Cruise Director Takes a Fall from Time to Time

Former Stuntman Not Afraid

to Become Part of the Show

Ray Brasted

John Grantham is not your usual cruise director and that can be claimed even if one hasn't experienced a lot of cruises. How many former hollywood stuntmen do you know who emcee cruise line shows, mingle with guests aboard ship and lines up entertainment for the pleasure of passengers?

A big man with broad shoulders and ready smile, Grantham spent twenty years falling off horses, being shot at and beat up in the name of show business and is not what you would imagine when asked to describe a typical cruise director. And Grantham understands that. "It really is amazing. It isn't something I aspired to do," he said with a smile.

A chance conversation brought the Naples, FL native to the attention of Celebrity Cruises and he was quickly hired. Having worked as an actor and stuntman in Las Angeles for many years and having been around many well known professionals in the theater and movies gives Grantham an insight into talent and working with entertainers.

Finding the right blend of entertainment and special programs is an art in its own right and pleasing several thousands passengers week to week takes the courage of a man used to falling off horses. "Entertainment is very subjective. Something I like, might not be liked by the next person," Grantham noted.

But he keeps his eyes open for up-and-comers and on the first night of recent cruise introduced Will Foraker to the audience. Grantham "discovered" the 22-year-old playing in a hidden corner of the Celebrity Solstice and was wowed by the young man's talent.

Foraker did not disappoint and for the rest of the cruise drew ever increasing crowds to his corner of the ship. We agree that many who read this will one day be able to say they knew him "when".

Maybe it is because of his years of auditioning for parts, and learning to move forward when faced with rejection, but Grantham brings a sensitivity to his job when working with the artists who put on a show every night.

"I think I can connect with our audience," he added.

Ed. Note: At the time of this interview Grantham was preparing to leave the Celebrity Solstice for a vacation and then to join the Celebrity Equinox in Europe.