how much effect does a CD have on your cruise fun?

[finoky]

Chris the Flying Scotsman is great. Loved his parties in the atrium.

[SERK]

Our best CD was Jase Apps on the Dream a few years ago.  He was all over the ship everyday and interacting with everyone.  He even came by our table in the MDR one night.  We will have Cookie as our CD in a few weeks on the Glory and hear he is awesome too.

[coevan]

22 minutes ago, atobols said:

Normally they don't make much of a difference.  I think it was my second Carnival cruise where we had John Heald as our CD.  He was by far the best CD I have ever encountered.  I would absolutely book a cruise just because he was going to be the CD.

 

 

 

I could not agree more. We had him on the elation in 1999. The guy is hysterical.

[Andoria]

2 hours ago, coevan said:

 

and you cruise? I can't think of any vacation with more crowds than a cruise ship

 

I get a cabin with a balcony and I'm usually up by 5:30 a.m.  I do my wandering around early in the morning:) 

[lhuggi1]

Hugely  important: 

currently our CD on the breeze is horrible constant long winded announcement as always starts with it’s “It’s your Girl Nono Your Cruise Director” (last night she interrupted dive-in movies like 3 times in the middle of Avengers End Game and The crowd went crazy!
Also we get who you are after 14 days on board 

 

I’ve cruise with Matt, John, Jamie Dee, and they really all majorly enhance our experience

 

but I swear my two least favs are Nono and MarQ 

 

I wouldn’t cruise again with them as the CD 

[PrincessArlena'sDad]

Only CD we had that was memorable was on the Paradise in August 2015.

 

I can't remember his name, but he was a great juggler, and was AMAZING on the fiddle.  His "devil went down to Georgia" is one of the best solos I ever heard.  

 

He was an older man.  Anyone know who I'm talking about, and what his name is? 

[Markmom18]

The CD’s who have stood out for me ....

 

 A+ Rating:

 Dr. E

 Gary Blair

 A Rating:

 Savannah

 

 D or F Rating:

 Kevin Donohue

 Malcolm Burns

 

B & C Rating:

 I really can’t come up with their names ... yikes ...did their job ... but nothing to stand out on either end of My Grade Curve! 🙂🙂

 

 

[Markmom18]

P.S.

  I’ll be on the Glory this Spring. “Donkey” Salazar is taking over as CD.  Any thoughts??

 

 Thanks!

 

[Joe817]

1 minute ago, Markmom18 said:

P.S.

  I’ll be on the Glory this Spring. “Donkey” Salazar is taking over as CD.  Any thoughts??

 

 Thanks!

 

He was CD on the Dream last July. I found him very funny. A good entertainer. He was all over the place....like all of them are. 

[LoungingMcCoy]

Not much.  I think a CD can make a cruise a little better, but I'm not sure they can make it worse.  On our first cruise we had Peter McGarth who was hilarious and seemed to be everywhere.  His personality was just infectious and you were glad to be around him.  Last year we had some guy who was incredibly dull.  I can't even remember his name.  He wasn't rude or anything, just not particularly engaging.  We only saw him once.  This year we had Simon London.  We didn't see him terribly often, but when we did he seemed to be really friendly and outgoing and enjoying his job.

 

I wouldn't choose or deny a cruise based on the CD.

[Joebucks]

If they're no good, it certainly isn't going to be something that ruins my cruise. I'm going to have a good time regardless.

 

But if they add a bunch of excitement to the cruise, that is always welcome. No matter how much the cool people pretend like they never notice them at all. I've had some great ones.

[sixesandeights]

Not in the least.  Only three times have I ever even been aware of a CD.  Leigh who was with Royal and was last with Carnival was amazing the two times we sailed with him.  He was present, wild, and made the events he ran outstanding.  The other was the Couple that works for Royal (Cruise Director and Activities Director).  They were TERRIBLE.  The wife was the fakest person I had ever met.  They also ruined the Quest, turning it into a G rated yawn fest.  Other than that on my other......20+ cruises I have been completely unaware of a Cruise Director in either direction....

 

6&8

[Don Kehote]

Ordinarily, I'd say not at all.  BUT - I'll be damned if Jaime Dee didn't make our cruise for us on the Paradise a couple of years ago.  That lady was FUN.

[stellarose]

we had Dr. E on the pride and NoNo on the breeze. much much different and more engaging with Dr. E

[Jamman54]

13 hours ago, PrincessArlena'sDad said:

Only CD we had that was memorable was on the Paradise in August 2015.

 

I can't remember his name, but he was a great juggler, and was AMAZING on the fiddle.  His "devil went down to Georgia" is one of the best solos I ever heard.  

 

He was an older man.  Anyone know who I'm talking about, and what his name is? 

That was Steve Cassal. He is now retired. 😎

[linbobky]

we have been on 23 carnival cruises and over all carnival has the best cds. also been on 10 ncl cruises. the cds on ncl are really bad.

[PrincessArlena'sDad]

1 hour ago, Jamman54 said:

That was Steve Cassal. He is now retired. 😎

 

Thanks.  So glad I got to hear him play his fiddle.  

 

 

[TNcruising02]

4 hours ago, sixesandeights said:

Not in the least.  Only three times have I ever even been aware of a CD.  Leigh who was with Royal and was last with Carnival was amazing the two times we sailed with him.  He was present, wild, and made the events he ran outstanding.  The other was the Couple that works for Royal (Cruise Director and Activities Director).  They were TERRIBLE.  The wife was the fakest person I had ever met.  They also ruined the Quest, turning it into a G rated yawn fest.  Other than that on my other......20+ cruises I have been completely unaware of a Cruise Director in either direction....

 

6&8

Yep. I will always remember that CD on a Royal because he was the most annoying CD ever. He was like a bad Vegas act. So annoying.

[Pyrate13]

Even though we're platinum with Carnival, sailed 4 times on Disney and twice on HAL I couldn't tell you who even one of the cd's was on any cruise That's how little they affect they have on our cruising.

[auburn77]

Except for John Heald (a long time ago), I can't remember but one other name. I think it was Mikey. He was the best we've ever had.

But, I really don't care for the most part. They pretty much are all the same.

[FiredogCruiser]

Interfacing with the CD is not something we cruise for. That said, a good CD can certainly enhance the experience.

[ray98]

Zero.  We do our own thing and the CD or the activities they promote really has no impact on us.

[HillBilly Bob]

23 hours ago, cbowls30 said:

Does anybody book a particular ship/itinerary based on who is the CD?

I would no more book because of CD than I would book for the Head Chef.   The CD means nothing to our ability to have a lovely vacation.  

[Jamesatgsu]

I've never looked at Cruise Directors, but they (along with the Fun Squad) do have a major effect on your cruise if you like doing the different games/activities on board.  I'm a big Trivia player and attend many games on board.  Absolutely loved the program on the Carnival Dream back in August 2017 (Matt from Canada was the CD's name, but I don't recall last name, but he is not Matt Mitchem).

[JimmyTheSaint]

There appears to be a fairly even split on this thread of people who couldn't care less about the CD one side and on the other side people for who the CD is a central factor in their enjoyment of the cruise.

 

Personally I couldn't care less about the CD.