embark.
“All the shows are going to be coming back,” said Richard Ambrose, senior vice-president of entertainment in a conference call. But the formats are changing to meet the standards of social distancing and crowd limits being developed for the resumption of cruising.
This includes main-stage favorites like The Choir of Man and Jersey Boys, as well as The Cavern Club with its Beatles tribute shows, Howl at the Moon dueling pianos, rock and roll in Syd Norman’s Pour House and comedians from Levity Entertainment Group.
A big challenge is keeping guests safely distanced in venues and entering and leaving theaters. Venues will be at half capacity with adjoining seats blocked off and that will mean reservations are needed in advance, but there will be additional shows added to give everyone a chance to see them, Ambrose said.
As a taste of the future, NCL’s highest rated show, The Choir of Man, is being streamed as the kickoff of a new Embark documentary series previewing the line’s tweaks to entertainment and cuisine programs.
The show is set in a pub and the theme is patrons performing everything from sing-along classics to classic rock. The preview was performed at London’s Garrick Theatre and was the only West End venue open at the time. In keeping with the need for social distancing, the choreography is changed to have the singers stand in a wide, distanced circle.
Other necessary changes in shipboard shows may include comedy shows being held outdoors on deck, a barrier between the stage and the dance floor in The Cavern Club and requirements that performers can’t go into the audience during shows and have to stay socially distanced greeting guests after the performance.
Some of the entertainment will be included on a series of test cruises, although Norwegian is still working out details of when those will happen, said Christine Da Silva, the line’s vice-president of public relations.
In future reveals, the Embark program will also showcase changes being made to the dining and onboard programs.
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