UPDATED List of Current Cruise Directors (CD)

PGHProducer · June 12, 2013

I have nothing to add to this list except to say how excited I am to be cruising again with Leigh and hopefully his assistant Frank on the Explorer in 2 weeks! They're fantastic together! I never would have imagined myself saying that the CD can really add to the cruise experience until I cruised with Leigh as the CD last summer.

You need to find out about his vacation! I REALLY want to cruise with Leigh in October, and I hope he's back in time for my sailing. He was the activities manager a few years ago on Liberty of the Seas with Mike Swajkowski as the CD. They were a great team, and I'm so happy Leigh was promoted!

ginrom · June 12, 2013

You need to find out about his vacation! I REALLY want to cruise with Leigh in October, and I hope he's back in time for my sailing. He was the activities manager a few years ago on Liberty of the Seas with Mike Swajkowski as the CD. They were a great team, and I'm so happy Leigh was promoted!

I'll make sure to ask him when he's leaving and will post it when I get back.

Iamthesea · June 12, 2013

Grandeur OTS - John Perry is filling in for Jimmy Rhodes, who was moved over to Mariner as an emergency fill-in there. Jimmy should be back as the regular CD of Grandeur soon (exact date unknown)

Grandeur OTS - unknown who will be CD when the ship returns to service on July 12

The above is incorrect. John IS the CD for the Grandeur. He is with the ship (as are all crew members) as it is being repaired and will remain onboard as CD for the remainder of his contract. I just had lunch with his mother. ;) John's parents will join the ship for it's Bermuda run after the ship returns to service in July. :)

Edited June 12, 2013 by Iamthesea

June 12, 2013

I have nothing to add to this list except to say how excited I am to be cruising again with Leigh and hopefully his assistant Frank on the Explorer in 2 weeks! They're fantastic together! I never would have imagined myself saying that the CD can really add to the cruise experience until I cruised with Leigh as the CD last summer.

I agree. They were on the Explorer in April and we were very impressed. Leigh was the first CD in a long time who acturally used his own material. He was original and funny. So many others lift material off of the internet. They tell jokes that have been making the email rounds.

DonnaK · June 12, 2013

The above is incorrect. John IS the CD for the Grandeur. He is with the ship (as are all crew members) as it is being repaired and will remain onboard as CD for the remainder of his contract. I just had lunch with his mother. ;) John's parents will join the ship for it's Bermuda run after the ship returns to service in July. :)

Adventure OTS - Clo O'Connor started April 21. Drew Devine will be taking over CD duties on August 4. (He will be on the ship 2 weeks prior for the handover period)

Allure OTS - Ken Rush started April 21 for 4 months (need exact date), then Allan Brooks

Brilliance OTS - Keith Willams through July 16. Steve Davis returns from his break on July 16th and will take over as regular CD of Brilliance through mid-November when the ship goes back to Tampa.

Enchantment OTS - John Blair started Jan 14, then Marc Walker from June 7 - Nov. 25

Explorer OTS - Leigh Xuereb returned as the regular CD of Explorer on April 7. John Blair will be covering Leigh's break in early August through early October (exact dates are not yet known)

Freedom OTS - Richard Spacey began as the regular CD of Freedom on April 14 (it is not yet known when his break starts, and which CD will be filling in for him)

Grandeur OTS - John Perry is with the ship (as are all crew members) as it is being repaired and will remain onboard as CD once the ship returns to service

Independence OTS - Joff Eaton returns May 26 through September 7.

Jewel OTS - Carly Boileau from March 21 through sometime in July (exact date unknown), then Dennis Charles (Dennis Sciortino) from sometime in July through sometime in Sept (exact dates unknown), then Carly is back in September (exact date unknown)

Legend OTS - Mercedes Fuentes started May 4 (until when?)

Liberty OTS - Rich Edwards started March 21 (until when?)

Majesty OTS - Mitch Merucci started on May 17 for 8 weeks (exact date? Then who?)

Mariner OTS - Jimmy Rhodes started May 19 (until when?)

Navigator OTS - Simona Ferraiuolo started April 21 (until when?)

Oasis OTS - Amy Fickert returned from her break on June 1 through Sept 21, then Ricky Matthews September 21 through November 23

Quantum OTS - Ken Rush November 2, 2014 until January 2015

Radiance OTS - Paul Rutter for the Alaska season, May 17 through Sept 6.

Rhapsody OTS - Graham Seymour for the Alaska season beginning May 31

Serenade OTS - Casey Peltier April 8 through July 30, then Ricky Matthews July 30 though September 16

Splendour OTS - Anthony Richards started May 18, then João Pereira for the South American season

Vision OTS - Topi Ylönen from Finland started May 11

Voyager OTS - Lixin Fang began March 23 for the Asian season

Edited June 13, 2013 by DonnaK

pfm18 · June 13, 2013

I'm on Liberty in July. Will be interesting to find out when Rich Edwards has his break and who his replacement is.

truffles2 · June 13, 2013

subscribing.....and wishing for Richard Spacey in Sept....and knowing we probably won't get him. I've heard such good things and we have never had him before.

Donna, thanks for keeping the list.

Edited June 13, 2013 by truffles2

pfm18 · June 13, 2013

He was probably a member of the activities staff who filled-in as CD for a cruise or two, and then reverted back to his original position. He hasn't been a CD with RCI for as long as I've been maintaining the list (about 18 months).

It was more than 18 months ago but my guess is that he was just a stand in director. Shame as he was a fantastic director, not as good as Mercedes Fuentes though.

DonnaK · June 13, 2013

OK, here is the info many of you have been waiting for. Richards Spacey posted this on Twitter today:

Richard Spacey @ richardspacey

3 more weeks and then back to my lovely family and friends back home.

So that means his break starts July 7. And, then he should be back at the beginning of September, unless something unexpected happens to change things.

Edited June 13, 2013 by DonnaK

DonnaK · June 13, 2013

Adventure OTS - Clo O'Connor started April 21. Drew Devine will be taking over CD duties on August 4. (He will be on the ship 2 weeks prior for the handover period)

Allure OTS - Ken Rush started April 21 for 4 months (need exact date), then Allan Brooks

Brilliance OTS - Keith Willams through July 16. Steve Davis returns from his break on July 16th and will take over as regular CD of Brilliance through mid-November when the ship goes back to Tampa.

Enchantment OTS - John Blair started Jan 14, then Marc Walker from June 7 - Nov. 25

Explorer OTS - Leigh Xuereb returned as the regular CD of Explorer on April 7. John Blair will be covering Leigh's break in early August through early October (exact dates are not yet known)

Freedom OTS - Richard Spacey began as the regular CD of Freedom on April 14 until July 7. (it is not yet known which CD will be filling in for him) Richard should be returning at the beginning of September, unless something unexpected happens to change things.

Grandeur OTS - John Perry is with the ship (as are all crew members) as it is being repaired and will remain onboard as CD once the ship returns to service

Independence OTS - Joff Eaton returns May 26 through September 7.

Jewel OTS - Carly Boileau from March 21 through sometime in July (exact date unknown), then Dennis Charles (Dennis Sciortino) from sometime in July through sometime in Sept (exact dates unknown), then Carly is back in September (exact date unknown)

Legend OTS - Mercedes Fuentes started May 4 (until when?)

Liberty OTS - Rich Edwards started March 21 (until when?)

Majesty OTS - Mitch Merucci started on May 17 for 8 weeks (exact date? Then who?)

Mariner OTS - Jimmy Rhodes started May 19 (until when?)

Navigator OTS - Simona Ferraiuolo started April 21 (until when?)

Oasis OTS - Amy Fickert returned from her break on June 1 through Sept 21, then Ricky Matthews September 21 through November 23

Quantum OTS - Ken Rush November 2, 2014 until January 2015

Radiance OTS - Paul Rutter for the Alaska season, May 17 through Sept 6.

Rhapsody OTS - Graham Seymour for the Alaska season beginning May 31

Serenade OTS - Casey Peltier April 8 through July 30, then Ricky Matthews July 30 though September 16

Splendour OTS - Anthony Richards started May 18, then João Pereira for the South American season

Vision OTS - Topi Ylönen from Finland started May 11

Voyager OTS - Lixin Fang began March 23 for the Asian season

DonnaK · June 13, 2013

subscribing.....and wishing for Richard Spacey in Sept....and knowing we probably won't get him. I've heard such good things and we have never had him before.

Donna, thanks for keeping the list.

Your cruise will likely be his first sailing after he returns from his break!

truffles2 · June 13, 2013

Your cruise will likely be his first sailing after he returns from his break!

Oh, Goody. Fingers crossed.

Thanks!

MAHA · June 13, 2013

Anyone have any experience with John Perry as CD? We will be sailing Grandeur the end of August into early September. Does anyone know the dates he will be CD?

Thanks!

Mary Anne

DonnaK · June 14, 2013