Cruise Directors

Past and present Disney Cruise Line Cruise Directors.
Rick

Cruise Director Rick was around early on. We spotted a mention of him on the Wonder in late 2000.

Christiaan Abbott (2003 - Present)
Lakeland, Florida
DCL Cruise Director Christiaan Abbott
Christiaan joined Disney Cruise Line in 2003 as a stage manager. In 2006, Christiaan became a Cruise Directory after spending a couple years as an Assistant Cruise Director. In 2011, he became an Executive Cruise Director for Disney Cruise Line and in 2016 became DCL's Director of Entertainment Operations/Creative. In 2024, Christiaan announced his return to the high seas as a Cruise Director with Disney Cruise Line.

Natalie Bailey (2005 - Present)
London, England
DCL Cruise Director Natalie Bailey
After completing her degree in Dance, Drama and Theatre Studies at the University of Roehampton, Natalie joined Disney Cruise Line in 2005. She had the privilege of working on all four ships in the flee, and was honored to be part of the opening team of the Disney Fantasy in 2012.

Drew Cavanaugh (2009 - Present)
New York, New York
DCL Cruise Director Drew Cavanaugh
Drew began his career with Disney Cruise Line in 2009 working with various entertainment teams as an Animation Captain, Character Manager, and Stage Manager. In 2017, Drew moved into the role of Assistant Cruise Director and occasionally assumes the role of Cruise Director.

Stephen Cloete (2019 - Present)
South Africa
DCL Cruise Director Stephen Cloete
Stephen studied Hotel Management in his native South Africa, berfore heading to sea, he worked as the General Manager of the Granny Mouse Country Hotel, and then of the five-star Fairlawns Hotel. A complete change of direction followed, which took Stephen to perform as a professional artist across South Africa and internationally before inspiring him to join the cruise industry in 1997 with MSC where he spent the majority of his tenure as Cruise Director. In 2019, Stephen brought his talents to Disney Cruise Line.

Lesley Dallas (2005 - 2023)
North Tonawanda, New York
DCL Cruise Director Leslie Dallas
Lesley studied Liberal Arts & Modern Languages in Pennsylvania before starting a career awn an intern at Walt Disney World's College Program. In 2005, she joined the cruise staff team on the Disney Wonder and pursued a love of hosting events and shows and interacting with guests. Leslie transitioned into a new role with The Walt Disney Company in 2024.

Brent Davies (1999 - 2016)
Melbourne, Australia
DCL Cruise Director Brend Davies

Brent joined Disney Cruise Line in 1999 isn has filled many leadership roles within the Entertainment department before he assumed the role of Cruise Director. Prior to starting life at sea, Brent worked for many years within the hospitality and leisure industry across his home country of Australia. To compliment his experience Brent gained a Bachelors Degree of Applied Science from the University of Ballarat. As the opening Cruise Director of the Disney Fantasy, Brent mentions the launch of the Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy as career highlights. Brent's love for the ocean and travel blended with the quality of entertainment only found at Disney makes this Brent's dream job.

Brent is no longer working on the ships as he transitioned to a shoreside position at Disneyland.


Michael Gibbons (2013 - Present)
South Ockendon, England
DCL Cruise Director Michael Gibbons
Mike's early years as a singer led him to a life at sea. After working for sever cruise lines, he returned home to Disney Cruise Line as an assistant cruise director in 2013 and has since been promoted to Cruise Director.

Lee Hawkins (2010 - Present)
Brighton, United Kingdom
DCL Cruise Director Lee Hawkins
Lee joined Disney Cruise Line in 2010 as an Entertainment Host presenting character shows and game shows to guests. In 2011, Hawkins moved to the role of Entertainment Activities Manager coordinating the Cruise Staff team. After a short stint as a Character Manager, Lee became an Assistant Cruise Director in 2017. As of June 2018, he assumed the role of Cruise Director aboard the Disney Dream. Hawkins attested the City College of Brighton and Hove earning a National Diploma in Performing Arts.

Trent Hitchcock (2007 - Present)
Queensland, Australia
DCL Cruise Director Trent Hitchcock
Trent began his career with Disney Cruise Line in 2007 as a Club Host. After a few years pursuing other interest on land, Trent returned as an Assistant Cruise Director in 2011. In 2016, Trent moved into a Cruise Director role.

Peter Hofer (2006 - Present)
Bern, Switzerland
DCL Cruise Director Peter Hofer
After an extensive career on cruise ships trailing around the world, Peter joined Disney Cruise Line and helped set up the Mediterranean cruises on the Disney Magic. Peter loves the unique style of cruising Disney Cruise Line offers to Guests.

Ashley Long (2010 - Present)
Bowling Green, KY
DCL Cruise Director Ashely Long
Ashley joined Disney Cruise Line in 2010 as Cruise Staff and was part of the opening team for the Disney Dream. Ashely has since held various leadership roles within entertainment such as Entertainment & Activities Manager and Assistant Cruise Director.

Clayton Lyndsey (1998 - 2018)
Jacksonville, Florida
DCL Cruise Director Clayton Lyndsey

Clayton started his career with Disney Cruise Line in 1998 as part of the cruise staff before moving on to become a Shore Excursion Manager in 1999. In early 2006, after a few years honing his talents, Clayton returned to Disney Cruise Line and after a year became an Assistant Cruise Director. Since June 2008, Clayton has been a Cruise Director rotating around the fleet.

In June 2018, Clayton started a new chapter in his life taking the position of Vice President of Entertainment and Programming for Spectrum Retirement Communities in Denver, Colorado.


Jimmy Lynett (1998 - Present)
Scranton, Pennsylvania
DCL Cruise Director Jimmy Lynett
Jimmy was born and raised in Pennsylvania and graduated from the University of Scranton with a Bachelor of Arts in Communications. Jimmy started his life at sea with Disney Cruise Line in 1998 working in various areas of the entertainment department, including children's programming, cruise staff, shore excursions, assistant cruise director and cruise director. Jimmy spent time working for Holland America Line before returning as a Cruise Director with Disney. Jimmy now resides on the Gold Coast of Australia with his wife Zoe and children Jamie, Mia and Drew.

Darren McBurney (1998 - Present)
Lancashire, England
Dcl Cruise Director Darren Mcburney Fantasy
Darren was part of the opening team for Disney Cruise Line and sailed across the Atlantic with the Disney Magic in 1998. Throughout his career he has performed a variety of different roles in the Entertainment Department. In October 23, 2023, Darren was announced as the Cruise Director for the Disney Treasure.

Matthew O'Neal (2008 - Present)
Delaware, USA
DCL Cruise Director Matthew ONeal
Matthew joined Disney Cruise Line in 2008 as a Cruise Staff Entertainment Host and has since held various other roles in the Entertainment Department. He had the honor of being a part of the Opening Teams for both the Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy.

Glen Osburn (2017 - Present)
Albuquerque, New Mexico
DCL Cruise Director Glenn Osburn
Glenn has over 20 years of hospitality management experience. Glen worked as a member of the Cruise Staff from 2001 to 2005 aboard the Magic and Wonder. From there he spent nearly five years as an assistant cruise director and cruise director for Royal Caribbean as well as another three years as a cruise director for Holland America. Before retiring to Disney Cruise Line in 2017 as an assistant cruise director, Glen spent 3 years working on land at Heritage Hotels & Resorts.

Jacqui Perry (1999 - 2006)
Asheville, North Carolina
DCL Cruise Director Jacqui Perry

Rachel Quinn (1998 - 2014)
England
DCL Cruise Director Rachel Quinn
In 1998, rachel began working for Disney Cruise Line, where she has served as Cruise Director on Disney Magic and Disney Wonder. Disney used her experience to help plan the Dream. She spent more than a year working with Walt Disney Imagineering in Celebration and six months during the construction in the shipyard in Germany. Rachel transitioned to a shoreside position becoming the GM at Magic Kingdom Entertainment.

Carly Scott
Norwich, England
Cruise Director Carly Scott
Carly's career spans various roles within the entertainment industry being at home in England. Her passion for quality entertainment has led her working across the entire Disney Cruise Line fleet.

Ray Smale (2011 - 2016)
Johannesburg, South Africa
DCL Cruise Director Ray Smale
Ray's career at sea started in 1997 cruising around Africa and the Indian Ocean. He Joined Disney Cruise Line in 2011 and has held various positions within the Entertainment and Hotel departments. Ray has played an integral role in delivering exceptional experiences and service to Guests and Crew on all four of the Disney ships. The Highlight of his career has ben the opening and launch of the Disney Fantasy. As of May 2018, Ray is the General Manager of Entertainment at Walt Disney World.

Jim Urrey (1999 - Present)
United Kingdom
DCL Cruise Director Jim Urry

With more than 34 years of cruise entertainment experience, Urry joined Disney Cruise Line in September 1999 to launch the Disney Wonder as cruise director. He has been involved in the conception creating and implementation of all shipboard entertainment and programming components for the fleet.

Prior to joining Disney Cruise Line, Urry spent fifteen years as a cruise director for Royal Caribbean International, where he was responsible of the development and implementation of entertainment for the line. Hew as also part of the star-up team for five Royal Caribbean ships. In addition, Urry has been a member of the British Equity Actors Association since 1975.

In his current role as Vice President of entertainment and port adventures for Disney Cruise Line, Jim Urry is responsible for the total onboard entertainment and age-specific activities for adults, families and children, and also shore excursions. In addition, he oversees all new design and product development in his realm.


Anthony Youngblut (2000 - Present)
Manchester, England
DCL Cruise Director Anthony Youngblut
Anthony began his career with Disney Cruise Line in 2000, first working in merchandise before moving to Port Adventures manager. In 2015, Anthony began overseeing all aspects of adult and family entertainment onboard the ships as assistant cruise director.