UPDATED List of Current Cruise Directors (CD)

wallygator · August 29, 2014

Here is a email I received early this morning regarding the Explorer Repo cruise November 1st.

I will be back on that date for that cruise so you are stuck with me.

I will see you there.

Cheers,

Leigh Xuereb

Cruise Director

dsvd79 · August 29, 2014

Anyone know anything about the Majesty CD Michelle Pimentinha?

DonnaK · August 29, 2014

According to his FB, Marc will be back on Enchantment tomorrow. His wife is feeling much better :)

Adventure OTS - Rob McNally May 4 until early September (need exact handover date. Aug 29? Aug 31? or Sept 12?), then Bobby Brown until mid December.

Allure OTS - Ken Rush from Aug 17 for 2 months (Ken is moving over to Quantum in mid-October) Allan Brooks expects to be back on Allure for one more contract before moving over to Quantum.

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 - Dru Pavlov began on June 28. Until when? Then who?

Enchantment OTS - Marc Walker from July 12 until Nov 17, then Mitch Merucci from Nov 17 until Jan 19.

Explorer OTS - Keith Williams August 28 until Nov 1. Leigh Xuereb returns to Explorer on Nov 1st for the repositioning

Freedom OTS - Casey Pelter started Aug 10 (for 2 months? 4 months?)

Grandeur OTS - Ricky Matthews from July 18 until October 16, then Rich Edwards from October 16 until February 2015 (Schedule has been confirmed by Rich)

Independence OTS - Joff Eaton May 17 through October 25. Then who? (This is Joff's last contract on Indy - after his vacation, he is headed to the shipyard mid-March to prepare for taking out Anthem on April 22, 2015).

Jewel OTS - Dennis Charles started July 12 for 2 months, followed by Carly Boileau for 4 months, then Dennis for 2 more months (need exact handover dates)

Legend OTS - Topi Ylönen started in July. Keith Williams starts in November.

Liberty OTS -Gordon Whatman August 24 to September 28. (Then will Jerome Sueur return? For how long?)

Majesty OTS - Michelle Pimentinha (need dates)

Mariner OTS - Dan Whitney started July 30 (until when, then who?)

Navigator OTS - Mitch Merucci Aug 17 until Oct 19, then John Perry for 4 months .

Oasis OTS - Drew Devine July 19 through November 15, then Ricky Matthews starts November 15

Quantum OTS - Jimmy Rhodes will be taking out the ship and continuing on as its regular CD for 4 months, followed by Allan Brooks for 2 months. Ken Rush will also be onboard for the first 6-8 weeks doing behind the scenes duties to provide a smooth take out. (Zach Stratford will be the Activities Manager)

Radiance OTS - Mike Hunnerup from August 22 through November 5, then Amy Fickert returns November 5 for approx. 4 months

Rhapsody OTS - Ken Jones from August 1 for approximately 8 weeks, then Graham Seymour will return at the end of September/beginning of October.

Serenade OTS - Mercedes Lafuente started June 28 *John and Katrina Blair are returning in November (needs confirmation)

Splendour OTS - Bill Brunkhorst for the European Season

Vision OTS - Steve Davis started on June 9 until October 4th, then Paul Rutter October 4 through December 12, then Steve Davis returns for 4 months

Voyager OTS - Lixin Fang began April 10 for the Asian season; Chris Brown (former activities manager) begins November 25 for the repositioning and for the Australian season. (Darryl Dyball will be activities manager beginning mid-September)

Richard Spacey is now Manager of Entertainment, Activities and Family Strategy Development for Celebrity Cruises in their corporate offices in Miami, working alongside Becky Thompson. Richard will be CD on the Celebrity Summit Oct 21 - Nov 29, and it seems he is going back to ship life on Celebrity.

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

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 · August 29, 2014

Here is a email I received early this morning regarding the Explorer Repo cruise November 1st.

I will be back on that date for that cruise so you are stuck with me.

I will see you there.

Cheers,

Leigh Xuereb

Cruise Director

Thank you! (What email address did you use to get a response from Leigh directly?!)

Arzeena · August 29, 2014

Here is a email I received early this morning regarding the Explorer Repo cruise November 1st.

I will be back on that date for that cruise so you are stuck with me.

I will see you there.

Cheers,

Leigh Xuereb

Cruise Director

:( :(:( honestly hope not! Nothing against him, but it would be refreshing to have a different one. And without Erky he seemed a bit lost on our August cruise.

Edited August 29, 2014 by Arzeena

DonnaK · August 29, 2014

:( :(:( honestly hope not! Nothing against him, but it would be refreshing to have a different one. And without Erky he seemed a bit lost on our August cruise.

Really? I think Leigh is the best CD in the fleet! (maybe it was an off week for him?)

Yorkvillain · August 29, 2014

Really? I think Leigh is the best CD in the fleet! (maybe it was an off week for him?)

Agreed. Leigh is one of our favorites.

Arzeena · August 29, 2014

Really? I think Leigh is the best CD in the fleet! (maybe it was an off week for him?)

He is not bad, but have seen far better ones. But this is only my opinion. Perhaps he was missing his buddy Erky!;):D

Havin'fun · August 29, 2014

We had Leigh and Erky last October, they were hilarious. Erky posted a few of his wedding photos on that other site on his page.

Hope everyone enjoys the holiday!

RenieRaider · August 30, 2014

So who will be the CD on the Quantum in March of 2015?

DonnaK · August 30, 2014

So who will be the CD on the Quantum in March of 2015?

Well, the info we have now is that Jimmy Rhodes will be on for 4 months (Nov thru Feb) and then Allan Brooks will be on for 2 months (March and April). Exact dates unknown, and things may change.

wallygator · August 30, 2014

Thank you! (What email address did you use to get a response from Leigh directly?!)

Donna he is now on vacation, he left when the ship returned yesterday.:rolleyes:

TBone2K · August 30, 2014

According to the Frankie (?) who just left as temporary CD on Enchantment, another CD is taking over for Marc due to personal issues.

Frankie will be back to AM on Oasis in October after his vacation.

DonnaK · August 30, 2014

According to the Frankie (?) who just left as temporary CD on Enchantment, another CD is taking over for Marc due to personal issues.

Frankie will be back to AM on Oasis in October after his vacation.

According to Marc's FB page, he is back onboard Enchantment now, so I'm guessing that this is the most current info???

Maybe someone can confirm from the ship?

Edited August 30, 2014 by DonnaK

DonnaK · August 30, 2014

Help wanted (preferably info obtained from the CD themselves, or from the activities staff on the ship):

Can someone confirm the CD handover between Rob and Bobby on Adventure?

Is Dru still on Brilliance? (2 month contract would have ended by now)

Is Marc indeed back on Enchantment now?

Who is following Casey on Freedom? Handover date?

Who is following Joff on Indy?

Handover date between Dennis and Carly on Jewel?

Is Jerome returning to Liberty at the end of Sept?

How long will Michelle be on Majesty?

Is Mercedes remaining on Serenade until the Blairs arrive in November, or will there be an interim CD?

Edited August 30, 2014 by DonnaK

mommabean · August 30, 2014

Marc said he IS back to work on EN yesterday.

allentownahoy · August 31, 2014

I know Erky just got married and plans to be a pilot in Turkey but does anyone know if he is done with cruising now or will do another stint first. Would love to see him again on the Explorer.

Clarea · August 31, 2014

I know Erky just got married and plans to be a pilot in Turkey but does anyone know if he is done with cruising now or will do another stint first. Would love to see him again on the Explorer.

He is planning to come back to Explorer for at least one more contract.

DonnaK · August 31, 2014

Still looking for updates that will help to fill in the blanks on the list.

Do any returning cruisers have info for us from the ship?

Edited August 31, 2014 by DonnaK

Trogon-TinTin · September 1, 2014

Spoke to Joff last week and he said that no announcement had been made as who is following him on Indy when he finishes on Oct 25. He didn't know when it would be announced. Not sure that helps much.

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DonnaK · September 1, 2014