Norwegian Cruise Line is ending two more Broadway-style shows, but they won't be missed by all, travel advisors say.
Because younger cruisers prefer shorter itineraries and busy evenings onboard, hour-plus musicals don't fit into their cruise lifestyle, said Jonathan de Araujo, president of The Vacationeer agency in Celebration, Fla. And attracting younger guests is what NCL wants to do.
It's a goal that former CEO Harry Sommer spelled out during Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings' Q3 earnings call last year, when he spoke extensively about targeting families with children.
Simultaneously, NCL has been moving away from Broadway adaptations in favor of shorter, concert-style productions, and last month that meant ending a seven-year production of "Jersey Boys," and "Beetlejuice" will conclude this month.
De Araujo sees it as no coincidence that NCL is pursuing younger cruisers and overhauling entertainment. He said guests under 50 prefer filling an evening onboard with multiple activities. Plus, shorter attention spans make a Broadway-style show less appealing.
"People can't sit through a 15-minute video on YouTube anymore," he said. "The cruise lines are noticing they don't want to sit through a two-hour show."
An NCL spokesperson described the line's evolving approach to entertainment as giving guests "the flexibility to curate their experience with the amenities that they care for most."
"Beetlejuice: The Musical" will conclude its run on the Norwegian Viva during the seven-day cruise departing from Galveston on March 21. Photo Credit: Matthew Murphy
A sad farewell
Some older guests, however, are disappointed about the entertainment transition, said Kutztown, Pa.-based Dream Vacations franchise owner Ellen Overcast. Multiple clients called her after hearing the news of the NCL shows ending, wishing it wasn't true.
She can't yet say whether such disappointment will be enough to shift business toward another product.
Travel advisor Kristen Volz has encountered older clients with a lengthy checklist of criteria for their ideal cruise, including Broadway-level entertainment.
For example, a client had wanted Broadway entertainment on an 80th birthday cruise, but between their desired destination, timing and onboard atmosphere, Princess Cruises was the best option, Volz said.
"She kept mentioning throughout, 'Do you know if the shows are good?'" said Volz, a Clermont, Fla.-based Travelmation independent contractor. "I had seen the shows, personally. I had been on that ship, and I told her they're fun. They're not Broadway, but they will be fun."
NCL meanwhile is investing in original productions like an hour-long Prince-themed show on the Norwegian Aqua. The upcoming Norwegian Luna will have an Elton John-inspired production.
"With our guests at the forefront of these new enhancements, and the talented team we have in place driving these exciting new developments, we are confident our legacy of offering best-in-industry entertainment will continue to elevate the NCL experience," a spokesperson said.
Other lines, like Royal Caribbean International, meanwhile, seems to be taking a different approach.
While it ended Broadway shows on some Oasis- and Freedom-class ships, Royal has also debuted Broadway shows on its latest vessels. The Star of the Seas features "Back to the Future: The Musical" and this year's Legend of the Seas will debut with "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory."