Not wanting to spoil it!

[twobytwo]

Im going cruisin 4/9 and have never done HAL before...at first I read every single thread on ppl who returned from Zuiderdam but now im findingthat Ill read the non specific question threads but not the reviews...I am so grateful for the reviews but at the same time I dont want to know everything before I go!!

Does that make any sense!! I sort of want some things left to the imagination and Im afraid that if i read these awesome reviews it wont be new to me!?

Anyone else nutty like me!

[Randyk47]

Your approach makes perfectly good sense to me. Go and enjoy the cruise! The opinions posted here are just that, a person's preceptions of their cruise experience. No two people are going to have exactly the same experience. Certainly seen postings here where one loved a specific cruise and another thought it was a nightmare. Doesn't make either of them right or wrong, it's just their individual experience. So sail away, kick back and take it all in! :)

[sail7seas]

TwobyTwo........


You read my mind!!!

I have often wondered about folks who want to know every micro detail prior to their cruise. The basics, sure.....the big questions, sure.....but I do not always 'get it' that some folks do not want to leave one single facet undiscussed before they go.

When we took our first cruise, there was no Internet and no BB's like this. I wish there had been as it would have been great to have some idea what to expect. We booked and went and never spoke with anyone prior to going in any details at all. The whole thing was 'brand new' to us and from minute to minute we made new discoveries about what cruising is all about.

We 'guessed' as to what clothes we would need (thankfully, we guessed correctly) ;) ; when we first boarded, lunch was being served in Lido and we had no idea where we were supposed to pay for whatevre we took from the buffet. :)
IT WAS WONDERFUL!!! I am happy for new cruisers (and cruisers new to a specific ship/cruiseline) that they have a source of info..... And, I, of all people, sure enjoy talking endlessly about ships/cruising.

But save a few somethings to be surprised with IMO

[jhannah]

I think there will be plenty left to discover. There's no way every single thing about a cruise ship can or will be discussed here. As you journey through the ship, approach your look-around as if you knew nothing. Make your own judgments. As Randyk47 said, two people on the same cruise can have impressions that are 180 degrees apart. It is truly a subjective experience. I take all reviews with a grain of salt ... simply as information. As you walk around the ship, you will find paintings, sculptures, and other forms of artwork that have never been mentioned here. There's still lots to uncover in nooks and crannies around the ship. Enjoy!

[CDRMark]

twobytwo:
It makes perfect sense. Everyone is different. My own experience is that once we had booked our cruise (Maasdam 11/04, booked 5/04) I went into overdrive on research, both here and elsewhere. (it's how I'm wired; knowledge is power) Read everything here, hit the 'net, library, bookstores, and local research (did they hire a local piano tuner?), etc. Guess what?
When we got onboard it was all new and exciting. To quote Sail7Seas: "IT WAS WONDERFUL!"
Have a great cruise.
Cheers
MarkB

[Golfgrl1911]

2by2, Please don't worry! The Zuiderdam is a HUGE ship. There is plenty to discover once you're onboard. We took our first cruise last Sept. and did not even see all that there was, so we're going again. Now I find myself saying "don't forget to see this & go there" because I had such a blast that I couldn't do it all! I too read every little thing I could, but when I actually got on the ship it was wayyy more than I expected! Have fun! Nancy:)

One other thing I forgot to add is that because it was our first real cruise I had nothing to compare it to. I've always worked in the hospitality industry so I am easy to shrug off little things that others find a bigger issue. Please do not be jaded by some of the reviews. As others have noted, everyone sees things differently. I happen to be more of an optomist so there was nothing I found to be all that bad. I was just happy to finally be on a cruise! Something I'd dreamed of for a LONG time!!:D