Showboat Branson Belle {Branson, MO}

(Disclosure: I received a free trip to Branson and tickets to the Showboat Branson Belle while I was there. All thoughts are my own.)

While in Branson we had a chance to go on the Showboat Branson Belle which was a dinner show cruise. I wasn’t sure what to expect entertainment-wise because I had never been to a dinner show on a cruise. I thought maybe I’d find some good singers or acts but I was blown away by the excellent talent that was featured.

Janice Martin astounds audiences with her gravity-defying performances. Her show is extraordinary and original – a master musician and acrobat/aerialist, doing both at the same time. You will be amazed! The ShowMen, hailing from all across America, feature musical selections spanning the decades from Gershwin to the Beatles to the Black Eyed Peas. You’ll love their powerful harmonies and stand-out solos. Returning this season is comedian and magician Christopher James as the ultra-funny Master of Ceremonies. Completing the LIVE entertainment experience is the Rockin’ Dockers Band.

I was amazed as I watched Janice play the violin, then the piano, then sing, and then play the violin while doing aerials. And she didn’t just do everything…she did it all well. I sat marveling over how someone could have mastered all that she has.

I enjoyed the selection of music that was played. I am not a country music fan so I’m glad that all of the music played was not country. The ShowMen were wonderful and I loved how all of their voices blended together.

As for magician Christopher James, I have to say that he is one of the best magicians I’ve ever seen. The biggest surprise came during the end of the act and I’m still scratching my head trying to figure out how he did what he did. He also kept us all laughing throughout his performance.

No dinner show cruise is complete without food! We were sitting in the Captain’s Row so we had choices of steak and seafood to enjoy. I enjoyed the Mate’s Choice meal which consisted of a Kansas City strip steak, grilled shrimp scampi, garlic mashed potatoes, and seasonal veggies. The dinner was a nice change from the chicken I had been eating for dinner most of the trip. Dessert was flavored cheesecakes. I loved that they had a kid’s menu even though I didn’t see many kids on our evening cruise. The boys even got a special ice cream cake dessert covered in chocolate sauce, sprinkles, and gummy bears.

I had the kids with me and although I think this cruise is geared more towards adults it is still appropriate for kids and both boys behaved pretty well during it. The acts are family friendly. The music had Lucas dancing at points (both in his seat and out of it). The magician mesmerized the kids like it did the adults. Also, if the kids got restless they could walk around the boat. I brought the boys’ tablets so that kept them occupied while they were waiting for the cruise to start and during some of it. Lucas, my son with Autism, spent most of his time lining up the sugar packets then gathering them in a teacup, then lining them all up again. It was a nice quiet activity for him to do and it didn’t bother anyone that he was standing and on the floor some of the time.

Overall, we had a nice experience. The show does go late so if you have kids I’d recommend an earlier showtime. If you get there early make sure to checkout the area by the lakefront. There are a couple little shops and plenty of green areas to walk around in.

(Disclosure: All images (other than last three) courtesy of Showboat Branson Belle. I received tickets for free but all thoughts are my own.)