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Who's your favorite Holland America cruise director?

loveandcruises

By loveandcruises,
in Holland America Line

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SarasMommy

SarasMommy

Posted
Posted
In my humble opinion, HAL lost a good man when they lost Gary Walker.

 

I agree. My first two cruises were with him (purely coincidental), and I remember his perfect mix of enthusiasm and professionalism. I will always associate cruising with him.

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2kruisin97006

2kruisin97006

Posted
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Kerry Watkins on Westerdam Panama Canal repo, Sept. 2008. He was a ball of fire--always around, approachable and very professional in public speaking. I suppose it helped he was from our home town, Portland, Oregon--but he really had enthusiasm!!

Our first cruise?? Can't remember!!

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  • 2 months later...
Paul_76

Paul_76

Posted
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No, Eric Dowis is with RCCL. He was with HAL for a long time and is missed!

 

Actually, I can assure you that Eric Dowis is not currently with RCI and is back with HAL. He was our CD on the Veendam last week (Aug 2 sailing). We didn't have a lot of interaction with him, but he seemed pretty good when we ran across him.

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trvlcrzy

trvlcrzy

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Honestly, I never really cared before our Ryndam cruise. I felt no special interest in any of them...

 

Matt Allen changed all that. He is awesome! He is friendly and completely approachable and makes people feel welcome and valued. While his schedule is certainly packed, he never made me feel as though he had to hurry to the next event. Also, he was very helpful with the CC M&G part II on our northbound leg, since one just couldn't contain all the fun! He participated in our M&G part I (along with HotMan, Crew Purser, GRM and the BevMan).

 

When I first saw him, I couldn't help but think, "He looks like that young guy from 'Walker, Texas Ranger.'" (I have since looked up the guy's name: Judson Mills.)

 

We had a fun time with him at Trivia, as well.

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Protseq

Protseq

Posted
Posted
Actually, I can assure you that Eric Dowis is not currently with RCI and is back with HAL. He was our CD on the Veendam last week (Aug 2 sailing). We didn't have a lot of interaction with him, but he seemed pretty good when we ran across him.

 

Eric was probably the most laid-back CD I have ever met. He was the CD on the Veendam Glacier Discovery (July 2009) cruise that we took. He did say he was recently with RCI, but didn't give details why he left them. I didn't think he was very outgoing from the one personal interaction that I had with him during the 14 day cruise.

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Love Cruises

Love Cruises

Posted
Posted

Another vote from us for Susan Woods.

 

Secondly, we like J.T. Watters who was a lot of fun to cruise with especially at Trivia when we were on the msPRINSENDAM in Nov/Dec last year.

 

We also like Doug Dunnell but understand he is not with HAL anymore.

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RedmondCruiser

RedmondCruiser

Posted
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Does anyone have experience, good or bad, with Michelle Worthley? It will be my first time traveling with her as the cruise director.

 

Michelle Worthley is first class. She does a great job and is very personable.

I was seated next to her at a Mariner Luncheon and she was very nice company. She does a great job and is a credit to HAL.

Ron

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innlady1

innlady1

Posted
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They stand out depending on the ship's activities in which you participate. Many people don't play games, do pool activities, or go to the show lounge and lead a relatively quiet life on the ship with just themselves or family and friends- having dinner, enjoying a drink in a lounge, reading or resting on their balcony or the Prom Deck, etc. There have been cruises that when we got off I wouldn't have recognized the CD, known his/her name, or had any idea if they were really good or really bad. Yet we had a fabulous time as always. ;)

 

I have to say, I totally agree, peaches. We're pretty boring, I guess...don't do games, don't do contests, etc. We enjoy seeing on the verandah with a good book, reading in the Explorations Cafe, doing the Digital Workshops, or sitting around the pool with a good book. So the CD doesn't really affect us one way or the other.

 

I do remember we've had Jason Venner (on our 1st HAL cruise), and Drew Murdoch. All I remember about Drew is that he left half way through the cruise to attend a CD Conference. The guy who replaced him was pretty bad. I don't even remember which cruise that was! Don't remember the others.

 

We only went to a couple shows on our b2b in '09, preferring just to hang out in the Explorer's Lounge (would have loved to hang out in the Piano Bar but that guy was AWFUL).

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serendipity1499

serendipity1499

Posted
Posted (edited)
Pieter Daems left HAL after he married his fiancee, Heather

 

He was so funny & always a delight!

 

I have to say, I totally agree, peaches. We're pretty boring, I guess...don't do games, don't do contests, etc. We enjoy seeing on the verandah with a good book, reading in the Explorations Cafe, doing the Digital Workshops, or sitting around the pool with a good book. So the CD doesn't really affect us one way or the other.

 

I do remember we've had Jason Venner (on our 1st HAL cruise), and Drew Murdoch. All I remember about Drew is that he left half way through the cruise to attend a CD Conference. The guy who replaced him was pretty bad. I don't even remember which cruise that was! Don't remember the others.

 

We only went to a couple shows on our b2b in '09, preferring just to hang out in the Explorer's Lounge (would have loved to hang out in the Piano Bar but that guy was AWFUL).

 

We're like Heather, Toad , Peaches, Innlady & a few others...My friend & I are also very boring & hardly ever inter-act with the CD's as we don't play trivia, cards etc..To us a relaxing sea day is to take a good book out on the Promenade deck to read, people watch, contemplate the sea, maybe take a short snooze in those lovely teak chairs..When we're not out on the Promenade deck she & I might check out the shops & casino...Our DH's might Join us for a bit on deck or play Bridge..Of course they never miss Afternoon Tea in the Crows Nest...Both of these Men are quite slim & have a hollow leg when it comes to eating!..;)

Therefore, on all our cruises, only two CD's stand out! One was Peter Daems on the Prinsendam in April 2006 & Jason Venner on our Westerdam Trans. Atlantic in 2004...

We really enjoyed them both, but have only inter-acted with them before & after the shows..Used to Love the way Peter would grab the bottom of his jacket & announce he had a story or joke to tell us.. Too bad he's gone, but understand why..Again have only seen Jason at the door & during the shows & never found him to be unapproachable..

On our 2 cruises, last year, don't believe we saw many shows & can't remember who the CD's were ..

Cheers...:)Betty

Edited by serendipity1499
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PenelopeCorelli

PenelopeCorelli

Posted
Posted

We liked Jason Venner on the "O" (Only CD to mention since it was our first cruise). We did play trivia once & saw Jason teaching dancing in the Crow's nest. He seemed nice and we really enjoyed his jokes - very funny! - he has a good stand-up demeanor. I suppose the praise or criticism of the CD depends on how much interaction one had with the cd and if you felt personally attacked. We had no personal inteaction to speak of.

 

We had a great time!! Everything was wonderful -( I would have liked real hot fudge, though!:()

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