Key Aspects:
- The run of “Beetlejuice: The Musical” onboard Norwegian Viva is ending in late March 2026.
- This is the second musical to be discontinued recently, following the announcement of the end of “Jersey Boys.”
- Other, non-Broadway shows will be offered onboard Norwegian Viva, along with game shows and more.
Less than three years after the ship first joined the Norwegian Cruise Line fleet, Norwegian Viva is losing her production showing of the award-winning “Beetlejuice: The Musical.”
The show featuring the “ghost with the most” has been part of the Prima-class ship since shortly after her August 2023 debut. Initially, the 90-minute musical was not available on the ship’s first sailings due to undisclosed “delays in production.” Now, it is being discontinued completely.
Norwegian Cruise Line has made no formal announcement about the shifts in their entertainment offerings, but the official website describing Norwegian Viva‘s entertainment notes that the final performances for “Beetlejuice: The Musical” will be from March 21-27, 2026.
Norwegian Viva is currently homeported from Galveston, Texas. The March 21 departure is a 7-night Caribbean itinerary with calls planned for Cozumel, Harvest Caye, Roatan, and Costa Maya.
The removal of “Beetlejuice: The Musical” from Norwegian Viva comes just days after guests received notification that “Jersey Boys” was being discontinued from Norwegian Bliss. The final shows for that production are from February 8-14.
What Entertainment Will Replace Beetlejuice?
The entertainment calendar for Norwegian Viva indicates that two new shows will be debuting onboard shortly after “Beetlejuice: The Musical” ends its more than two-year-run.
First is “Motor City Moves,” which is described as “a high-energy tribute to Detroit’s iconic sound” with “reimagined” hits with a modern twist. That performance will debut May 1-2 during the ship’s first Mediterranean sailing of the summer season.
Several weeks later, “Burn the Floor” will also debut onboard Norwegian Viva. This ballroom dance ensemble features a championship dance team showing off moves from Grand Viennese waltzes to tango, rumba, and much more. That performance will first welcome guests on May 24-25.
It should be noted that “Motor City Moves” is also available on Norwegian Jewel and Norwegian Sun. Likewise, “Burn the Floor” is showcased on Norwegian Breakaway and Norwegian Epic.
Popular favorites such as the nostalgic game shows “Deal or No Deal,” “The Price Is Right,” “Wheel of Fortune,” and “Press Your Luck” remain onboard, as well as the interactive music experiences of Syd Norman’s Pour House and multiple comedy shows. These are popular options across the Norwegian Cruise Line fleet.
Read Also: The Different Norwegian Cruise Line Ship Classes
It is unknown whether or not additional performances of the game shows or comedy acts may be added to the entertainment schedule to fill in any remaining gaps now that the musical is ending.
Shift in Entertainment Offerings
This latest end-of-run for a Broadway musical supports a distinct trend in Norwegian Cruise Line entertainment. Rather than licensing Broadway shows, the cruise line appears to be moving toward more in-house production entertainment.
These new shows may not have the initial popularity of Broadway productions, but they also do not require the same licensing fees and other arrangements that could make them challenging to produce at sea.
In-house entertainment can be just as spectacular and creative, and offers guests an exclusive opportunity found only at sea.
This can also be a great opportunity for Norwegian Cruise Line to provide adaptive entertainment that can be adjusted for different performers. This can make it easier to substitute entertainers if necessary to cover vacations, illnesses, or other special circumstances that might otherwise disrupt an entire performance.
Furthermore, the trend toward game shows and interactive entertainment continues to grow, and possibly offering extra showings of those entertainment options can give more guests the chance to participate and make even better cruise memories.
