rian90 Posted April 20, 2009 #1 Share Posted April 20, 2009 We sailed on the Navigator of the Seas on March 23 through the 28th and had a fabulous time. My husband, 18 year old son, and my daughters, age 11 and 8 were with us in two oceanview cabins on deck 2. We liked the location as it was very quiet and since the seas were a bit rough, it helped minimize my seasick stomach. We loved everything on the ship but my 8 year old daughter Kerensa had a favorite. She fell strongly for a head water in the dining room, level 2 named Custodio. I am sure that Custodio makes it a habit to pay attention to every child in the dining room but for some reason, my daughter thinks he is very special. He also came up to her and smiled at her, cut her meat for her one night, and when we saw him one morning in the buffet, he came over to say hello. Custodio is from India and he has a little girl who is only about a week younger than my daughter so maybe that had something to do with the attraction. My daughter is adopted and multiracial, so Custodio shared her brown skin and dark eyes, both very beautiful people. On our last night in the dining room, Kerensa gave Custodio his envolope and a hug. Then she turned to me and said, "Mommy, my eyes are leaking! I don't know why!" My poor baby was so sad about leaving her friend she could not stop crying. He was very sweet and sensitive to her. When we left the dining room, she saw him and ran to him, jumping into his arms. This surprised me and touched me because my daughter is usually very shy and doesn't cry often. The next night at home, I heard her crying in her bed. I went to check on her and she was sobbing her eyes out. She told me she missed 'her friend'. We have a lovely picture of Kerensa with Custodio and I am going to make sure it is put in our photo album. He helped to make our trip very memorable, for us and for our little girl. When I consider the hours these young people work and how much they do for all of us, I have to admire them. I hope we get a chance to sail again on the Navigator with Custodio! If any of you happen to meet him on the Navigator, please tell him Kerensa says hello! She is the little girl with dark curly hair that sailed with him in March. I promised her I would pass the word along. :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arizona Laura Posted April 20, 2009 #2 Share Posted April 20, 2009 What a wonderful heart wrenching story. I have seen tears in the eyes of waiters in discussing their children. My heart goes out to them and your daughter. Laura Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
libertylover Posted April 20, 2009 #3 Share Posted April 20, 2009 Awww, that is so sweet!! ;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
houlacruiser Posted April 20, 2009 #4 Share Posted April 20, 2009 What a heartwarming story. I share yours and your daughters emotions about some of the special staff we have met on our cruises. :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Theresa522 Posted April 20, 2009 #5 Share Posted April 20, 2009 Okay well you had me tearing up!! What a sweet story. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arizona Cruz Chic Posted April 20, 2009 #6 Share Posted April 20, 2009 What a sweet story....some one please pass the tissues. *** Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Illmaxict Posted April 20, 2009 #7 Share Posted April 20, 2009 another reason to stay loyal to Royal. Another heart touched. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sailingawaysoon Posted April 20, 2009 #8 Share Posted April 20, 2009 That's an awesome story...Honestly, I got teared up when leaving the dining staff on Holland America's Zuiderdam (our first cruise). These people became like family to us in only one week. Thanks for the wonderful story! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
navigator1975 Posted April 28, 2009 #9 Share Posted April 28, 2009 Hi Rian90, can you show me the picture of Custodio? I guess you are talking about the same head waiter, me and my family had on a cruise from Barcelona. He was great with my son too, I didn't know he had a daughter too. We may repet on Navigator so we can say hello to him. We sailed on the Navigator of the Seas on March 23 through the 28th and had a fabulous time. My husband, 18 year old son, and my daughters, age 11 and 8 were with us in two oceanview cabins on deck 2. We liked the location as it was very quiet and since the seas were a bit rough, it helped minimize my seasick stomach. We loved everything on the ship but my 8 year old daughter Kerensa had a favorite. She fell strongly for a head water in the dining room, level 2 named Custodio. I am sure that Custodio makes it a habit to pay attention to every child in the dining room but for some reason, my daughter thinks he is very special. He also came up to her and smiled at her, cut her meat for her one night, and when we saw him one morning in the buffet, he came over to say hello. Custodio is from India and he has a little girl who is only about a week younger than my daughter so maybe that had something to do with the attraction. My daughter is adopted and multiracial, so Custodio shared her brown skin and dark eyes, both very beautiful people. On our last night in the dining room, Kerensa gave Custodio his envolope and a hug. Then she turned to me and said, "Mommy, my eyes are leaking! I don't know why!" My poor baby was so sad about leaving her friend she could not stop crying. He was very sweet and sensitive to her. When we left the dining room, she saw him and ran to him, jumping into his arms. This surprised me and touched me because my daughter is usually very shy and doesn't cry often. The next night at home, I heard her crying in her bed. I went to check on her and she was sobbing her eyes out. She told me she missed 'her friend'. We have a lovely picture of Kerensa with Custodio and I am going to make sure it is put in our photo album. He helped to make our trip very memorable, for us and for our little girl. When I consider the hours these young people work and how much they do for all of us, I have to admire them. I hope we get a chance to sail again on the Navigator with Custodio! If any of you happen to meet him on the Navigator, please tell him Kerensa says hello! She is the little girl with dark curly hair that sailed with him in March. I promised her I would pass the word along. :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aurelius180 Posted April 28, 2009 #10 Share Posted April 28, 2009 That's a wonderful story! Sometimes we lose sight on here about the real reasons we cruise with a particular line. I've found the service to be top notch on RCCL and often there are a couple staff members who go above and beyond and Custodio is obviously one of them. :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rian90 Posted April 29, 2009 Author #11 Share Posted April 29, 2009 I do have a picture! If you do go back, please do say hi to him for us! She is trying not to cry in the picture. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rogicoco Posted April 29, 2009 #12 Share Posted April 29, 2009 That's a wonderful story! Sometimes we lose sight on here about the real reasons we cruise with a particular line. I've found the service to be top notch on RCCL and often there are a couple staff members who go above and beyond and Custodio is obviously one of them. :) i agree with you and that's why we love rccl. we always felt the staff went above and beyond. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rogicoco Posted April 29, 2009 #13 Share Posted April 29, 2009 I do have a picture! If you do go back, please do say hi to him for us! She is trying not to cry in the picture. she is so cute:) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pattiea Posted April 29, 2009 #14 Share Posted April 29, 2009 My eyes too were "leaking" when I read your post...your daughter is a little cutie and I hope she gets distracted quickly so her little heart doesn't hurt too long... I fully understand how your daughter felt, a few years ago we were on a family cruise, our grandaughter who was 3 at the time, fell madly in love w/our head waiter (who also paid a lot of attention to her and another little boy) and wanted to go visit he & his daughter in Turkey "'cause Na he vited us to come you know"...it took some explaining that we couldn't just hop on a plane and go see him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
navigator1975 Posted April 29, 2009 #15 Share Posted April 29, 2009 If I finally come back on navigator, be sure I will say hi to him:) Your daughter is very cute My eyes too were "leaking" when I read your post...your daughter is a little cutie and I hope she gets distracted quickly so her little heart doesn't hurt too long... I fully understand how your daughter felt, a few years ago we were on a family cruise, our grandaughter who was 3 at the time, fell madly in love w/our head waiter (who also paid a lot of attention to her and another little boy) and wanted to go visit he & his daughter in Turkey "'cause Na he vited us to come you know"...it took some explaining that we couldn't just hop on a plane and go see him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lady_cruiser Posted April 29, 2009 #16 Share Posted April 29, 2009 Now my eyes are "leaking". What a beautiful story. PLEASE send your letter to RCL and let them know exactly what you just told us. Many of the staff on these ships receive their promotions from what their passengers think of them. Wouldn't it be wonderful if your daughter and Custodio's daughter could somehow become pen pals. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TPCRUISER2 Posted April 29, 2009 #17 Share Posted April 29, 2009 Thanks for the story! The navigator has restored my faith in big ship cruising. And it's due to the crew. Sailed her twice this year beforev the ship headed to europe. Can't wait till the navigator returns next year! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare BillOh Posted April 29, 2009 #18 Share Posted April 29, 2009 He was happily working a couple weeks later. He worked a section near ours on the deck 4 dining room. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rian90 Posted April 29, 2009 Author #19 Share Posted April 29, 2009 I never thought to send a letter to RCI. I will do that! Is there a special place I should send it? Thanks for the compliments..I think my daughter is cute too but I am a bit biased. :) I am sure there are special people everywhere..We just had the fortune to meet one of them on the Navigator. I can't imagine what it must be like to be away from his daughter for so much of the year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sailor moon Posted April 29, 2009 #20 Share Posted April 29, 2009 We have had similar experiences like this on several of the RCCL ships! My DD (17) has mild autism and has cruised since she was 10. I am constantly amazed and awed how the crew members on the ships go out of their way to make sure she has a wonderful vacation. On DD's last cruise over spring break she met Sherman in the Windjammer and she wanted to take him home with us! She invited him to San Antonio and told him that he could stay with us :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
navigator1975 Posted April 29, 2009 #21 Share Posted April 29, 2009 I agree, It must be very hard being so far away from their children, how many time are they on board 6 months, 1 year? I couldn't be a part of my son and my husband such a long time!!!:( Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Merlin139 Posted April 29, 2009 #22 Share Posted April 29, 2009 We are on the Navigator from next Monday for 10 days. We are hoping that we will see many of the crew that we have got to know in the 5 weeks we have spent on the ship in the last 2 years and having read what you have written will make a point of finding Custodio and passing on what you have said. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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