New Current list of Cruise Directors (CD)

DonnaK · October 24, 2015

Adventure OTS - Dan Whitney started June 27 until Nov 7. then Mercedes Lafuente

Allure OTS - Bobby Brown started August 30 until Nov 6 or 8 exact date? then who?

Anthem OTS - Luke Aerosmith started September 15 (until when? Then who?) Dru Pavlov expects to be assigned to Anthem for a few contracts in 2016, but doesn't know his exact schedule yet.

Brilliance OTS - Clo O'Connor September 3 (For 2 months? for 4 months? Then who?)

Enchantment OTS - Marc Walker July 20 through November 20. Marc will return from his break on Jan 18 until May 3 (when the ship moves to Miami)(who is covering Marc's break Nov 20-Jan 18?)

Explorer OTS - Graham Seymour September 2 until January 28(Then who?)

Freedom OTS - Casey Peltier Aug 23 until sometime in January (exact date? Then who?)

Grandeur OTS - Jeff Arpin Aug 23 until November 11 (then who? Mitch has been reassigned to Voyager)

Harmony OTS - per Nick Weir's blog: Ken Rush has been announced as Harmony's CD until the ship reaches Barcelona on June 5, then a yet-to-be-named fulltime CD will take over (perhaps Jerome Sueur?)

Independence OTS - Ricky Matthews Sept 13 through November 21, then Leigh Xuereb returns November 21 for 4 months. (Joff Eaton will be the CD from early June until September 2016)

Jewel OTS - John Blair September 26 for 4 months

Legend OTS - Keith Williams started August 26 (until when? then who?)

Liberty OTS - Dru Pavlov July 16 until December 6, then Amy Fickert-Southgate. (Leigh Xuereb will be assigned to Liberty in August 2016)

Majesty OTS - Carlos Torres September 25 for 4 months (exact date? Then who?) (Marc Walker will be bringing the ship to Port Canaveral in May 2016, and then plans to retire shortly thereafter, after 20 years of service, to spend more time with his family)

Mariner OTS - Jamie Fentiman August 28 until sometime in November (exact date? Then who?)

Navigator OTS - John Perry July 5 until November 10, then Jerome Sueur November 10 until early January when John returns from his break

Oasis OTS - Drew Devine July 25 until November 21 or 28, then Ricky Matthews for 2 months

Ovation OTS - Joff Eaton March until the end of May 2016, then Gordon Whatman

Quantum OTS - Jimmy Rhodes July 20 until late November (then who? exact handover date?)

Radiance OTS - Steve Davis September 3 through December 3, then Joff Eaton for December and January

Rhapsody OTS - Mike Hunnerup July 19 until Nov 19 (transatlantic) then Michelle Pimentinha Oliveira for the Brazilian season. (Graham has been reassigned to Explorer and will not be returning to Rhapsody)

Serenade OTS - Carly Boileau September 15 through November 13, then Bobby Brown

Splendour OTS - Simona Ferraioulo July 11 for the rest of the European Season (Nov 28? then who?)

Vision OTS - Rich Edwards September 13 until January 21

Voyager OTS - Fang Lixin for the Asian season; then Mitch Merucci beginning October 22 for the Australian Season

Ken Rush works behind the scenes on the new ships, helping to provide smooth take-outs. In between, he works with the new builds at the shipyard, and he fills in on the larger/newer ships as CD during the regular CD's break

Gordon Whatman is retired, but will be filling-in from time-to-time if needed (see Ovation - May 2016)

Allan Brooks works for Celebrity in their corporate office.

Richard Spacey is a CD with Celebrity

Becky Thompson works for Celebrity Cruises in their corporate offices in Miami.

Dave Chapman is a CD with HAL

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 and sometimes works onboard as the port and shopping guide

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 Customer Service & People Manager at Momentum Services Ltd

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

Warren Allen (aka Warren Melhuish) lives in Ontario, Canada. He has retired from ship-life but still works on the stage.

DonnaK · October 24, 2015

Through November, there are lots of loose ends to tie up. Can anyone find out:

Allure: how much longer is Bobby onboard, and who will be following him?

Anthem: how much longer is Luke onboard, and who will be following him?

Brilliance: how much longer is Clo onboard, and who will be following her?

Enchantment: who will be covering Marc's break beginning Nov 20?

Grandeur: who will be following Jeff on Nov 11?

Legend: how long will Keith be onboard?

Mariner: who is following Jamie in November, and what is the exact handover date?

Oasis: what is the exact handover date between Drew and Ricky?

Quantum: who is following Jimmy in November, and what is the exact handover date?

Serenade: who is following Carly on Nov 13?

Splendour: who is following Simona, and is Nov 28 the correct handover date?

Edited October 24, 2015 by DonnaK

rafinmd · October 26, 2015

I just got back from the Allure M&M and asked Hugo about this. Somethings are consistent and some aren't. Saturday, Bobby Brown said he was on Allure for "about 9 days after the TA", and his next ship would be the Seranade. Today, Hugo told me Bobby was leaving November 15, and that Luke Arrowsmith would replace him.

With Carley Boileau leaving Seranade November 13, there seems to be a bit of a question about roughly November 13-15, perhaps Carley will stay over a bit or an Activities manager will fill in on one ship or the other.

While we now have a date for Luke to leave the Anthem, who follows him there is still a mystery.

Edited: Just to be sure, is there another Luke? Hugo clearly said Luke but I don't think he mentioned a surname.

Roy

Edited October 26, 2015 by rafinmd

Paulette3028 · October 26, 2015

Jamie Fentiman is not feeling well on Mariner, and may be sent home early. He seems to have hurt himself and in a good deal of pain/discomfort and been confined to bedrest for the past few days. This is coming directly from him.

So we will see what happens next on her.

Hoping he recovers well....his health is more important than a little time with a substitute CD.

DonnaK · October 26, 2015

Adventure OTS - Dan Whitney started June 27 until Nov 7. then Mercedes Lafuente

Allure OTS - Bobby Brown started August 30 until Nov 6, 8 or 15, then Luke Aerowsmith

Anthem OTS - Luke Aerowsmith started September 15 until November 10,date needs confirmation. then who? Dru Pavlov expects to be assigned to Anthem for a few contracts in 2016, but doesn't know his exact schedule yet.

Brilliance OTS - Clo O'Connor September 3 (For 2 months? for 4 months? Then who?)

Enchantment OTS - Marc Walker July 20 through November 20. Marc will return from his break on Jan 18 until May 3 (when the ship moves to Miami)(who is covering Marc's break Nov 20-Jan 18?)

Explorer OTS - Graham Seymour September 2 until January 28(Then who?)

Freedom OTS - Casey Peltier Aug 23 until sometime in January (exact date? Then who?)

Grandeur OTS - Jeff Arpin Aug 23 until November 11 (then who? Mitch has been reassigned to Voyager)

Harmony OTS - per Nick Weir's blog: Ken Rush has been announced as Harmony's CD until the ship reaches Barcelona on June 5, then a yet-to-be-named fulltime CD will take over (perhaps Jerome Sueur?)

Independence OTS - Ricky Matthews Sept 13 through November 21, then Leigh Xuereb returns November 21 for 4 months. (Joff Eaton will be the CD from early June until September 2016)

Jewel OTS - John Blair September 26 for 4 months

Legend OTS - Keith Williams started August 26 (until when? then who?)

Liberty OTS - Dru Pavlov July 16 until December 6, then Amy Fickert-Southgate. (Leigh Xuereb will be assigned to Liberty in August 2016)

Majesty OTS - Carlos Torres September 25 for 4 months (exact date? Then who?) (Marc Walker will be bringing the ship to Port Canaveral in May 2016, and then plans to retire shortly thereafter, after 20 years of service, to spend more time with his family)

Mariner OTS - Jamie Fentiman August 28 until sometime in November (Jamie is not feeling well and has been confined to bedrest. Presumably, the activities manager is covering. He may be leaving earlier than originally planned. (exact date? Then who?)

Navigator OTS - John Perry July 5 until November 10, then Jerome Sueur November 10 until early January when John returns from his break

Oasis OTS - Drew Devine July 25 until November 21 or 28, then Ricky Matthews for 2 months

Ovation OTS - Joff Eaton March until the end of May 2016, then Gordon Whatman

Quantum OTS - Jimmy Rhodes July 20 until late November (then who? exact handover date?)

Radiance OTS - Steve Davis September 3 through December 3, then Joff Eaton for December and January

Rhapsody OTS - Mike Hunnerup July 19 until Nov 19 (transatlantic) then Michelle Pimentinha Oliveira for the Brazilian season. (Graham has been reassigned to Explorer and will not be returning to Rhapsody)

Serenade OTS - Carly Boileau September 15 through November 13 or November 23 then Bobby Brown

Splendour OTS - Simona Ferraioulo July 11 for the rest of the European Season (Nov 28? then who?)

Vision OTS - Rich Edwards September 13 until January 21

Voyager OTS - Fang Lixin for the Asian season; then Mitch Merucci beginning October 22 for the Australian Season

Ken Rush works behind the scenes on the new ships, helping to provide smooth take-outs. In between, he works with the new builds at the shipyard, and he fills in on the larger/newer ships as CD during the regular CD's break

Gordon Whatman is retired, but will be filling-in from time-to-time if needed (see Ovation - May 2016)

Allan Brooks works for Celebrity in their corporate office.

Richard Spacey is a CD with Celebrity

Becky Thompson works for Celebrity Cruises in their corporate offices in Miami.

Dave Chapman is a CD with HAL

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 and sometimes works onboard as the port and shopping guide

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 Customer Service & People Manager at Momentum Services Ltd

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

Warren Allen (aka Warren Melhuish) lives in Ontario, Canada. He has retired from ship-life but still works on the stage.

Edited October 26, 2015 by DonnaK

DonnaK · October 26, 2015

I just got back from the Allure M&M and asked Hugo about this. Somethings are consistent and some aren't. Saturday, Bobby Brown said he was on Allure for "about 9 days after the TA", and his next ship would be the Seranade. Today, Hugo told me Bobby was leaving November 15, and that Luke Arrowsmith would replace him.

With Carley Boileau leaving Seranade November 13, there seems to be a bit of a question about roughly November 13-15, perhaps Carley will stay over a bit or an Activities manager will fill in on one ship or the other.

While we now have a date for Luke to leave the Anthem, who follows him there is still a mystery.

Edited: Just to be sure, is there another Luke? Hugo clearly said Luke but I don't think he mentioned a surname.

Roy

I only know of one Luke.

I put all the possible dates on the list because there are a few overlaps and conflicts. It'll be interesting to see how this all plays out!

Thanks for asking onboard and reporting the info back to us.

Jamie Fentiman is not feeling well on Mariner, and may be sent home early. He seems to have hurt himself and in a good deal of pain/discomfort and been confined to bedrest for the past few days. This is coming directly from him.

So we will see what happens next on her.

Hoping he recovers well....his health is more important than a little time with a substitute CD.

Thanks!

Edited October 26, 2015 by DonnaK

SnappyNappi · October 26, 2015

Hi Donna,

Long time stalker of this thread... first time posting. LOL!

We are sailing on Anthem in December. I am very curious about the comings and goings of the CD's that you have been discussing on Anthem once she reaches the U.S. I noticed that Jimmy Rhodes is leaving Quantum in November (without a firm end date) - what do you think the likelihood of him coming back to the NJ/NY market and taking on Anthem in November, after Luke leaves? Jimmy was at home in this market when he was on Explorer, he is extremely familiar with the Quantum Class and he doesn't appear to have any firm assignment beyond his term on Quantum... just throwing a though out there (or wishful thinking). :)

cocod08 · October 26, 2015

I just got back from the Allure M&M and asked Hugo about this. Somethings are consistent and some aren't. Saturday, Bobby Brown said he was on Allure for "about 9 days after the TA", and his next ship would be the Seranade. Today, Hugo told me Bobby was leaving November 15, and that Luke Arrowsmith would replace him.

So what is the word on Luke Arrowsmith? Just curious as I will be on the Allure Nov 29th

DonnaK · October 26, 2015

So what is the word on Luke Arrowsmith? Just curious as I will be on the Allure Nov 29th

I have no first hand experience, but based on reviews and posts to the CD thread, Luke seems to be well-liked. He's worked with Richard Spacey in the past, and is said to be a similarly-styled CD. Edited October 26, 2015 by DonnaK

boomerakl · October 26, 2015

So what is the word on Luke Arrowsmith? Just curious as I will be on the Allure Nov 29th

Luke was our CD on Voyager in early 2014. Was very good! Plenty of energy, which was surprising as it was the last sailing of that contract for him.

LeeBe · October 28, 2015

Just wondering if anyone knows where Bill Brunkhorst went to? He was the CD on one of my early Royal Caribbean cruises and thought he had a very nice low key demeanor. Have not seen him on any of the recent lists recently.

Thanks...

DonnaK · October 28, 2015

Just wondering if anyone knows where Bill Brunkhorst went to? He was the CD on one of my early Royal Caribbean cruises and thought he had a very nice low key demeanor. Have not seen him on any of the recent lists recently.

Thanks...

Bill was last seen on Splendour from May 4 until July 11 2015. He usually does fill-ins and is not part of a regular rotation on a particular ship, so it's unpredictable when he will have a new assignment.

You could try to search for him on social media and contact him to find out where/when he'll be next. (Edited to add: I could not find him)

Edited October 28, 2015 by DonnaK

LeeBe · October 28, 2015

Bill was last seen on Splendour from May 4 until July 11 2015. He usually does fill-ins and is not part of a regular rotation on a particular ship, so it's unpredictable when he will have a new assignment.

You could try to search for him on social media and contact him to find out where/when he'll be next. (Edited to add: I could not find him)

Thanks:)... I had just been looking at who is on which ship and realized that I had not seen his name in awhile. Good to know that he and cruise line did not part company!

DonnaK · October 28, 2015

Adventure OTS - Dan Whitney started June 27 until Nov 7. then Mercedes Lafuente

Allure OTS - Bobby Brown started August 30 until Nov 6, 8 or 15, then Luke Aerowsmith (Jerome Sueur posted on twitter that he is on Allure for the crossing, presumably en route to Navigator where he takes over as CD on Nov 10)

Anthem OTS - Luke Aerowsmith started September 15 until November 10, then Ken Rush (for 2 months?) (Dru Pavlov expects to be assigned to Anthem for a few contracts in 2016, but doesn't know his exact schedule yet)