SHONA BLAIR, NCL CRUISE DIRECTOR, Resigns

[cruiseguys2009]

Sadly, As of Saturday, April 23, 2011, One of the Best Cruise Directors, Shona Blair Yaws, is no longer with NCL and has resigned. Shona was the Cruise Director on the Norwegian Sun until it returned to Port Canaveral this week.

 

Many factors led her to this decision, but the most important was that the cruise line could not schedule Shona and her new husband, Gene, together on board (which is, by the way, an NCL corporate policy directive to accomodate couples), so she chose her husband over her career. Jerome and I applaud her for this decision.

Being that Shona Blair Yaws was one of the best Cruise Directors at NCL, she will be sorely missed by those of us who were fortunate to have cruised with her.

Bon Voyage Shona and Gene!

JW and Jerome

[2Cruise4Ever]

I am so disappointed to hear this. Shona was absolutely awesome!!! But, I applaud and support her decision. Hopefully she'll be back some day.

[Carnac767]

Bummer. We loved Shona.

[emcelh]

Bummer. We loved Shona.

 

I'll second that.

[vols_159]

She was my 2nd fav cruise director Matt baker is the best ive had! Shona will be missed hopefully its just a vacation for a few months and NCL and her will work things out.. Who took over for her as the CD of the SUN?

[Planer's Edge]

She was my 2nd fav cruise director Matt baker is the best ive had! Shona will be missed hopefully its just a vacation for a few months and NCL and her will work things out.. Who took over for her as the CD of the SUN?

 

In my humble opinion Shona replaced the best cruise director in the fleet on the Sun. Pedro Serra. ;)

 

PE

[vols_159]

In my humble opinion Shona replaced the best cruise director in the fleet on the Sun. Pedro Serra. ;)

 

PE

 

 

ive not had the honor to sail with pedro Im sure he is great!

[Planer's Edge]

ive not had the honor to sail with pedro Im sure he is great!

 

He is on the Epic right now. He is more of a Master of Ceremonies rather than an entertainer type CD.

 

PE

[DMH15]

We really enjoyed Pedro on our 14 day SA on the Sun. He always had time to chat. His wife is really nice too.

 

I'm sad, cuz Epic doesn't appeal to me. But I'm sure it was a good move for Pedro. Best wishes to him.

[cmdchiefthom]

Excuse me, but what is Gene's position aboard the ship, and what is Shona's? Being a Military guy, there is a certain protocol concerning married couples being in the same chain of command, especially when one is superior, or subordinate to the other, Makes for a bad situation.

[Azure Moon]

I'm sorry to hear she's resigned. She made cruising on the Dawn a fun time. Good luck to her in her next employment adventure.

Congratulations to her on her new husband! I hope they have a long and happy marriage.

[vols_159]

Excuse me, but what is Gene's position aboard the ship, and what is Shona's? Being a Military guy, there is a certain protocol concerning married couples being in the same chain of command, especially when one is superior, or subordinate to the other, Makes for a bad situation.

 

 

alot of companies have policys like u stated where family members cant be in the chain of command around other family memebers so compaines go as far as saying family cant work together your brother has a job here you cant get a job.. I have no clue what NCL policys are.. I was on the March 19 sailing with Shona as CD and she did a great job.. She will be missed

[Love Overboard]

Sounds like they should lower all the ship flags to half mass. Personally I don't get all the hype that goes on for cruiser directors.

[vols_159]

Sounds like they should lower all the ship flags to half mass. Personally I don't get all the hype that goes on for cruiser directors.

 

 

I like to go to the shows listen to different acts and entertainment thats all the CD responsiblities if you are someone who stays around the bar or the casino then you would care about who the cd was..

[Love Overboard]

And why is that, do they give you free drinks or something. 22 cruises and never really had any needfor them also find most of them annoying with all the crap they push like bingo announcements, crack it tickets and the list goes on.

 

I think the cruise lines could save some money (not much because I douubt that the job pays much) if they replaced them with recordings, after all, they use prerecordings for some of the acts that are introduced in the main theater anyway. JMO

[vols_159]

And why is that, do they give you free drinks or something. 22 cruises and never really had any needfor them also find most of them annoying with all the crap they push like bingo announcements, crack it tickets and the list goes on.

 

I think the cruise lines could save some money (not much because I douubt that the job pays much) if they replaced them with recordings, after all, they use prerecordings for some of the acts that are introduced in the main theater anyway. JMO

 

 

im sure the job pays very well prolly 6 figures easy just my guess tho.. I dont get to know the CD never been given anything by them.. I dont introduce myself or anything like that.. Cruise with matt baker he always keeps everyone having a great time! and since im on vaca i wanna have a great time!

[Planer's Edge]

And why is that, do they give you free drinks or something. 22 cruises and never really had any needfor them also find most of them annoying with all the crap they push like bingo announcements, crack it tickets and the list goes on.

 

I think the cruise lines could save some money (not much because I douubt that the job pays much) if they replaced them with recordings, after all, they use prerecordings for some of the acts that are introduced in the main theater anyway. JMO

 

Everything that goes into making your cruise experience enjoyable, except for food, is influenced by the Cruise Director. If all you think they do is make announcements, then you are seriously ill informed. They manage and schedule all of the entertainment/activities aboard the ship.

 

PE

[TSUmom]

I believe she was the CD on my very first cruise - Pride of America back in 2006...If so she was full of energy and made our first sail away a blast!!

[che5904]

I guess I kind of feel like Love Overboard, only I haven’t cruised that many, that I really don’t understand the hype or worry over the CD . When I check the dailies for most of the ships, the entertainment is pretty consistent. I’m not saying that these workers don’t work hard, as scheduling would be a big part of their job, I would believe, to make sure the activities and shows are booked so they are getting the best possible turn out.

So aside from the need to be an excellent public speaker and good at scheduling, what makes a “fantastic”, “awesome”, “loved” or “best” cruise director?

[Planer's Edge]

 

So aside from the need to be an excellent public speaker and good at scheduling, what makes a “fantastic”, “awesome”, “loved” or “best” cruise director?

It is very different considering who you talk to. To me there are three types of CD's. Entertainers (i.e. Matt Baker), Master of Ceremonies (i.e. Pedro Serra) and Managers/Delegators (i.e. Linda Minnikin in her early years). I think the third type is a dying breed because people expect a certain amount of interaction from the CD.

 

PE

[LynneL]

For the most part I don't remember too much who my cruise directors were nor does it influence the basis of which ship I sail. I do remember one that was excellent on one of my Carnival cruises. That particular guy was talented, entertaining, kept the flow going between acts, knew how to get people involved in activities and kept the pace going on things.

 

The best I can compare it to is if you go to a wedding & there is a great M.C. This person does the intros, knows how to get people up to dance right from the get-go, reads the crowd & knows what will keep them involved, when it's time to slow things down, and provides the perfect mix of songs keeping 80 year old Aunt Sally happy while appealing to 20 year old Alli. Sometimes if you consistently get good ones then you don't notice how well they do their job until you get one that is terrible....and you see a half empty dance floor & people sitting there thinking when is someone taking charge & getting this party started.

[cruiseguys2009]

Excuse me, but what is Gene's position aboard the ship, and what is Shona's? Being a Military guy, there is a certain protocol concerning married couples being in the same chain of command, especially when one is superior, or subordinate to the other, Makes for a bad situation.

 

Gene's position was an Headliner Entertainer/Singer. He was originally with Jean Ann Ryan productions, but in October, NCL cancelled her Lifetime Contract.

 

Gene is well known for his roles in Broadway Musicals in New York, and was the star of "Jekle and Hyde". I got a chance to see them together on our March 12th Cruise, and had a wonderful time. The job was a step down for him, but hey, I would be on that ship for the Love of My Life, especially if it were Shona!

 

For those of you who knew Shona, she was a very remarkable Cruise Director, all over the ship and had the magical touch to get everyone involved. Her years on Pride of Aloha were truly amazing to all who sailed her.

Yes there are other Cruise Directors that are fabulous too, but it is sad to see a Great One depart.

[PACRUISINNANA]

We were on the Dawn and were fortunate to have dinner with Shona. We had a blast. Sorry to hear of her leaving but understand her reason for leaving.

[Planer's Edge]

 

 

 

 

Yes there are other Cruise Directors that are fabulous too, but it is sad to see a Great One depart.

Yes, and there have been some very good ones depart for various reasons.

 

Shona Blair Yaws

Paul Baya

Jon Ibrahim

Jimmie Kovel

 

They will all be missed. But, then again it makes room for new ones to come along and join the ranks of Great NCL Cruise Directors.

 

PE

[mcguy79]

I guess I kind of feel like Love Overboard, only I haven’t cruised that many, that I really don’t understand the hype or worry over the CD . When I check the dailies for most of the ships, the entertainment is pretty consistent. I’m not saying that these workers don’t work hard, as scheduling would be a big part of their job, I would believe, to make sure the activities and shows are booked so they are getting the best possible turn out.

 

So aside from the need to be an excellent public speaker and good at scheduling, what makes a “fantastic”, “awesome”, “loved” or “best” cruise director?

 

I see you were on the same sailing of the Dawn as I was back in February 2009. John Ibrahim did a fantastic job as CD on that cruise, but I didn't fully appreciate it until I experienced 2 other so-so cruise directors on NCL.