KevinAdMan

Can’t wait to sail on her to Canada. Was originally on the Magic but cruising Italian style reminds me of my first cruise 

I didn't know it at the time (I was 19 years old), but thinking about it, being a Russian Cruise Ship in American waters (during the so-called Cold War) was history in itself. I remember the US Authorities coming aboard on our way back to Baltimore, and going through everything because of some sort of warning. The Authorities went through every box and stateroom looking for "something".

Now I have to go through my photos and see if I can find pictures of when we were on the ship.

I remember back in 1976 going on a Russian Cruise ship out of Baltimore to the Caribbean. It was quite an experience, especially when the authorities cam aboard after being in St. Thomas to go through the luggage. We weren't allowed to dock in San Juan.

When we tried talking to the staff (I remember the cruise director's names were...get this Boris and Natasha...I kid you not), they refused to answer questions about their homeland and would only talk about the ship and the cruise.

My first cruise was on the Raphaello back on Easter in 1973. Still have memories of going to bed seeing clear blue water and coming back into New York and seeing dead fish swimming outside my window.

That's when the term "reality" really hit.