Cruise Director, what to expect?

[mkkao924]

Hi,

 

I just got an email from Princess over the weekend and our CD will be Lee Childers. Well, according to the thread search, he doesn't get much compliments from CC members.

 

My understanding for CD is that CD is related to entertainment. Is it right? Some of the threads mentioned Lee doesn't come out and talk to people very often. What's the impact on other cruise crews? Will they be less friendly, or?

 

Thanks,

Scott

[Pam in CA]

I just got an email from Princess over the weekend and our CD will be Lee Childers. Well, according to the thread search, he doesn't get much compliments from CC members.

 

My understanding for CD is that CD is related to entertainment. Is it right? Some of the threads mentioned Lee doesn't come out and talk to people very often. What's the impact on other cruise crews? Will they be less friendly, or?

I don't know Lee so I can't comment. Some people think that a good CD is one who can sing, dance or tell jokes but in reality, that's a very small part of their job. IMHO, a good CD is one who is a planner and organizer; they and their staff are responsible not only for the entertainment but also all of the activities, from the very early morning TV show (which is taped the night before) until very late at night. It's good if they can stop and talk to people but even the best are running from point A to point B at opposite ends of the ship and don't have time to chit chat. They are also responsible for the creation and printing of the Princess Patters.

 

To me, a good CD is imaginative, creative and flexible. If the ship misses a port, they have to be able to immediately implement a full program of activities throughout the day within minutes. This takes a LOT of planning and organization.

 

I've had CDs who whined about not having enough activities planned because his budget was too small and I've had another CD who bought a couple of large Radio Shack remote-controlled cars and a couple of pylons, and set up a racing circuit on the dance floor. People played for hours. Which would you rather have? The first was a great singer, the latter was (IMHO) a great CD. :)

 

In other words, the Cruise Director is responsible for the entertainment and enjoyment of the cruise for all passengers, from little kids to seniors. Several years ago, my cabin was just down the hall from the CD's office and he was there at 6 in the morning and often at midnight.

[Colo Cruiser]

You must form your own opinion.

No sense in letting comments here sway you. ;)

[Duck Duck Cruise]

We don't worry about who the CD is on our cruises. We are perfectly able to entertain ourselves and don't feel a CD makes or breaks a cruise.

[caribill]

Posted by another cruiser on another thread:

 

The staff were headed up by CD Adam from Wales. We have found that the CD sets the standard for their staff and in this respect the CD's staff were very good. They always had a high visability around the ship and would chat to passengers. Adam was also very high profile aroind the ship and was the "volunteer" for all of the specialist treatments such as accipuncture.

[Globaliser]

Some people think that a good CD is one who can sing, dance or tell jokes but in reality, that's a very small part of their job. IMHO, a good CD is one who is a planner and organizer; they and their staff are responsible not only for the entertainment but also all of the activities, from the very early morning TV show (which is taped the night before) until very late at night. It's good if they can stop and talk to people but even the best are running from point A to point B at opposite ends of the ship and don't have time to chit chat. They are also responsible for the creation and printing of the Princess Patters.

 

To me, a good CD is imaginative, creative and flexible. If the ship misses a port, they have to be able to immediately implement a full program of activities throughout the day within minutes. This takes a LOT of planning and organization.

 

I've had CDs who whined about not having enough activities planned because his budget was too small and I've had another CD who bought a couple of large Radio Shack remote-controlled cars and a couple of pylons, and set up a racing circuit on the dance floor. People played for hours. Which would you rather have? The first was a great singer, the latter was (IMHO) a great CD. :)

 

In other words, the Cruise Director is responsible for the entertainment and enjoyment of the cruise for all passengers, from little kids to seniors. Several years ago, my cabin was just down the hall from the CD's office and he was there at 6 in the morning and often at midnight.

This is so true, Pam - what you say here deserves to be put into a sticky.

[janacin]

Lee Childers was the cruise director on the Golden on a Hawaiian cruise we took last October. We only saw him when he introduced the evening entertainment and did the morning TV show. Never saw him mixing with the pax or running any of the onboard activities. He delegated everything else to his deputies who did a great job.

[gregjm]

It's all so subjective that an opinion on Cruise Critic about a CD is just that---an opinion. People rarely write to give rave reviews about a CD they enjoyed.

 

I've been on eight cruises in the past two years and the CD (on X, not Princess) that everyone raved about as being the "best" was my least favorite--he was too full of himself.

 

The CB Cruise Director (two weeks ago) was Dan Styne and he turned out to be my all time favorite, yet if you read some of the reviews you see that others have a totally different opinion.

 

It's all good---YOU ARE GOING TO BE ON CRUISE ;)

[moyaroo]

Lee Childers was the cruise director on the Golden on a Hawaiian cruise we took last October. We only saw him when he introduced the evening entertainment and did the morning TV show. Never saw him mixing with the pax or running any of the onboard activities. He delegated everything else to his deputies who did a great job.

 

 

Like the captain, the cruise director really isn't the thing that makes or breaks the cruise except for the fact that they are responsible to see to it that others do do those things. I've had chatty charming captains who were not good leaders and the ship's company was not happy leading to unhappy passengers. Likewise CD's one never sees can still be quite effective.

[Dani24]

On two of our sailings we had a CD (the same one) that we found to be pretty obnoxious. We certainly wouldn't complain if we never sailed with him again. However, we really only had to "put up with" him a few times throughout the cruise (once or twice in the theater, for a few minutes during a couple of other activities, and then the morning show -- if we even bothered to watch it). It was easy enough to avoid him, and when we couldn't, we chose to not let it bother us that much. It's not like he was hanging out in our cabin or eating dinner with us or present at every single activity we did.

 

The funny thing is I've seen some people on here say they love him and think he's a great CD. So, I think it's highly subjective. Just go into it with an open mind. Perhaps this guy won't be so bad to you. And if he is a bore (or worse) it's pretty easy to avoid him and still enjoy your cruise!

[cb at sea]

I wouldn't know the CD if I ran over them. Unless you're into the "audience participation" stuff, he/she won't affect your cruising pleasure AT ALL.

[Clutterlady]

We don't worry about who the CD is on our cruises. We are perfectly able to entertain ourselves and don't feel a CD makes or breaks a cruise.

 

Gotta agree. Honestly couldn't care who he/she is!

[miataman]

I don't know Lee so I can't comment. Some people think that a good CD is one who can sing, dance or tell jokes but in reality, that's a very small part of their job. IMHO, a good CD is one who is a planner and organizer; they and their staff are responsible not only for the entertainment but also all of the activities, from the very early morning TV show (which is taped the night before) until very late at night. It's good if they can stop and talk to people but even the best are running from point A to point B at opposite ends of the ship and don't have time to chit chat. They are also responsible for the creation and printing of the Princess Patters.

 

To me, a good CD is imaginative, creative and flexible. If the ship misses a port, they have to be able to immediately implement a full program of activities throughout the day within minutes. This takes a LOT of planning and organization.

 

I've had CDs who whined about not having enough activities planned because his budget was too small and I've had another CD who bought a couple of large Radio Shack remote-controlled cars and a couple of pylons, and set up a racing circuit on the dance floor. People played for hours. Which would you rather have? The first was a great singer, the latter was (IMHO) a great CD. :)

 

In other words, the Cruise Director is responsible for the entertainment and enjoyment of the cruise for all passengers, from little kids to seniors. Several years ago, my cabin was just down the hall from the CD's office and he was there at 6 in the morning and often at midnight.

 

We loved that remote control cars! Only had them on one cruise and have missed them ever since. Don't remember who the CD was but remember the cars. Always knew where our husbands would be if the races were going on. :p

[mkkao924]

Thanks for all the inputs! My concerns was not for the show, but for the attitudes of the crews. I don't really care if CD talks a lot or has good/bad vocal, but if the crews reflect the CD's personality (not responsive/friendly), then that worries me.

 

This is our first cruise to Alaska, so I will definitely try not let this turn us down!

[DonnaK]

I wouldn't know the CD if I ran over them. Unless you're into the "audience participation" stuff, he/she won't affect your cruising pleasure AT ALL.

 

 

With all due respect, I totally disagree. The CD (and the captain) set the tone for the entire sailing, and that affects the way the entire crew presents themselves and interacts/serves the passengers. This is above-and-beyond the "audience partipation" nonsense - it's not about entertainment but an atttude. A dynamic CD will inspire a certain positive energy aboard which trickles down to everyone and really makes a big difference in what everyone gets out of the cruise.

[caribill]

With all due respect, I totally disagree. The CD (and the captain) set the tone for the entire sailing, and that affects the way the entire crew presents themselves and interacts/serves the passengers.

 

A good CD does a good job of scheduling the entertainment. On a ten day Baltic cruise last year, all three production shows that the singers/dancers knew were performed. The CD said they are paid to work and he was going to make sure they did. He also scheduled the showband to perform on several nights they were not doing the production shows.

[azdmelani]

It's all so subjective that an opinion on Cruise Critic about a CD is just that---an opinion. People rarely write to give rave reviews about a CD they enjoyed.

 

I've been on eight cruises in the past two years and the CD (on X, not Princess) that everyone raved about as being the "best" was my least favorite--he was too full of himself.

 

The CB Cruise Director (two weeks ago) was Dan Styne and he turned out to be my all time favorite, yet if you read some of the reviews you see that others have a totally different opinion.

 

It's all good---YOU ARE GOING TO BE ON CRUISE ;)

 

We just came back from the CB with Dan Styne and agree- but when reading the reviews I thought I would feel differently.

 

IMO a good CD plans the best activities and has the support staff to really make them shine. The Assistant CD Donna was amazing as well, and she had us in stitches during the Marriage game show.

[Pam in CA]

We loved that remote control cars! Only had them on one cruise and have missed them ever since. Don't remember who the CD was but remember the cars. Always knew where our husbands would be if the races were going on. :p

Chris Nichols. Not sure if he's still an active CD but for years, he would either train CDs or fill in when CDs went on vacation. We sailed several times with Chris. The time with the remote control cars was a LA > HI > LA cruise on the old Regal Princess.

[Pam in CA]

Posted by another cruiser on another thread:

 

The staff were headed up by CD Adam from Wales. We have found that the CD sets the standard for their staff and in this respect the CD's staff were very good. They always had a high visability around the ship and would chat to passengers. Adam was also very high profile aroind the ship and was the "volunteer" for all of the specialist treatments such as accipuncture.

This is true. IMHO, a good CD is also a good manager which means training and managing his staff and giving them the tools to enhance passenger enjoyment at whichever activity is at hand.

[Globaliser]

I wouldn't know the CD if I ran over them. Unless you're into the "audience participation" stuff, he/she won't affect your cruising pleasure AT ALL.

This so misunderstands what a CD's primary job is.

 

If the CD is hopeless at their primary job, the entire entertainment schedule will fall apart. Unless you have no contact whatsoever with the entertainment on board a ship, that would undoubtedly affect your cruising pleasure in a big way. You don't have to be into the "audience participation" stuff to be affected by how good (or not) the CD is.

[highflyingrealtor]

I wouldn't know the CD if I ran over them. Unless you're into the "audience participation" stuff, he/she won't affect your cruising pleasure AT ALL.

Your post made me laugh. Last couple cruises I couldn't have told you their names, gender, good or bad, etc. I get in my "cruise zone" for 7 days and do my own directing! :D