Why is a Cruise Director being at you beck-n-call so vital?

[Bundles917]

Often there are critiques of cruise directors on Cruise Critic that read as if the complainant felt entitled to near escort service-like attention from the cruise director. One such recent review was posted for Celebrity Summit:

 

"Unfortunately we have yet to enjoy a good cruise director on Celebrity and again both weeks they were terrible - the first week he was pompous and the second week she just grated - choosing to sing some opera after a show was a bad choice. I don't speak Italian but I could swear I kept hearing "tsunami" throughout the song which, given the circumstances, showed a lack of judgment. Our best cruise director (HAL) was everywhere. She greeted us on the gangway every day coming and going, she walked the pool deck, was in the dining room, she seemed to know where to be and at the right time to make sure folks were happy. These two were duds."

 

I've come across other complaints on Cruise Critic lambasting cruise directors who:

 

- Weren't funny

- Lacked dance skills

- Didn't have witty dinner-repartee

 

I'm on a vacation. I'm not looking to be trailed on ship by the ghost of Sammy Davis, JR.

 

So other than a cruise director being affable and informative; does your ideal cruise director need to be a Dean Martin bon vivant? Or a charming host who assists in suggesting activities that enhance the enjoyment of your cruise?

 

My choice? I just hope the person in the demanding duty of cruise director is finding joy and rest. Working with the public is never an easy chore.

[kitty9]

To be honest, I don't get it either. We've never seen the need to interact with a cruise director. In the grand scheme of things, they're way secondary to my enjoyment of a cruise. Now, if you're speaking of the activities director, that's a different story. That person, who plans all the things that go on during the day and night, is the most important. To me, a cruise director just shows up and MC's few things.

[allblueskys]

Im on vacation! I like to just be left alone.

[supered]

The Cruise Director's "public face" is a very small part of their job and not all of them are trained singers, dancers, commedians and after dinner speakers. A lot of them are but not all. Some have strengths and some have weaknesses.

 

The role has evolved from the one who oversees the Entertainment Department and schedules the activities to a senior manager who heads up the health and safety committee, is a people manager for all sorts of staff, does a load of admin, and is responsible for keeping passengers informed in event of an emergency.

 

One time the Cruise Director could be much more visible but it is becoming more difficult with an expaning job. Some seem to manage being more visible to the passengers better than others.

 

To be honest it doesn't ruin my cruise if he's not "everywhere" and glad handing me every 5 minutes.

 

Happy cruising.

 

Eddie :)

[sarahc78]

Im on vacation! I like to just be left alone.

ding ding ding we have a winner!!!

[We're The Groupnors]

I'm not a suck up, nor do I like people sucking up to me. Other than the cruise director taking pride in his/her work and shooting a smile and a polite hello my way if we happen to pass one another I really don't need anything more.

[Denny01]

I saw one review that stated the CD was 'just too old' and they were sure she was 'snickering at them' behind their back. Weird. And the reviewer was a senior citizen! You wonder what is the mindset of someone who is 'sure' others are snickering at them.....and I was impressed with their ability to 'see' behind themsevles.

 

Most of the time, the only interaction with the CD is when they are on stage introducing the crew and giving us peptalks and so on. The one's I want to interact with are:

- Room Steward

- MDR Waitstaff

- and lots of bartenders and lounge waitstaff!

 

With all due respect, we are their customer, we are there for a week or so, and then on comes another group. Their 'world' is the crew, not us. I enjoy talking and getting to know them some, and its not because I don't want to befriend anyone beyond polite conversation, but it just isn't in the cards - they have so many people to take care of that its not right for us to interact beyond the superficial. I've been in lounges where you can see the waitstaff trying to break away to serve all the other customers and someone wants to either tell their lifestory and hear theirs. Just doesn't, or at least shouldn't, work that way.

 

Enjoy meeting other passengers, treat the crew with the respect and professionalism they deserve. And by the way, the CD is a manager of a pretty good-sized staff, not our personal greeter.

 

Den

[miched]

Too many passengers have been watching "Love Boat" and think that is the norm.

 

There was a CD on a ship that did a Blues Brother imitation show. Talked to him afterwards about it and was told that it was not part of his job and he had a separate contract with the cruise line to do that show like any other "guest entertainer". He used some band members and had to also pay them for their time from his extra show contract.

[bellybutton530]

On most of my previous cruises I did not even know the CD's name.

 

Like most, I am on vacation, and wish to be left alone. I find that Celebrity is doing a fine job of just that....

[ZipGirl]

What? There are cruise directors? :rolleyes:

 

Not what I'm looking for on a cruise.

[dmwnc1959]

Unless the Cruise Director is picking up my onboard expense account I have no use for them. Same as the Maitre D and just about as useless. Others seem to fawn over them like they have been High School friends for life. I'm not that desperate for attention. Like it was said before, just leave me alone and I'm happy!

[BelowWaterLevel]

Great post! We've never met a cruise director that we've needed or liked. Their little talks before the evening shows are especially annoying.

[lysolqn]

Never understood the whole CD groupie thing or for that mattar, pax who seem to form an unusual emotional attachment to one captain or another. Yes, it's nice to recognize the name of a CD/captain with whom you've sailed before but how the presence (or absence) of anyone in particular can impact your cruise (for better or worse) is an enigma to me. With all due respect to those for whom the CD and/or captain are pivotal to their enjoyment, it all seems a bit juvenile and self-serving to me. JMHO.

[royalcruz]

One reason I prefer X is because I find the staff on other lines to be too intrusive. I love to be entertained but it doesn't need to get personal.

[avid]

I generally agree with all the responses above..Though I do recall that on our RCI LEGEND OF THE SEAS- Aug. 24, 1997 Vancouver to Alaska

Cruise that the weather was exceptionally poor and we spent much time on indoor activities..The CD/Asst CD were a husband/wife team who were exceptionally friendly and helped us pass the indoor time in enjoyment..So we were grateful for that

[tip]

Great post! We've never met a cruise director that we've needed or liked. Their little talks before the evening shows are especially annoying.

 

Agreed!:)

[Woobstr112G]

Often there are critiques of cruise directors on Cruise Critic that read as if the complainant felt entitled to near escort service-like attention from the cruise director. One such recent review was posted for Celebrity Summit:

 

"Unfortunately we have yet to enjoy a good cruise director on Celebrity and again both weeks they were terrible - the first week he was pompous and the second week she just grated - choosing to sing some opera after a show was a bad choice. I don't speak Italian but I could swear I kept hearing "tsunami" throughout the song which, given the circumstances, showed a lack of judgment. Our best cruise director (HAL) was everywhere. She greeted us on the gangway every day coming and going, she walked the pool deck, was in the dining room, she seemed to know where to be and at the right time to make sure folks were happy. These two were duds."

 

I've come across other complaints on Cruise Critic lambasting cruise directors who:

 

- Weren't funny

- Lacked dance skills

- Didn't have witty dinner-repartee

 

I'm on a vacation. I'm not looking to be trailed on ship by the ghost of Sammy Davis, JR.

 

So other than a cruise director being affable and informative; does your ideal cruise director need to be a Dean Martin bon vivant? Or a charming host who assists in suggesting activities that enhance the enjoyment of your cruise?

 

My choice? I just hope the person in the demanding duty of cruise director is finding joy and rest. Working with the public is never an easy chore.

 

Very well said. I actually never thought of it in this light.....:):):)

 

Bob

[pete_coach]

Never understood the whole CD groupie thing or for that mattar, pax who seem to form an unusual emotional attachment to one captain or another. Yes, it's nice to recognize the name of a CD/captain with whom you've sailed before but how the presence (or absence) of anyone in particular can impact your cruise (for better or worse) is an enigma to me. With all due respect to those for whom the CD and/or captain are pivotal to their enjoyment, it all seems a bit juvenile and self-serving to me. JMHO.

+1. It seems some of the "more seasoned" cruisers seem to think they have some sort of "entitlement" when n board. They request who the Captain will be, as if it makes nay difference at all. They need to know who the piano player is. I have even seen a post where on poster asked if Manuel (or whatever the name was) was still working the Sunset Bar.

On my vacations it surely doesn't matter who's driving the boat, who's announcing the next act or who is shaking (not stirring) my martini LOL.

 

Great post! We've never met a cruise director that we've needed or liked. Their little talks before the evening shows are especially annoying.

I agree.

Do these folks that have the need to call the crew by their first name and be recognized by them also seek out department store managers to schmooze with before they buy their socks? LOL.

[Arwen]

One reason I prefer X is because I find the staff on other lines to be too intrusive. I love to be entertained but it doesn't need to get personal.

 

Having just returned from our first Celebrity cruise, I totally agree with you. Our ship experience felt more like staying at an upscale hotel with a polite but unintrusive staff. I don't require fawning attention:p

[SusieV]

I don't know- our first three cruises all had the same cruise director (John Howell) and he did remember us from the Cruise Critic parties. He was a very friendly and upbeat guy and we thought he was an excellent cruise director.

 

The cruise director can kind of set the mood of the cruise if you're interested in taking part in activities. I'm not really interested in knowing in advance who the director is but I can understand people who do want to know if they'll be interacting with the same staff again. Some of the comments here have been pretty rude about people's motivations.

[Aussie One]

When on the Eclipse i was told the CD had won a gold medal in the Sydney

olympics it was in the hide and seek event

[red88]

I like this thread, we are taking our 4th cruise this November and I've never known who the cruise director has been on any of our cruises, I usually bury my nose in a book and really enjoy the peace and quiet...

[iancal]

We never bother with them...the less we see of him/her, the better.

[celle]

I like this thread, we are taking our 4th cruise this November and I've never known who the cruise director has been on any of our cruises, I usually bury my nose in a book and really enjoy the peace and quiet...

 

We, too, spend much of our cruise time catching up with books we want to read.

 

Don't care who the Cruise Director is, as long as he/ she doesn't yell "Bingo! bingo! bingo!" more than once a day!

 

Don't care who the Captain is, as long as he/ she rules a well-run ship and gets us safely to our destinations.

[Bridge Maven]

Does anyone remember a TV series from the late fifties, "The Gale Storm Show", where Gale Storm played a cruise director, Susanna Pomeroy? That TV character interacted with everyone on the ship, knew every passengers' likes and dislikes, and tried to find a suitable love interest for every person on the ship who was not married?

 

I grew up thinking that all cruise directors were like that, but am glad that they aren't :)

 

There is only one Celebrity cruise director I can think of who spent a lot of time interacting with passengers, and he was very handsome, as well as charming. Ironically, that cruise had the worst entertainment of any cruise I have ever been on and that is one of the most important responsibilities of a cruise director. So, I am more concerned with what a cruise director does behind the scenes (no pun intended) to enhance my overall cruise experience than how much time he spends interacting with me.