European Cruise Question

[grahamgallagher]

Can anyone who has been on the 7 night Med cruise give their comments, is it better than a cruise from the USA? We are thinking August 2013.

We live in the UK and we have cruised twice from PC, just wondered if anyone can offer a comparison.

Thinking of booking Med cruise on next 4 night Bahamas cruise! Can you book a guaranteed Verandah room?

Let me know thoughts and tips.

G

 

[Cruisefan2]

the 7 night euro cruise was amazing. I know that the 7 days now dont have palma de mallorca which was a good port for beaches and shopping. In my opinion cruising from pc is better then barcelona because the pc terminal is all disney and a little more organized and is nicer for waiting and views of the ship. Also it takes longer the get in and out of the port because there is only one way in and out and there is usually 4 ships in port. the overall cruise was great because you got to see a lot of europe in a short time.

 

[grahamgallagher]

Thanks for that, we have "done" Majorca and it's beaches. Looked at the Med cruise as it covers Italy (never been). As to your point about PC being more organized, anything is more organized than anything in Spain - believe me!

The idea would be that we stay in a villa in Spain for 1 week then drive 2 hours to the port and board, making a 2 week holiday. Thought I might try and get a "place holding" reservation for next August.

the 7 night euro cruise was amazing. I know that the 7 days now dont have palma de mallorca which was a good port for beaches and shopping. In my opinion cruising from pc is better then barcelona because the pc terminal is all disney and a little more organized and is nicer for waiting and views of the ship. Also it takes longer the get in and out of the port because there is only one way in and out and there is usually 4 ships in port. the overall cruise was great because you got to see a lot of europe in a short time.

 

[DisneyOHFan]

The idea would be that we stay in a villa in Spain for 1 week then drive 2 hours to the port and board, making a 2 week holiday. Thought I might try and get a "place holding" reservation for next August.

That sounds like the perfect Holiday.

 

[abdgeek]

The Mediterranean cruises are great because they are an easy way to see lots of the "must sees" in Europe. Don't think that you will see everything the first time. You won't. You will be back, probably more than once. Next year will be my second DCL Med Cruise and I can't wait.

If you book the DCL transfers, going out of Barcelona is painless. If you do it on your own(taxi to port, etc.) you will need to bring your patience because there are typically multiple ships in port.

 

[grahamgallagher]

Being from the UK we have been to Barcelona several times (a nice little cava bar at the bottom of the Ramblas is you ever get the chance....bliss).

Looking at how we would drive through Spain, we can certainly negotiate the port - done this before too.

We would only be stopping in Italy on this cruise, just wondered if anyone had tips for a Med cruise - do they do the FE program??

The Mediterranean cruises are great because they are an easy way to see lots of the "must sees" in Europe. Don't think that you will see everything the first time. You won't. You will be back, probably more than once. Next year will be my second DCL Med Cruise and I can't wait.

If you book the DCL transfers, going out of Barcelona is painless. If you do it on your own(taxi to port, etc.) you will need to bring your patience because there are typically multiple ships in port.

 

[tony111]

The destinations are as good ,if not better in Europe and you don't dread the 8 hour flight back home

 

[grahamgallagher]

Tony,

Thanks mate. It's not the return flight I am dreading next week from the US cruise, it is the post when I get back! I am currently receiving an average of 73 emails per day while on holiday. I dread to think of the post...

Just thought if I booked Med cruise, we could save 10%

Graham

The destinations are as good ,if not better in Europe and you don't dread the 8 hour flight back home

 

[NancyIL]

If not for the airfare, I'd MUCH rather cruise in Europe than in the Caribbean. How lucky you are to live there!

 

[lindylou2_2002]

If not for the airfare, I'd MUCH rather cruise in Europe than in the Caribbean. How lucky you are to live there!

Funny isnt it, we are from england and are cruising out of new york in a couple of weeks, we love america and the caribbean. The 2 med cruise we did we lovely and on our favourite Ship the Magic.
The ports on the european cruises are steeped in so much history that you would need 3 or four trips to each port to do just the highlights.

I guess if it isnt on your door step it is more exciting

 

[kcashner]

We would only be stopping in Italy on this cruise, just wondered if anyone had tips for a Med cruise - do they do the FE program??

Fish Extenders are done by your cruise meet group--they have nothing to do with DCL. THus, it depends on the other guests on your cruise. We did an 11 day Med, but didn't participate in FEs due to the issues of luggage weight, etc. It was a great cruise. Whether VGT rates are available will depend on how well the ship is filling up. Not filling = special rates available. There is no way to predict this far in advance.

 

[GW45]

We did an 11 day Med cruise on the Magic in 2010 and it was fantastic ( contrary to other reports I read it was the easiest cruise for us in terms of boarding and disembarking. A cheap taxi to and from Las Ramblas each time and we were lucky to have no long lines for taxis.
11 days of ports and sea days was fantastic but on the other hand was a bit much simply because we got sick of the food ( so much of it and the kids meals aren't great so I felt 11 days of eating junk was a lot for them.). We've just rebooked on the Fantasy for the 7 day Med next year and think a week will be perfect.
As we live in Ireland only having to fly to Barcelona makes a big difference in terms of cost. Our other three cruises were out of Port Canaveral or Vancouver so the airfare for four added thousands to the cost of those cruises. If you're travelling from the UK a Med cruise is definitely worth it. We loved the Italian ports and Villefranche too. Looking forward to next year!

 

[kcashner]

In response to the above, kids don't have to order off the kid menu. While I don't feel that the food on DCL is as good as on some other lines, there are certainly options that aren't "junk." Yeah, on long cruises, you do have to pace yourself....

 

[starmaker]

Hi there, we too are from the UK and have completed 3 Disney cruises ( 7 night West.Carib, 7 night East.Carib and 10 night Med ) and have our 4th booked for next summer ( 12 night Med with Venice ) All have been on the Magic and we have loved every one of them. We participated in the FE last year in the Med for the first time and it was great fun. We found the Caribbean cruises different to the Med one as generally speaking you tend to be sailing more in the Caribbean whereas in the Med you're in port nearly every day. Which does have its bonuses for us Europeans as the ship tends to almost completely empty during the day and if you have happened to have already visited a particular destination in Europe, you'll have a lovely quiet ship if you decide to stay onboard! We loved our European cruise last year and couldn't resist another one, particularly with Venice! Any questions feel free to ask

 

[woody73]

The idea would be that we stay in a villa in Spain for 1 week then drive 2 hours to the port and board, making a 2 week holiday.

Brilliant.

Woody

 

[grahamgallagher]

The term junk really is different between what someone from the USA thinks and someone for Ireland/UK think.

In response to the above, kids don't have to order off the kid menu. While I don't feel that the food on DCL is as good as on some other lines, there are certainly options that aren't "junk." Yeah, on long cruises, you do have to pace yourself....

 

[grahamgallagher]

Thank you, we are doing our second DCL cruise and I am considering booking the Med one for 2013, so I might pick your brains, if you do not mind.

Graham

Hi there, we too are from the UK and have completed 3 Disney cruises ( 7 night West.Carib, 7 night East.Carib and 10 night Med ) and have our 4th booked for next summer ( 12 night Med with Venice ) All have been on the Magic and we have loved every one of them. We participated in the FE last year in the Med for the first time and it was great fun. We found the Caribbean cruises different to the Med one as generally speaking you tend to be sailing more in the Caribbean whereas in the Med you're in port nearly every day. Which does have its bonuses for us Europeans as the ship tends to almost completely empty during the day and if you have happened to have already visited a particular destination in Europe, you'll have a lovely quiet ship if you decide to stay onboard! We loved our European cruise last year and couldn't resist another one, particularly with Venice! Any questions feel free to ask