The Greatest Show On Earth Nay, The Ocean

The Greatest Show On Earth Nay, The Ocean - She was being flung around by several men like a salad being tossed. Yet it was so beautiful to watch, so mesmerising!

And no, I’m not being an advocate for violence against women.

Part of a 10-person award-winning acrobatic group from Ukraine, she was one of the stars of the show, Sonio – A Tale Of Two Dreams. This production alternated with another 45-minute show onboard World Dream, Dream Cruises’ second ship that was launched in Hong Kong recently. This is the luxurious cruise ship in Genting Cruise Lines’ fleet.

What made the show perfect entertainment was not just the troupe of acrobats and their fantastic routines (and their physiques wowed many in the audience) but also the dancers and other performers, with the “magician” being outstanding. But the icing on the cake must have been the production value, with the stunning LED displays accompanying the routines, the costumes and the choreography.

The other show featured during the two-night cruise was Some Like It Hot, which features ballroom dancers. The Colombian couple as well as another pair were outstanding; some of their moves defied physics and gravity while being classy and sophisticated. If there was a grouse, it would be that the dancers were at times not used to full effect, as they should have been, seemingly being the sideshow to the two singers featured. (More dance, fewer songs, please.)

For the longer cruises that cover the China area, there is a third show, a collaboration between Dream Cruises and Simon Cowell’s FremantleMedia – a version of China’s Got Talent.

Genting Hong Kong senior vice-president (entertainment) Colin Kerr said that they hired the best performers from across the world, and created the show and production based on their talents and skills, unlike other cruise lines that might come up with the show concept first.

Kerr, who oversees all the entertainment onboard all the Genting cruise lines, said he was fortunate that his employer of 20 years understood the need to invest in the best. He added that they would accommodate his request for a budget to create fantastic shows that called for investing in state-of-the-art projectors, 3D mapping technology, and so on.

Also, the shows are kept fresh. “We change our shows every year. And, as our entertainers have to work a full year, we even throw in paid vacations for them.”

The shows aren’t the only things Kerr has to worry about. Any form of activity or entertainment is under the purview of him and his team. That seems an enormous task but it appears that, as the rest of the ship has top-notch service, his team also meets the high standards they set for themselves.