Cruise director non factor

[englishteacher702]

Only remember the most annoying one, Dr. E.  That man LOVED the sound of his own voice and would ramble on and on incessantly.    Now we just got off the Horizon, and the CD Donkey was pleasant.  He didn't make a ton of unnecessary announcements, and he was also easy to tune out.  That's how I judge.

[waytoodeep03]

I remember a guy named Butch on the breeze a few years back. He was excellent

 

 

[Honolulu Blue]

The OP's original question has been answered, so I'll just give my opinions and get out.

 

I've posted some threads on here asking for notes on CD X or Y or Z.  It's not so much that I care about them or that I want to be buddy buddy with them, it's that I want to get a feel for how they operate and can adjust accordingly.

 

Even though I keep to myself most of the time, I certainly notice who my CDs on Carnival are because of their announcements and because I'll see them around the ship at various events.  I can't say that I've had a bad CD yet.  I also haven't had one that were so outstanding that I'd book a cruise just because they were hosting.  My CDs on the non-charter cruises other than Carnival have been more anonymous to me.  And that's OK for them, and me.  

[bguppies]

I take it back, I do remember a CD, but only because he was so annoying.

Wee Jimmy.

He just wouldn't shut up.

Loved to make innane announcements all day long.

[brownc424]

On 7/22/2022 at 12:03 PM, Shaded Lady said:

 

 

To each his own, I guess... but I got tremors when I heard that he might be on Jubilee- I'm on the transatlantic sailing and unless his attitude has improved, I'm not looking forward to any interaction with our CD...

Funny, I had a totally different experience with Cookie, but the exact same reaction! I found him to be incredibly annoying and obnoxious. I also really disliked the way he ran all of the events. I plan to avoid his cruises as well.

[havanadaydreaming]

I certainly know the cruise director's name on every cruise im on.  I may not remember it in 5 years but i do that week.  

 

A few stand out over the years but my fave was "Donkey" (Chris).  I think he is still on the Horizon but im not certain.  

 

I, too, remember Butchy Baby on the Breeze.  Was my first cruise but he, too, was very good. 

[ray98]

I'm not sure I've met one I liked.  They are all some form of an annoyance I have to tune out.

[chuckyb]

There were a few cruise directors that my family really liked.  Malcolm was a CD that we really enjoyed.  Though I think many people found his Woo Hoo, somewhat annoying.  Mike Pack was also good.  The rest of the CD were forgettable.

 

We got back from the Mardi Gras earlier this month and Lee was our CD.  I didn't find him to be that great, but I kept running into him on the Lido deck, while he was eating dinner.

[ddavis5us]

Dr E.  Agree with the original post, except for Dr E.  He and his "entourage" are quite a site. I think we have sailed 3 times with him.  If I had known he was going to be the cruise director, it would have only been 1.  My wife dislikes him even more than me.  I know other people think he is the best ever, particularly relative to the Motown show he typically does in the lobby.  To me, he was just loud and brash and his "people" will literally take over a bar.

 

I might chose a cruise over a piano player but not the cruise director (except avoiding Dr E).

[lazydayz]

17 hours ago, ddavis5us said:

Dr E.  Agree with the original post, except for Dr E.  He and his "entourage" are quite a site. I think we have sailed 3 times with him.  If I had known he was going to be the cruise director, it would have only been 1.  My wife dislikes him even more than me.  I know other people think he is the best ever, particularly relative to the Motown show he typically does in the lobby.  To me, he was just loud and brash and his "people" will literally take over a bar.

 

I might chose a cruise over a piano player but not the cruise director (except avoiding Dr E).

I agree Dr. E could be annoying, but back in the day of 1000s of us being crammed together for muster drills, he made it entertaining.  That man can do a wicked number of voices.  

[CruizinSusan70]

30 minutes ago, lazydayz said:

I agree Dr. E could be annoying, but back in the day of 1000s of us being crammed together for muster drills, he made it entertaining.  That man can do a wicked number of voices.  

If anyone has seen the reality show "The Circle"  on Netflix, Dr E was a contestant halfway through season four.

[Salem615]

I agree - I don't really care who the CD is on my cruise.

 

I will say quite a few years ago we had one on the Glory who was a riot. He did the morning shows. One morning we were in the hot tub and we were featured. I laughed when I saw myself on the giant screen in the hot tub with my sunglasses enjoying the morning with their commentary about me "living the dream!"

 

We had Donkey twice. The first time we found him to be good but the Halloween cruise we were on with him we did not like him as much. He did a costume contest and it was supposed to start at 9. We got down there around 845 and it was already in progress. Then there was supposed to be a party on the lido deck after and they did one or 2 songs and then it was over. 

 

Anyway - a cruise director does not make or break a cruise for me. I usually just pick the itinerary and go from there.

 

Edited July 25, 2022 by Salem615
error

[LMaxwell]

On 7/22/2022 at 10:13 AM, ThaNectar said:

They have never done anything to make my cruise LESS enjoyable or done anything to make my cruise MORE enjoyable.

 

They have no impact on my cruise either good or bad.

 

Sure they do have an impact on your cruise; whether they are prominent and self-promoting is another story; but they help set the frequency and tone of activities and events.  

 

It's like saying a restaurant manager has had no impact good or bad on your cruise.  Sure they did. Just because you didn't interact with them doesn't mean they did not run the restaurant efficiently. If you're having a good time and don't even NOTICE management, that means they are doing just fine. 

 

Now, I've never asked who a CD is going to be, I don't follow any on social media; generally forget all their names after a few weeks. I don't base my trip on a CD being present; but I understand what their tasks are and how it adds up to an enjoyable cruise. 

Edited August 8, 2022 by LMaxwell

[activeac1968]

On 7/22/2022 at 10:54 AM, CentralNY1 said:

To us, there are several that make the cruise more enjoyable.  Dr. E, in particular, is one that would make us book a cruise on a ship that he is on just because he is the CD.

LOVE Dr. E!  "Good morning...I said good morning..."

[ThaNectar]

3 hours ago, LMaxwell said:

 

Sure they do have an impact on your cruise; whether they are prominent and self-promoting is another story; but they help set the frequency and tone of activities and events.  

 

It's like saying a restaurant manager has had no impact good or bad on your cruise.  Sure they did. Just because you didn't interact with them doesn't mean they did not run the restaurant efficiently. If you're having a good time and don't even NOTICE management, that means they are doing just fine. 

 

Now, I've never asked who a CD is going to be, I don't follow any on social media; generally forget all their names after a few weeks. I don't base my trip on a CD being present; but I understand what their tasks are and how it adds up to an enjoyable cruise. 

I would still disagree with this for myself and what I enjoy doing on the cruise.

A CD has no impact on me sitting in the sun by the pool, drinking buckets of beer, having a nice dinner or my luck in the casino.

 

IMO, most of them seem very cheesy and annoying.. but that's just me.

[LMaxwell]

2 hours ago, ThaNectar said:

 

A CD has no impact on me sitting in the sun by the pool, drinking buckets of beer

 

Yes they do.  If there's no day time events planned anywhere, no trivia, no daytime shows, etc., then most people are going to just head for the pool.  You may enjoy the level its at now; but if it was twice as packed you may not enjoy it as much.  Activities are to spread out the crowd and keep everyone happy.