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djmike

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Posts posted by djmike

    Favorite Production Show on Royal Caribbean??

    in Royal Caribbean International

    Posted

    As a Cruise Director who sees a lot of these shows week in and week out I can easily say the following:

     

    1. Wizard of Oz 

    2. Flight

    3. Intense

    4. Mama Mia

    5. 1977

     

    everyone has different tastes, and as a former DJ, I’m heavily influenced by the music in each show.
     

    Oz is so beautiful and the songs which have spanned generations bring all the feels. 

     

    Flight packs such a punch with great music. 

     

    intense: non stop action with a great soundtrack 

     

    Mama Mia: self explanatory 

     

    1977: is there anything more beautiful than the whale breaching? Fun storyline too. 
     

    I haven’t been on Oasis since they removed Oasis of Dreams for Aqua 80 but hear nothing but incredible things. 


    happy cruising

     

    Mike 


     

     

    • Like 1

    Current Cruise Director (CD) List, starting 12-2021

    in Royal Caribbean International

    Posted

    On 8/20/2023 at 1:13 PM, Blizzard54 said:

    I believe that is Mark Rous for Allure.  They way Mike is doing one week before Mark, it looks like something happened to Steve Knisley.  

    Hello. 
     

    nothing happened to Steve. He was do for vacation as was unable to extend due to pre arranged vacation plans.
     

    I was asked to come and support a handover with Mark, which I was glad to do. 

     

    Hope this clears things up. 
     

    Mike
     

     

    • Thanks 4

    Current Cruise Director (CD) List, starting 12-2021

    in Royal Caribbean International

    Posted

    5 hours ago, Merion_Mom said:

     

    He has moved on to the biggest and newest.  <sigh>

    I miss the old CC meet and greets and seeing old friends and making new ones. 
     

    I’ll be on Odyssey until July 9. Then (according to Mr Rush) I’ll head to be the front of house CD for the Presidents cruise on AL. But I will only be there for 2 weeks. 
     

    the rest of the year is TBA at the moment as there are a few possibilities. 
     

    hope everyone is well! 

    • Like 3
    • Thanks 2

    Wonder Shows

    in Royal Caribbean International

    Posted

    Hello all

     

    for clarification. 
     

    we hold back 10% of ticket inventory which gets released boarding day morning. 
     

    When you get onboard, book through the app or visit the live box office, but make it the first thing you do to not disappoint. 
     

    Mike

    • Like 1

    Current Cruise Director (CD) List, starting 12-2021

    in Royal Caribbean International

    Posted

    4 hours ago, DELTABLUE said:

    Has Chris Brown taken over on Adventure?

    Requesting clarification of Erics on Enchantment and Navigator..Last names, please.

    Any update on Odyssey?

    Any update on Wonder?

     

    ADVENTURE: Marvin Wilson #317

    ALLURE: Corey Rogers > 9-3, then Chris Brown #237

    ANTHEM: Joff Eaton #204

    BRILLIANCE:, Orlando Cruz Garcia 9-3-22 #337, then John Blair #313

    ENCHANTMENT: Eric Lopez #332

    EXPLORER: Elvis Pinto #214

    FREEDOM: Mickey Martin

    GRANDEUR: Talita Leoni, from Brazil #Me

    HARMONY: Dan Whitney #244

    INDEPENDENCE: Rickey Matthews #35

    JEWEL: SusanAdams #288

    LIBERTY: Katy McCullagh #205

    MARINER:  Marc Walker, 8-13/12-15-22,  #328/#335

    NAVIGATOR: Eric Lopez, as of 8-29-22 #287

    OASIS: Bobby Broughton, as of 8-26-22 #277

    ODYSSEY: Ana Riberio from Portugal #170 >late summer 

    OVATION: John Grantham, as of 8-26-22 #276/279

    QUANTUM:  Mike Hunnerup #168, Steve Knisley 7/13 > 9/20 #187

    RADIANCE: Mark Rous #260

    RHAPSODY: Bill Brunkhorst, as of 6-16 #239

    SERENADE: John Blair> Oct 20, 2022#334 then Jamie Fentiman from #313

    SPECTRUM: Bonnie Bai #243

    SYMPHONY: Brian Leavitt #190

    VISION: Mercedes Lafuente #313

    VOYAGER: Rob McNally as of 8-28-22 #285

    WONDER: Michele Scarpato as of 5-8-22, 

                                  Mike Szwajkowsk returns Mid August #166

    Chris Brown is on Allure

     

    Enchantment - Eric Lopez

    Navigator - Eric Rodas

    i will join Wonder on Sept 18 - Jan 22

    Odyssey is still Ana and will soon change to Mike Hunnerup

    • Like 1
    • Thanks 3

    Do CD's really impact your cruise experience?

    in Royal Caribbean International

    Posted

    2 hours ago, mo&amp;fran said:

    On small note to you and your fellow CD's. often after the Captain makes his mid day announcement, the CD would make their announcement,  at a significantly louder volume, making it impossible to understand what is being said.  You would see a lot of people covering their ears just to try to understand.


    Yes I agree. Some Captains are very soft spoken. I try to match the energy and project my voice in a similar way. 
     

    thank you for the feedback. 
     

    Mike

    Do CD's really impact your cruise experience?

    in Royal Caribbean International

    Posted

    3 hours ago, Blue Eyed Belfast Belle said:

    Mike - I sailed with you on the Wonder TA and you really made our trip.  So much to do and you were very visible around the ship...I loved the Music Festival and the Crew Talent Show.

     

    I look forward to sailing with you again in the future. 


    music festival is an interesting story. 
     

    Nick Weir and I were sitting around and came up with the concept. I think if we were to do it again we would make it a whole day event like Woodstock. Involve the cast singers too. I think there is a huge area of opportunity. There is no venue like the AquaTheater on a ship and I feel like we could really maximize it. Let’s see when I get back to Wonder in September. I’ll actually be on with Nick and Ken for the Presidents cruise and maybe I’ll chat more with them about it. 
     

    mike

    • Like 1

    Do CD's really impact your cruise experience?

    in Royal Caribbean International

    Posted

    16 minutes ago, Rogueperson said:

    I've been on 26 cruises.  The bulk of them were Royal Caribbean.  I remember three CDs.  First one with Royal Caribbean in 2013.  Joff Eaton, because of his awesome "I'm Splendid" Video.  Two.  @djmike aka Mountie Mike because I can never remember how to spell your last name.  You were memorable because of the way you did things that made the cruise unique in 2018 and easily the best CD I've ever had.

    And the third, I actually don't remember his name, but had to look him up, and that's Paul Rutter, who unfortunately falls under the worse CD i've ever had due to his ability to actually suck energy from an event instead of add to it.

     

    I know there's a lot of work behind the scenes.  However, if i can say Be like Mike and put your personality and flavor into making your product unique and memorable, I'm going to say that.  

    Good morning from Seattle. 
     

    thank you for the kind words. I have a huge passion to be involved with the events and activities around the ship. 
     

    Joff is incredible at what he does, I have a lot of respect for him as a person and as a CD. 
     

    happy cruising!

     

    mike

    Do CD's really impact your cruise experience?

    in Royal Caribbean International

    Posted

    1 hour ago, time4u2go said:

    Mike, how much leeway does the CD have with the activities?  Is there a prescribed list of activities that have to be done?  How many activities (if any) does the CD create?

    Great question. 
     

    there is a encyclopedia of sorts with company approved activities. Based on itinerary and demographics some will work and others won’t be as possible. CD’s work hand in hand with the activities manager to create a robust program. 
     

    Any new activities must be signed off on by head office. For instance I created a version on the Amazing Race for the crossing. It took many many many hours of planning but was worth it. 
     

    hope this answers your question. 

    • Like 1
    • Thanks 1

    Do CD's really impact your cruise experience?

    in Royal Caribbean International

    Posted

    42 minutes ago, fpcruiser said:

    I've wondered how much the CD does because it seems like the schedule is the same week after week except for who is the new comedian, etc.

     

    Good morning everyone. 
     

    just wanted to drop in and help provide insight on what the CD does these days as there are some common misconceptions. 
     

    To give you an idea, I logged 410 hours in the month of February this year. 
     

    a typical 1st sea day looks like this for me

     

    7:45am-8:30am - finalize compass for next day

    8:30am - 9:30am - HD meeting

    10:00am - announcement 

    10:05am-11:00am - top tier event

    11:00am - noon walk areas (adventure ocean, sports, pool deck)

    noon-12:30pm - lunch

    12:30pm - 2pm - admin work, compass, future cruise work, evaluations, budgets and ordering, group approvals etc. 

    2:00pm-3:00pm - break (gym)

    3:15pm-5:00pm - more admin work

    5:00pm-5:45pm - guest log meeting

    6:00pm-6:30pm - dinner

    6:30pm-7:00pm - mingle before show

    7:00pm-10:45pm - shows (I normally watch at least 1 show per night per venue as I have to write reports) on Oasis class I normally am running back and forth all night between the theatrical venues. 
    11:00pm - midnight - ensure HUSH or what ever else is up and running smoothly 

    midnight- 12:45am - clean up any emails that need addressing 

     

    this is in a perfect world, what it doesn’t account for is any HR related items from crew berthing, par levels, interviews, promotional package work for my mid-managers and staff. Also any issues with venues or activities that I host. Plus whatever else gets thrown out way on a daily basis. 

     

    While the CD role has changed over the years, especially with the complexity of the newer and bigger ships (way more admin) we still want to have that positive impact on the guest experience. Know if you don’t see us it’s not because we are sipping champagne and chilling on the pool deck, but likely up to our eyeballs in work making sure the cruise vacation experience goes as smoothly as possible. 
     

    happy cruising all. 
     

     

    • Like 6
    • Thanks 6
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