What difference does it make who the cruise director is?

[hanscarlet]

I personally don't care who it is but I do notice some are better than others, I really like Clayton and Darren

 

[SuperDry]

Last cruise we went 15 minutes after start time the first night, and the CD and other staff were still talking on the stage! Been there, already heard what a great time we're going to have, just get on to the show...

IIRC, the repeat cruiser average for DCL is 38%, which means that on average 62% of the passengers on any given voyage are first-time DCL cruisers. Considering that repeat cruisers are probably more likely to skip the shows, the percentage of first-time cruisers at the show is likely even higher. That's the target market for the CD's presentations.

Well they're responsible for the whole entertainment department. So if they treat them well and keep them happy then entertainment CM are probably gonna be better... so even if you don't see it directly from the CD, yes it probably does effect someone's cruise... just saying.

I would think the Disney sets the schedule and most likely the "script" as well. I don't think Disney leaves anything to chance, and that includes cruise directors.

Who do you think is responsible for making sure that everything goes according to script? The CD is the senior entertainment officer on board, and is ultimately responsible for making sure that all of the other people in entertainment are doing their jobs properly. Also, when something like a schedule change due to weather happens, the CD is the one that is ultimately making the decisions as to how to adjust the entertainment schedule, how to communicate the changes to the passengers, how to staff the changes, and so on. They do a lot more than just stand up on stage before the shows.

 

[wilkeliza]

It really depends. I was on a NCL cruise (my first ever) that had an overzealous cruise director. That would be great on Disney but on NCL they are free to make non-emergency announcements in the rooms. It sure was annoying that every time I would be almost asleep for a nap the stupid chime would happen and it would be the cruise director reminding everyone that in 30 minutes there was some activity going on. With Disney it only makes or breaks the welcome and good bye shows. I don't recall ever having to deal with so many announcements from the cruise director on DCL and I know they try not to use the in room intercoms unless it is an emergency.

 

[GoofyNewfie]

If you do a little searching, you'll find that this question comes up quite often and there are lots of views. My statement is that, in my experience, they make a big difference on the longer cruises. More so than the shorter ones. They end up becoming much more a part of the entertainment as they try to find other entertaining ideas. Like Wii bowling against the Captain. You interact with them more. And it's not all set by Disney HQ. I had an experience on the WBPC where several of us cornered Clayton and kindly asked him if he could add an additional playing of one of the movies that people were finding a hard time making and he arranged it.

 

[Dug720]

I found Christiaan to be just the right mix of engaging without being annoying for me (and I SO wish they would just make his debarkation video the standard fleet-wide!!). I will miss him on cruises, but am THRILLED for him in his shoreside position!!

 

[bumbershoot]

I wonder if the CD job is one of those deals where if you are doing everything right, no one remembers you. In other words, if you stand out and become memorable, it's probably because you drew attention to yourself by screwing something up.

In our case it's the opposite. The only CD I've noticed is Christiaan and it's b/c he's fabulous. I don't go to shows, I don't go to events; so for me to notice a CD is pretty astonishing LOL. (I noticed one on Royal b/c he reminded me of some other famous person but I couldn't name him, or describe him reliably, if you offered me a million bucks)

I SO wish they would just make his debarkation video the standard fleet-wide!!

YES.

I will miss him on cruises, but am THRILLED for him in his shoreside position!!

Beth you've just altered the course of my life. Christiaan isn't a CD anymore?

He's incredibly sweet in person, and his end of cruise disembarkation spiel on TV is fabulous. I pay attention to it religiously. (it wasn't MY fault that our room attendant messed up my shoe arrangement and DH heard me say "pack the shoes over there" when it turned out that all but my flipflops were over there, and so I got to take a flight home to Seattle, in winter, in my flipflops) (OK maybe I should have peeked to make sure that everything was still the same, but really, this is laid at the foot of the room attendant who took two perfectly neat arrangements of shoes and made them one clump of shoes!)

Literally the last reason for us to do DCL again is gone. Ridiculous to some, but seriously, bleah. I can't even bring myself to say I'm glad for Christiaan because I'm that sad for me myself and I.

(off to go google his spiel to see if someone has saved it much like people record Stacey)


ETA:

Sigh.


Beth I know you'll care about this...Christiaan was the hero of the first marathon weekend Castaway Challenge, when the rundisney dingbats said "don't bring all of your medals off the ship" and "the picture backdrops will only be on the island". Christiaan stepped in and said "we'll make sure the backdrops are moved back onto the ship so you can get your pictures with all of your challenge medals".

Whew.


5:40 into the video starts the good stuff about luggage and packing. 7:24 gets going. 8:15 he knows who you are if you're taking the towels and the alcohol will go to a party. 8:45 don't pack ALL of your clothing.



DH doesn't care about any of that stuff, and he didn't disagree with my statement of us never needing to go Disney again when I said that to him just now. He said "the guy whose son has Thomas the tank engine, er, I mean Mickey"? Yep.

 

[Rabb it]

I was wondering this myself, peoples first question every time someone posts "when on cruise, any questions?" is "who was the cruise director?!!"

 

[Dug720]

In our case it's the opposite. The only CD I've noticed is Christiaan and it's b/c he's fabulous. I don't go to shows, I don't go to events; so for me to notice a CD is pretty astonishing LOL. (I noticed one on Royal b/c he reminded me of some other famous person but I couldn't name him, or describe him reliably, if you offered me a million bucks)



YES.



Beth you've just altered the course of my life. Christiaan isn't a CD anymore?

He's incredibly sweet in person, and his end of cruise disembarkation spiel on TV is fabulous. I pay attention to it religiously. (it wasn't MY fault that our room attendant messed up my shoe arrangement and DH heard me say "pack the shoes over there" when it turned out that all but my flipflops were over there, and so I got to take a flight home to Seattle, in winter, in my flipflops) (OK maybe I should have peeked to make sure that everything was still the same, but really, this is laid at the foot of the room attendant who took two perfectly neat arrangements of shoes and made them one clump of shoes!)

Literally the last reason for us to do DCL again is gone. Ridiculous to some, but seriously, bleah. I can't even bring myself to say I'm glad for Christiaan because I'm that sad for me myself and I.

(off to go google his spiel to see if someone has saved it much like people record Stacey)


ETA:

Sigh.


Beth I know you'll care about this...Christiaan was the hero of the first marathon weekend Castaway Challenge, when the rundisney dingbats said "don't bring all of your medals off the ship" and "the picture backdrops will only be on the island". Christiaan stepped in and said "we'll make sure the backdrops are moved back onto the ship so you can get your pictures with all of your challenge medals".

Whew.


5:40 into the video starts the good stuff about luggage and packing. 7:24 gets going. 8:15 he knows who you are if you're taking the towels and the alcohol will go to a party. 8:45 don't pack ALL of your clothing.



DH doesn't care about any of that stuff, and he didn't disagree with my statement of us never needing to go Disney again when I said that to him just now. He said "the guy whose son has Thomas the tank engine, er, I mean Mickey"? Yep.

As I understand it, he is now in charge of DCL Entertainment!

 

[MickeyEarrings]

I think some people just remember "hey, we had him on our blah-blah-blah cruise, and it was wonderful, so this cruise will be wonderful too!" And the cruise where you couldn't dock at Castaway Cay? -*that guy* was the CD... we don't want him again.

That's my theory.

 

[wcw57]

I'm so unimpressed by the Cruise Directors that each and every time I see a post the references CD's I think were talking about compact discs...

it's sad to get old.............

 

[bumbershoot]

As I understand it, he is now in charge of DCL Entertainment!

I think that's what it says on his linked in page. (Stalker much? Lol) He also has an IMDB page. (But that's not his twitter/minecraft comment...just someone with his name)

Doesn't change things for me, sadly. I don't really go to the shows etc. I think I've seen him do his preshow thing once before I realized that I don't do shows. Or maybe it was before the magicians? I mean, unless he calls me and gets my help in revamping Golden Mickeys and making Believe something my family will let me see? (After my reaction to GM they barred me from B).

But that one time in the lobby when he was so nice to me, and the disembarkation video, I'll miss him for.


(We are embarking Adventure of the Seas tomorrow and I'm already planning to play his disembarkation video at the right time even though it won't be the right info at all lol)

 

[jiminyC_fan]

I've liked all the CD's we've had. I've always found the "who's the CD" questions odd just like the "who's the Captain" but we aren't schmoozers. I don't think they make or break a cruise. A great cruise runs by the combination of the whole staff IMHO.

 

[mkh531]

We had Jimmy on our dream cruise and when he said during his opening night speech "If you see it, eat it!" it became our rallying cry and motto throughout the cruise. Well done, Jimmy. Well done.

 

[Dug720]

I've liked all the CD's we've had. I've always found the "who's the CD" questions odd just like the "who's the Captain" but we aren't schmoozers. I don't think they make or break a cruise. A great cruise runs by the combination of the whole staff IMHO.

I will say that who the captain is can help to set expectations for getting to Castaway if there are currents or other adverse conditions you may be dealing with. Some captains are known to have more patience with docking there than others. Example: Commodore Tom is generally very patient and will try everything he can to safely get the ship in. Captain Guus is not always as patient and may call it after a couple of attempts. They are both wonderful people and I have no issues sailing with either, but I know going in if I have Guus that there is a higher chance of not making it to CC if there are iffy conditions.

 

[OKW Lover]

I'm with the OP (and several others) on this question. I've never cared who the CD was.

Also never cared who my serving team was. Yes, I've had some good servers. Servers I'd be happy to have again. But really, I've only had "problems" with one assistant server on 14 DCL cruises and numerous cruises on other lines.

 

[RedSox68]

I'm with the OP (and several others) on this question. I've never cared who the CD was.

Also never cared who my serving team was. Yes, I've had some good servers. Servers I'd be happy to have again. But really, I've only had "problems" with one assistant server on 14 DCL cruises and numerous cruises on other lines.

I agree. We had one set of "bad" servers in 10 cruises -- the head server was too busy gushing about how this was his last cruise and did not have his head in what he was doing at all, and the assistant was obviously not properly trained. We have had some amazing servers, but I would never go through all the hoops to try and get them again on another sailing. I like the fun and mystery of who our new serving team will be and how it will go.