tx121 Posted March 15, 2022 #1 Share Posted March 15, 2022 Has anyone noticed that the Cruise Directors on Royal Caribbean seem to be less visible (even before pandemic)? It seems like the only time I see them is to open the shows or for special events to introduce the officers. I feel like over the years they have become more administrative than actually front of the house, especially the older Cruise Directors. In my opinion, I think having them at more activities and being visible around the ship, makes a important connection to the guests. Former Cruise directors for RC like Richard Spacey, Jimmy Rhodes, Kirk Detweiler.....were always around for the events and seen around the ship. A current Cruise Director that still does this is Mike Szwajkowski. He was always seen around the ship and even hosted a game show called the Broken Link (which is hilarious) on our Odyssey Sailing last year. He is very polished and seems like the "old school" cruise Directors of the past. What is your opinion on Royals current Cruise Directors? Who is your favorite and were they "active" during your cruise? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gumshoe958 Posted March 15, 2022 #2 Share Posted March 15, 2022 They are important public ambassadors who act as the most visible link between Royal and its guests, but equally they have to manage the entertainment and activities staff. I imagine since the restart a lot of their time’s been taken up with ever-changing Covid protocols and rejigging schedules when performers and crew go sick or have to isolate. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ocean Boy Posted March 15, 2022 #3 Share Posted March 15, 2022 Mike Szwajkowski is awesome. He is the best CD I have encountered. Other than him I have found most CDs either full of themselves, annoying, or both. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
COCKYMARK Posted March 15, 2022 #4 Share Posted March 15, 2022 Graham Seymour is my all time favorite!! 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wannacruise81 Posted March 16, 2022 #5 Share Posted March 16, 2022 I agree. Carnivals cruise directors are more lively and present. They definitely earn their keep. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Norwich Cruiser Posted March 16, 2022 #6 Share Posted March 16, 2022 17 hours ago, Ocean Boy said: Mike Szwajkowski is awesome. He is the best CD I have encountered. Other than him I have found most CDs either full of themselves, annoying, or both. Definitely agree. Mike and Graham Seymour are definitely the best two cruise directors we’ve ever had. Mikes own “Fountains” show back in the day was superb. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare RCCL Fan Posted March 16, 2022 #7 Share Posted March 16, 2022 Interesting topic for sure. I have always found the cruise directors hit or miss.... like always. I have had some I've adored, like Spacey and Alan Brookes.... Rhodes was good too, as you mentioned. Lately it's been some that have been really nice. We had one named "Cece" on vision who was wonderful. I think she was just an activities manager filling in but we thought she was amazing. But our last few have been meh.... to blah.... the one I had on Allure last time ( Cory Rogers ) was my least favorite he was virtually non existent and his programming wasn't good. I've never been a huge fan of Ken Rush, but his energy level and being out and about and contributing to an awesome vacation is always consistent and reliable and I'll take him anytime over the last two I've had. I'm hoping for another good one soon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ocean Boy Posted March 16, 2022 #8 Share Posted March 16, 2022 6 hours ago, RCCL Fan said: Interesting topic for sure. I have always found the cruise directors hit or miss.... like always. I have had some I've adored, like Spacey and Alan Brookes.... Rhodes was good too, as you mentioned. Lately it's been some that have been really nice. We had one named "Cece" on vision who was wonderful. I think she was just an activities manager filling in but we thought she was amazing. But our last few have been meh.... to blah.... the one I had on Allure last time ( Cory Rogers ) was my least favorite he was virtually non existent and his programming wasn't good. I've never been a huge fan of Ken Rush, but his energy level and being out and about and contributing to an awesome vacation is always consistent and reliable and I'll take him anytime over the last two I've had. I'm hoping for another good one soon. I think Cory Rogers is awful. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SRF Posted March 16, 2022 #9 Share Posted March 16, 2022 There are a couple that I wish would just stay in their cabin. 😄 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MiniChunks Posted March 16, 2022 #10 Share Posted March 16, 2022 The Cruise Director has never been a large part of my vacation and I don't especially pay much attention to them. Bill Brunkhorst's awful radio/gentlemen's club DJ voice is still burned into my brain from a cruise I took in 2005, so I guess he left the biggest impression(not a good one). Leo Papa was entertaining, but I don't believe he is a CD any longer. Other than that I don't know that I could name another from the cruises we've taken. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare mac_tlc Posted March 16, 2022 #11 Share Posted March 16, 2022 On 3/15/2022 at 5:58 AM, Ocean Boy said: Mike Szwajkowski is awesome. He is the best CD I have encountered. Other than him I have found most CDs either full of themselves, annoying, or both. I agree. Had him for a Brilliance TA and it was great. On the larger ships, it is a lot more administrative. When we had Mike, it was just before he went to the Symphony. I don’t recall the exact numbers but he indicated that he would be going from supervising a staff of 60 or so to over 250. Only so many hours in a day so the demands on their time on the large ships must be dramatic. mac_tlc Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GEORGIEGIRL Posted March 16, 2022 #12 Share Posted March 16, 2022 Mark "Bing Bong" Walker (currently on Mariner) is awesome. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
homedepot124 Posted March 16, 2022 #13 Share Posted March 16, 2022 We are currently on Brilliance with John and Katrina Blair. They are simply the best! They always do a great job. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flamingos Posted March 16, 2022 #14 Share Posted March 16, 2022 (edited) There was a Welsh woman - short, dark hair - about 15 years ago that we really enjoyed. I love Marc Walker (BingBong). Edited March 16, 2022 by flamingos Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
time4u2go Posted March 16, 2022 #15 Share Posted March 16, 2022 On 3/15/2022 at 6:13 AM, COCKYMARK said: Graham Seymour is my all time favorite!! Same here. I love his morning shows. Seems like most of the others are just reading the cruise compass. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Fart Cruisers Posted March 16, 2022 #16 Share Posted March 16, 2022 I have noticed that overall the Cruise Directors on Royal Caribbean all seem to be much less annoying than CDs on NCL or Carnival. That said, my favorite Cruise Directors are the ones that I don't remember hearing at all. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CruiserLucas Posted March 16, 2022 #17 Share Posted March 16, 2022 We enjoyed our Royal cruise director mostly more than any of our past Carnival CD's. We did have one fun Carnival CD, but the rest were not our cup of tea. We enjoyed on this cruise that he came over the PA for important information, updates, activities, etc. And we saw him around the ship at stuff. But he didn't feel intrusive, it actually felt like he was directing the cruise and entertainment. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jasukkie Posted March 16, 2022 #18 Share Posted March 16, 2022 I could not tell you if there even was a CD on my post-restart cruises. Completely invisible. I did find the Canadian captain on Navigator to be endearing, can't remember his name now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare ReneeFLL Posted March 16, 2022 #19 Share Posted March 16, 2022 On 3/15/2022 at 4:49 AM, tx121 said: …A current Cruise Director that still does this is Mike Szwajkowski. He was always seen around the ship and even hosted a game show called the Broken Link (which is hilarious) on our Odyssey Sailing last year. He is very polished and seems like the "old school" cruise Directors of the past. What is your opinion on Royals current Cruise Directors? Who is your favorite and were they "active" during your cruise? We were also on some of Odyssey sailings last October and enjoyed Mike. He is now on the Wonder with us. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare mil76 Posted March 16, 2022 #20 Share Posted March 16, 2022 Sat next to a former cruise director at Chops last week on Navigator. Didn't get his name but he was an English guy from Birmingham, who now lives in Vegas. He couldn't believe they are still doing the same activities he was doing 10 years ago. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gumshoe958 Posted March 16, 2022 #21 Share Posted March 16, 2022 4 minutes ago, mil76 said: Sat next to a former cruise director at Chops last week on Navigator. Didn't get his name but he was an English guy from Birmingham, who now lives in Vegas. He couldn't believe they are still doing the same activities he was doing 10 years ago. I can. Hardly a day goes by on here without someone asking “Are they doing Quest” or “Are they doing Love & Marriage”. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BND Posted March 16, 2022 #22 Share Posted March 16, 2022 Some are more visible than others, but the reality is, a lot of their job is managing the entire entertainment staff. They can't be everywhere which is why you hear them making announcements more than you see them. It's especially hard on the large ships. Our cruises on Vision class, we've had lots of interaction with the CD because there are less venues and they can spend more time with guests. On Oasis class, we rarely see them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
time4u2go Posted March 16, 2022 #23 Share Posted March 16, 2022 Sounds like to some people, the ideal cruise director is one they never see, while to others, it's the one they see all the time. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Merion_Mom Posted March 16, 2022 #24 Share Posted March 16, 2022 Cruise Directors are like cruise food..............everyone has an opinion, and it's all subjective and personal. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Fart Cruisers Posted March 16, 2022 #25 Share Posted March 16, 2022 26 minutes ago, time4u2go said: Sounds like to some people, the ideal cruise director is one they never see, while to others, it's the one they see all the time. It's not so much seeing or not seeing them, it's hearing some of the annoying announcements. Bingo!. . Bingo!. . BINGO! . . . Don't miss the ART AUCTION!. . .Have we got a deal for you... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Please sign in to comment
You will be able to leave a comment after signing in
Sign In Now