Who have you met on a cruise that has an interesting history or occupation?

[ghstudio]

This is a companion thread to the one about celebrities. We've met many fascinating folks on cruises. Backgrounds in a war or academy award winners as well as folks in the government with jobs you've never heard of but are fascinating. We have chosen select dining and we choose to dine with others and we meet some very interesting people as well.

 

We dined one night with the head nurse in the US Army...lovely lady. On our Galapagos cruise, we met an academy award winner (I forget the technical area). We dined with a "first responder" one evening and an oil rig deep diver on another. Some folks just have fascinating jobs and experiences.

 

Who have you met on-board?

[sunnygidget]

Met Harold Gordon at dinner. He wrote a book about being a (9 yr. old when he was first entered a camp) survivor of the Holocaust "The last Sunrise" on Amazon. Just happen to notice his number tattoo on his arm when he reached for salt and asked him about it. Fascinating man, wonderful book, we ordered it and he signed it for us.

[misha1]

I do not think this beautiful elderly African American woman was famous but when she spoke, I heard Maya Angelou in her voice. I was having breakfast in the main dining room with DH and we were seated at a table of 10. At the head was Maya (in my imagination). Although she conversed with the people at her end of the table mostly (DH and I were seated at the opposite end), she took notice of me when I was trying to fan myself to a slightly cooler state. I remember to this day what she said and how she said it....with a thick Southern accent she said...'Oh Honey...are you havin' yah own personal summer?' It charmed and humored me beyond words.

[rebeccalouiseagain]

I had the privilege to meet a dance host on Celebrity who was a retired basketball player and had lived in France. He was a great dancer too! :)

[Kartgv]

One of our tablemates some years ago was a London cab driver - one of the beautiful formal black cabs. His father had also been a cab driver. He had many fascinating stories to tell and kept us well entertained. When the channel tunnel opened (mid 90's?), he was chosen to drive the cab that led the procession through the tunnel.

[C 2 C]

On one HAL cruise we had a trivia team mate who was a referee for a Cassius Clay/ Muhammad Ali fight.

[Orator]

There are some very interesting people who post on these boards. Also have met staff with surprising backgrounds. One bar server was a Senior Accountant in the HQ of Cooper Tires. An Asst. Server was a MD. Many lawyers, including a Gelato server. A Clearner who was a Certified Aircraft Mechanic.

[bobsfamily]

Love the stories... We have met many people out and about the ship but since the "kids" have left we tend to request a table for 2.

 

In March I met a real live wire in the Casino, we had about 20-30 college kids on spring break and this one decided to spout every kind of epitaph, including the big ones. The dealer had to stop and chide him several times, to the point that the pit boss came over and told him. Next time he was out the door, so to speak. Shortly after he left one of the guys with him stated that it was quite unusual for this kid, that he was always the kind, quiet one. The next morning (late) we saw him at breakfast, boy was he hung over and seemed to be apologizing to everyone. Perhaps a first time drinker? Never came back to the casino.

Not exactly the best but he sure stood out.

[stevea36]

We had the distinct pleasure of meeting "Super Mario" on one of our RCI cruises. Mario is known as the individual with the most cruise points on RCI because he has "retired" to cruising. He spends 40 weeks or more a year on an RCI ship !!!.

 

Quite an interesting fellow.

 

 

Steve

[Jessejo]

DH and I had lunch on the Century with a woman who was a World Trade Center 9/11 survivor - she'd been on a very high floor, somewhere in the 100's. She was still traumatized.

 

On a Millie cruise we sat with 2 Nuns who were celebrating their 50th anniversary being Nuns. They were both teachers. One was especially entertaining, kept the whole table in stitches all week. Would love to have been in one of her classrooms :)

[OCruisers]

Everyone has an interesting past and job when we take the time to listen. :)

LuLu

Edited August 4, 2014 by OCruisers

[llamasocks]

We love cruising and enjoy meeting so many different people guests and crew alike! A couple of years back, we were placed at a lovely table in the MDR with two other couples. Great conversation, along with interesting stories and life tales. On the last night we got around to going round the table to share what each one of us does for a living. It was then I figured out where I recognized one of the gentlemen at our table. http://m.hrw.org/bios/chuck-lustig

[A Sixth?]

Meet very interesting people every cruise so I'll limit to our last cruise.

 

A Rocket scientist and his wife, Nicest Scottish couple we've ever met who've over-come more than a few bad turns of luck and still shine like they won the loto, a couple of ex "military / cops" / helicopter instructor, and the Captain of the ship for dinner. :p

 

 

Cruising is a great equalizer.

Edited August 4, 2014 by A Sixth?

[Negrilgirl]

Met a lottery winner! She won millions but did not say how much. She was doing a B2B2B2B!

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums mobile app

[MRSBITS]

On the Solstice this past January, we had the pleasure to meet and dine with Tom Brady...the hotel director - not the quarterback!

 

Carolyn

[wvufan]

Everyone has an interesting past and job when we take the time to listen. :)

LuLu

 

You are very right-everyone has a story if we just take time to discover it.

 

Happy Sails to You

 

OOOEEE :D:D Bob and Phyl

[Orator]

Met a lottery winner! She won millions but did not say how much. She was doing a B2B2B2B!

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums mobile app

 

Meta man who claimed his family won a mega million jackpot. Was in the Penthouse and invited to the Captain's Table. Totally obnoxious. Started by telling us how many exotic cars he had and offered to bring whatever the Captain wanted to drive to his next cruise on the ship. Told one off color joke after another. I invited the table, sans that couple to a gathering in my cabin. All asked if I had invited the couple and were happy When I said "no". Saw. Them after we disembarked and overheard the woman complaining that their special attention should have continued after they left the ship. Thought they should not have to go through C and I with the rest of us pions.some of those at the table read Cruise critic and I'm sorry to bring back memories. Money doesn't buy respectful behavior or common sense. People I know who have real money never discuss it.

[teecee60]

As KING of our cruise ship cabin, AND the ruling, dominant male in our relationship, I always get SECOND shot at the shower while Diane is getting all gussied up for dinner. :rolleyes:

 

If I am still trying to catch up when she is finished getting dressed, she will sometimes take off to the Martini Bar on her own and wait for me there.

 

Knowing that I am a total nut case when it comes to both astronomy and the space program, she was VERY excited to introduce me to the couple she met before I got there. :confused:

 

The guy was supposedly a ROCKET SCIENTIST, a retired NASA engineer. Yah, sure. I had absolutely NO idea just HOW serious his claims might be, but after showing me pictures of him in company of some vaguely familiar faces like Wally Schirra, John Glenn, Neil Armstrong and John Young, I was somewhat interested... :eek:

 

His resume included work on a few little know projects like Mercury, Gemini, Apollo, and Shuttle.

 

Six months later, after the NEXT Celebrity transatlantic cruise, I was a guest for 3 nights at their home in Cocoa Beach. For some minor, run of the mill entertainment, he took me to the Kennedy Space Center for ring side seats, to watch the launch of an Atlas rocket carrying the Mars Maven spacecraft on its trip to the red planet. :cool:

Edited August 4, 2014 by teecee60

[A Sixth?]

Meta man who claimed his family won a mega million jackpot. Was in the Penthouse and invited to the Captain's Table. Totally obnoxious. Started by telling us how many exotic cars he had and offered to bring whatever the Captain wanted to drive to his next cruise on the ship. Told one off color joke after another. I invited the table, sans that couple to a gathering in my cabin. All asked if I had invited the couple and were happy When I said "no". Saw. Them after we disembarked and overheard the woman complaining that their special attention should have continued after they left the ship. Thought they should not have to go through C and I with the rest of us pions.some of those at the table read Cruise critic and I'm sorry to bring back memories. Money doesn't buy respectful behavior or common sense. People I know who have real money never discuss it.

 

Does he post here? :rolleyes:

[dkjretired]

On our very first cruise,we met two Brooklyn Dodgers who were on the team in the early 50s. I was thrilled since as a kid I was a big Dodger fan and went to a few games at Ebbets Field. This was not Celebrity.

Edited August 4, 2014 by dkjretired

[OCruisers]

You are very right-everyone has a story if we just take time to discover it.

Happy Sails to You

OOOEEE :D:D Bob and Phyl

 

Thanks for this. All do when we just take the time to listen.

Best of luck to your "Mountaineers" in the upcoming season! :)

LuLu

[Orator]

Does he post here? :rolleyes:

 

Don't believe he does, but others who suffered his presence do. They are all wonderful people. In fact, we decided to cruise together on the Connie in December.

[dkjretired]

One of our tablemates some years ago was a London cab driver - one of the beautiful formal black cabs. His father had also been a cab driver. He had many fascinating stories to tell and kept us well entertained. When the channel tunnel opened (mid 90's?), he was chosen to drive the cab that led the procession through the tunnel.

 

Huh! The Chunnel doesn't do cars just trains.

[julie3fan]

On our last Princess cruise we shared our dinner table with a man who worked for Princess, as a security guard in one of their Alaskan lodges. Same cruise, met a woman at our M&G who had worked for Princess in the office that arranged for the crews travel to and from their job assignments. I wondered what kind of discounts they got! :o

[A Sixth?]

As KING of our cruise ship cabin, AND the ruling, dominant male in our relationship, I always get SECOND shot at the shower while Diane is getting all gussied up for dinner. :rolleyes:

 

If I am still trying to catch up when she is finished getting dressed, she will sometimes take off to the Martini Bar on her own and wait for me there.

 

Knowing that I am a total nut case when it comes to both astronomy and the space program, she was VERY excited to introduce me to the couple she met before I got there. :confused:

 

The guy was supposedly a ROCKET SCIENTIST, a retired NASA engineer. I had absolutely NO idea just HOW serious his claims might be, but after showing me pictures of him in company of some vaguely familiar faces like Wally Schirra, John Glenn, Neil Armstrong and John Young, I was somewhat interested... :eek:

 

Six months later, after the NEXT Celebrity transatlantic cruise, I was a guest for 3 nights at their home in Cocoa Beach. For some minor, run of the mill entertainment, he took me to the Kennedy Space Center for ring side seats, to watch the launch of an Atlas rocket carrying the Mars Maven spacecraft for its trip to the red planet. :cool:

 

:D:D

 

I checked, our friend was the real deal... unless the hackers have put his picture on JPL achieve

 

I was jealous in a small way at first but a few days into it confessed that I had always wanted to be an astronaut, and he confessed he wanted to too.

 

edit! I said "to too"!!!

Edited August 4, 2014 by A Sixth?