New UPDATED Cruise Director (CD) List - starting from April 2018 onwards

[Joe12]

Is Cuddy not Scottish too?

 

Cuddy lives in Scotland, but comes from England. His accent is a mix of Scottish & English. I've also heard mixed reviews about him, which surprised me as he was a popular AM.

[Joe12]

BTW - Do you know where Simona is going after her vacation? My guess is back to Jewel to replace Andrea in late-June/early-July.

[Joe12]

Surely I'm not the only person that believes that some countries do the CD thing better than others?

[BEENSAILING]

Cuddy lives in Scotland, but comes from England. His accent is a mix of Scottish & English. I've also heard mixed reviews about him, which surprised me as he was a popular AM.

 

I was on Navigator a few years ago. Cuddy was CD. I liked him!

[Joe12]

I was on Navigator a few years ago. Cuddy was CD. I liked him!

 

Good to hear. I've heard a lot of positive about him as CD & AM, but have read a few negative reviews of him before.

[cruzingduo]

I don't know where Clo is from, but we found her excellent also.

We thoroughly enjoyed Clo too.

[vickiw0318]

Following on from my discussion yesterday about English CD's, I say that Grant Martin needs to be promoted to CD ASAP. Of the two Scottish CD's we have at the moment, one is on Majesty (one of the very oldest ships) and the other is Bobby Brown. I wish that there was a really dynamic CD coming from here.

 

Here's a like from me on the idea of Grant's promotion.

[Merion_Mom]

 

Grandeur OTS - Mike Szwajkowski started April 14 for 2 months, then Bob Leininger returns mid-June until October 6, then Mitch Merucci from October 6 until December 1, followed by Bob starting December 1 for another 4 month contract.

 

Mike just told me that he is on Grandeur until June 2, then he has three weeks' vacation. He'll be back here then possibly/probably Enchantment, but a lot is up in the air.

[Rogueperson]

Mike just told me that he is on Grandeur until June 2, then he has three weeks' vacation. He'll be back here then possibly/probably Enchantment, but a lot is up in the air.

 

 

 

how was Mike as a CD? I heard good things on here.

 

 

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[Merion_Mom]

how was Mike as a CD? I heard good things on here.

 

 

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He is simply THE BEST.

 

 

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[Joe12]

Mike just told me that he is on Grandeur until June 2, then he has three weeks' vacation. He'll be back here then possibly/probably Enchantment, but a lot is up in the air.

 

For a great CD, I'm surprised that he is getting the small ships. He always worked on the big ones back in his day.

[Maticus22]

For a great CD, I'm surprised that he is getting the small ships. He always worked on the big ones back in his day.

 

Had him on my first cruise with Royal on Voyager out of Galveston. Still the very best I have had. Hoping he gets moved back to Galveston.

[Joe12]

Had him on my first cruise with Royal on Voyager out of Galveston. Still the very best I have had. Hoping he gets moved back to Galveston.

 

Liberty doesn't have a regular CD, so that could be Mike's next ship. He seemed popular back in the day on Voyager out of Galveston.

[ValerieJo]

Cuddy lives in Scotland, but comes from England. His accent is a mix of Scottish & English. I've also heard mixed reviews about him, which surprised me as he was a popular AM.

 

Had Cuddy on Navigator recently. Thought he was very good. Mixed well with the passengers. Highly visible. Entertaining.

[Joe12]

Had Cuddy on Navigator recently. Thought he was very good. Mixed well with the passengers. Highly visible. Entertaining.

 

Glad to hear that you liked Cuddy. It's looking likely that he will be your CD on Radiance in June.

[ace1zoe2]

Glad to hear that you liked Cuddy. It's looking likely that he will be your CD on Radiance in June.

 

 

 

We’ve had Cuddy on a prior cruise with Lee. Was excited to hear that he will be on our Alaska cruise this June.

 

 

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[Joe12]

We’ve had Cuddy on a prior cruise with Lee. Was excited to hear that he will be on our Alaska cruise this June.

 

 

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With Leigh Xuereb?

[ace1zoe2]

With Leigh Xuereb?

 

 

 

Yes. I believe he married and ended up leaving RCI.

 

 

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[Joe12]

Yes. I believe he married and ended up leaving RCI.

 

 

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Leigh got fired from RCI and went to Carnival. I think his girlfriend was an ice skater.

[internetwhiz]

Had him on my first cruise with Royal on Voyager out of Galveston. Still the very best I have had. Hoping he gets moved back to Galveston.

 

That may be why I know his name.

[Joe12]

Happy Friday! Thanks all for the updates!

Adventure OTS - WHO IS THE CURRENT CD? Mercedes LaFuentes?

Allure OTS - Jimmy Rhodes returns March 11 for 4 months, then Mitch Merucci returns mid-July for 2 months.

 

Anthem OTS - Clo O'Connor until May 13, then Dennis Charles returns May 13 for 4 months.

Brilliance OTS - Abe Hughes started March 31 until early-July, then Clo O'Connor will be CD from July until September 1. (need July handover date)

 

Empress OTS - Hugo Arenas began November 10 for 4 months. (then who?)

Enchantment OTS - Bobby Broughton returned April 6 for 4 months. Mike Szwajkowski is rumored to be on EN for his next contract, but no confirmation yet.

Explorer OTS - Graham Seymour returned February 9 (until when?). Topi Ylönen returns June 8 until July 27. Graham is wanted to be kept on Explorer by the HD, so may be regular CD again for the rest of 2018.

Freedom OTS - Drew Devine starts March 17 until July 28, then Topi Ylönen returns July 28 until September 29, followed by Drew September 29 for 4 months.

Grandeur OTS - Mike Szwajkowski started April 14 for 2 months, then Bob Leininger returns June 2 until October 6, then Mitch Merucci from October 6 until December 1, followed by Bob starting December 1 for another 4 month contract. Mike is reported to be leaving June 2 for a 3 week vacation then returning. Any updates to this info?

Harmony OTS - Dru Pavlov returned April 21 until August 4, then Marc Walker returns August 4 until October 6.

Independence OTS - Tim Connor started March 15 until May 28, then Joff Eaton returns May 28 for the Summer season for 4 months.

Jewel OTS - Andrea Olivieri started February 25. (for 4 months?)

Liberty OTS - Mitch Merucci joined April 15 for an emergency fill-in. (until when? then who?)

Majesty OTS - Susan Adams took over February 26. (for 4 months?)

Mariner OTS - Ricky Matthews until July, then Carlos Torres joins in July for 2 months, then Ricky returns in September for 4 months.

Navigator OTS - Simona Ferraiuolo took over March 25 until May 6, then Rob McNally starts May 6 until August, then Cuddy Cudworth returns in August.

Oasis OTS - Jeff Arpin returned early March for 2 months, followed by Dan Whitney early May for 4 months. (need dates)

Ovation OTS - Mike Hunnerup returned March 23 (for 4 months?).

Quantum OTS - Paul Rutter starts April 9 for 2 months and again in the Fall for 3 months. Who will fill in for Paul's vacation? Chris Brown?

Radiance OTS - Ken Jones joined April 17 for 2 months, then Cuddy Cudworth starts late-May/early-June for 2 months.

 

Rhapsody OTS - Elvis Pinto returned early February for 4 months. (then who?)

 

Serenade OTS - Carly Boileau returns February 5 (until when? then who?)

 

Symphony OTS - Michele Scarpato joined March 11 and will still be onboard in mid-July. Bobby Brown will eventually return and be CD for the TA. Marc Walker takes over November 9 in Miami until February 16. (He joins Oct 23 for a 17 day handover)

 

Vision OTS - Steve Davis returned April 6 until August 11.

 

Voyager OTS - Carlos Torres began late-January until late-May.

Where is Patricio Honores?

Jerome Sueur has reportedly left RCI. He is getting married soon.

Casey Pelter is now working shoreside for Celebrity as Manager of Entertainment.

Jamie Fentiman has been cleared to return, although does not have an assignment yet.

Graham Seymour is stepping back from cruise life after July 28, 2017 except for occasional fill-ins. (Graham is filling in on Explorer from Feb 9.)

Rich Edwards has unfortunately passed away in June 2017. RIP Rich.

John Perry has left Royal and is now Operations Manager at Hyatt Hotels (per LinkedIn)

Ken Rush works at corporate in Miami as RCI's Director of Entertainment. He may occasionally fill-in as CD

Amy Fickert-Southgate has taken a job shoreside as of June 8

Luke Aerowsmith is working at the corporate office in London

Gordon Whatman is retired, but will be filling-in from time-to-time if needed.

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

Leo Papa is a Product Manager at Tauck Corp in Connecticut

Anna Bass is a make-up artist

João Pereira has returned to Royal Caribbean and is now the Cruise Sales Manager on the Liberty of the Seas.

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 - Has sold the Tiddly and is now a radio presenter.

Kieron Buffrey - CD with Viking River Cruises and recently became a father to a lovely baby boy

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 SilverSeas out of Italy

Paul Lancaster is no longer with RCI, and resides in England

Abel Jeney is now with The World - Luxury Residence at Sea

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

Thomas DeCell is no longer with RCI

Leigh Xuereb and his AM Frankie Portera are CD's for Carnival

[Joe12]

Still keeping my fingers crossed that they change the CD for the Symphony Transatlantic by early August (final decision date) as I really want to take that sailing. I wish that they promoted Darryl, Chris or Frankie and they could have been CD for SY. Or a dynamic current CD such as Tim, Abe, Joff or Marc. Sorry if I keep talking about this but I had planned to do that sailing for a while and was really excited only for that excitement to be dashed.

Edited April 27, 2018 by Joe12

[Gtxdi2]

Will Jimmy Rhodes return to the Allure after Mitch Merucci’s 2 months?

 

 

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[Joe12]

Will Jimmy Rhodes return to the Allure after Mitch Merucci’s 2 months?

 

 

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No confirmation, but it seems likely.

[Joe12]

Good news for fans of Jamie Fentiman - he is returning to the fleet and will be on Serenade of the Seas this year.