Que Hundermark would be from South Africa if he hadn’t spent the last 15 years in 76 countries arranging for and providing entertainment for everyone from a sheikh in Dubai to a customer on a cruise ship. He is a Cruise Director, which means he’s always happy because his job is to make sure everyone on a cruise ship is, and these days he sails on Celebrity’s Eclipse.
That’s where we met him.
“I’ve been caffeine-free for 14 years,” he says with a chuckle. “I don’t drink anything with caffeine. If I had caffeine and this job, I would probably have palpitations!”
Cruise Directors are the most high-energy people on ships. They are everywhere. All of the time. And if they’re not, they better be. They also better be “up” and preferably funny. Also, 24/7. They have 3,000 friends on a ship, not including co-workers.
Que Hundermark has been with Celebrity, his fourth cruise line, for about two years.
“My job is an awesome responsibility,” he says. “and it’s awesome in that it’s a wonderful job. I’m so passionate about this job, about representing every crew member as the Cruise Director. And the crew members know they have that respect. Happy crew, happy guests. We treat our guests like celebrities.”
Not all Cruise Directors can trot out that line with the same double meaning. Like all Cruise Directors, however, he is an emcee…and more. He is a performer…and more. He is involved in all facets of entertainment, including evaluating and negotiating with the talent.
“I plan everything,” says Que, whose vacations include going on other cruise ships with his partner Raluca, who is from Romania. “If you fail to plan, you plan to fail. Life is a boomerang. If you slip behind, it’s hard to catch up.”
And in this job, there are some days when a Cruise Director feels like a boomerang.