Cruise director James Lay?

[spingal]

Spingal - Graham Seymour posted on the RCCL boards recently that he's leaving RCCL to get married. No longer plans to be a cruise director. The thread was about favorite cruise directors if you go looking for it.

He will be missed!!! By Princess cruisers and now RCCL cruisers!!!

 

But good for him. I wish him the best and hope that he is very happy. :D

[Mike A]

When we were on the CB 1/05 Graham Seymour was the CD and James Lay was his ACD (Lisa was there too). While on the cruise Graham stated that he was grooming James to take over as CD of the CB. I thought the 2 worked very well together. James played a great straight man opposite Graham. During the cruise we saw a great deal more of James and Lisa than Graham. However, Graham's Morning TV Show was very funny, not to be missed and his perfomance as the Ballarina at the International Cruise Show was the entertainment highlight of the cruise. Given what I have read above it appears James was trained well.

[JAMESCC]

Just curious how much money does a cruise director make? I assume its good pay but you never know with cruise ships about the pay.

[SI Cruiser]

When we were on the CB 1/05 Graham Seymour was the CD and James Lay was his ACD (Lisa was there too). While on the cruise Graham stated that he was grooming James to take over as CD of the CB. I thought the 2 worked very well together. James played a great straight man opposite Graham. During the cruise we saw a great deal more of James and Lisa than Graham. However, Graham's Morning TV Show was very funny, not to be missed and his perfomance as the Ballarina at the International Cruise Show was the entertainment highlight of the cruise. Given what I have read above it appears James was trained well.

What we have learned is that James can not think for himself and is the least bit creative. He is great at copying the funny things that Graham did. If Princess wants return business they are going to have to change things up a little otherwise this stuff will become old hat and passengers will look elsewhere.

[sealegs9]

We had James and Lisa on the CB 4/05. That's enough time elapsed that I won't remember any repeat schtick. Enjoyed his low key and not "over the top" style.

What I do hope is that James still gives the Ballroom dancing lessons. We had a great time taking "swing" lessons from James. He also had boundless energy at the Caribbean Party mid-week.

 

Also, Lisa is sweet. She was doing library duty and helped my son find a Star Wars book. She continued to ask him throughout the cruise how his Star Wars book is.

There was a rumor on our sailing that James was engaged to Lisa. I read on another thread that he is married to a ship's doctor. Who knows.

 

Looking forward to sailing with James again in about 3 weeks!

[mrjcharles]

James has been doing the classes this week and is even doing bingo. He is one of the hardest working cruiose directors you will see and does his work well.

[sealegs9]

James has been doing the classes this week and is even doing bingo. He is one of the hardest working cruiose directors you will see and does his work well.

Thanks for the feedback. Please tell James "Mr. Two Left Feet" (hubby) will be there on 8/25 and ready to re-learn The Swing!

 

BTW- Did you happen to notice if the Explorer's lounge was vacant at 3PM on Embarkation day? We want to have a kids/tweens/teens meet n greet (informal) before muster. Any help is appreciated. Thanks (Planning our formal get together thru Princess)

[bjworm]

The 7/11 Crown was only the third cruise ever for my wife and I, and even with the "List" we find ourselves beginning to get hooked on vacationing like this. Not that we have a lot to compare them to, but we found that we thoroughly enjoyed both James and Lisa during the duration of that cruise. They seemed friendly and sincere and their morning show on the TV was an informative and fun way to start the day.

I am also glad that my wife talked me into going to the International Crew Show the night before the "Incident". It really was a hoot; we really had fun, baloon fight and all. Great job James! Great job Lisa! And to all the rest of the hard working crew, Great job!!

[piper28]

BTW, if you don't like James, you may want to avoid the Emerald. While waiting for tendering, I overheard some of the cruise staff talking about who was going to get cruise director on the Emerald, and (I think it was Lisa) was saying she'd be surprised if Princess didn't offer it to James. She wasn't sure if he was going to take it though, because apparently there's only going to be like 3 days to work up the crew between when the ship is delivered and when it starts its first cruise. Obviously, take it with a grain of salt, since it was just a couple cruise personel gossiping.

 

Personally I have no real opinion about him. I think I only ever saw him when he was introducing shows in the theater. I did personally kinda feel that his upbeat personality doing that seemed kinda forced.

[Merion_Mom]

We had James and Lisa on the CB 4/05. That's enough time elapsed that I won't remember any repeat schtick. Enjoyed his low key and not "over the top" style.

What I do hope is that James still gives the Ballroom dancing lessons. We had a great time taking "swing" lessons from James. He also had boundless energy at the Caribbean Party mid-week.

Yes, he's still giving ballroom dancing lessons. :)

 

Also, Lisa is sweet. She was doing library duty and helped my son find a Star Wars book. She continued to ask him throughout the cruise how his Star Wars book is.

There was a rumor on our sailing that James was engaged to Lisa. I read on another thread that he is married to a ship's doctor. Who knows.

As long as BOTH aren't true. :D

[ppythag]

actually, I think Brian Price and Richard Joseph were the two best CDs I've sailed with-

Brian [who went to the QM2, and has since retired] seemed to be EVERYWHERE [including pool games, trivia, and just about anything you can name], and took the trouble to learn passengers' names-----

Rich wasn't quite as visible as Brian, but also took the time and trouble to learn passengers' names, and was VERY NICE to Cruise Critic groups ----- at least one, and usually two, parties ---- on him!

[Suskies]

The best cruise director we ever had was Sandy MacNicol, on NCL about 25 years ago. He was Scottish, very low key and classy but funny too. Also...he sang! I remember him singing a Gordon Lightfoot song very nicely. Every cruise director we've had since has seemed kind of loud and tacky in comparison.

 

On the first night, he told us that women are always telling him they brought one really nice dress and asking which night they should wear it. Then he went into a detailed description of all the food available on the ship, from early coffee through all the breakfasts and morning snacks to all the lunches, all the afternoon snacks, all the dinner options, midnight buffet...and room service. This took so long and was so funny that you kind of forgot about the women's question until he said that he tells the women wear your nicest dress on the first night, because you won't fit into it afterward! You may walk on the ship when you embark, but by the end the crew will have to roll you off like a barrel of cargo. Just tell your friends that the sea water makes your clothes shrink.

 

We still remember that 25 years later!

[IheartPrincess]

LOVED James on the CB!

[cabana]

Does this sort of mean that I will be getting the same stic again? I hope not, Same as the movies. Are they still playing the same films on Muts? I love it and will watch what ever they put up there. Because I really like the day at sea watching the ocean move past . But I need new things too. New laughs , new tears , new suspense. If everytime you go on a line and it's the same , same old. How long do you keep going? And Graham is a master but he learned from someone. They are at their best when they use improv.

just my two cents worth

[meisha]

Our first cruise was on Golden Princess in 2003 (I think). Anyhow, there was a cruise director named Allistair(?) and side-kick Davin. They were very, very funny, at least to us they were.

 

Does anyone know what ever happened to them?

[ptbernard]

James was just alright for me. I was spoiled on one of my first cruises and I can't remember his name but he has retired and he was from England. He was "portly" like James. He was on Carnival Triump--- maybe. He was so good that he rivaled all the other hired entertainers and was good enough in my opinion to have his own TV talk show. He was so personable that I bet someone wil be refreshing my memory!

[crossstitcher]

I was on 3 Princess cruises with Tim Donovan - he was great and we didn't see any "repeats" in the acts. The last Princess cruise we went on had a new CD. She was very good but I liked Tim better. He happened to be on his extened break at the same time we were on board. Hope is still with Princess, maybe we will be on one of his ships in the future.

[MNYTRPS2GO2]

James was just alright for me. I was spoiled on one of my first cruises and I can't remember his name but he has retired and he was from England. He was "portly" like James. He was on Carnival Triump--- maybe. He was so good that he rivaled all the other hired entertainers and was good enough in my opinion to have his own TV talk show. He was so personable that I bet someone wil be refreshing my memory!

 

John Heald (or Heard)?

[Totally Addicted]

We liked James. His mother and her husband are Kimika, who we loved!!

[Ships Ahoy 2126]

The crusie director was good on the Crown. What stands out most in my memory were the corny little sayings during Bingo - "Those knobby little knees, B22... The grandmother of Bingo, N75, Those sexy legs, G11...."

 

Thanks James and Lisa for the memories! lol ;)

[cabana]

We liked James. His mother and her husband are Kimika, who we loved!!

So James is her little sausage? The stuff you learn here.

[Mike A]

James was just alright for me. I was spoiled on one of my first cruises and I can't remember his name but he has retired and he was from England. He was "portly" like James. He was on Carnival Triump--- maybe. He was so good that he rivaled all the other hired entertainers and was good enough in my opinion to have his own TV talk show. He was so personable that I bet someone wil be refreshing my memory!

John Heald is Carnival's # 1 Cruise Director and is condidered by many including me to be the best CD at sea. He is extremely funny and talented. We had him twice on Carnival including the Triumph Maiden and he was the highlight of the cruise. Ask any one who has sailed with him about Dick Wooden or the bedtime story. BTW, he is still active with Carnival. I believe he is currently on the Liberty. He threatens to retire every few years and he always changes his mind. The only CD I have seen that compares to John is Graham Seymour. Both are very similar. However I would give the edge to John Heald.

[lynwar]

We had James Lay as our CD on the CB Princess in 9/04 during "Hurricane Jeanne Week". Graham Seymour and Capt. Romano were off on breaks after Hurricane Frances, and maybe Charlie. Lisa was with him-with the big hair. There was a little gal named Shannon, I believe. She moved the horses during the horse races. There was also an activities staff person from LA. Very cool. James read the narrative for the horse races, he and Lisa conducted the ballroom lessons (we had fun refreshing our steps) and my husband couldn't get over James's stamina, along with his crew during the Island Night on the Aft deck. It looked as if they were dancing in a boxing ring! The word I remember about him the most is "FANTASTIC".

The Australian fellow-Cameron-was on the Star in October, if it's the same guy. A 23 year old blond chap. He did a couple of our trivia sessions.He did speak of the taxi cab thing at one of those sessions. Tim Donovan was the Cruise Director. I recognized his voice the minute I first heard it. I did some investigating and he'd been our CD on the Sun Princess for our first cruise in Feb. 1998.

James is OK-seemed loud to me at times, especially if I was right under the speaker in the Casino when he made an announcement.

When we were out for 2 additional days because of Hurricane Jeanne, there was an additional bingo game, Lisa had a class on "box making", and there was another horse race, I think.Nothing sensational, but they had to think in a hurry!!

Lynne

[mrjcharles]

There are many good cruise directors and the really good ones make your cruise better. James Lay is right up there. Enjoy his work, he makes the cruise a pleasure.

[Totally Addicted]

So James is her little sausage? The stuff you learn here.

 

LOL!!! We've seen them 4 times!! It was the same act but loved it each time!! I'm hoping for a new act next time we see them!! :D