Everyone raved about the Hairspray show on Royal Caribbean's Oasis of the Seas so I know I am a lone voice when I say it didn't do anything for me. I fact when the show was halted for the second time because there was a problem with the sound, I took it as my cue to leave.
But the performance at the AquaTheatre show venue? Now that was something else.
I call it a show venue, but actually by day it's just an ordinary passenger pool. Ordinary that is, if you forget the fact it is the largest and deepest saltwater pool at sea - 6.6 metres by 15.7 meters and an incredible 5.4 meters deep.
It's got to be, because in the evening dare-devil divers take to the platforms high above the pool and dive in.
I held my breath the first time I saw one go headfirst into the pool - not so much because the platform she went off was a long way above the pool (although it was quite high enough for someone like me who is bad with heights) but because she dived into water that seconds before had a floor over it.
You need a lot of faith in the equipment and the guys operating it.
It's all to do with the hydraulic stage that causes the pool's depth to rise or fall depending on the needs of the show. These pictures show more clearly what I mean. They start with cruise director Ken Rush doing his intro, don't forget to clap, thing on the stage, then the stage is going... going... gone.
Royal Caribbean has lined up quite a cast for the Oasis of Dreams dive show, comprising 18 high divers, 10 synchronised swimmers and six gymnasts, all either Olympic athletes or experts from the National Collegiate Athletic Association. The show ends with a stunning dive from the platform at the very top - 10 metres above the pool.
A second show, Splish Splash, performed five times per cruise, is more about family fun but there's stil plenty of Olympic-style diving.
These shows are bound to be very popular and the venue only seats 600 people so if you're going on board, be sure to get there early. Better still, make use of Royal Caribbean's new online booking system for the shows on Oasis. There's still nothing to pay but you do get some guarantee of a seat.
Even better, splash out on one of the AquaTheatre Suites that are at the aft end of the ship and therefore have perfect birds' eye views of the action. They don't come cheap, but the balconies are huge so you could always rent the space and start to recoup the cost.
It's called on-board revenue generation!
Jane Archer
