Holland America continues to raise the bar for cruise ship entertainment with 4 new shows on Oosterdam

Holland America Line has always been renowned for its live music offerings, thanks to unique venues like the Rolling Stone Lounge and B.B. King’s Blues Club as well as the cruise line’s house band, The Dam Band.

Although they’ve also always offered exclusive musical productions on their World Stage, their four new shows are redefining cruise ship entertainment.

“Our goal is to dispel the stereotypes,” said Daniel Stanley, Director, Sea Production at RWS Global. And, boy, do these productions do that.

From rock to disco, the new shows raise the bar so high, they’re more like special events to mark on your Navigator app calendar than simply another way to spend an hour between meals.

“We really listened to our guests and were very intentional about providing the premium entertainment they were asking for,” said Joe Chantry, Vice President, Entertainment & Enrichment at Holland America Line. “They want variety and authenticity and I think we really hit those points.”

Chantry tasked long-time partner, RWS Global, with creating the new shows and they hit it out of the park.

According to Craig Laurie, RWS Chief Creative Officer, “It was very important for us to create experiences that feel real and timeless, not cliche or trendy. We created the shows directly for guests, based on their feedback.”

Fosse and Verdon: the Duet That Changed Broadway debuted to standing room only crowds on Koningsdam last year and is one of the four new shows that premiered on Oosterdam this summer.

I got to see them all on my recent Solar Eclipse cruise and it made the whole trip even more special. I was happy to experience Fosse and Verdon again and it was fascinating to see it on a completely different type of stage. All Access, a must-see for rock music fans, was another favorite and the perfect collaboration with their signature partner, Rolling Stone.

Although each show was totally different, I loved seeing the same amazing cast each time. It was the best group of dancers, both individually and as an ensemble, that I’ve ever watched on a ship, and I couldn’t help heading over to their table at Lido Market one night to tell them how much I enjoyed their performances.

Here are the four shows you can catch on Oosterdam now. (They’ll be rolling out on Koningsdam soon.) Consider them four more reasons to book a Holland America cruise now.

Fosse and Verdon, the Duet That Changed Broadway

This Broadway-quality production is a game-changer for cruise entertainment. It was created in partnership with the Verdon Fosse Legacy® so you know it’s authentic and, in fact, many of the never-before-seen photos and videos come straight from the family. Featuring eye-popping musical numbers inspired by Bob Fosse and Gwen Verdon’s iconic choreography, this is a show that will stay with you and encourage you to watch some of the pair’s classic movies that are conveniently available on your stateroom TV.

All Access: The Songs That Shaped Us

The theater was completely packed for this show, which brings Holland America’s signature music offerings — and the lead singer of the Rolling Stone Lounge — to the big stage. A true celebration of rock, it includes songs from legends like Janis Joplin, Van Halen, Fleetwood Mac and the Eagles and is as much a genuine rock concert as a well-staged production. The fact that 80 year olds were dancing in the aisles and everyone was singing along proves that it’s also the beloved soundtrack to the lives of many Holland America guests.

Decadence

A glitzy production featuring the lights of Broadway, the glamour of old Hollywood and the showgirl energy of Las Vegas, this is a beautifully crafted production highlighted by powerhouse voices, stunning costumes and sophisticated settings.

Disco Fever

‘It’s impossible not to grin and tap your feet throughout this tribute to the dance songs of the ’70s, from “It’s Raining Men” to “Le Freak.” I was immediately transported back to seeing Saturday Night Fever for the first time and left the theater still humming “I Love the Nightlife.” On Holland America, I actually do.