Immersed in conversation, the voice takes me by surprise. "Shall we dance?" I look up to see a tall, silver-haired man smiling down at me, and I think, "Why not?"
I am a passenger on the Crystal Serenity, an ocean liner that recently called at several South African ports on its round-the-world cruise. The vessel has an incredible reputation and, just recently, was voted the world's best cruise ship for the 10th consecutive year.
The good-looking man who guides me round the dance floor is one of eight "ambassador hosts" on the vessel whose job it is to entertain women passengers travelling alone.
As we trot to the beat of the band, we make small talk, mainly about our ports of call, the entertainment on board and the lectures we have heard. It's pleasant, noncommital stuff. When the music stops, he walks me back to my seat, then moves to invite another to dance.
In an age where women invariably outlive their husbands, a growing number of well-to-do widows - along with divorcees and a goodly number of unmarried career women - are embarking on cruises where the shipping line takes care of their every need, providing even partners on the dance floor.
It's a good idea.Why should single women on a voyage be sidelined because they don't have a partner?
Success stories abound. One widow on the Crystal Serenity who had never danced during her long marriage joined a cruise when her husband died. She was nearly 85.
A "host" taught her to dance - and she loved it. Now 95, she goes cruising each year just to dance.
I knew about the "hosts" before I joined the cruise and wondered how they coped with the job of providing constant attention to single passengers. Surely, in the romance-charged atmosphere of a cruise liner, attachments developed? What would a male host do if he fell in love with one of the widows or divorcees, or, for that matter, if one of the single women fell for him? Is romance part of the deal?
Not so, say Edward Murmurian and James Wood, both retired businessmen who have been hosting on Crystal Cruises for several years. Both have made many friends among the women passengers, but have steered clear of romantic involvement. It's their dancing skills and companionship, they say, that women enjoy.
Wood, who has two sons and two grandsons, adds: "It's great seeing a woman's face light up when we ask for a dance.Why should she sit and watch while others have fun?"
Murmurian, a single parent and now a grandfather, echoes his sentiments. "We are extremely fortunate. I love dancing so it's a pleasure partnering the ladies - and it's a great base for platonic friendships."
The two hosts spend between three and six months a year cruising, invariably avoiding the northern winters. They do not receive a salary, but are guests of Crystal who accord them special status with state rooms of their own.
Both men have visited virtually every corner of the globe since they signed on as hosts. Both realise that their skills on the dance floor are appreciated by single women who usually outnumber the married women by seven to one.
It started when Murmurian retired. He spotted an article on hosting and immediately sent an application for employment to a cruise company, and included a photo of himself. Eighteen months later he was called for an interview. His dancing skills were tested. He got the post - eight years ago.
"I've been dancing since I was 15," Murmurian says. "I love this job, and it gives me the opportunity to see the world at the same time."
Wood, in fact, has been hosting even longer and has been to about 200 countries worldwide. He discreetly refuses to comment on female involvement, but says he is careful to keep his onshore arrangements to himself, a time when he is free to do as he pleases.
"Once or twice a passenger has asked if she could accompany me ashore and I've found myself in the husbandly role of carrying her parcels when I have wanted to go sightseeing," he recalls. "Now I make plans before I go ashore in foreign ports."
When cruises draw to a close, both men return to spending time with family and friends on land. Murmurian devotes time to golfing and fishing, his other interests.
Rick Spath, Crystal Serenity's cruise director, says that despite the apparent advantages of "hosting", life for the hosts is not quite as simple as it seems.
For starters, they undergo a strict selection process, during which their backgrounds are closely scrutinised. No one with a criminal record or shady past gets beyond stage one. The applicants have to be accomplished dancers and, though they are accorded guest status, are not paid. In short, they have to be men of private means.
Most hosts are US citizens, mainly because interviews are conducted in Los Angeles, but there are some European and British citizens of various races among them.
The rules are simple: hosts may not dine alone with women in the evenings or visit their state rooms.
"Most people think the men have a dream job, but it's not one I would want," Spath says. "Some passengers do form attachments with them. They send love notes and invitations to their favourite host who has to handle the missives with tact and discretion in the confined environment of a liner. And they are expected to treat every woman with equal courtesy and show no favouritism."
Problems occasionally arise when a woman may perceive her favourite host as paying more attention to another woman.
On one occasion, a host danced with a married woman. A couple of single women took exception and told her that the hosts were hired to keep them entertained - not married women. She had a husband.
"But he's in a wheelchair," the married woman countered.
"Tough," came the response. "That's your problem."
While the pressure is on to keep everyone on board entertained, there is no reason for any passenger to be bored. Few liners offer passengers such an incredible variety of things to do. The Crystal Serenity's daily programme is packed.
Apart from five-star nightly entertainment in nightclubs, restaurants and theatres, the liner has an interactive learning centre known as Computer University @ Sea, a Walk on Water fitness programme, keyboard lessons, golf clinics, a feng shui-inspired spa, a fully equipped gym, a library and seven restaurants, including three by world- renowned chefs Wolfgang Puck, Nobu Matsuhisa and Piero Selvaggio.
Distinguished speakers (among them South Africa's ambassador to Argentina, Tony Leon) provide informative lectures while the ship is at sea. Experts from Sotheby's discuss the art and culture of each port on the itinerary while wine and food festivals are held regularly.
Passengers are offered an amazing selection of shore excursions when they are in port, yet there are some who prefer to stay on board. Cruising has become a way of life, perhaps because of the hosts - probably the most attractive feature for many unmarried travellers.
The Crystal Serenity will be in South African waters again next year while on a world cruise, coming next time from the East.
- For more information, call your preferred cruise specialist or contact Cruises International at 011 327 0327 ext 209 or visit www.CrystalCruises.com