I've decided that I've been a "lurker" - I mean a "learner" way too long (Ngaire informed me that "learner" is now the correct word). I "learned" on Cruise Critic since 2001 and now on Luxury Cruise Talk for just a couple of days. This is a great new board. Glad to see some familiar names.

Now, thanks to Ngaire and all of you for your great input and reviews of the Paul Gauguin, my husband, Tom and I have just joined the PIP cruise!!! Yeah!!! This has been a dream of ours since we found out about the Paul Gauguin.

We've only been on one other cruise and that was the Radisson Navigator on the Australia - New Zealand segment of the 2002 World Cruise. In fact, Sherry was also on that same cruise with us. I don't know if you remember us, Sherry. I was the one who introduced myself as a "lurker" and Tom and I were with you on the Dunedin Otago Peninsula excursion. We were the ones sitting up front in the boat that toured the peninsula. Wasn't that a great day in Dunedin? And what a fantastic cruise that was. Another one of our dreams that came true. The good news is that we were wise enough to pick Radisson for our first cruise and the bad news is that we are now spoiled rotten.

Now we are counting the days until 5/21/05 and looking forward to meeting all of you that are also going on the PIP!!! I'm sure I'll be picking your brains during the next year. I've already killed a few trees with all the info I've printed off the boards regarding this cruise. I can't tell you how much of a help you all have been in helping me plan the Australia/New Zealand cruise and now this one. Thank you so very much.

Cyndi

P.S. You were all right - Ngaire is WONDERFUL!!