UPDATED List of Current Cruise Directors (CD)

[RUDIMAY1]

Okay the list said Amy Fickert was done March 3 and it is March 2. So who will be our CD in april?

[Yorkvillain]

I just boarded the Explorer. Looks like Leigh is still the CD.

[GranysT]

Joff just tweeted that he's going to be starting his vacation away from Independence of the Seas in two weeks (March 15).

 

Darn, I was hoping that I'd get a chance to see what he's like as a Cruise Director when I sail in two weeks.

 

 

Did Joff happen to say who is going to replace him on Indy? I'm sailing April 20, and would really like to know who to expect.

[cruising granddad]

Donna, I am on the ship now. Here is what I know.

 

Tor Isak Olsen is Captain

Mike Hunnerup is cruise director

Casey and Mike will overlap either this cruise or next.

I will be on next week, also.

I will let you know more after drill.

 

Sent from my Sony phone.

[Riff Sniff]

Paul Lancaster was the CD when we sailed on the Brilliance last spring, but I never see him listed. Does anybody know what happened to him?

 

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

[wolfcathorse]

Paul Lancaster was the CD when we sailed on the Brilliance last spring, but I never see him listed. Does anybody know what happened to him?

 

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

 

he quit RCI and is back in England I believe.....

[Daghis]

Did Joff happen to say who is going to replace him on Indy? I'm sailing April 20, and would really like to know who to expect.

He didn't say yet. Someone did ask him on Twitter, but he's not answered yet.

 

If it's not known before he signs off from Independence, I'll post here what I find out as I'm boarding that day.

[DonnaK]

Adventure OTS - Mercedes Lafuente started January 19 (until when? Then who?)

 

Allure OTS - Allan Brooks February 16 until March 30, then Ken Rush returns on March 30.

 

Anthem OTS - There will be a 2 person take-out team (Ken Rush and ?) for the first 6-8 weeks, then Joff Eaton is expected to be the regular CD of this ship.

 

Brilliance OTS - Steve Davis from January 24 until the end of May

 

Enchantment OTS - Marc Walker January 10 until mid-May. Mitch Merucci will be filling-in from mid-May until mid-July followed by Marc for another 4 months.

 

Explorer OTS - Leigh Xuereb until March 11 (?) Keith Williams from March 11 (?) until April 19, followed by Leigh Xuereb on April 19 for 4 months

 

Freedom OTS - Mike Hunnerup from December 22 through March 8(?), then Casey Pelter

 

Grandeur OTS - Ricky Matthews started on January 31 for 4 months.

 

Independence OTS - Joff Eaton November 2 until March 15. Joff will be returning on May 17 through Sept 2014 (Fill-in for April and May 2014 not yet known).

Jewel OTS - Dennis Charles from January 11 until March 15. Then Carly Boileau returns on March 15 for 4 months, followed by Dennis for 2 months.

 

Legend OTS - Paul Rutter January 24 until March 17. Topi Ylönen starts on March 17 for the 2014 European Season

 

Liberty OTS -Jerome Sueur from Feb 15 until April 14, then Rich Edwards returns April 14 for 4 months.

 

Majesty OTS - Simona Ferraiuolo started Feb 10 for 4 months.

 

Mariner OTS - Gordon Whatman started on January 20 for 7 weeks (until March 15? Then who? Dan Whitney?)

 

Navigator OTS - Mitch Merucci will be filling in from Feb 16 until John Perry returns from his break in mid-April.

 

Oasis OTS - Jimmy Rhodes returns from knee surgery on March 1st. (Unclear what happens next. Is Drew Devine still scheduled for March 8 through May 17, and July 19 through mid-November? If so, then who is covering May 17 through July 19)

 

Quantum OTS - Jimmy Rhodes 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

 

Radiance OTS - Amy Fickert began on November 16 until March 3. WHO IS THE CURRENT CD? Amy will return sometime in early May after her break.

 

Rhapsody OTS - Graham Seymour Feb 1 through August 1

 

Serenade OTS - John Blair started February 1 until April 26, (replacement is unknown at this time)

 

Splendour OTS - Michelle Pimentinha started Dec 8 for the South American season

 

Vision OTS - Carlos Torres (for the remainder of the Panama Season April 26?)

Voyager OTS - Bobby Brown started Feb 13 for the remainder of the Australian season. Lixin Fang is expected to return for the Asian season

 

 

Richard Spacey is now Manager of Entertainment, Activities and Family Strategy Development for Celebrity Cruises in their corporate offices in Miami, working alongside Becky Thompson.

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

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 no longer with RCI

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

 

Jerome Sueur, Bill Brunkhorst and Luke Aerowsmith are currently on break.

 

(If anyone knows the whereabouts of other former RCI cruise directors, I'd be happy to add them to the end of this list, as there seems to be a lot of questions about them)

[DonnaK]

Adventure OTS - Mercedes Lafuente started January 19 (until when? Then who?)

 

Allure OTS - Allan Brooks February 16 until March 30, then Ken Rush returns on March 30.

 

Anthem OTS - There will be a 2 person take-out team (Ken Rush and ?) for the first 6-8 weeks, then Joff Eaton is expected to be the regular CD of this ship.

 

Brilliance OTS - Steve Davis from January 24 until the end of May

 

Enchantment OTS - Marc Walker January 10 until mid-May. Mitch Merucci will be filling-in from mid-May until mid-July followed by Marc for another 4 months.

 

Explorer OTS - Leigh Xuereb until March 11 (?) Keith Williams from March 11 (?) until April 19, followed by Leigh Xuereb on April 19 for 4 months

 

Freedom OTS - Mike Hunnerup from December 22 through March 8(?), then Casey Pelter

 

Grandeur OTS - Ricky Matthews started on January 31 for 4 months.

 

Independence OTS - Joff Eaton November 2 until March 15. Mike Hunnerup will be filling in from March 15 until May 17. Joff will be returning on May 17 through Sept 2014

Jewel OTS - Dennis Charles from January 11 until March 15. Then Carly Boileau returns on March 15 for 4 months, followed by Dennis for 2 months.

 

Legend OTS - Paul Rutter January 24 until March 17. Topi Ylönen starts on March 17 for the 2014 European Season

 

Liberty OTS -Jerome Sueur from Feb 15 until April 14, then Rich Edwards returns April 14 for 4 months.

 

Majesty OTS - Simona Ferraiuolo started Feb 10 for 4 months.

 

Mariner OTS - Gordon Whatman started on January 20 for 7 weeks (until March 15? Then who? Dan Whitney?)

 

Navigator OTS - Mitch Merucci will be filling in from Feb 16 until John Perry returns from his break in mid-April.

 

Oasis OTS - Jimmy Rhodes returns from knee surgery on March 1st. (Unclear what happens next. Is Drew Devine still scheduled for March 8 through May 17, and July 19 through mid-November? If so, then who is covering May 17 through July 19)

 

Quantum OTS - Jimmy Rhodes 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

 

Radiance OTS - Amy Fickert began on November 16 until March 3. WHO IS THE CURRENT CD? Amy will return sometime in early May after her break.

 

Rhapsody OTS - Graham Seymour Feb 1 through August 1

 

Serenade OTS - John Blair started February 1 until April 26, (replacement is unknown at this time)

 

Splendour OTS - Michelle Pimentinha started Dec 8 for the South American season

 

Vision OTS - Carlos Torres (for the remainder of the Panama Season April 26?)

Voyager OTS - Bobby Brown started Feb 13 for the remainder of the Australian season. Lixin Fang is expected to return for the Asian season

 

 

Richard Spacey is now Manager of Entertainment, Activities and Family Strategy Development for Celebrity Cruises in their corporate offices in Miami, working alongside Becky Thompson.

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

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 no longer with RCI

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

 

Jerome Sueur, Bill Brunkhorst and Luke Aerowsmith are currently on break.

 

(If anyone knows the whereabouts of other former RCI cruise directors, I'd be happy to add them to the end of this list, as there seems to be a lot of questions about them)

[thjeepster]

I thought Dave Chapman was very funny and entertaining on our Cruise in Sept. on the Oasis!.....He will be missed!

 

Next Cruise is on Allure In April.....How is Ken Rush?

[GranysT]

Thanks for the info Donna.

 

Now who is this Mike Hunnerup? Has anyone had him before?

[donnad08]

I thought Dave Chapman was very funny and entertaining on our Cruise in Sept. on the Oasis!.....He will be missed!

 

 

 

Next Cruise is on Allure In April.....How is Ken Rush?

 

 

I thought he was funny enough, but I didn't think he interacted with the passengers very much. Only saw him outside of shows once the whole ship. I loved Ken Rush. You saw him a lot talking to many passengers when we were on the Freedom. We had a couple of conversations with him. He even took my kids for a ride with him on his Segway. I think he deserves to be their top guy!

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

[DonnaK]

Thanks for the info Donna.

 

Now who is this Mike Hunnerup? Has anyone had him before?

 

He's on Freedom now, so look up some recent Freedom reviews.

 

If you look back a few pages on this thread, there are some comments about him too. The vibe seems to be that he is very good, but not super-dynamic like some of the others.

[CRUISEFAN0001]

He's on Freedom now, so look up some recent Freedom reviews.

 

If you look back a few pages on this thread, there are some comments about him too. The vibe seems to be that he is very good, but not super-dynamic like some of the others.

Good to know...we'll see him in a few weeks on Independence...

[nmuller328]

Just wondering if anyone knows if Jimmy Rhodes is continuing or if Drew Devine is coming aboard. We're sailing 3/15. Don't know either- but just wondering.

thanks

Nancy

[SherriZ366]

If Casey Pelter boards FR on March 8 (an at sea day for the present cruise -- more likely March 9), he will probably be our CD for May 4.

[A&L_Ont]

He's on Freedom now, so look up some recent Freedom reviews.

 

If you look back a few pages on this thread, there are some comments about him too. The vibe seems to be that he is very good, but not super-dynamic like some of the others.

 

We had him on Oasis a few years ago, prior to Amy's run, and we found him to funny and rememberable.

[A&L_Ont]

Just wondering if anyone knows if Jimmy Rhodes is continuing or if Drew Devine is coming aboard. We're sailing 3/15. Don't know either- but just wondering.

thanks

Nancy

 

We are on Oasis this Saturday and we will report back what we find out.

[DonnaK]

If Casey Pelter boards FR on March 8 (an at sea day for the present cruise -- more likely March 9), he will probably be our CD for May 4.

 

You are right about March 9, I miscalculated. A few posts back says that Casey and Mike are overlapping this week.

 

Since Mike is scheduled to take over Indy on March 15, he has to handover to Casey soon

Edited March 5, 2014 by DonnaK

[Folk Singer]

We had him on Oasis a few years ago, prior to Amy's run, and we found him to funny and rememberable.

 

 

good to know.

[nmuller328]

A&L Ont

Thanks- have a great cruise- we'll wave as we wait to board. Can't wait so tired of this winter & snow!

Nancy

[ncb106]

Donna chatted with leigh he Will be back on the Explorer ON may 8 and he think that might be his lást contract ON the Explorer but he not sure yet

[luvscruising2007]

Donna chatted with leigh he Will be back on the Explorer ON may 8 and he think that might be his lást contract ON the Explorer but he not sure yet

 

We loved Leigh on our last Explorer cruise. If he starts on May 8 his contract would probably be up on or around Sept 8. It would be wonderful if he was extended to the end of Sept so that he would be our CD on our Sept 11 cruise. Looks like we will just miss him.

[DonnaK]

Donna chatted with leigh he Will be back on the Explorer ON may 8 and he think that might be his lást contract ON the Explorer but he not sure yet

 

 

I love Leigh. I suspected that he'd be leaving Explorer before it repositions. I wonder where he'll be assigned next. It looks like Freedom and Allure (with Ken moving over to Quantum and new builds) will have openings for a dynamic regular CD like Leigh

[DonnaK]

Adventure OTS - Mercedes Lafuente started January 19 (until when? Then who?)

 

Allure OTS - Allan Brooks February 16 until March 30, then Ken Rush returns on March 30.

 

Anthem OTS - There will be a 2 person take-out team (Ken Rush and ?) for the first 6-8 weeks, then Joff Eaton is expected to be the regular CD of this ship.

 

Brilliance OTS - Steve Davis from January 24 until the end of May

 

Enchantment OTS - Marc Walker January 10 until mid-May. Mitch Merucci will be filling-in from mid-May until mid-July followed by Marc for another 4 months.

 

Explorer OTS - Leigh Xuereb until March 11. Keith Williams from March 11 until May 8, followed by Leigh Xuereb on May 8 for 4 months (this is likely to be Leigh's last contract on EX)

 

Freedom OTS - Mike Hunnerup from December 22 through March 9, then Casey Pelter

 

Grandeur OTS - Ricky Matthews started on January 31 until the end of May.

 

Independence OTS - Joff Eaton November 2 until March 15. Mike Hunnerup will be filling in from March 15 until May 17. Joff will be returning on May 17 through Sept 2014

 

Jewel OTS - Dennis Charles from January 11 until March 15. Then Carly Boileau returns on March 15 for 4 months, followed by Dennis for 2 months.

 

Legend OTS - Paul Rutter January 24 until March 17. Topi Ylönen starts on March 17 for the 2014 European Season

 

Liberty OTS -Jerome Sueur from Feb 15 until April 14, then Rich Edwards returns April 14 for 4 months.

 

Majesty OTS - Simona Ferraiuolo started Feb 10 until mid-June.

 

Mariner OTS - Gordon Whatman started on January 20 for 7 weeks (until March 15? Then who? Dan Whitney?)

 

Navigator OTS - Mitch Merucci will be filling in from Feb 16 until John Perry returns from his break in mid-April.

 

Oasis OTS - Jimmy Rhodes returns from knee surgery on March 1st. (Unclear what happens next. Is Drew Devine still scheduled for March 8 through May 17, and July 19 through mid-November? If so, then who is covering May 17 through July 19)

 

Quantum OTS - Jimmy Rhodes 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

 

Radiance OTS - Amy Fickert began on November 16 until March 3. WHO IS THE CURRENT CD? Amy will return sometime in early May after her break.

Rhapsody OTS - Graham Seymour Feb 1 through August 1

 

Serenade OTS - John Blair started February 1 until April 26, (replacement is unknown at this time)

 

Splendour OTS - Michelle Pimentinha started Dec 8 for the South American season

 

Vision OTS - Carlos Torres (for the remainder of the Panama Season April 26?)

Voyager OTS - Bobby Brown started Feb 13 for the remainder of the Australian season. Lixin Fang is expected to return for the Asian season

 

 

Richard Spacey is now Manager of Entertainment, Activities and Family Strategy Development for Celebrity Cruises in their corporate offices in Miami, working alongside Becky Thompson.

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

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 no longer with RCI

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

 

Jerome Sueur, Bill Brunkhorst and Luke Aerowsmith are currently on break.

 

(If anyone knows the whereabouts of other former RCI cruise directors, I'd be happy to add them to the end of this list, as there seems to be a lot of questions about them)