Broadway-standard theatrical productions are now a common feature aboard the world’s largest cruise ships, with leading lines hosting incredible performances wowing guests as they criss-cross the seas. Many of your favourite shows from Broadway and the West End are performed by some of the most talented names in the business, providing incredible entertainment after another hugely enjoyable day at sea.
With comfortable, high-class theatres also par for the course aboard leading cruise ships, on-board theatrical performances have become many cruise guests’ favourite night-time activity when journeying across the seas. So, to celebrate the very best of Broadway at sea, we’ve rounded up a few of the very best theatre productions you can enjoy on a cruise, including a few new additions for 2017.
New For 2017
Just a handful of the shows we’re most looking forward to opening on the seas.
Frozen: A Musical Spectacular – Disney Wonder
It’s fair to say that Frozen has been a revelation since its release three years ago, and now the Disney blockbuster is set to take to the seas for the first time, aboard the Disney Wonder. Popular with kids and parents alike, the theatrical performance will incorporate the much-loved musical numbers of the film and take them to the stage.
Frozen, A Musical Spectacular will be performed in the Walt Disney Theatre aboard the Disney Wonder, and will incorporate traditional theatrical techniques as well as an array of modern technologies to bring the story to life.
Staying within the Disney family; Frozen, A Musical Spectacular should remain close enough to the original that hardcore fans are delighted and newcomers wowed.
Cirque du Soleil – MSC Meraviglia
The next 12 months are set to be huge for MSC Cruises, as the Mediterranean cruise line readies to launch two new ships, set to become the two largest in the entire fleet. Whilst fans will have to wait until November for the MSC Seaside; the larger of the two, MSC Meraviglia, is set to take to the seas in spring.
And the MSC Meraviglia will bring with it one of the most spectacular stage shows of them all, Cirque du Soleil, to the seas. Beloved the world over, Cirque du Soleil is incomparable and unsurmountable. More than 30 years of inspired genius have cemented Cirque du Soleil’s position as the number one entertainment company in the world. A perfect marriage of theatre and circus, a Cirque du Soleil performance is packed full of music, dance and seemingly impossible stunts which always leaves the audience hungry for more.
When the MSC Meraviglia takes to the seas in early 2017, the performances of Cirque du Soleil are sure to be amongst the most popular features aboard this amazing new vessel.
The Best of the Rest
The toe-tapping classics which continue to get cruise ship passengers up and dancing in the aisles.
Grease – Harmony of the Seas
One of the biggest musicals of all time, and the largest cruise ship in service, Grease and Harmony of the Seas is a match made in theatrical heaven. With thousands of guests on board every night, Royal Caribbean have to provide incredible, crowd-pleasing entertainment to keep everyone happy, and Grease is absolutely that, a bona-fide crowd pleaser.
Everyone’s favourite 1950s high school sweethearts, Danny and Sandy, return for this high-energy performance, complete with the timeless musical hits which get guests belting out the words in their seats.
And for those who want to enjoy Grease on the seas without flying from the UK, Royal Caribbean’s UK-based liner, Independence of the Seas, now also features this famous performance in the world-class on-board theatre.
Million Dollar Quartet – Norwegian Escape
Norwegian Cruise Line’s newest and largest cruise liner is also the home of one of the line’s most ambitious theatrical performances, Million Dollar Quartet. The dramatization of a once-in-a-lifetime recording session which took place on 4 December 1956 when Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis and Carl Perkins came together in a Memphis studio.
Regarded as one of the most unique and seminal moments in rock and roll history, the 1956 recordings were released in 1990 as Elvis Presley – The Million Dollar Quartet. This chance encounter between the four legendary musicians was first turned into a stage musical in 2006 for a run in Florida.
It has since toured the US, and made appearances on Broadway and the West End, before opening on the Norwegian Escape when she entered into service in 2015.
Shakespeare’s Back Catalogue – Queen Mary 2
Befitting one of the most refined mega-liners currently in service, Cunard’s Queen Mary 2 regularly hosts Shakespearean performances by some of the world’s finest stage actors. Graduates of RADA are often sent by London’s renowned drama school for QM2’s famous transatlantic crossing to perform Shakespearean classics such as The Merchant of Venice, Richard III, and Romeo and Juliet.
The ship’s Royal Court Theatre provides a fitting setting for these performances, with comfortable seating and personal tables completing the extravagant experience. Although Shakespeare’s works aren’t always the best for a little light entertainment, the beautifully-produced performances aboard the QM2 are perfect for those passionate about the theatre or looking for a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
If you’re looking for an entertainment-packed cruise for 2017 or beyond, head over to our homepage for an incredible selection of great cruise deals aboard the world’s best-loved cruise ships. Alternatively, call our friendly sales team on 0808 2746 777.
Image credits: TBWABusted, Hubert Yu
