Cruise Directors - Do They Really Matter?

[DrivesLikeMario]

A good cruise is one where I don't notice the CD. That means he or she is not obnoxious and self-important, doesn't insist on singing before the production shows and runs the onboard activities smoothly.

 

I know there is a contingent out there that follows CDs around from ship to ship like they're celebrities. I find these groupies hard to understand.

 

The only CD that I found to be truly excellent was Gordon Whatley with RCI. I've never remembered the others, so they must've been good enough. lol

[leoandhugh]

Unless they are very bad at doing their job, I do not think that CDs are important or make a difference to a cruise. The ones I really can't stand are those full of their own self importance and to whom every act they introduce is so over-the-top, or "awesome" or "amazing" Let the damn act speak for itself; I am suspicious and put off by the hyperbole of introduction:(

[billet]

A good cruise is one where I don't notice the CD. That means he or she is not obnoxious and self-important, doesn't insist on singing before the production shows and runs the onboard activities smoothly.

 

 

Yes! :)

[deevmo]

I think the CD will make or break your cruise, but they can make it more enjoyable.

First cruise we had a great CD - he had everyone talking to each other throughout the cruise, and was very upbeat without going overboard.

Second cruise - the CD was extremely annoying. Every time she opened her mouth you wanted to put in ear plugs. She could not liven up a group if her life depended on it. On the other hand her assistants were awesome! They were everywhere interacting with passengers, livening up an event, and just being friendly.

[Cruisin' Chick]

I agree with Karatemom. I wouldn't book a cruise based on whom the CD is (usually don't even know until I see that name on the Patters), but an annoying CD or a fantastic one can set the tone for a cruise.

 

I can certainly do without one who's always announcing on the PA that there's a bingo tourney or art auction...two activities I can do without. As long as I have access to the ship's newsletter, I know what the day's activities are.

 

We had a port cancelled on our last cruise and within an hour or so, there was a revised Patters distributed to the cabins, with a full slate of activities.

 

It was interesting to read what the background duties are. Gives a whole new perspective of the position.

[Whimsy]

I think a good CD sets the "tone" like a host hostess at a party. We enjoyed some more than others but have always had a good time.

[mr green]

I believe that the CD can almost 'make, or break' a cruise.

I always watch the report in the morning, and I like to have little 'tid bits' of information which are not in the 'Patter', and the informative interviews with some of the cruise staff.

What I dislike are those that come on,in the a.m., wearing silly hats, and generally acting like third rate comedians. I do enjoy a good laugh, at a clever joke, but to me, updates on the weather, changes of times/location of events, departure times, [how to get tender tickets] in ports, are far more important.

Again, in the theater, I like it when the CD tells a good joke, but again I am even happier, if he informs me about a pertinent facts over the following 24 hours.

 

john

[Colo Cruiser]

We would definately consider booking a cruise based on the CD! ;)

[concutval]

I accept with information: 09/2009 Pacific Princess, Seattle to Vancouver (had to visit our little ship again!)

11/2008 Pacific Princess, Venice to Manaus

9/2008 Golden Princess, Seattle to Vancouver (Yes, you read that correctly)

12/2005 Sapphire Princess, Mexican Riviera

2/2005 Coral Princess, Panama Canal

11/2003 Carnival Victory Western Carribean--Cancelled (RIP Dad)

03/2003 Tahitian Princess, Tahiti & Cook Islands

05/2002 Grand Princess, Western Carribean

[Colo Cruiser]

I accept with information: 09/2009 Pacific Princess, Seattle to Vancouver (had to visit our little ship again!)

11/2008 Pacific Princess, Venice to Manaus

9/2008 Golden Princess, Seattle to Vancouver (Yes, you read that correctly)

12/2005 Sapphire Princess, Mexican Riviera

2/2005 Coral Princess, Panama Canal

11/2003 Carnival Victory Western Carribean--Cancelled (RIP Dad)

03/2003 Tahitian Princess, Tahiti & Cook Islands

05/2002 Grand Princess, Western Carribean

 

Need to put your past cruises in your signature area.

[Latitude 20]

I accept with information: 09/2009 Pacific Princess, Seattle to Vancouver (had to visit our little ship again!)

11/2008 Pacific Princess, Venice to Manaus

9/2008 Golden Princess, Seattle to Vancouver (Yes, you read that correctly)

12/2005 Sapphire Princess, Mexican Riviera

2/2005 Coral Princess, Panama Canal

11/2003 Carnival Victory Western Carribean--Cancelled (RIP Dad)

03/2003 Tahitian Princess, Tahiti & Cook Islands

05/2002 Grand Princess, Western Carribean

 

Need to put your past cruises in your signature area.

 

Hey! Those are my past cruises! :confused: ;)

[retiring soon]

Hi all!

I never noticed the CD in 11 cruises until I had a great one!

It was Neil Chandler on the Emerald Princess TA last year. He & his crew seemed to be everywhere ~ I wondered if they ever slept!

Soon I'll be going on the Freedom of the Seas with Richard Spacey who I've heard is amazing ~ I can hardly wait!:D

~Jo~ :)

[uppitycats]

A good cruise is one where I don't notice the CD. That means he or she is not obnoxious and self-important, doesn't insist on singing before the production shows and runs the onboard activities smoothly.

 

I know there is a contingent out there that follows CDs around from ship to ship like they're celebrities. I find these groupies hard to understand.

 

I totally agree with this.

 

I really don't care who the cruise director is. Nor do I need waiters or stewards to be my friends, or bartenders to remember what drink I may want if I appear at their bar, or anything else.

 

We rarely go to shows, don't step into the casino, avoid playing bingo, art auctions, all that..

 

and still have a wonderful time. If we didn't we wouldn't keep cruising! :)

[mikjr]

Each made a good cruise great. Strangely enough I have cruised twice with each:

 

David Cole, Mercury & Golden Princess

Mark Warner, Monarch of the Seas

Johnny O., Monarch of the Seas

 

I see you have David Cole on your list. We found him to be the BEST CD we've ever had on a cruise. He was so much fun! His enthusiasm spilled over to his staff, which were also some of the best bunch of young people we've ever cruised with. They were always so happy and full of life!! Obviously a product of their leader.

[Colo Cruiser]

Hey! Those are my past cruises! :confused: ;)

 

Did you both have great cruises??? :eek:

[Grego]

Enjoyed watching the CD on the TV but other than that CD made absolutely no difference in our cruise. Never even thought about it until I read the posts. We had a great time regardless.

 

Before I read the rest of the posts I wanted to comment on yours. I tend to watch the morning show with the CD while waiting for my DW and that's about it.

 

It really seems that most of the CDs are following a template of activities and production events that Princess puts together. They are not as visual as in the past and rather rely on their Assistant CDs to do the personality stuff at the activities and the open decks. The CD must be bogged down with paperwork and other stuff because we only see them at the big enterainment productions.

 

I remember when the ships were smaller there seemed to be more personable CDs - like Paul McLaughlin. He would be all over the place and stop and ask how things were going and what could be better, and he would even remember you from a past cruise. Maybe the ships are just too big and too much stuff going on to have that experience.

[Pilot70D]

Like many posters before me have said - we could care less who the CD is. We are on the cruise primarily for the ports and the dining or at least in days gone by for the dining. Now the food quality is very much hit and miss on any of the mass market cruise lines.

We occasionally do go to the shows while aboard and the War Department (a.k.a. Mrs. B) is a bingo addict. OUCHHH. OOOPS - I meant to say extreme bingo enthusiast. Damn women have such vile tempers when anything threatens their bingo.

We do realize that the CD puts in a lot of hours but honestly we could care less who that person is. Even if we were going to be shot neither of us can remember the names of the CD's an any of our previous twelve cruises.

Everyone have a great day out there and enjoy that next cruise to its fullest no matter who the CD happens to be.:D

[PescadoAmarillo]

I think a good CD (and his/her staff) can really add to a cruise, but a bad one doesn't really detract from it. If a CD is good, we find ourselves watching the morning show on TV; if the staff is good, we find ourselves attending more activities on sea days. But if not, we simply avoid these things and at the end of the cruise, we've enjoyed it just the same.

 

I've stated before that the only CD/ACD combo I would go out of my way to book a cruise with would be Alastair Greener and Frankie. Since Alastair is now with Cunard, I don't see it happening.

[MTJSR]

Reviews following a Cruise Critic meet and greet, seem to indicate that only some of the CD's make a point of attending when invited. Knowing what blabber mouths we all are, I would attend or send someone to all known M&G's:eek:

[Toto2Kansas]

OK, I will admit it, I rarely remember the CD's name, and it doesn't make a lot of difference to me who they are. I can't remember one on any sailing that actually stood out over another.

[ccrain]

A CD manages and schedules all of the entertainment, dancers shows, movies, guest performers. He or she just doesn't MC anymore. He sets the tone for the staff and they make a big difference as well.

 

Take David Cole for example. The HI cruises would be almost indistinguishable from Caribbean cruises, as far as entertainment and cultural shows would be, if not for his personal "stamp" on the activities, the programs and the talks. His port talks alone are better than any we've ever listened to on any cruise - and they are not your Caribbean "Diamonds International" shopping talks. The CD we'd most want to go to HI with...

 

Take Richard Joseph for example, he's known in Princess for grooming up and coming CDs, ACDs and senior ACDs (Assistant Cruise Directors). He was the first CD we sailed with that really smoozed a bunch of us cruise critics - before CC was even well known. The CD we'd most like to sit and talk with for hours...

 

Take Tim Donavan for example. On our first cruise with him, we didn't like him that much (we've since concluded he just had a bad week or was not feeling well). On the second cruise, last April, he was great. Came to CC M&G, was the most charming host, ran a great schedule of activities, did a mean deck party, had a great staff - just a lot of fun. The CD we'd most like to do a Caribbean cruise with...

 

Take Neal Chandler. When we met him he was the "substitute" CD for ones that went on vacation. Neal was also real people. He didn’t have a public façade, unless it was very well hidden. Always a smile, always willing to talk to you about any issue. He did the morning show AND a entertainment tonight show, only CD we've ever seen do this, to preview the evening entertainment with interviews and video. The CD we'd most like to go out drinking with...

 

There are also a few we've not been that impressed by. Did we still have fun - yes!

 

But a cruise, for us, with a great CD is far better than a cruise with a ho-hum CD.

[coiran]

GOOD OLE STU was still the best CD we haave ever experienced - do not know where he is now.

 

Ron

[Matti]

From my limited cruising experience, I tend to agree with those who have stated that the cruise director does not really make or break a cruise. Of course, this doesn't mean that the cruise director doesn't have a significant impact on the cruise. As I see it, my cruise is going to be great whether the cruise director is or not. If the cruise director is really exceptional, we'll tend to go to more of the activities, that sort of stuff. If not, we'll spend more time swimming and doing the other individual activities. To share my own story about this:

 

On the Norwegian Dawn in 2006, we had an amazing cruise director. I swear, he was everywhere at once. He'd be at the main show, at Spinnaker Lounge, hosting other events. Everything. I'm pretty sure I saw him every day at something or another. Actually, one day near the end of the cruise, I was quite surprised to see an assitant director show up to host the activity (I think it was the Weakest Link or something). She was just as great of a host as he was. Overall, this was a great cruise, thanks in large part to him being the CD. Three and a half years later I still remember that the cruise director was Matt Baker.

 

On the other hand, I can't remember (and probably wouldn't recognize it if I saw it) the name of the cruise director on our Princess cruise to Alaska just this past summer. There are only two times I remember seeing him during the whole cruise, which are at the muster drill on the first night and introducing the comedy show in one of the lounges one other night (which we didn't stay for because there were quite literally no seats). Despite this, it was still a great cruise, better than the NCL one, probably. While on NCL we would attend the shows and the other events, this past summer we found ourselves doing our own thing, swimming, playing ping pong, Scrabble, watching Alaska go by, whatever.

 

Overall, on one of our cruises, we had a great CD who really made the hosted events enjoyable. On the other, doing our own thing was fun. So from my small cruising experience, I would personally say that the CD certainly does matter, but just in the way that a cruise with an amazing CD will be quite different than a cruise without one, but without one it will be no less enjoyable.

[sails]

I agree about Tim Donovan! We sailed the Emerald on 10/18/09 and had a fantastic cruise...happy crew members throughout the ship, great service and lots of fun activities! We were on the same ship in Oct. 08 and the ship was boring....no activities except for trivia by the pool and staff never smiled. Since joining the Emerald, Tim has definately made a difference and I hope we sail with him again.

[MTJSR]

We had Tim Donovan on the Grand out of Galveston a few years ago and other than a morning show on TV called "Wakey Wakey" (sp), I never saw him in public. This cruise was very port heavy, so probably not a lot for him to do anyway. Did it matter to me......No, I had a great time using the little time between ports to relax.

 

I have seen video of cruise staff on other lines that seemed to be mimicing a Richard Simmons style of in your face energy. Would that work on most Princess ships, probably not.:eek: