UPDATED List of Current Cruise Directors (CD)

Paulette3028 · February 23, 2015

I find it odd that people care to know who the cruise director is ahead of time, I couldn't tell you who was the cruise director was really on any cruise I've been on. I feel the cruise director is an old time thing like traditional dining, not really needed in modern cruising.

I for one don't book a cruise because of who the CD or Activity Manager will be -- but if I have had a good experience with someone and find out that they will be on a cruise that I am going on.....that would be nice.

A cruise director or activity manager will not cause me to have a bad cruise, in any way.....but the surely can have an impact on me having a better cruise.

I don't consider a CD an "old time thing" just as I don't consider "traditional dining" and old time thing.......even with all of the things to do onboard (flowrider, rock climbing wall, shows etc), it is the 'attitude and energy' that the Entertainment staff has that starts with the CD, that can add to the fun of a cruise.

Pack My Bags · February 24, 2015

If you participate in any activities while cruising and do not cruise in a little bubble (which is OK too if you choose) then you have exposure to the CD and their staff. Hence...

If I have had a good experience with someone and find out that they will be on a cruise that I am going on.....that would be nice.

....they surely can have an impact on me having a better cruise....

...the 'attitude and energy' that the Entertainment staff has that starts with the CD, that can add to the fun of a cruise....

Edited February 24, 2015 by Pack My Bags

TechKnowBabble · February 24, 2015

Don't know for sure but do know that he has been with Royal for quite a while.

We sailed him with on Celebrity in 2006 so still entirely possible. I found him on FB and it appears to be them :D

Paulette3028 · February 24, 2015

Adorable picture.....and probably have seen some of them on staffs on ships. All is good.

DonnaK · February 24, 2015

Adventure OTS - Mercedes LaFuente began November 23 for 4 months . then who?

Allure OTS - Joff Eaton from January 18 until March 1. (Who is filling in March 1 until April 19? Jerome Sueur will do all of the European cruises (April 19 thru Oct 25) since he is fluent in 5 languages. He is the new regular CD on Allure until further notice.

Anthem OTS - Joff Eaton will be taking out the ship and continuing on as its regular CD. Ken Rush will also be onboard for the first 6-8 weeks doing behind the scenes duties to provide a smooth take out

Brilliance OTS - Rob McNally began on December 16 until March 9, then Clo O'Connor returns on March 9.

Enchantment OTS - Marc Walker January 19 until March 13. Who will be covering Marc's paternity leave March 13 through April 17? Marc returns from paternity leave on April 17 until May 18. Who is covering Marc's vacation May 18 through July 13? Jamie Fentimore? Marc returns from his vacation on July 13.

Explorer OTS - Leigh Xuereb returned Nov 1st until the ship enters drydock on March 8. When the ship returns to service on April 24, Keith Williams will be the CD. (Leigh has been reassigned to Indy).

Freedom OTS - Casey Peltier from February 1 for 4 months.

Grandeur OTS - Dan Whitney from February 3 until April 28. Mitch Merucci will return from his break on April 28 for 4 months..

Independence OTS - Ricky Matthews February 22 through April 11, then Leigh Xuereb begins on April 11 for 4 months. Leigh is the new permanent CD on Indy!

Jewel OTS - Dennis Charles started January 17 until March 14, then John Blair starts on March 14 for a 2 month fill-in to cover Elvis' break, then Elvis Pinto begins in mid-May (former activities manager who has been promoted to CD,

Legend OTS - Paul Rutter started January 16

Liberty OTS Dru Pavlov started February 14 for 2 months. Luke Aerowsmith will return in mid-April.

Majesty OTS - Simona Ferraiuolo started January 30

Mariner OTS - Ken Jones started November 27 until April(then who?)

Navigator OTS - John Perry started November 16 until March. He will be returning for another 4 month contract in May. *exact dates?* Who will be covering John's break from March through May?

Oasis OTS - Drew Devine January 24 through May 23, then Ricky Matthews returns May 23 through July 25

Quantum OTS - Ken Rush beginning Jan 23 to fill-in until Jimmy Rhodes returns from his break need date) Dennis Charles is moving over to Quantum, presumably to alternate with Jimmy in the future.

Radiance OTS - Amy Fickert started November 5 for approx 4 months, then who? (Paul Rutter?)

Rhapsody OTS - Tim Connor from January 28 through March 29. Graham Seymour will return from his break on March 29 through early August.

Serenade OTS - Carly Boileau started Feb 21 for a 2 month fill-in.

Splendour OTS - Michelle Pimentinha for the Brazilian season. Bobby Brown's next contract is on Splendour (need dates)

Vision OTS - Steve Davis from December 12 until April 11, then who?

Voyager OTS - Chris Brown (former activities manager) started December 7th until ship returns to Singapore in mid-March.

Carly Boileau has semi-retired, but will return as a fill-in CD from time-to-time

Rich Edwards is currently recovering from surgery and resting at home. He will be returning in April 2015.

Allan Brooks left Royal Caribbean to take a position in Celebrity corporate office.

Richard Spacey is a CD with Celebrity

Becky Thompson works for Celebrity Cruises in their corporate offices in Miami.

Dave Chapman has left RCCL. He is taking an extended break, and then he will be moving over to another cruiseline.

James Andrews is a real estate agent in Sydney

Mike Szwajkowski is a Canadian Mountie

Leo Papa at Cornell University working on a Master's degree in Hospitality Administration/Management

Anna Bass is now Client Services Manager at ISS London

Abe Hughes is Director of Port Revenue Operations at Royal Media Partners and sometimes works onboard as the port and shopping guide

João Pereira is studying Portuguese/English education and translation at Faculdades Metropolitanas Unidas in Brazil

Kirk Detweiler is now CD with Silversea cruises.

Simeon Baker - married a dancer, had a baby girl and is a sales exec at a Porsche dealer in Saskatchewan

Matt Baker - Sim's brother - recently married and living in Wales. They bought a pub called the Tiddley

Kieron Buffrey - CD with Holland America

Tom Canosa - teaching 6th grade science in North Carolina

Peter Benfield and Johnny Osborne have emigrated to Thailand

Anthony Richards is living in Miami with his wife, and is working for Royal Media Partners as Manager Port Revenue Operations

Rico du Breil is now a CD with NCL

Paul Lancaster is no longer with RCI, and resides in England

Abel Jeney is International Manager at Kingswood Education and Adventure in London

Parker Cristan is living in Milwaukee, Wisconsin - staging/choreographing for local theater

Ashley Kerr - married and living in Vancouver BC, working as a marketing rep for a PR firm

Karen Maybury - has a consultant/pr/entertainment agency

Jannie Cloete - leading expeditions on small ships

Where is Warren Allen? (aka Warren Melhuish)

DonnaK · February 24, 2015

Can anyone find out:

Adventure: When does Mercedes break begin? To whom will she be handing over CD duties? Will she be returning to the ship?

Allure: Who will be CD after Joff leaves on March 1?

Enchantment: Who is covering Marc's paternity leave beginning March 13?

Navigator: When does John's break begin, and who will be filling in?

Quantum: Is Ken still CD? When does Jimmy return from his break? For how long? How will Dennis fit into the schedule?

Radiance: When does Amy's break begin, and who will be filling-in?

lisa1120 · February 25, 2015

Just returned from our cruise on AOS...the CD is Tino Carrillo Lopez. He's a young, energetic guy.

BoyntonBeth · February 25, 2015

Just returned from our cruise on AOS...the CD is Tino Carrillo Lopez. He's a young, energetic guy.

AOS? Adventure? Allure? Anthem?

DonnaK · February 25, 2015

Just returned from our cruise on AOS...the CD is Tino Carrillo Lopez. He's a young, energetic guy.

AOS? Adventure? Allure? Anthem?

It's Adventure, and he is the Activities Manager who was filling in as CD for one week only so the regular CD could attend the conference. I had him on last week's list, but Mercedes is back now, and he returned to the AM position.

I agree...he was on the activities staff on our Quantum cruise, and he was great! He does a fabulous Michael Jackson impersonation!

Edited February 25, 2015 by DonnaK

BoyntonBeth · February 25, 2015

AOS? Adventure? Allure? Anthem?

It's Adventure

Donna,

I actually knew what was meant, but I wish posters would either spell out the ship's name or use the "official" abbreviations. It seems to be more prevalent with EN and EX and somewhat more ambiguous, especially now when they are both deployed from PCN.

Soapbox off now. :eek:

DonnaK · February 25, 2015

Donna,

I actually knew what was meant, but I wish posters would either spell out the ship's name or use the "official" abbreviations. It seems to be more prevalent with EN and EX and somewhat more ambiguous, especially now when they are both deployed from PCN.

Soapbox off now. :eek:

LOL Beth. I agree that we all need to use the official two letter abbreviations to avoid confusion. (If I were paying closer attention, I would have realized that you were the poster, and you surely knew)

I also wish posters would look back a page or two before posting. Then I wouldn't have to repeat myself so much!

stuartgrn · February 25, 2015

I know that Joff Eaton with be the regular CD on Anthem but does anyone know when he will be on holiday. We are booked on the 28th September Canaries cruise and am hoping he is on board.

DonnaK · February 25, 2015

I know that Joff Eaton with be the regular CD on Anthem but does anyone know when he will be on holiday. We are booked on the 28th September Canaries cruise and am hoping he is on board.

Hard to say. It depends on when he starts on Anthem (he should be reporting early to prepare for its take out). He generally does 4 months on, followed by a 2 month break.

Smurtle · February 25, 2015

I know that Joff Eaton with be the regular CD on Anthem but does anyone know when he will be on holiday. We are booked on the 28th September Canaries cruise and am hoping he is on board.

I spoke to Joff recently, he said he gets on the Anthem 18th March and will be off either 1st or 15th September [emoji53]

DonnaK · February 25, 2015

Great info, thanks! (WOW - After completing 6 weeks on Allure, he is taking only a 2 week break before beginning a long 6 month contract on Anthem. Hard-working, busy guy!)

I spoke to Joff recently, he said he gets on the Anthem 18th March and will be off either 1st or 15th September [emoji53]

Adventure OTS - Mercedes LaFuente began November 23 for 4 months . then who?

Allure OTS - Joff Eaton from January 18 until March 1. (Who is filling in March 1 until April 19? Jerome Sueur will do all of the European cruises (April 19 thru Oct 25) since he is fluent in 5 languages. He is the new regular CD on Allure until further notice.

Anthem OTS - Joff Eaton joins the ship on March 18 until September 1 or 15. Ken Rush will also be onboard for the first 6-8 weeks doing behind the scenes duties to provide a smooth take out