Potential Karaoke Cruise Next Summer!!!

Hey Folks!

I have been an avid "Cruise Vacationer" for several years having taken about 18 cruises on several different ships and cruiselines. Many of the cruise ships do have Karaoke lounges, but many limit the amount of time they allow for Karaoke each night (generally 1-2 hours). Carnival is the only cruiseline (to my knowledge) that has Karaoke each night for about 4 hours (8-12pm).

Carnival appears to offer the best options for people who love to sing Karaoke. This year they have a production called "The Carnival Legends Show" on the final night of the cruise, and the participants were chosen in the following manner:

1. Each night in the Karaoke lounge, specific legends are selected (e.g Elvis, Madonna, Garth Brooks, Elton John, etc.).

2. Each Karaoke participant must choose a song made famous by one of the selected legends.

3. The audience votes that night for the best performance by each contestant for each selected Legend star.

4. The winners of each night are then placed in the Carnival Legends Show that takes place in the main show lounge in front of hundreds of people. The show is complete with costumes and dancers. The chosen winners from each Karaoke night will be the main performers in the show. It is awesome!!!

There are no guarantees that Carnival or any other cruiseline will use a similar format next year, but I can do some research to find out which cruiseline will offer the best opportunity to have a fun Karaoke time next summer.

My goal right now is to find out the level of interest there may be in taking such a cruise next summer, and having the chance to meet many our fellow SingSnappers. Next summer should allow sufficient planning and the saving of the necessary funds to take a cruise. I am thinking of the late June or July timeframe, and it will probably be a cruise to the Caribbean area.

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NOTE: Beginning January 1, 2008, a valid passport will be required for ship travel to and from the Caribbean. If you don't already have a passport, better submit your applications now. Each traveler will have to have one. I heard this is a backlog already!
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If there is sufficient interest in a cruise, I can try to arrange a special group rate. I think the more people that go, the cost per person should definitely be lower. Rates for 7-day cruises generally range anywhere from $369 - $859 per person depending on several factors (military discount, age 55 & over, inside/outside/balcony room, etc.). I will search for the best deal possible, and once I know the specific rates, I will post them for all to see.

Anyway, I thought I would at least share the idea and see what everyone thinks about it. If you have never gone on a cruise before, YOU DESERVE TO TAKE ONE! After the first one, you will be planning your second. Trust me on this! BTW: I do not work for any cruiseline nor do I own stock in one! This will be just my own personal effort trying to get everyone together, and having a super fun time!

To keep this thread contained somewhat, please email me a "YES" and the number of people that you expect would be traveling with you (e.g. YES - 4), to the following email account keithge@gmail.com. I will build an email distribution list of all interested parties, and send out notifications of cruise rates for selected ships! I will make updates to this thread to let everyone know the total number of people responding with a YES just to show the level of interest in such a trip. I believe "Confirmed Reservations" would probably have to be made early next year for a summer cruise. Who knows, we might be able to fill an entire ship! Now doesn't that sound really exciting???

I'm anxious to see how this all turns out!!! I would sure love the chance to finally meet some of the nicest people in the world that sing on this site, and to have loads of fun doing it! This could be an awesome adventure!

Cheers!
Rooze (keithge)

Edited on August 28, 2007 at 1:44 PM

UPDATE!!

I am starting to get a lot of interest based on the emails I am receiving since I posted this EVENT item! For future reference, I am officially naming this event the 2008 ROOZE CRUISE.

Remember, I am only checking the level of interest in having the chance to take a fantastic vacation with your family, meet a lot of SingSnap friends for the first time, and doing what you obviously enjoy, singing Karaoke!!

Keep those emails coming! Hope this event becomes a reality for many of us! Stay tuned (no pun intended) for future postings!!!

Warm Regards,
Rooze (keithge)

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Anyone on the Carnival Fantasy cruise next week (3-7 Sep) from New Orleans????

I just got word that I was able to book a cruise next week on the Carnival Fantasy for a 5-day excursion to the Caribbean. After a hectic 2 months on the road, my family can truly use this little break from the work routine. I am only 75 miles from New Orleans!

If any SingSnappers are already booked on this cruise, you will most likely find me in the Karaoke lounge at night! If you see me, please be sure to say "Hi Rooze!"

Regards,
Rooze

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Don't forget folks, the cruise I am trying to orchestrate is for NEXT SUMMER! Lots of time to plan and SAVE. After our first cruise, we were planning the second. Just returned from our 17th cruise, and this was on the Carnival Fantasy! It was an awesome ship, and Karaoke was a blast! Cruising has become the only way we vacation when we have free time available. If I had even 10-20 people who would like cruise next summer, it would be lots of fun for us to get together!!!

Keep those emails of "interest" coming to me. I have about 4 people and their families willing to go next summer, so please think about joining us and let's get that Karaoke Party Hopping!!!

Regards,
Rooze

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Lani and Wildflowerflirt,

Don't forget to send me your email address to my Gmail account keithge@gmail.com. This will be the way I keep all interested parties in a distribution list for future notifications. Thanks to everyone for your interest. The list is growing, YEAAAHHHHH!

Regards,
Rooze

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Hey folks!

I just returned from a very exciting 7-day Carnival Cruise vacation. On this cruise, I was fortunate to have been selected to perform Frank Sinatra's 'My Way" in their Carnival Legends Show on the final night of the cruise. They provided each guest participant with a free DVD video of the show and a group photo of the 10 guest members selected during the various Karaoke nights on the ship during the week.

I will be posting a link to a video segment of the show which will give you an idea of how the show is put together. Check back here this Friday, Dec 21st, , and I'll have the link posted in this thread that will give you access to the video. You won't have to download the video as it streams the video directly from its website.

Performing in the show was a fantastic experience, and I highly encourage all SingSnappers to join in on the fun with their fellow SingSnappers and come sail on the 2008 Rooze Cruise. It will be a great opportunity to finally meet face-to-face with some of your fellow Karaoke SingSnap friends.

I am trying to coordinate a cruise from a Gulf of Mexico port (Houston or Galveston) since it is midway in the USA. Many folks may be able to drive there and park their cars at the port. Cost for parking generally runs $65-$70 per week. More distant folks can fly into Galveston and take a cab to the port.

When is the Cruise? I am making the assumption that the best time for most families, since kids are out of school, will be the late June to early July time period. I hope to have a date and port picked out by 1 Jan 2008. Remember, Carnival has "Camp Carnival" for the kids to keep them occupied during the day and a portion of the early evening. The whole family will certainly have all kinds of fun during the 7-day period.

If you haven't done so already, send me an email expressing you interest in this cruise, and I will add your name to my distribution list as more details become available. My address is keithge@gmail.com.

That's the news for now. Check back on Friday!

Cheers!
Rooze (keithge)

Edited on December 19, 2007 at 2:26 PM Permalink

Hey SingSnappers!

As promised, here is the way you can access the video clip I made from the Carnvial Legends show"

I found a new site where you upload files, songs, movies, and share them with friends. It plays the songs or movies directly from the site. You can place up to 7 GB worth of stuff to share with the world, and it is FREE!!!! Here's the deal!

Go to http://lifenaut.com and become a member. After you logon, there is a row of 7 icons at the top. The "Browse" icon is the one on the right of the 7 icons. Click on that and the alphabet displays so you can search for other users. Just click on the "K" letter and look for "keithge" as a user. Click on my userid, and it will go to my personal page. You should see the video folder/file I have placed there. Just double-click on the video filename, and it will stream the video to your computer. Obviously, you should have a headset or speakers so you can hear the audio.

CARNIVAL LEGENDS SHOW
Carnival provided all 10 guest participants with a FREE DVD video of the show, plus they gave us a group photo. I have captured the last segment of the show which includes the last half of the Elvis performer's segment, my segment, and the Finale. The finale will show you all 10 performers in their respective costumes of the Legends. Carnival plans to use the same show in their cruises next year, so here are the performers and their songs used in the show:

James Brown - I've Got You
Aretha Frankklin - RESPECT
Garth Brooks - Friends in Low Places
Britany Spears - Oh Baby Baby!
Gloria Estefan - The Rhythmn is Gonna Get You
Rick Martin - Living the Vida Loca
Madonna - Like a Virgin
Elton John - Crocodile Rock
Elvis - Blue Suede Shoes/You Ain't Nothing But A Hound Dog
Frank Sinatra - My Way

I don't envision Carnival Cruise Lines changing up the artists or songs because of the cost to stage the production (band, dancers and costumes). Some songs do have dancers in the background supporting the singer. Fortunately, old twinkle toes here did not have to do any softshoe steps. Sitting on a stool was exercise enough just climbing up on it AND getting off without falling down. LOL!

If you think you would like to join us next summer for a similar fun time, don't forget to email and let me know. See previous posts for my email address.

Thanks!
Keithge (Rooze)

Edited on December 20, 2007 at 11:26 PM Permalink