watson50 Posted November 6, 2019 #1601 Share Posted November 6, 2019 14 hours ago, DaniDanielle said: Unfortunately, we had Leigh and Erky from Turkey years ago and they spoiled us! They were the best. Also, Abe Hughes was good. Sorry to see them go. they were the absolute best! A dynamic duo that hasn't been matched anywhere. Spoiled is a understatement Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garnetpalmetto Posted November 6, 2019 #1602 Share Posted November 6, 2019 Per John&Lala, Ricky is off Symphony and Mike Szwajkowski is back on. They handed off on 11/2/19. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrsKC08 Posted November 6, 2019 #1603 Share Posted November 6, 2019 22 hours ago, mcgore83 said: Thoughts on Jimmy Rhodes? Not a fan at all! I've seen many people talk about who they thought were the best. For us, personally we felt like Richard Spacey was the absolute best cruise director. I think about him often (glad I follow him on social media), and miss him every time we are on a cruise. He should have bee the director of training for all CD's 😉 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Binks79 Posted November 6, 2019 #1604 Share Posted November 6, 2019 On 11/4/2019 at 9:18 PM, khardest said: How was he..we are going Nov 18 Rob was funny and pleasant. haven't much to compare him to though as we are not very experienced cruisers! Enjoy Brilliance Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DELTABLUE Posted November 6, 2019 #1605 Share Posted November 6, 2019 garnetpalmetto...Got it! Thanx. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tylerz48 Posted November 9, 2019 #1606 Share Posted November 9, 2019 How is Mitch the CD of Anthem? We had Dennis last May...a lot of people liked him but his humor just didn’t work. I know he was trying to be funny a lot of the time, but it came through as obnoxious. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gtxdi2 Posted November 9, 2019 #1607 Share Posted November 9, 2019 Anyone know who is replacing Mitch on the Anthem in January? Paul Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paulette3028 Posted November 9, 2019 #1608 Share Posted November 9, 2019 On 11/5/2019 at 6:31 PM, DaniDanielle said: Unfortunately, we had Leigh and Erky from Turkey years ago and they spoiled us! They were the best. Also, Abe Hughes was good. Sorry to see them go. We have had many different CD's over our 28 cruises. Some we have enjoyed more than others....all are different. One or two 'spoiled' us in personal ways and for that we had a very special cruise with them....every CD brings with them different styles and some will be loved by cruises while other cruises will hate that same person on that same cruise. NEVER however has an experience we have had, cause us to feel that we would never have 'such a great experience' if we did not have CD name (fill in the blank). That attitude from us would 'on its own' cause us to have less than a terrific cruise experience. We sailed with Leigh and Erky....and we have had terrific cruises with other CD teams. We have had a few cruises with less than terrific CD's and still had an great time. As someone else stated, we don't sail because of the CD, but they do have an impact on our sailing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaniDanielle Posted November 9, 2019 #1609 Share Posted November 9, 2019 I have to agree with you. The only time we felt the CD made the cruise less than perfect was Jimmy Rhodes on the Quantum Inaugural. That was the most boring eight days of our lives and we were not alone. When I spoke to a Royal rep about it she said there were many complaints. However, ifyiu like trivia, that was the trip for you!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paulette3028 Posted November 10, 2019 #1610 Share Posted November 10, 2019 4 hours ago, DaniDanielle said: I have to agree with you. The only time we felt the CD made the cruise less than perfect was Jimmy Rhodes on the Quantum Inaugural. That was the most boring eight days of our lives and we were not alone. When I spoke to a Royal rep about it she said there were many complaints. However, ifyiu like trivia, that was the trip for you!! I am not sure I would ever take an 'inaugural' sailing...just too many things that they are probably still working the kinks out of. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CruisingJoe09 Posted November 10, 2019 #1611 Share Posted November 10, 2019 11 hours ago, DaniDanielle said: I have to agree with you. The only time we felt the CD made the cruise less than perfect was Jimmy Rhodes on the Quantum Inaugural. That was the most boring eight days of our lives and we were not alone. When I spoke to a Royal rep about it she said there were many complaints. However, ifyiu like trivia, that was the trip for you!! If there was a lack of activities, then that was the AM's responsibility. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paulette3028 Posted November 10, 2019 #1612 Share Posted November 10, 2019 (edited) 2 hours ago, CruisingJoe09 said: If there was a lack of activities, then that was the AM's responsibility. The schedule of activities is the responsibility of the CD. The CD's develop a cadre of activities that they like and put them on the schedule. There of course are cruise standards like Love and Marriage, Quest for example....then a wide variety or Trivia games....add Battle of the Sexes and others. We have been on cruises where even the standard activities are done a little differently (CD perspective). We have been on cruises where new games are being tried out....and only a few CD's get to debut those (developed in the Home Office by a different team) and work out the kinks and see if they get good cruiser reviews before being offered fleet wide to CD's.....but it isn't the AM's responsibility. Same thing with the dance parties....with some CD's you have almost one a night, with others only 1 or 2 on a week long cruise. Yes, the AM can and often does come up with ideas to try and a good CD will let them run with them....and many AM's have developed into great CD's. Edited November 10, 2019 by Paulette3028 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CruisingJoe09 Posted November 10, 2019 #1613 Share Posted November 10, 2019 (edited) 1 hour ago, Paulette3028 said: The schedule of activities is the responsibility of the CD. The CD's develop a cadre of activities that they like and put them on the schedule. There of course are cruise standards like Love and Marriage, Quest for example....then a wide variety or Trivia games....add Battle of the Sexes and others. We have been on cruises where even the standard activities are done a little differently (CD perspective). We have been on cruises where new games are being tried out....and only a few CD's get to debut those (developed in the Home Office by a different team) and work out the kinks and see if they get good cruiser reviews before being offered fleet wide to CD's.....but it isn't the AM's responsibility. Same thing with the dance parties....with some CD's you have almost one a night, with others only 1 or 2 on a week long cruise. Yes, the AM can and often does come up with ideas to try and a good CD will let them run with them....and many AM's have developed into great CD's. The CD's run the main game shows, but as for the general activities offered such as the Trivia, Bingo etc, I imagine that is at least a joint CD/AM collaboration. Remember that the CD is also in charge of Adventure Ocean and the sports facilities and have managers for those respective areas who probably do have some say as there is only so many hours in a day. Otherwise, there is no point in having an AM, Sports Supervisor or Adventure Ocean manager. Edited November 10, 2019 by CruisingJoe09 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paulette3028 Posted November 10, 2019 #1614 Share Posted November 10, 2019 (edited) 37 minutes ago, CruisingJoe09 said: The CD's run the main game shows, but as for the general activities offered such as the Trivia, Bingo etc, I imagine that is at least a joint CD/AM collaboration. Remember that the CD is also in charge of Adventure Ocean and the sports facilities and have managers for those respective areas who probably do have some say as there is only so many hours in a day. Otherwise, there is no point in having an AM, Sports Supervisor or Adventure Ocean manager. "Running" the shows is a different issue than the overall schedule and smooth execution for all events that go on onboard....the overall responsibility for that sits firmly with the CD. All the others, AM, Sports Supervisor, Head of AO report to the CD. Add to that the CD is responsible fo the smooth running of everything backstage, so when people complain that a CD is less visible around the ship with cruisers, on some of the bigger ships, there is even more to handle on them. Edited November 10, 2019 by Paulette3028 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaniDanielle Posted November 10, 2019 #1615 Share Posted November 10, 2019 My husband did not want to do the Inaugural for those reasons. However, we had a family tragedy and did not want to be home for the Thanksgiving holiday so that was why we took that cruise. It will be the last Inaugural for sure. Unless they give it to us free!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DELTABLUE Posted November 12, 2019 #1616 Share Posted November 12, 2019 ADVENTURE: Drew Devine #1397ALLURE: Jimmy Rhodes #1578 ANTHEM: Mitch Merucci September 21 #1477 to January 5, 2020 #1368BRILLIANCE: Rob McNally #1566EMPRESS Elvis Pinto returns from vacation 9-7 #1548 Is he aboard?ENCHANTMENT: Bobby Broughton. Elizabeth Hackett to cover vacation, early October #1476 Is Elizabeth aboard? For how long?EXPLORER: Mike Whitte #1545FREEDOM: Daniel Dornas as of 10-6-19 #1501, Cory Rogers for 30 days in Dec to take ship to Cadiz in Jan for drydock #1444GRANDEUR: John Blair August 8 until November 30 #1194, then Susan Adams to cover vacation. 11-30-19 roll call #1032HARMONY: Marc Walker as of 9-29 #1097 until 1-26-20 #1527INDEPENDENCE: Mike Hunnerup #1544JEWEL: Simona Ferraiuolo #1401LIBERTY: Brian Leavitt returns October 13 #1365 Please confirm Brian is aboard. MARINER: Dan Whitley as of 9-20 #1477MAJESTY: Tornado Tanya Yates Tongue as of 6-24 #1234 Any update?NAVIGATOR: Hugo Arenas returns 10-18 #1426 Please confirm Hugo is aboard.OASIS: Bobby Brown for 3 weeks, after drydock #1475OVATION: Chris Brown as of 9-30-19 #1476QUANTUM: Ken Jones #1535RADIANCE: Mark Rous #1430RHAPSODY: Bill Bronckhurst #1477SERENADE: Carly B , should be on through November. #1476SPECTRUM: Fang Lixin through December #1394 SYMPHONY: Mike Szwajkowski as of 11-2-19 #1602 VISION Steve Davis for transatlantic crossing, will be on for 8 months #1518VOYAGER: Michelle Oliveria #1565 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Taz1960 Posted November 12, 2019 #1617 Share Posted November 12, 2019 Have to Say Mike Szwajkowski on Symphony was awesome! As was Fabio! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare little britain Posted November 12, 2019 #1618 Share Posted November 12, 2019 Mike Witte on Explorer was very poor. Not visible. Changed the timings without notice....about 20 people turned up to Quest. However some of the Brits onboard played a joke on him getting him to read out requests from people with dubious names..... got him to sing Happy Birthday to Tess Tickle......! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
internetwhiz Posted November 23, 2019 #1619 Share Posted November 23, 2019 From Marc Walker (Bing Bong) Cruise Director BingBong Schedule just in : staying on Harmony 😉 Sept 29, 2019 - March 15, 2020 May 3-Sept 13, 2020 Nov 15-March 7, 2021 Feel free to share to a gazillion people Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Becoming Posted November 23, 2019 #1620 Share Posted November 23, 2019 On 11/11/2019 at 9:35 PM, DELTABLUE said: LIBERTY: Brian Leavitt returns October 13 #1365 Please confirm Brian is aboard. Brian was onboard Liberty for the November 10th sailing. Really enjoyed him! Patti Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twccruiser Posted November 23, 2019 #1621 Share Posted November 23, 2019 NAVIGATOR: Hugo Arenas returns 10-18 #1426 Please confirm Hugo is aboard. Hugo was on Navigator on the 11/15 cruise. His energy is second to none and he is an excellent CD and a perfect fit for this itinerary (Short cruise, Lots of first time cruisers, fun/party crowd sailing from Miami)! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DELTABLUE Posted November 23, 2019 #1622 Share Posted November 23, 2019 Got it, got it and got it! Thanx. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joand452 Posted November 23, 2019 #1623 Share Posted November 23, 2019 19 hours ago, internetwhiz said: From Marc Walker (Bing Bong) Cruise Director BingBong Schedule just in : staying on Harmony 😉 Sept 29, 2019 - March 15, 2020 May 3-Sept 13, 2020 Nov 15-March 7, 2021 Feel free to share to a gazillion people Thank you for this. Thought for sure we'd have Dennis again! We liked him back in 2009; 2019 -- a little tired. We've never Marc as a CD; thoughts? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ken at the beach Posted November 23, 2019 #1624 Share Posted November 23, 2019 9 minutes ago, joand452 said: Thank you for this. Thought for sure we'd have Dennis again! We liked him back in 2009; 2019 -- a little tired. We've never Marc as a CD; thoughts? He was fantastic back when he was aboard Monarch. Haven’t been on a large ship with him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rotherham_Cruiser Posted November 23, 2019 #1625 Share Posted November 23, 2019 14 minutes ago, joand452 said: Thank you for this. Thought for sure we'd have Dennis again! We liked him back in 2009; 2019 -- a little tired. We've never Marc as a CD; thoughts? I vowed to hate anyone who ended every message with Bing bong. We surprisingly found him warm, funny, enthusiastic and professional and overall enjoyed his efforts Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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