Should you see CATS on a cruise ship?
If you are planning a cruise on Oasis of the Seas, this might be an important question for you to answer as part of your pre-cruise plans.
Royal Caribbean cruise line’s mega-ships offer a wide variety of onboard entertainment, including full-length Broadway-style productions. Typically, these productions are familiar, high-energy shows such as Mamma Mia!, Grease and Hairspray.
Given current protocols, entertainment cannot be booked until you’re onboard. So, it’s valuable to know your options ahead of time so that you can quickly schedule activities once on board.
During our recent cruise on Royal Caribbean’s Oasis of the Seas, they were featuring the production CATS!
I am a huge musical theatre fan and today I’m going to give you the information you need to decide whether or not you want to see CATS on a cruise ship.
Are you a fan of Broadway?
Fan or not, you’ve likely at least heard of this Broadway hit. It’s one of the longest-running productions in Broadway history and is written by the famous, Andrew Lloyd Webber. This show ran for two decades!
The production of CATS has some incredible music with at least one that most people recognize. The famous, “Memories” is probably one of the most recognized classic Broadway show tunes. The production also includes Macavity: The Mystery Cat, Skimbleshanks: The Railway Cat, and more, the overture alone is lovely. This musical is absolutely beautiful and the cast on Oasis of the Seas was extremely talented.
I really enjoyed it. Did I mention I’m a musical theatre fan?
But…
What I did NOT enjoy, and what sends me into my only silent rage each time it happens, is the large number of people that walkout during a performance!
As a former participant in musical theatre and a proud parent of a musical theatre major in college, I can barely stop myself from begging them to sit back down. Not because I’m so obsessed with the production but because it may be the rudest message you can send to a performer (ok, booing might be worse). Honestly, it’s the equivalent of flipping them off, giving them the bird…the old one-finger salute.
Honestly, in my humble opinion short of a gastrointestinal emergency or a screaming kid, there’s no good excuse. So, unfortunately, I was still upset but not completely surprised.
Here’s why.
A brief summary of CATS! the Musical:
If you are not familiar with one of the longest-running Broadway shows in history, I’ll give you a short summary.
The musical CATS is about a tribe of Jellicle cats who come together once a year under the Jellicle Moon to pick which cat amongst them will be reborn to a new Jellicle life and ascend to the Heaviside Layer.
Thanks, Google!
(Basically, jump off the building to their death and ascend to kitty heaven)
Perky, right? Kitty death as cruise ship entertainment. Let’s get a few hundred people that have been out in the sun a little too long… (and may have had a few too many drinks) to sit quietly in a theatre and watch a beautiful but somewhat depressing story about a group of cats. The chosen one gets free themselves from the pain of their life and all of the cat characters audition and seak to be this chosen one.
What could go wrong?
First, let’s talk about what could go right?
Royal Caribbean has enjoyed tremendous success with the caliber of its entertainment. The Aqua shows alone are spellbinding! I’ll share my review of Aqua80 in a later post. Mamma Mia! is a fan favorite and pre-covid was packed each night and ended in standing ovations and guests dancing and singing along. Hairspray! The Musical offers humorous dialog, fun music, and a great message about equality and unity.
What do these successes have in common? They are LIVELY!
Most American’s have seen Grease and will recognize an ABBA hit or two. Ok, maybe you need to be over a certain age but you get the point. They also have some dialogue! They are simple stories and VERY easy to follow along.
Now, back to CATS on a cruise.
(that’s funny, right? “cats on a cruise” ok… moving on)
- There is zero dialogue. Patrons of the show need to listen carefully to the lyrics in order to follow the story. The lyrics, which are adapted from the original poetry of T.S. Eliot, include words like Jellicles, Macaverty, Skimble Shanks, Old Deuteronomy, and the Heaviside Layer. You’re not alone if you’re thinking, huh? The first 30 minutes of the show are songs introducing the cat characters (auditioning to be chosen) not really filling in much of the storyline.
- If guests were given a Playbill like they do state-side they may be more involved and prepared.
- There is no opportunity to clap and sing along let alone get out of your seat and dance!
Isn’t this vacation?!
Bottom line: Should you see CATS! on your cruise?
If you are familiar with the storyline and/or have a love of musical theatre then absolutely see this show! The cast is incredibly talented and you will thoroughly enjoy yourself.
If you do not love all things musical or if the storyline sounds a little heavy, skip it and spend your evening enjoying another venue.
Worrier’s Guide – To Cruise Ship Entertainment
- Don’t book for the first night – this will give you time to ask around and make sure it interests you.
- If you arrive late, take a seat near the back and preferably an aisle.
- If you MUST leave during the show, exit quickly, quietly, and during a time of applause.
- Sit back, relax and enjoy the talented cast/crew
Do you enjoy musicals? Let me know in the comments below!
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