Dottie Drake, Cruise Director

[MVPinBoynton]

"Because that's the name she has always used - her maiden name - Drake is her married name. I always knew her as Dottie Kalusa and just recently, it was listed as Drake. I guess Tom thought as long as they were married, she should use his name.:rolleyes:Arlene

 

It is strange, since the pre-cruise docs said Drake and then on board it was Kalusa. I guess she doesn't want people to make the connection with Tom.

[LHT28]

It is strange, since the pre-cruise docs said Drake and then on board it was Kalusa. I guess she doesn't want people to make the connection with Tom.

 

She was known as Kalusa long before she married Tom

so people may know her better by Kalusa

I remember her name from years ago

[MVPinBoynton]

She was known as Kalusa long before she married Tom

so people may know her better by Kalusa

I remember her name from years ago

 

Makes sense. I had only heard of her as Drake, since we are O newbies.

[sitraveler]

I spoke to Dottie on this. It's Kalusa, never Drake. O can't get it right.

[Arusha]

It's Dottie KULASA.

 

Here's her web page, part of Tom Drake's web site: http://www.comediantomdrake.com/dottie-kulasa-1/

[SuiteCruising]

I sailed with Dottie many years ago on Holland America and she is far and away the best CD I've ever encountered.

[2kiwis]

We have cruised with Dottie many times and she is our favourite CD:)

Nothing is too much for her and she is one of the hardest working CD's

[Floridiana]

I guess she doesn't want people to make the connection with Tom.

 

That's not it. She told us that she was married to Tom.

 

She is a great CD, warm demeanor and well organized, the ideal combination.

[wiks]

Dottie is just a "special" person and a great CD. We would sail year around if we could be on her ship (and if we could afford it of course). We have sailed with her many times--probably over 100 days or so and have never been disappointed--except when the Vikings lose to the Steelers--ARGHHHH!!!!

 

 

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[sammiedawg]

We met Dottie on Holland America, then again on Oceania. She is terrific, what an ambassador for Oceania. I don't get excited one way or the other for cruise directors but Dottie is the best. We also enjoy Tom.

[edgee]

I enjoyed sailing with and meeting both Dottie and Tom. Great people!However, her verbose frequent announcements were most annoying.

 

I noted in my comment card that her shilling for bingo games and constant rehashing of activity schedules makes for a "Carnivalization" of the Oceania experience.

[critics0001]

I agree with these assessments. On our cruise for the first 7 days I thought she was the best CD we ever had. Mingled with the guests constantly and was always seeing how she could be helpful. Then in the second week things went downhill. Pushing the bingo was just one of many negative aspects but the worse was her increasingly bad jokes. She was only outdone in that department by her husband Tom. We thought the entertainment on this cruise was the best except for Tom's sessions.

Even with these faults she was still better than many CDs.

[doowopbob]

I agree with these assessments. On our cruise for the first 7 days I thought she was the best CD we ever had. Mingled with the guests constantly and was always seeing how she could be helpful. Then in the second week things went downhill. Pushing the bingo was just one of many negative aspects but the worse was her increasingly bad jokes. She was only outdone in that department by her husband Tom. We thought the entertainment on this cruise was the best except for Tom's sessions.

Even with these faults she was still better than many CDs.

 

 

We have been on three cruises with Dottie and her husband, Tom. We found Dottie to be an excellent CD. The jokes she told before each show were very funny and very well received by the audience. We also never missed Tom's shows which were always very well attended. We found his humor refreshing and had everyone loudly laughing. I realize everyone has their own opinions about what is funny but judging from the audience reactions on all the shows from the three cruises you are in the minority.

[sitraveler]

Another Dottie fan.

 

Love her, like him.

[Jancruz]

We are sailing on Regatta now..Dottie and Tom on board disembarking Sunday, Nolan Dean and friend on board entertaining and a new CD Ray just boarded today..so we have 3 CD's at one time..

Jancruz1

[TERRIER1]

Dottie was one of the best CD we ever had. We like her husband just as well.

[SellaVee]

We are sailing on Regatta now..Dottie and Tom on board disembarking Sunday, Nolan Dean and friend on board entertaining and a new CD Ray just boarded today..so we have 3 CD's at one time..

Jancruz1

 

I call that favouritism! :D:D

[xrvlcruiser]

What is Ray's last name?

[potterhill]

We had Dottie on Regatta recently. She seems nice. Enjoyed the line dancing classes on sea days. Don't do trivia. I did find her 3-4X daily announcements annoying. Never encountered that before. That's why we get Currents.

Actually saw the Captain around the ship quite a bit but never her.

Went to see Tom once as I have heard so much about him. He is soo not funny. It was painful. I left before I started crying. 😉

I don't much care who the CD is. But I must say I would prefer anyone who didn't make multitudinous announcements.

 

Mo

 

 

 

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[azam71209]

I don't much care who the CD is. But I must say I would prefer anyone who didn't make multitudinous announcements.

 

Mo

 

 

 

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Agreed. The only more annoying thing was the CD who made really important announcements at the END of the show about the next day activities. It was a few days into the cruise before we realized that we were missing important announcements unless we stayed until the end of the show.

 

Mary

[Jancruz]

What is Ray's last name?

 

His last name is Michaels...he seems very personable we spent about half hour talking today...

Jancruz1

[xrvlcruiser]

Jancruz1,

 

Thanks!

 

Peggy

[ginabab]

Love, love, love Dottie

[CHUCKIE50]

Dottie's trivia games are the most fun. "You learn something new every day"

[CTLeeA]

We had Dottie on Regatta recently. She seems nice. Enjoyed the line dancing classes on sea days. Don't do trivia. I did find her 3-4X daily announcements annoying. Never encountered that before. That's why we get Currents.

Actually saw the Captain around the ship quite a bit but never her.

Went to see Tom once as I have heard so much about him. He is soo not funny. It was painful. I left before I started crying. 😉

I don't much care who the CD is. But I must say I would prefer anyone who didn't make multitudinous announcements.

 

Mo

 

 

 

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We totally agree with you regarding Tom Drake. We don't find hacks insulting Walmart and Post Office employees funny....we find them nasty and mean spirited...we also walked out of his show.