Who's your CD?

[cruzincurt]

Am I the only one who doesn't care who the CD is and can't name a single one from all of my cruises? Of course we meet and listen to them as they open and close shows and some are better than others but none seem critical to the enjoyment of our cruising.

 

Does the CD help make your cruise? Do they set the tone for their staff? Would you choose a cruise just because who the CD is going to be?

[ticktoneer]

Am I the only one who doesn't care who the CD is and can't name a single one from all of my cruises? Of course we meet and listen to them as they open and close shows and some are better than others but none seem critical to the enjoyment of our cruising.

 

Does the CD help make your cruise? Do they set the tone for their staff? Would you choose a cruise just because who the CD is going to be?

Yes the CD is a big part of my cruise as I join I a lot of the activities and entertainment and IMO the energy and drive comes from him/her.

 

I also feel they set the tone for how their staff work and perform.

 

I will try and find out who the CD will be when booking a cruise (esp. A last minute one) and take this into account if possible.

 

My favourite is Drew Devine and my least favourite Joff Eaton.

[G85 SS]

The Cruise Director doesn't make or break my cruise by any means. They do have a part in how much I enjoy 2 shows I ALWAYS go to though. Quest and the Love and Marriage Game Show.

 

You definitely need someone with a sense of humor and someone who is up beat to host those. And so far, all have done a good job.

[eemaxx]

Just got off the Explorer today and Lee from Australia was our CD. He was fabulous! I never even think about this ahead of time, since all of our CDs have been great. This was our 5th RC cruise and I have never been disappointed. They wouldn't get that job if they had dull personalities.

 

 

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[Langley Cruisers]

Don't care. A CD will not make or break my cruise... I would never give him/her that much power.

[Tall-Cruiser]

Yes the CD is a big part of my cruise as I join I a lot of the activities and entertainment and IMO the energy and drive comes from him/her.

 

I also feel they set the tone for how their staff work and perform.

 

I will try and find out who the CD will be when booking a cruise (esp. A last minute one) and take this into account if possible.

 

My favourite is Drew Devine and my least favourite Joff Eaton.

 

We had Drew Devine on Freedom OTS this past spring break and he is indeed one of very best we have sailed with. Very engaging and funny person. Hosted the best Quest game I have attended.

[denamo]

Am I the only one who doesn't care who the CD is and can't name a single one from all of my cruises? Of course we meet and listen to them as they open and close shows and some are better than others but none seem critical to the enjoyment of our cruising.

 

Does the CD help make your cruise? Do they set the tone for their staff? Would you choose a cruise just because who the CD is going to be?

 

I'm more in your camp and certainly wouldn't look to see who the CD is prior to booking a cruise. That being said, I will agree with a previous poster who mentioned that a CD does have an impact on activities and attitude of the staff. DH and I have noticed a direct correlation in how well activities run and who the CD is. Some are good managers of the cruise entertainment staff and others not so much. Definitely won't make or break my cruise experience.

[Ashland]

I could care less also..Several years ago did have a great husband & wife team (she had really curly hair) but even though still can't remember their names.

[cruzincurt]

Oops. Big fingers, tiny keys

[cruzincurt]

I do however remember several Captains and enjoyed sailing with them a number of times. Captain Johnny and Captain Zini were our favorites. But I wouldn't book a cruise just because they were going to be the Master.

 

I think they set the tone for the whole crew.

[yogimax]

Becky Thompson is the only one I remember!

[DonnaK]

I think it depends on the cruise, and on whether or not you are the kind of person that attends/enjoys the activities. For me, the CD makes a large impact on our enjoyment of the cruise. We travel with teens/young adults, and they like the evening activities/game shows. These can vary widely in quality depending on the CD, and many have very lame activities while others have hugely entertaining ones. We are very social on a cruise and like to participate, dance, go to shows, etc, and for these things, the CD definitely matters

 

The CD is important on cruises that have a lot of sea days, or that have cold/rainy/windy weather. There needs to be enough interesting and well-attended activities to keep people positively occupied, especially if they cannot use the pool or outdoor decks because of the weather. Even if you don't participate in any of the activities or attend any of the shows, you want your fellow cruisers to be happily engaged and not walking around the ship bored/complaining.

 

For example, we sailed on EX during New Years with a CD that was uninspiring and annoying. The itinerary wasn't so great (Port Canaveral and 2 days at Nassau because CocoCay was cancelled), and the weather was only nice on two days, and on the other 5 days it was too windy/cold to be outdoors. People were wandering around aimlessly, cluttering up usually quiet and peaceful areas of the ship, complaining about everything, etc. The weakness of the CD and the activities staff to keep these people entertained and to provide a fun atmosphere was very obvious.

 

We sailed on EX a few months later, with Richard Spacey as CD and Leigh Xuereb as activities director, and the difference was unbelievable. The same activities were so much better/funnier/more entertaining under their leadership compared to the previous CD. Plus, they provided additional offerings that weren't available on our previous cruise. No one was bored or complaining during the 4 sea days, and the activities were miles better than the way they were on the same ship a few months earlier.

 

And, we were on Allure during hurricane Irene. The outdoor decks were closed on several days due to high winds, and the itinerary had to be altered. Many onboard were concerned about their homes, and about their post cruise plans/flights that had been canceled. Allan Brooks did an awesome job keeping spirits high and maintaining a cheerful atmosphere onboard, and it really helped keep people's minds off their worries.

 

Then again, we just sailed on Jewel, on a very exhausting port intensive itinerary. Honestly, it wouldn't have matter to me if there was no CD because we were off the ship more than we were onboard, and we were too tired at night to attend various events or to get involved in activities as we usually do. (This is not a knock on the CD, as she was excellent, however we didn't avail ourselves of many of her offerings/activities and didn't interact with her as we have done with other CD's and activities staff)

[cb at sea]

Nope...you're not the only one! I don't care and can't remember who a CD is...or the Captain, or my waiter or room attendant.

When I'm in a hotel, I don't know who the manager is, nor do I really care. I don't "make friends" with the waitstaff in restaurants.....

 

I don't know why folks get so "chummy" with the staff on a ship, when they most likely don't in any other venue!

 

Now, don't think I don't appreciate the work the staff does....because that's not the case! Just like on land, good service is rewarded....I simply don't need to know their names or life story.

[Beachin2]

Could not care less.

[ryano]

We had Drew Devine on Freedom OTS this past spring break and he is indeed one of very best we have sailed with. Very engaging and funny person. Hosted the best Quest game I have attended.

 

Yes, Drews Quest and Love and Marriage show are awesome. So was his 70s show in the Centrum of Monarch.

 

Him and Graham are great. I could have done with or without "Dan Dan the Party Man".

 

None of them could make or break my cruise. I do feel the CD and the Captains attitude has a big influence on the crew in how they work and being happy with their job.

[texasgirl73]

I didn't like our CD, Ken Rush, at all but ultimately I found myself being entertained as he continued to annoy me. I felt like I was watching a brilliant actor play the role of the incredibly annoying cruise director.

[bouhunter]

I agree, who's my cd, I don't care at all whatsoever

[G85 SS]

I didn't like our CD, Ken Rush, at all but ultimately I found myself being entertained as he continued to annoy me. I felt like I was watching a brilliant actor play the role of the incredibly annoying cruise director.

 

I want to say he was my Cruise Director on Freedom of the Seas in 2011. And if it was him I can't formulate the same opinion about him.

[LittleBud'sMom]

I didn't like our CD, Ken Rush, at all but ultimately I found myself being entertained as he continued to annoy me. I felt like I was watching a brilliant actor play the role of the incredibly annoying cruise director.

 

Love your description and I really have to agree:). We've been on a couple cruises with him and he seems to have a very high opinion of himself.

[hazeleyez3]

Couldn't care less. Unless we go to the Love and Marriage Show, we don't even see him participate in anything.

[Langley Cruisers]

We've been on a couple cruises with him...

 

Same here; he was our CD on our very first cruise on Viking Serenade in 1993! He has certainly been around for many years.

[Ashland]

Yes, Drews Quest and Love and Marriage show are awesome. So was his 70s show in the Centrum of Monarch.

 

Him and Graham are great. I could have done with or without "Dan Dan the Party Man".

 

None of them could make or break my cruise. I do feel the CD and the Captains attitude has a big influence on the crew in how they work and being happy with their job.

"Captains attitude"...Have you been on a ship that the Captain had a bad attitude ?...In my many years of cruising can't say I have.

[JPRLHR]

We couldn't give a toss who the CD is. We never do shows or any of the activities so they have zero impact on our cruise experience and that goes for the captain too.

 

I just don't get the fascination some people have with these guys.

[mr walker]

As we tend to join in much of the entertainment we do take notice and remember who our CD is.

 

On our first and 4th cruises it was Bobby (& Becky Brown) & they were great.

 

Our other cruises were charters with specialised entertainment & show hosts so the CD was not as prominant.

[constable145]

Ken Rush is God's gift to the cruise director field. Just ask him... He will tell you.

 

I have had great cruise directors (Spacey) and horrible cds (kirk detweiller) but to say a horrible cd affects the enjoyment I have on board is idiotic. The

 

 

Love your description and I really have to agree:). We've been on a couple cruises with him and he seems to have a very high opinion of himself.

 

 

 

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