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Current Cruise Directors (CD) List - UPDATED

DonnaK

By DonnaK,
in Royal Caribbean International

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DonnaK

DonnaK

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This is a great thread and I hope it get updated through the next several months. We have been on several RCI cruises and have really appreciated and enjoyed our cruise directors; however, there have been a few that have really "annoyed" us, but we they are not what makes or breaks our vacation...................

 

Thank you!

 

I update almost every day. I rely on cruisers who are in contact with the CD's themselves, either aboard the ship or on social media or know them personally, to report back to us, because that's the most reliable source of information.

 

It's hard to predict too far in advance, because not all ships have a set schedule with two CD's that alternate in a regular pattern.

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wolfcathorse

wolfcathorse

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Does anyone have updates for us?

 

Donna, Marc Bing Bong Walker has posted on his FaceBook page that he has tonsillitis, second time in 5 weeks. He said he has prepped Erky to step in if need be. Sounds like surgery is in his future (or at least should be!). So cruisers on Monarch during her last month should be aware that Erky might be the "Cruise Director" if Marc's throat is too sore.

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DonnaK

DonnaK

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Donna, Marc Bing Bong Walker has posted on his FaceBook page that he has tonsillitis, second time in 5 weeks. He said he has prepped Erky to step in if need be. Sounds like surgery is in his future (or at least should be!). So cruisers on Monarch during her last month should be aware that Erky might be the "Cruise Director" if Marc's throat is too sore.

 

 

I wonder who Erky is? The activities manager?

 

Thanks, Karen, for letting us know.

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DonnaK

DonnaK

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Adventure OTS - Anthony Richards started January 6 (until sometime in April) Clo O'Connor will be covering the break (April through July, exact dates unknown at this time) *Drew Devine will be joining Adventure in July

 

Allure OTS - Allan Brooks started February 24 for approximately 2 months to cover, then Ken Rush expects to return from his break.

 

Brilliance OTS - Mercedes Fuentes started January 26 (until when?)

 

Enchantment OTS - John Blair started Jan 14 (until when?) *Marc Walker expects to join Enchantment on June 3, 2013 for 3 and 4 day cruises out of Port Canaveral.

 

Explorer OTS - Richard Spacey started February 1st until April 7 to cover Leigh Xuereb's break. Leigh will return as the regular CD of Explorer on April 7

 

Freedom OTS - Drew Devine January 6 though April 14, then Richard Spacey (Richard is arriving on April 7, so there will be a week's overlap)

 

Grandeur OTS - Rico du Breil started Oct 26 (until when?) *Jimmy Rhodes will be the regular CD for a few contracts when Grandeur moves to Baltimore (April 21?)

 

Independence OTS - Joff Eaton started November 22 until March 16 and returns May 26 through early September (Who will be filling in for Joff from March 16 through May 26?)

 

Jewel OTS - Dennis Charles (Dennis Sciortino) starts Jan 5 until March 21, and again from July to Sept (exact dates needed) and will be alternating with Carly Boileau (March 21 through July, and back again in Sept).

 

Legend OTS - Jimmy Rhodes will be on Legend beginning Feb 6 until he moves to Grandeur on April 21

 

Liberty OTS - Leo Papa started Jan 5th. Rich Edwards should be returning from his break on April 8.

 

Majesty OTS - Dave Chapman started March 4

 

Mariner OTS - Steve Davis Feb.10 - May 6th, Gordon Whatman is coming to Mariner on April 21. (Will there be an overlap for a smoother transition between CDs, or will Steve be leaving earlier than originally noted?)

 

Monarch OTS - Marc Walker Nov. 16 until April 1 when Monarch leaves the fleet. *per Marc's FB page: Marc has tonsillitis, and if he is unable to work, then Erky from Turkey (the activities manager) is prepared to step up as CD to cover for Marc's sick days.

 

Navigator OTS - Simona Ferraiuolo Jan 19 until March 30 then Keith Williams March 30 through April 21

 

Oasis OTS - Amy Fickert started December 1st until March 30, then Ricky Matthews March 30 through June 1. Amy plans to return from her break on June 1 through Sept 21, then Ricky Matthews September 21 through November 23

 

Radiance OTS - Bobby and Becky Brown returned on January 21. Paul Rutter for the Alaska season, May 17 through Sept 6.

 

Rhapsody OTS - Ricky Matthews January 7 through March 11. Luke Aerowsmith March 11 through May 31. Graham Seymour for the Alaska season beginning May 31 (he is arriving on May 24 for a one week overlap)

 

Serenade OTS - Paul Rutter Feb 11 through April 8, then Ken Jones April 8 through July 30, then Ricky Matthews July 30 though September 16

 

Splendour OTS - João Pereira returned Dec 9 for the winter season in South America

 

Vision OTS - Mike Hunnerup started January 14 (until when?)

 

Voyager OTS - Graham Seymour January 8 until March 23rd. Then, Lixin Fang will be taking over the Asian season

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DonnaK

DonnaK

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I can confirm that Luke is now on Rhapsody.

 

Adventure OTS - Anthony Richards started January 6 (until sometime in April) Clo O'Connor will be covering the break (April through July, exact dates unknown at this time) *Drew Devine will be joining Adventure in July

 

Allure OTS - Allan Brooks started February 24 for approximately 2 months to cover, then Ken Rush expects to return from his break.

 

Brilliance OTS - Mercedes Fuentes started January 26 (until when?)

 

Enchantment OTS - John Blair started Jan 14 (until when?) *Marc Walker expects to join Enchantment on June 3, 2013 for 3 and 4 day cruises out of Port Canaveral.

 

Explorer OTS - Richard Spacey started February 1st until April 7 to cover Leigh Xuereb's break. Leigh will return as the regular CD of Explorer on April 7

 

Freedom OTS - Drew Devine January 6 though April 14, then Richard Spacey (Richard is arriving on April 7, so there will be a week's overlap)

 

Grandeur OTS - Rico du Breil started Oct 26 (until when?) *Jimmy Rhodes will be the regular CD for a few contracts when Grandeur moves to Baltimore (April 21?)

 

Independence OTS - Joff Eaton started November 22 until March 16 and returns May 26 through early September (Who will be filling in for Joff from March 16 through May 26?)

 

Jewel OTS - Dennis Charles (Dennis Sciortino) starts Jan 5 until March 21, and again from July to Sept (exact dates needed) and will be alternating with Carly Boileau (March 21 through July, and back again in Sept).

 

Legend OTS - Jimmy Rhodes will be on Legend beginning Feb 6 until he moves to Grandeur on April 21

 

Liberty OTS - Leo Papa started Jan 5th. Rich Edwards should be returning from his break on April 8.

 

Majesty OTS - Dave Chapman started March 4

 

Mariner OTS - Steve Davis Feb.10 - May 6th, Gordon Whatman is coming to Mariner on April 21. (Will there be an overlap for a smoother transition between CDs, or will Steve be leaving earlier than originally noted?)

 

Monarch OTS - Marc Walker Nov. 16 until April 1 when Monarch leaves the fleet. *per Marc's FB page: Marc has tonsillitis, and if he is unable to work, then Erky from Turkey (the activities manager) is prepared to step up as CD to cover for Marc's sick days.

 

Navigator OTS - Simona Ferraiuolo Jan 19 until March 30 then Keith Williams March 30 through April 21

 

Oasis OTS - Amy Fickert started December 1st until March 30, then Ricky Matthews March 30 through June 1. Amy plans to return from her break on June 1 through Sept 21, then Ricky Matthews September 21 through November 23

 

Radiance OTS - Bobby and Becky Brown returned on January 21. Paul Rutter for the Alaska season, May 17 through Sept 6.

 

Rhapsody OTS - Luke Aerowsmith March 11 through May 31. Graham Seymour for the Alaska season beginning May 31 (he is arriving on May 24 for a one week overlap)

 

Serenade OTS - Paul Rutter Feb 11 through April 8, then Ken Jones April 8 through July 30, then Ricky Matthews July 30 though September 16

 

Splendour OTS - João Pereira returned Dec 9 for the winter season in South America

 

Vision OTS - Mike Hunnerup started January 14 (until when?)

 

Voyager OTS - Graham Seymour January 8 until March 23rd. Then, Lixin Fang will be taking over the Asian season

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abodom68

abodom68

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LOVe...Love Dennis Charles (Dennis Sciortino). He was on our first cruise back in 2010.........Serenade of the Seas............definitely spoiled us!! So talented & personality plus!!:)

 

I totally agree with you! We just got off the Jewel yesterday and had a FABULOUS time with Dennis Charles! The man knows how to entertain and can certainly dance his behind off! It would be hard to find a better guy than Dennis to pull off 70s night and Quest as well as he does (IMO)!

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wassup4565

wassup4565

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Little late with this, but back from Brilliance Feb 2 Eastern Caribbean, with Mercedes Fuentes as the CD. I don't think she is up to the job. I say this for several reasons.

 

First, I never actually saw her anywhere on the ship until the show on the final night of the cruise. Yeah, I heard her on the PA system, but I never actually saw her, anywhere, till the last night when she was onstage in her party dress.

 

Second, on our cruise, the staff had trouble keeping to the schedule in the Compass. Hello, Trivia is huge, and the traditional Trivia is always in the Schooner at 10 a.m., as listed in the Compass on every cruise I've been on. On our second sea day, the participants were there, but no staff. After telephoning, a disheveled young man arrived at 10:20 a.m. announcing it wasn't his fault. He then rushed us through the Trivia game. Fail. Actually, massive fail. If the CD can't get morning Trivia right...well, that's the bread and butter of events.

 

Third. The one time I saw her, Mercedes fell victim to the syndrome I call "cheap applause." I must admit, I've been in a similar business. You can almost always get repeated rounds of applause out of an audience by asking them to clap for their appreciation of the band, the singer, the backstage people...and on and on. Hell, who doesn't want to thank the little, hardworking people? But actually, Mercedes contributed nothing to the show at all. She had nothing interesting or funny to say. She was in no way a participant, except to show up at the end and urge the audience to applaud many times for the many people she thought we should thank.

 

Fourth, according to another poster here (see the Ports section, specifically Guadeloupe threads) Mercedes, the CD, warned people against going ashore by themselves in Guadeloupe and advised them to sign up for RCI excursions instead. If this is true, the advice was misguided, inaccurate, and possibly self-serving of RCI's interests. Not the role of a CD.

 

Fifth. The entertainment on this trip was end-loaded. That is, through a couple of sea days at the beginning and the first couple of ports, there wasn't actually much going on aboard at all. As the cruise neared its finish, there were suddenly many more events and activities to entertain and delight. As I said, I've been in a similar business. It's cheap-o to stack all the good stuff at the end, just before people fill out their evaluations. You hope they remember and evaluate the most recent stuff and hope they forget there wasn't much happening for several days beforehand. It's a tactic. I thought we were getting a Cruise Director, not a tactician.

 

Pretty much a meh experience for me on this cruise ship, for anything the CD did. Yes, I loved Marcello and the Starlight Trio, but they were already signed up and doing their thing before Mercedes Fuentes arrived.

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cruisenfever

cruisenfever

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Second, on our cruise, the staff had trouble keeping to the schedule in the Compass. Hello, Trivia is huge, and the traditional Trivia is always in the Schooner at 10 a.m., as listed in the Compass on every cruise I've been on. On our second sea day, the participants were there, but no staff. After telephoning, a disheveled young man arrived at 10:20 a.m. announcing it wasn't his fault. He then rushed us through the Trivia game. Fail. Actually, massive fail. If the CD can't get morning Trivia right...well, that's the bread and butter of events.

 

We love Trivia, but our experience has been that Trivia is not held at 10AM on all ships each day. We've had it as early at 9:00 and as late as 10:30 in the morning.

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johnbob7

johnbob7

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Second, on our cruise, the staff had trouble keeping to the schedule in the Compass. Hello, Trivia is huge, and the traditional Trivia is always in the Schooner at 10 a.m., as listed in the Compass on every cruise I've been on. On our second sea day, the participants were there, but no staff. After telephoning, a disheveled young man arrived at 10:20 a.m. announcing it wasn't his fault. He then rushed us through the Trivia game. Fail. Actually, massive fail. If the CD can't get morning Trivia right...well, that's the bread and butter of events.

 

While I have been know to enjoy trivia myself upon occasion, I would hesitate to call it huge. My observation is that a crowd of 50 is big for a trivia turnout, and that represents what, 2% of the passenger population? I think they have other activities that draw from a wider audience to attend to.

 

Nonetheless, if it is in the Compass, they should have it staffed. That is a significant lapse.

 

bobj

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DonnaK

DonnaK

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Yeah...just found out Paul Lancaster will be on the Brilliance starting March 31st.

Adventure OTS - Anthony Richards started January 6 (until sometime in April) Clo O'Connor will be covering the break (April through July, exact dates unknown at this time) *Drew Devine will be joining Adventure in July

 

Allure OTS - Allan Brooks started February 24 for approximately 2 months to cover, then Ken Rush expects to return from his break.

 

Brilliance OTS - Mercedes Fuentes started January 26, then Paul Lancaster beginning March 31

 

Enchantment OTS - John Blair started Jan 14 (until when?) *Marc Walker expects to join Enchantment on June 3, 2013 for 3 and 4 day cruises out of Port Canaveral.

 

Explorer OTS - Richard Spacey started February 1st until April 7 to cover Leigh Xuereb's break. Leigh will return as the regular CD of Explorer on April 7

 

Freedom OTS - Drew Devine January 6 though April 14, then Richard Spacey (Richard is arriving on April 7, so there will be a week's overlap)

 

Grandeur OTS - Rico du Breil started Oct 26 (until when?) *Jimmy Rhodes will be the regular CD for a few contracts when Grandeur moves to Baltimore (April 21?)

 

Independence OTS - Joff Eaton started November 22 until March 16 and returns May 26 through early September (Who will be filling in for Joff from March 16 through May 26?)

 

Jewel OTS - Dennis Charles (Dennis Sciortino) starts Jan 5 until March 21, and again from July to Sept (exact dates needed) and will be alternating with Carly Boileau (March 21 through July, and back again in Sept).

 

Legend OTS - Jimmy Rhodes will be on Legend beginning Feb 6 until he moves to Grandeur on April 21

 

Liberty OTS - Leo Papa started Jan 5th. Rich Edwards should be returning from his break on April 8.

 

Majesty OTS - Dave Chapman started March 4

 

Mariner OTS - Steve Davis Feb.10 - May 6th, Gordon Whatman is coming to Mariner on April 21. (Will there be an overlap for a smoother transition between CDs, or will Steve be leaving earlier than originally noted?)

 

Monarch OTS - Marc Walker Nov. 16 until April 1 when Monarch leaves the fleet. *per Marc's FB page: Marc has tonsillitis, and if he is unable to work, then Erky from Turkey (the activities manager) is prepared to step up as CD to cover for Marc's sick days.

 

Navigator OTS - Simona Ferraiuolo Jan 19 until March 30 then Keith Williams March 30 through April 21

 

Oasis OTS - Amy Fickert started December 1st until March 30, then Ricky Matthews March 30 through June 1. Amy plans to return from her break on June 1 through Sept 21, then Ricky Matthews September 21 through November 23

 

Radiance OTS - Bobby and Becky Brown returned on January 21. Paul Rutter for the Alaska season, May 17 through Sept 6.

 

Rhapsody OTS - Luke Aerowsmith March 11 through May 31. Graham Seymour for the Alaska season beginning May 31 (he is arriving on May 24 for a one week overlap)

 

Serenade OTS - Paul Rutter Feb 11 through April 8, then Ken Jones April 8 through July 30, then Ricky Matthews July 30 though September 16

 

Splendour OTS - João Pereira returned Dec 9 for the winter season in South America

 

Vision OTS - Mike Hunnerup started January 14 (until when?)

 

Voyager OTS - Graham Seymour January 8 until March 23rd. Then, Lixin Fang will be taking over the Asian season

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livingitup

livingitup

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Donna, is it official, Ricky will be on until June 1?:eek:

 

Oasis OTS - Amy Fickert started December 1st until March 30, then Ricky Matthews March 30 through June 1. Amy plans to return from her break on June 1 through Sept 21, then Ricky Matthews September 21 through November 23

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DonnaK

DonnaK

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Donna, is it official, Ricky will be on until June 1?:eek:

 

Oasis OTS - Amy Fickert started December 1st until March 30, then Ricky Matthews March 30 through June 1. Amy plans to return from her break on June 1 through Sept 21, then Ricky Matthews September 21 through November 23

 

 

Well, the info you gave me a while back said that Amy isn't returning until June 1. So, it's highly likely that Ricky is staying until then, and that's what I am going with for now. But, I don't have official word from the ship, or from Ricky. I'm just going on the info from Amy that you posted.

 

Is Ricky on social media, where someone can contact him directly and confirm this?

 

Or, can someone sailing on Oasis on March 30 (0or later) please find out from Ricky how long (exact date) he will be on the ship?

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