Now TV’s Voice is booming out across the seas
CRUISE passengers sailing on voyages from Southampton this summer will have a chance to find their voice… by taking part in the world’s most popular TV talent show.
Princess Cruises has introduced its own on-board version of the TV programme The Voice. The floating show starts at the beginning of a cruise with passengers invited to participate in, or watch, nightly auditions. Audiences vote for their favourites.
Shortlisted singers are then coached by members of the ships’ entertainment team, ready for a much-trumpeted grand final on the last night of the cruise.
I’ve just been to see The Voice Of The Ocean on a cruise from Los Angeles to the Mexican Riviera – but it will be held aboard cruises on Emerald Princess sailing from Southampton between April and September this year.
Don’t worry, I didn’t inflict my own warbling on the rest of the ship but sat back to enjoy the best cruise show I’ve ever seen.
The whole ship was buzzing with anticipation for the finale. Its theatre was full well before the show began. I ended up slipping through crowds standing at the back to find a good place to watch. Eight passengers performed with a fine backing band and light show. The best bit was the three judges facing the audience in their famous rotating seats.
Sadly, Sir Tom Jones and Rita Ora were not among the judges. Instead, the seats were occupied by one of the senior officers and two of the ship’s performers.
But they made suitably funny comments as the audience whooped and cheered for their favourites. I joined in, yelling for a white-haired country crooner called Randy from California. In the end, the winner was an insurance salesman from Arizona called Dave, who sang a very slick Fly Me To The Moon.
Afterwards, everyone retired to one of the ship’s bars to discuss the evening’s crucial event.
It’s a great idea by Princess and a chance to tap into the international popularity of this TV programme format.
The Voice Of The Ocean is part of this year’s general jazzing up of the Princess formula.
It has always provided a nongimmicky, relaxed atmosphere but has now refreshed some features to keep pace with rivals.
On some Princess ships, the long-standing Italian speciality restaurant Sabatini’s, for example, has been replaced by the stylish eaterie Share, which has been devised by Australian chef Curtis Stone. Share is very good – and it needs to be. With its supplementary charge per head of about £27, it’s one of the priciest speciality restaurants in the cruise world.
Other innovations include a new ‘gastropub’ that serves excellent crabcakes and mini-burgers, and sumptuous new beds in all the cabins. And if you want to know whether the Princess atmosphere is right for you, there’s a perfect chance to judge from a new series on ITV. A six-part documentary entitled The Cruise, set on board Regal Princess, is currently being broadcast on Wednesday nights at 8.30pm.