cactuscruiser

I'd have to say Vladimir from Romania on the Horizon. Started off a little rocky though. DD was 9 at the time and a real tomboy - very short hair and looked very much like her older brother at the time. He called her "he" the first time he met us. Poor Christina. We didn't correct him right there - waited as he went aroud the table and then I spoke to her saying "Christina..." Poor guy whipped his head around so fast and realized his mistake. He absolutely doted on her the rest of the week and treated her like a little princess. He was great to the whole table but he became DD's first "crush" after that. :)

Next favorite was Balal from Turkey on the Rhapsody. He was only our waiter for one cruise but we ran in to him on two subsequent cruises(years apart) on the Rhapsody and he's the one who recognized us and sought us out and remembered our children.

I have their album (yes, original vinyl) and it is autographed. Of course, I don't have anything to play it on anymore! Can you even buy a turntable anywhere???

My first cruise was on the Flavia in June of 1975. We were a bunch of high school juniors-almost seniors. And the nuns were our chaperones! I got a job less than a month after I turned 16 so I could pay for the trip. It was worth every hour on my feet. It was a long time before I got to cruise again but that's what got me hooked.