UPDATED List of Current Cruise Directors (CD)

DonnaK · February 18, 2014

Adventure OTS - Mercedes Lafuente started January 19 (until when? Then who?)

Allure OTS - Allan Brooks February 16 until March 30, then Ken Rush returns on March 30.

Anthem OTS - There will be a 2 person take-out team (Ken Rush and ?) for the first 6-8 weeks, then Joff Eaton is expected to be the regular CD of this ship.

Brilliance OTS - Steve Davis from January 24 until the end of May

Enchantment OTS - Marc Walker January 10 until mid-May. Mitch Merucci will be filling-in from mid-May until mid-July followed by Marc for another 4 months.

Explorer OTS - Leigh Xuereb until March 1, then Keith Williams from March 1 until April 19, followed by Leigh Xuereb on April 19 for 4 months

Freedom OTS - Mike Hunnerup from December 22 through mid-late February, then Casey Pelter (exact turnover date?)

Grandeur OTS - Ricky Matthews started on January 31 for 4 months.

Independence OTS - Joff Eaton November 2 to the end of March (exact date?). Joff will be returning on May 17 through Sept 2014 (Fill-in for April and May 2014 not yet known).

Jewel OTS - Dennis Charles from January 11 until March 15. Then Carly Boileau returns on March 15 for 4 months, followed by Dennis for 2 months.

Legend OTS - Paul Rutter January 24 until March 17. Topi Ylönen starts on March 17 for the 2014 European Season

Liberty OTS -Jerome Sueur from Feb 15 until April 14, then Rich Edwards returns April 14 for 4 months.

Majesty OTS - Simona Ferraiuolo started Feb 10 for 4 months.

Mariner OTS - Gordon Whatman started on January 20 for 7 weeks (until March 15? Then who? Dan Whitney?)

Navigator OTS - Mitch Merucci will be filling in from Feb 16 until John Perry returns from his break in mid-April.

Oasis OTS - Dave Chapman is doing a quick fill-in Feb 16 until March 8. Then, Drew Devine March 8 through May 17. WHO WILL the CD May 17 through July 19? Then Drew Devine July 19 through mid-November.

Quantum OTS - Jimmy Rhodes will be taking out the ship and continuing on as its regular CD. Ken Rush will also be onboard for the first 6-8 weeks doing behind the scenes duties to provide a smooth take out

Radiance OTS - Amy Fickert began on November 16 until March 3. Amy will return sometime in early May after her break. (who will be filling-in for March and April?)

Rhapsody OTS - Graham Seymour Feb 1 through August 1

Serenade OTS - John Blair started February 1 until March 16, (then who?).

Splendour OTS - Michelle Pimentinha started Dec 8 for the South American season

Vision OTS - WHO IS THE CURRENT CD (for the remainder of the Panama season through April 26?)

Voyager OTS - Bobby Brown started Feb 13 for the remainder of the Australian season. Lixin Fang is expected to return for the Asian season

Richard Spacey is now Manager of Entertainment, Activities and Family Strategy Development for Celebrity Cruises in their corporate offices in Miami, working alongside Becky Thompson.

Dave Chapman has left RCCL. He is taking an extended break, and then he will be moving over to another cruiseline.

James Andrews is a real estate agent in Sydney

Mike Szwajkowski is a Canadian Mountie

Leo Papa at Cornell University working on a Master's degree in Hospitality Administration/Management

Anna Bass is now Client Services Manager at ISS London

Abe Hughes is Director of Port Revenue Operations at Royal Media Partners

João Pereira is studying Portuguese/English education and translation at Faculdades Metropolitanas Unidas in Brazil

Kirk Detweiler is now CD with Silversea cruises.

Simeon Baker - married a dancer, had a baby girl and is a sales exec at a Porsche dealer in Saskatchewan

Matt Baker - Sim's brother - recently married and living in Wales. They bought a pub called the Tiddley

Kieron Buffrey - CD with Holland America

Tom Canosa - teaching 6th grade science in North Carolina

Peter Benfield and Johnny Osborne have emigrated to Thailand

Anthony Richards is living in Miami with his wife, and is working for Royal Media Partners as Manager Port Revenue Operations

Rico du Breil is no longer with RCI

Jerome Sueur, Bill Brunkhorst and Luke Aerowsmith are currently on break.

(If anyone knows the whereabouts of other former RCI cruise directors, I'd be happy to add them to the end of this list, as there seems to be a lot of questions about them)

counsdr · February 19, 2014

Mike Hunnerup is still on Freedom and I don't understand why they keep him on. He is not Cruise Director material in my opinion.

luvscruising2007 · February 19, 2014

Mike Hunnerup is still on Freedom and I don't understand why they keep him on. He is not Cruise Director material in my opinion.

He was fine on our Explorer cruise in 2008, in my opinion. We have never had a bad CD so maybe our expectations are not the same as yours.

Folk Singer · February 19, 2014

still no news on who will be taking over from JOFF on the Indy. Will keep checking.

DonnaK · February 19, 2014

still no news on who will be taking over from JOFF on the Indy. Will keep checking.

I contacted him on Twitter. He is usually great about tweeting me back, but this time, I haven't heard from him. I imagine that's because he still doesn't know.

BoyntonBeth · February 19, 2014

Boynton Beth emailed me that Rico DuBreil is no longer with RCI, she'll be on VI soon and will report who the CD is.

When do you think she'll know?

I'm on LG til 2/24. I'll fly to PTY on 3/07 and will board the next day for b2b.

Info has been confirmed by multiple sources but I don't know if it's temporary. Stay tuned.

negc · February 19, 2014

Mike Hunnerup is still on Freedom and I don't understand why they keep him on. He is not Cruise Director material in my opinion.

Fortunately for Mike, and perhaps for others who have sailed with and enjoyed him, you aren't the person making the decision whether or not to terminate his employment. Unless there is an overwhelming amount of agreement with your assessment of his suitability, perhaps yours is just a minority opinion that is unfair to him. As you have stated,it is only your opinion and you might want to allow for the fact that it isn't shared by the majority of those who have sailed with Mike. We all have different tastes, so, if he is still there, when we are on Freedom in just a few weeks we can make our own assessment, but I would hate to publicly criticize anyone to the point of suggesting that his employment be ended.

Edited February 19, 2014 by negc

mommabean · February 19, 2014

Jane who is on Vision now said Carlos is the cruise director.

sparkx · February 19, 2014

I noticed the Graham Seymour thread hasn't been updated in some time - he's on rhapsody but is that his plan going forward? I'm seriously considering her Eastern med itineraries next year and would be great to have him on board!

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DonnaK · February 19, 2014

I noticed the Graham Seymour thread hasn't been updated in some time - he's on rhapsody but is that his plan going forward? I'm seriously considering her Eastern med itineraries next year and would be great to have him on board!

Yes, that is his plan going forward. After his 3 years on Freedom was up, he specifically requested a smaller, more intimate ship that does more exotic itineraries. Unless something changes, he expects to complete 3 years on Rhapsody.

He updates on this thread frequently, and this is what he has shared here.

Edited February 19, 2014 by DonnaK

DonnaK · February 19, 2014