Day 21: The Show Must Go On: Music on the High Seas

Spending days at sea can sometimes bring the risk of monotony—but for a cruise operator, this is a definite no-go. That’s why entertainment is a cornerstone of the cruising experience. From sports events and makeup workshops to presentations about upcoming destinations, there’s always something happening. But at night, the spotlight turns to music and nightlife, and this blog is all about it.  

Each evening, bands and DJs create a lively atmosphere across different venues on board, catering to all tastes and moods. As the German names of the bars have a special meaning I give the original names in German and a rough translation:

  • Galleriebar (Gallery Bar) next to a shop selling paintings:
    Solo musicians deliver heartfelt tunes, perfect for a relaxed, intimate vibe.  
  • Schaubar (Show Bar):
    A classic Filipino band entertains with dance hits that resonate particularly with guests over 50.  
  • Überschaubar (Pool Bar):
    Themed parties under the stars at the open-air pool set the tone for carefree fun.  
  • Abtanzbar (Dance Away Bar):
    For those who want a perpetual disco vibe, this is the place to be.  
  • Unverzichtbar (Indispensable Bar):
    Has no music but my wife likes the name

A Personal Favorite: Elom, the Ghanaian Troubadour  

After dinner, we often find ourselves gravitating toward live performances. Among the many talented musicians, one stands out for us: Elom, a singer-guitarist from Ghana. His rich voice and impressive repertoire span over 40 years of songs, and he brings a personal flair to every performance. Elom isn’t just a mimic—he reinterprets the songs, making each one uniquely his own.  

On livelier nights, we switch gears and join the crowd at the Show Bar, where the Filipino band Fresh Groove plays nostalgic pop hits from our youth. The vocals may occasionally drift off-key, but the infectious energy, singalongs, and laughter make up for it. Watching dancers of all ages above 60 take to the floor is a heartwarming reminder that age is just a number when it comes to having fun.  

 A Special Double Feature  

Tonight was particularly memorable, as it featured a special double music event. Before dinner, we enjoyed a rare collaboration between Elom and Iya, a talented young pianist from Moldova. Together, they performed a concert of modern and time less favorites, creating a beautiful, serene atmosphere—ideal for easing into the evening.  

Elom and Iya 
After dinner, it was back to Fresh Groove, whose upbeat repertoire got us moving and kept us dancing for the rest of the night.  

Fresh Groove

Why Cruise Nights Are Paradise  

Coming from Germany, where a live music outing often involves driving an hour, paying entrance fees, staying sober to drive back, and enduring the hassle of late-night logistics, the cruise experience feels like paradise. Here, it’s all so easy:  

  • Walk to a venue in two minutes.  
  • No entrance fees.  
  • All drinks included but no drunken people
  • Return safely “under the influence” without a care.  

It’s no wonder people adore cruises. They offer a chance to rewind the clock, embrace your youthful spirit, and dance away the worries of aging—all while surrounded by the convenience and safety of the ship. On this floating paradise, the show truly does go on, night after night.

The morning after

A new day: 05:22 am

Logbook

Position: 23°36.60' S, 52°06,58' E
East of Madagascar
Timezone: GMT+4

Speed: 36km/h. Wind: 34km/h. Heading: 59°
Time to next port: 1 days

Risk of sea sickness: NONE
Risk of hallucinations: MEDIUM



Location: 5H9MHFCC+64

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Day 0: Embarking

Image
Check-in Our check-in time is set for 3:00 PM. After checking out of the hotel, a taxi takes us to the cruise terminal, where we catch our first glimpse of our 'home' for the next 33 days. It's enormous! If you find the check-in process at MUC airport challenging, a cruise check-in is even more complex and feels less streamlined. After about 40 minutes though, we are able to enter our cabin, and it immediately feels like home. The cabin reminds us of Ronda, our trusty camper van from our 2014 journey through Scandinavia—the same compact bathroom but with a much better view from the balcony! Happy couple in their new home The adventure begins: Where is my luggage? Shortly after settling into our cabin, two of our three suitcases arrive, and we start unpacking our belongings into the many small drawers and closets. But where is suitcase number three? After three hours, I start to get anxious and head to the reception to check. There, I find a long line of people with various ...
Read more

Day -2: Above the clouds, everyday worries and troubles seem smaller and far away

Image
Flying ... ... has fascinated me since childhood. When I was six, my cousin moved to California, and every time I saw a plane in the sky, I imagined myself on it, flying there. For a while, I even had to go to the airport almost every week, and what once felt magical began to feel like a burden. Since 9/11, with heightened security and long queues, the experience of flying has become even more challenging, turning the dream of air travel into something of a nightmare. Condor: our preferred carrier to sunny destinations It’s been almost a year since my last flight, and I feel a deep longing to see the clouds from above once more. Today, we spent the night at the airport. Check-in and security were surprisingly easy, so we got to enjoy a relaxed breakfast before our flight. I love window seats, and luckily, my wife prefers the aisle—so we both get exactly what we want. As the engines roar to life, that old dream of flying comes alive once again, making all the hassle worthwhile. Las ...
Read more

9 more nights left

Image
My mother used to say "Internet is dangerous" I can confirm this. Recently I was lured into dangerous activities and wasting money. But let's start at the beginning. In June my wife and I were in Passau and walked on the pier next to the river cruise ships. As we have no experience in any kind of cruises I googled "river cruise Danube" and explored the unknown world of  cruises. Suddenly an advertisement popped up:  "36 nights - world explorer route: Las Palmas - Singapore" I was about to dismiss it when I remembered that we wanted to go to Malaysia in January. This would be a crazy but also interesting alternative. This was in June.  Now we have 9 more nights before the adventure begins. Our first cruise. We have concerns: Will we be sea sick? Any tsunami predicted? Elephants or lions attacking us in Africa? Too much disco fever in the long nights? Will the credit card hold? If you're curious to see what happens next, subscribe to the blog by leav...
Read more