UPDATED List of Current Cruise Directors (CD)

DonnaK · January 8, 2015

Adventure OTS - Mercedes LaFuente began November 23 until when? then who?

Allure OTS - Jerome Sueur October 5 until January 11, then Ken Rush for 1 week from January 11 until January 18, then Joff Eaton for 6 weeks from January 18 until March 1. (Who is filling in March 1 until April 19?) Jerome Sueur will return to do all of the European cruises (April 19 thru Oct 25) since he is fluent in 5 languages. He is the new regular CD on Allure until further notice.

Anthem OTS - Joff Eaton 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

Brilliance OTS - Rob McNally began on December 16 for 2 months. Clo O'Connor returns in mid-February.

Enchantment OTS - The newly promoted Thomas DeCell is filling-in from Nov 24 through January 19 Marc Walker will be returning January 19 until March 13. Who will be covering Marc's paternity leave March 13 through April 17? Marc returns from paternity leave on April 17 until May 18. Who is covering Marc's vacation May 18 through July 13? Marc returns from his vacation on July 13.

Explorer OTS - Leigh Xuereb returned Nov 1st. The ship is scheduled for drydock in March 2015. After the ship returns to service, who will be the CD (Leigh has been reassigned to Indy)?

Freedom OTS - Dru Pavlov from December 7 for approx. 2 months. Casey Pelter expects to return to Freedom after his break sometime in early-February.

Grandeur OTS - Mitch Merucci from October 16 until February 2015. Mitch expects to return from his break in mid-to-late April. Who will be filling in from February until April?

Independence OTS - Jamie Fentiman started November 10 through February 22, then Ricky Matthews February 22 through April 11, then Leigh Xuereb begins on April 11 for 4 months. Leigh is the new permanent CD on Indy!

Jewel OTS - Mike Hunnerup started Nov 8 (until when? then who?)

Legend OTS - Keith Williams started November 3 (until when? then who?)

Liberty OTS -Luke Aerowsmith began on September 28 until mid-February then who? Luke will return in April after a 2 month break.

Majesty OTS - Carlos Torres (need dates)

Mariner OTS - Ken Jones started November 27 until April(then who?)

Navigator OTS - John Perry started November 16 until March. He will be returning for another 4 month contract in May. *exact dates?* Who will be covering John's break from March through May?

Oasis OTS - Ricky Matthews November 29 until January 24, then Drew Devine returns January 24 through May 23, then Ricky Matthews returns May 23 through July 25

Quantum OTS - Jimmy Rhodes November 1 through early March (Gordon Whatman is filling-in for the Jan 3 sailing)

Radiance OTS - Amy Fickert started November 5 for approx. 4 months

Rhapsody OTS - Graham Seymour from October 3rd through Jan 28, 2015. Graham will return from his break for another contract in early April through early August. Who will be filling in beginning Jan 28 until Graham returns?

Serenade OTS - John and Katrina Blair started September 29 until when?

Splendour OTS - Michelle Pimentinha for the Brazilian season. Bobby Brown's next contract is on Splendour (need dates)

Vision OTS - Steve Davis returns December 12 for 4 months

Voyager OTS - Chris Brown (former activities manager) started December 7th until ship returns to Singapore in mid-March.

Carly Boileau has semi-retired, but will return as a fill-in CD from time-to-time

Rich Edwards is currently recovering from surgery and resting at home. He will be returning in April 2015.

Allan Brooks left Royal Caribbean to take a position in Celebrity corporate office.

Richard Spacey is a CD with Celebrity

Becky Thompson works for Celebrity Cruises in their corporate offices in Miami.

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 and sometimes works onboard as the port and shopping guide

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 now a CD with NCL

Paul Lancaster is no longer with RCI, and resides in England

Abel Jeney is International Manager at Kingswood Education and Adventure in London

Parker Cristan is living in Milwaukee, Wisconsin - staging/choreographing for local theater

Ashley Kerr - married and living in Vancouver BC, working as a marketing rep for a PR firm

Karen Maybury - has a consultant/pr/entertainment agency

Jannie Cloete - leading expeditions on small ships

Where is Warren Allen? (aka Warren Melhuish)

DonnaK · January 8, 2015

That's right, it was Mike Hunnerup!! Will Casey Pelter still be on in March this year?
Thanks Donna!

Yes, when he returns from his break in February, he should be on for 4 months.

cavachon · January 8, 2015

Any idea when Luke takes his break on Liberty? We sail in February, so kind of curious.

Anyone sail him with and can report?

And to comment on earlier posts --- Richard Spacey is hands-down my favorite CD ever. And I really liked Ricky Matthews. Felt kinda bad for him --- we sailed the first week kids were back in school this past Labor Day weekend. I'm sure the cruise before ours was packed and energetic, but our was...how shall I say...older. He tried so hard.

Luke is excellent. If you like Richard, you should like Luke. They are very similar and worked together before Luke was a CD.

Sent using the Cruise Critic forums app

DonnaK · January 8, 2015

Can someone sailing Allure this weekend report back to us confirming the CD change?

Does anyone know if Carlos is still on Majesty?

I would appreciate any help filling in the other blanks on the list!

Thanks!

counsdr · January 9, 2015

Yes, when he returns from his break in February, he should be on for 4 months.

Thanks Donna!

luvscruising2007 · January 9, 2015

Donna, I really appreciate all of the work you do to keep this thread updated. I have a question. I am watching for CD updates for the Serenade. It would seem that there should be a switch out soon. Have you heard anything? Are CD contracts 4 or 6 months? Thank you.

DonnaK · January 9, 2015

Donna, I really appreciate all of the work you do to keep this thread updated. I have a question. I am watching for CD updates for the Serenade. It would seem that there should be a switch out soon. Have you heard anything? Are CD contracts 4 or 6 months? Thank you.

CD contracts can vary. Some ships switch off between a regular CD who does 4 months on followed by 2 months off, and a fill in CD who does 2 month contracts.

Other ships aren't as predictable. Contracts can be anywhere from 6 weeks to 6 months, or even longer.

It is harder to get info on ships that are not homeported in the USA because not as many people report back to this thread from Asia or South America or Europe.

My guess (and it is only a guess) is that the Blairs are on Serenade for 4 months, and we will see a handover on Serenade at the end of January.

Hopefully someone can get some CD info from the ship for us.

If you are sailing on the Serenade, you can send RCI an email and ask who your CD will be. Just note that the info they provide in these emails are not always accurate. web_reservations@rccl.com

majarosh · January 9, 2015

Wouldn't ya know I'm sailing on LOS right after Luke leaves....anxiously waiting any news as to who will be filling in.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N900A using Forums mobile app

Raxter54 · January 9, 2015

Donna, I really appreciate all of the work you do to keep this thread updated. I have a question. I am watching for CD updates for the Serenade. It would seem that there should be a switch out soon. Have you heard anything? Are CD contracts 4 or 6 months? Thank you.

Ditto on the curiosity, we will be sailing on the Serenade at the end of February. I sent an e-mail to Royal Caribbean asking for info, will pass on anything I find out...

DonnaK · January 9, 2015

Ditto on the curiosity, we will be sailing on the Serenade at the end of February. I sent an e-mail to Royal Caribbean asking for info, will pass on anything I find out...

Just bear in mind that the info that comes from RCCL in reply to your email may not be accurate. They have a very poor record! However, it is better than nothing, and it gives us a starting point for figuring out the missing pieces.

norwane · January 10, 2015

On our last cruise (almost 5 years ago) we had Simeon Baker. That was my first cruise, so I don't have anything/anyone to compare him to. How did he rank with other CD's and how does he compare to Leigh? (who will be the CD when we cruise on IOS).

I know the CD won't make or break the cruise - I am just curious what others think.

Thanks!

DELTABLUE · January 10, 2015

I've cruised with Simmie a number of times and enjoyed the way he ran a cruise.:D Very pleasant and high energy.;)

DonnaK · January 10, 2015

On our last cruise (almost 5 years ago) we had Simeon Baker. That was my first cruise, so I don't have anything/anyone to compare him to. How did he rank with other CD's and how does he compare to Leigh? (who will be the CD when we cruise on IOS).
I know the CD won't make or break the cruise - I am just curious what others think.

Thanks!

I don't know about Simeon, but Leigh is one of the best CDs in the fleet. (My favorite!) Very approachable and low key, yet lots of fun. His is a great host, and has lots of activities scheduled. Great sense of humor.

retiredgram · January 11, 2015

We are going to be on the Grandeur from Jan. 24 thru Feb. 13 and wanted to know if he was going to be there and this was his response to my message on Facebook:

Hi Linda-my last cruise is the 3rd. Then Andre the AM takes over for one cruise then Dan Whitney comes on the 23rd to take over ⚓️ see you soon!

DELTABLUE · January 11, 2015

Any info on Dan Whitney? Not familiar with him at all.:confused: Always like to have a little advance skinny on our CD.;)

DonnaK · January 11, 2015

We are going to be on the Grandeur from Jan. 24 thru Feb. 13 and wanted to know if he was going to be there and this was his response to my message on Facebook:

Hi Linda-my last cruise is the 3rd. Then Andre the AM takes over for one cruise then Dan Whitney comes on the 23rd to take over ⚓️ see you soon!

Adventure OTS - Mercedes LaFuente began November 23 until when? then who?

Allure OTS - Jerome Sueur October 5 until January 11, then Ken Rush for 1 week from January 11 until January 18, then Joff Eaton for 6 weeks from January 18 until March 1. (Who is filling in March 1 until April 19?) Jerome Sueur will return to do all of the European cruises (April 19 thru Oct 25) since he is fluent in 5 languages. He is the new regular CD on Allure until further notice.

Anthem OTS - Joff Eaton 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

Brilliance OTS - Rob McNally began on December 16 for 2 months. Clo O'Connor returns in mid-February.

Enchantment OTS - The newly promoted Thomas DeCell is filling-in from Nov 24 through January 19 Marc Walker will be returning January 19 until March 13. Who will be covering Marc's paternity leave March 13 through April 17? Marc returns from paternity leave on April 17 until May 18. Who is covering Marc's vacation May 18 through July 13? Marc returns from his vacation on July 13.

Explorer OTS - Leigh Xuereb returned Nov 1st. The ship is scheduled for drydock in March 2015. After the ship returns to service, who will be the CD (Leigh has been reassigned to Indy)?

Freedom OTS - Dru Pavlov from December 7 for approx. 2 months. Casey Pelter expects to return to Freedom after his break sometime in early-February.

Grandeur OTS - Mitch Merucci from October 16 until February 13. Andre the Activities Manager takes over for the February 13th sailing only. Then, Dan Whitney from February 23 until mid-to-late April. Mitch expects to return from his break mid-to-late April.