Cruise ship entertainment involves everything from full-on variety shows in the theatre to small venue entertainment. It’s the small venue entertainment that entices you to hang around the bar for an hour or two. Of course this depends on the quality of the cruise ship entertainers.
Cruise Ship Entertainment Provides Second-hand Brushes With Fame
The music of the latter half of the 60s and the all of the 70s was very important in my life, and I love a good sing-along, so it was natural that we would end up in the bar with the very talented singer/pianist Patricia Watson. After a long successful career in the music industry she is currently working as a cruise ship entertainer on Norwegian Cruise Lines.
A Canadian born resident of Maui, Patricia pumps out a very enjoyable set of songs, sometimes with a theme (e.g. Beatles music). At other times she performs a random selection from her huge repertoire. But the random selection is predominantly from the era that is “my music”… the songs I listened to back then, sang with a guitar for years, and still enjoy today.
Cruise Ship Entertainer Shares Her Stories
Last night we hung around the bar, a common cruising pastime, listening to Patricia’s music! We very much enjoyed her telling stories of famous people she has known well. Including those she has had the pleasure of meeting, each story followed by a relevant song.
Patricia told us she was involved in an Earth Day concert singing “Oh What A Planet” in 2011. (See video below)
Performing With Bob Dylan
As a direct result of this performance she was asked to open a concert for Bob Dylan. Bob was very anxious about performing. This was a normal situation for him apparently and to calm his nerves they decided to allow him to go on stage immediately. This meant she missed out on opening the concert but ended up on the stage with Dylan backing up his vocals for Blowing in the Wind.
An Amusing Story About Willie Nelson
Patricia also sang backup vocals for Willie Nelson and shared that his only contract rider asked for a lit joint to be waiting for him in the wings between songs. Now we know why he always seems so very laid back!
Dean Martin’s Infatuation
A colleague of Dean Martin, my mother’s favourite singer, told Patricia that Dean acted the role of the perennially ‘drunk’ crooner consistently and was not the alcoholic that people presumed him to be. His confidence level was very high, especially with women, but it seems he was particularly nervous when Petula Clark performed on his show. According to Patricia it is worth looking up one of his old shows to watch his change in behavior whenever she performed.
Some Background To ‘California Dreaming’
She knew Denny Doherty from The Mamas & the Papas well and he told her that there was a period when groupies often followed him around. One day he got sick of this and led them into a church where he insisted they “drop down on their knees and watch them pray on a winter’s day” …and from that came the line from ‘California Dreaming’.
Meeting With George Harrison
Patricia knew that George Harrison was also a resident of Maui and one day she recognized him as one of just a few people waiting to collect their luggage at the local airport. She had a long chat with him about Beatles music and had the great pleasure of getting a big hug from her favourite Beatle.
Supertramp
There were several other interesting stories of people she performed with and for, including singing with Roger Hodgson from Supertramp.
Singing With Don McLean
But perhaps the story that I enjoyed the most was the time she had performed live on CBC Network in Canada. She was waiting in the Green Room after and a musician, who she didn’t recognise, came up to her and said ‘You sang well. I’d like you to do backup vocals for me.”
“When?”
“Right now.”
“But we haven’t rehearsed.”
“That’s OK. You’ll know the song.”
And there she was, on live TV, doing backup vocals for Don McLean singing “American Pie.”
Cruise Ship Entertainment Enhances Your Holiday
Cruise ship travel isn’t always fun. Sometimes you are tired from sightseeing. Or you can’t get a decent cup of coffee on board. Maybe the weather isn’t good for whatever you are doing. Little things can bug you! First world problems, I know, but they can seem big at the time.
For me, it’s the great cruise ship entertainers and chance encounters with fascinating people that make cruise ship travel worthwhile and memorable. Thank you, Patricia, for adding a delightful element to our holiday.
Check out my trip to Greece
Trip to Santorini Greece
Naxos – My Favourite Greek Island
Walking in the Footsteps of Ancient Civilisations in Delos, Greece
Visiting Relaxed Paros, Cyclades Islands, Greece
We have been briefly in 
