“We are the link between the ship's operations and our guests.”.
Article from CruisesNews magazine, issue 48 – March 2019
We interviewed Dave aboard the Norwegian Spirit, where he is currently the cruise director.
The son of a singer and a pianist, Dave was always involved in show business, so he's never been afraid of cameras, stages, or microphones. When his family moved to Cozumel, Mexico, he fell in love with cruise ships and tourism on this jewel of the Mexican Caribbean. In his youth, Dave began working at resorts as a recreational and sports entertainer during peak season, as well as an entertainer at nightclubs. On weekends, he also worked in radio and television as a presenter. After graduating, Dave continued working weekends in television and clubs, but during the week he immersed himself in the research and breeding of marine mammals, specializing in dolphins, sea lions, manatees, and other exotic animals, truly captivated by the sea and these magnificent floating creatures. In 2008, Dave decided to apply to every cruise line to fulfill his dream of working on a cruise ship. He soon began his new career at sea as part of a ship's crew, learning that life at sea is very different from life on land—a fact only those with a true passion for this lifestyle can truly understand.
After his first year on board, Dave was promoted to Assistant Cruise Director, and after a couple of years, he began filling in as Cruise Director during the vacations of the regular Cruise Directors, learning from the best. For the past six years, he has been a permanent member of the crew as Cruise Director, having already established a clear vision of the kind of Cruise Director, leader, and mentor he wanted to be. Since then, he has strived to do his best for his team and the passengers.
Our job involves not only setting up events and onboard entertainment, but also providing support and hospitality to guests and, of course, helping other departments to engage guests.
What is your job as Cruise Director? What are your responsibilities as Cruise Director? What is a typical day like in the office?
As Cruise Director, my job is the day-to-day and strategic management of the entire entertainment department and the social aspects of a cruise ship. This includes not only setting up events and onboard entertainment, but also providing support and hospitality to guests and, of course, helping other departments engage guests. I am the link between the ship's operations and our guests.
Basically, I'm acting as the public face of Norwegian Spirit.
A typical day… well, the truth is, when you work on a cruise ship, there's never a typical day. That said, I have customer service hours, multi-team meetings, management meetings, and of course, entertainment events to organize and attend.
In your opinion, what are the necessary and indispensable qualities for this role? What do you love about your job?
First and foremost, anyone in this role must have a passion for working with people. This is a business built for and by people. Secondly, you have to be able to think quickly, work under pressure, lead by example, and keep in mind that when you're out there, you're not just the face of the company, but also the one who represents your entire team. I love my crew, and that's what I love about this job. Representing my team regularly, meeting all these people from different backgrounds and nationalities, and offering them the best possible time on board.
You also have to remember that you're a performer. Regardless of your talent, you'll always be out there, projecting an image—on television, on stage, or just in public spaces—and you must always be prepared.
Almost all passengers say that the Cruise Director and their staff are not only hosts, but also the social hub on board. Is it true that the Cruise Director typically interacts with passengers daily, talking to them, laughing with them, dancing, and even singing with them?
Yes, absolutely, that's one of the reasons I love my job.
Tell us about your particular career path. What are your ideas about your professional future?
Honestly, I'm where I want to be. I always wanted to be an artist, to speak on camera, to sing, to lead a team, to be in a job that requires me to use my brain and my skills. This job gives me all of that. What I enjoy doing now is guiding others to follow their own passion. If reaching my position is what they want to do, I love guiding them in the right direction.
If the cruise director has prior experience on land, what was the transition like from working ashore to working on board? What led you to choose to work on cruise ships?
Being a cruise director is nothing like any job on land. You have to be able to successfully manage and lead a large team, which includes singers, dancers, technicians, broadcast programs, youth programs, musicians—not to mention that you have to be a performer yourself, speak on stage to over 1,000 guests per show, have knowledge of all the ports you visit, speak to the camera, make announcements over the public address system, have knowledge of maritime law and what to do in case of an emergency—and those are just some of the aspects to manage in a management team like ours.
What led me to work on cruise ships was the desire to explore the world, entertain, travel, meet people, not fix my mind on just one place but look at the world and want to be a part of it, and I'm happy to have been doing this for 10 years.
What is your working schedule now at NCL, including time off?
There's something called the MLC, Maritime Labor Convention, which ensures that all crew members and cruise lines follow a proper schedule to make sure we get our rest periods, since crew members don't usually have days off but rather hours off; however, our vacation time between contracts compensates for the time worked on board by giving us ample free time at home.
There's no such thing as a typical day on one of our ships. Anyone who takes on this role must have a passion for working with people. This is a business built for and by people.
Do you have any advice for those considering working on a ship as a Cruise Director?
Honestly, it's one of the most wonderful jobs in the world, but it's not like you can just walk onto a ship and one day say, "I'm a cruise director." It's a career that many aspire to, few achieve, and even fewer succeed at. This isn't all fun and games; it's a serious profession with many facets, all of which must be approached responsibly and professionally.
There are always strange and funny things that happen on board, mainly with first-time passengers. Any particular/strange incidents or anecdotes that have happened to you? Can you tell us the strangest thing a passenger has ever asked you?
I don't think I can answer that question, he smiles broadly, but I will say that on each cruise we meet more than 2,000 passengers and there's always something new. Even after 10 years, I'm still amazed.
An NCL cruiser visiting the world, tell us about some of the places you've visited. Does the onboard activity change depending on the port of call or the cruise destination?
Absolutely, depending on the itinerary, the demographics, the weather—all the activities are designed to suit all those factors. I've visited 87 different countries, that is, 34% of the world, thanks to cruises.
There are so many different types of people who enjoy a cruise. How would you describe a typical NCL guest?
The typical NCL guest enjoys an international atmosphere and proactively seeks freedom and flexibility. We cater to all demographics; we don't stereotype. We are a leading brand in equal opportunities for all our employees and guests. We are in the people business, and that is a very international hallmark for us.
How have passenger demands changed in the last five years on cruises, and how has NCL evolved to meet them?
Many aspects of our passengers' daily and professional lives are dictated by meetings, responsibilities, and stress. We believe vacations should be free from these constraints. For this reason, 19 years ago, NCL introduced the Freestyle Cruising concept, offering our guests maximum flexibility to do what they want, when they want.
How many people work under your supervision? How important is the crew to passenger satisfaction?
I supervise and manage between 60 and 150 crew members on the entertainment team at all locations worldwide. Our staff is essential to providing our guests with unforgettable vacation experiences that will keep them coming back for more. They are our brand ambassadors, ensuring our travelers enjoy the freedom, flexibility, and service they expect from Norwegian Cruise Line. Therefore, it is of utmost importance that our team is happy and satisfied with their work.
In this profession, you have to be able to think fast, work under pressure, lead by example, and keep in mind that when you're out there, you're not just the face of the company, you're the one who speaks on behalf of your entire team. I love my crew.
The daily cruise program has many activities every day. How is it all structured?
We have a spectacular and creative management and organization team throughout the ship, and we work together to organize a range of entertainment activities and various events that are tailored to our guests' satisfaction. Although I am ultimately responsible for the Daily Program and its implementation, this cannot be done without a great team.
NCL is famous for its Broadway-style entertainment. Do you oversee the broadcast, the musicians, the production cast, etc.? How much time is needed during the day to prepare the shows?
Yes, I oversee all onboard entertainment, and they are dedicated and meticulous professionals. Unlike land-based shows, we are constantly moving, and sometimes the weather is rough at sea. However, the performers adapt immediately to provide excellent entertainment. Typically, a show needs at least 45 minutes of preparation time, but it varies from guest performer to guest performer or even from our production shows if we need to adjust due to unforeseen circumstances.
What's more difficult? Designing activities for adults or children? Does NCL offer activities for the whole family?
We offer activities for both adults and young cruisers, but the challenge isn't creating the activities, it's engaging everyone, and that's why my job and my team's are so important. As I said, we're the bridge between the ship's daily operations and the guests; we're the absolute core of onboard interaction.
