May 18, 2013 Magic EBTA Part Two - From Tejas to España

[birkner]

You're dining late also - yes? Linked? Okay I'm noting it on my calendar 10ish - Sat 5/18 at Cove Cafe !!!!!

See you there!

 

[GoofyNewfie]

Two things - Waterloo and Kings Cross/St Pancras are MAJOR overground and underground stations - Remember to transit from one to the other (ie Overground to Underground), but more importantly to be honest do expect them to be fairly busy. What day are you travelling in each direction?

And Piccadilly Station is home of HEATHROW EXPRESS - It's a dedicated train and line and much quicker than the Underground. There is an UNDERGROUND to Heathrow also, so again, make sure you take the right line and be careful if you stop and ask people that they know you want HEATHROW EXPRESS not just the line (Piccadilly Line) that goes to Heathrow.

Perhaps I misunderstand what you mean or there's more than one line, but the Heathrow Express that I use goes back and forth to Paddington. 15 minutes each way. about 35 pounds return/pp. I think there are family/group rates.

https://www.heathrowexpress.com/timetable-schedule

 

[StephenKay]

Morning All,

Paul just mentioned in passing a little known metro ticket that can be bought in Barcelona that I think is really neat and great for sightseekers. The T10 ticket is great because not only is it good value also you are also allowed to swap it between family members. We generally walk through the barrier in the Metro and then pass it back to the next family member, I was sceptical at first however it can be used like this. Its basically a book of 10 tickets.

[URL="]http://www.barcelona-tourist-guide.com/en/faq/transport/t10/00-t10.html[/URL]

Apologises if this has been mentioned before.

 

[twopeasonepod]

Morning? Haha I'm just home from work. Gotta love the huge time difference.

Thank you all for the advice on Euros, British Pounds, and CCs.

So to sum up:

Get 100 Euros/day (hopefully my bank will have them since I'm supposed to give them two weeks).

I'm only going to get a little British Pounds because we are doing the Disney excursion and have no idea what I would spend money on during the tour.

If your CC has a chip, great. If not, know your pin.

Only use at reputable places (like the hotel, big stores, etc.)

Do not ever let them take your card on a tray; instead swipe at table.

If you don't know your pin, you can ask them to sign.

THANK YOU! Did I miss anything?

 

[dee slack]

just a quick tip if using a cc in Europe, if they ask you if you want the charge in $ say NO as you will get a much worse exchange rate than if they charge Euro and your cc use their bank rate.

 

[Carys]

This time next week I will be on a plane flying from New Zealand to the US for the cruise!! It still feels a bit surreal. Purchased foreign exchange today, so that's another thing on my list done.

We're going to that flamenco dinner on the Saturday, but we booked direct from the venue rather than through the tour company. We've also booked a Barcelona Day Tours excursion to Montserrat and cava country on the Sunday. Huzzah!

 

[StephenKay]

just a quick tip if using a cc in Europe, if they ask you if you want the charge in $ say NO as you will get a much worse exchange rate than if they charge Euro and your cc use their bank rate.

This is becoming very common even in the US (Dont you just love banks!). As Dee said, always pay in the "local" currency of the country you are in.

 

[MandyGirl]

Ready to watch the Magic come into Galveston one last time before *WE* are watching her in-person next week?

Awaiting her arrival any minute!

Harbor cam is where she will come into sight
Then Pier 23 cam
and do a 180-degree turn and dock with Cruise Cam

http://www.galveston.com/harborvideocam/

Passing now!! 06:24 cst

Still pics:

http://www.galveston.com/harborcam/

 

[StephenKay]

Hi there,

WE ARE NEXT UP

The Magic is currently docking, the ship first appeared on the Harbour web cam at 06:20 and then on the Cruise web cam at 06:28, hope this might help with your timings for next week. CANT WAIT.

 

[MandyGirl]

Hi there,

WE ARE NEXT UP

The Magic is currently docking, the ship first appeared on the Harbour web cam at 06:20 and then on the Cruise web cam at 06:28, hope this might help with your timings for next week. CANT WAIT.

And you will be there in-person watching next!!!!!!

Turning now - my favorite part to watch http://www.galveston.com/cruisecam/

 

[Kirbo]

Morning? Haha I'm just home from work. Gotta love the huge time difference.

Thank you all for the advice on Euros, British Pounds, and CCs.

So to sum up:

Get 100 Euros/day (hopefully my bank will have them since I'm supposed to give them two weeks).

I'm only going to get a little British Pounds because we are doing the Disney excursion and have no idea what I would spend money on during the tour.

If your CC has a chip, great. If not, know your pin.

Only use at reputable places (like the hotel, big stores, etc.)

Do not ever let them take your card on a tray; instead swipe at table.

If you don't know your pin, you can ask them to sign.

THANK YOU! Did I miss anything?

We fly down one week from today

 

[woody73]

just a quick tip if using a cc in Europe, if they ask you if you want the charge in $ say NO as you will get a much worse exchange rate than if they charge Euro and your cc use their bank rate.

Correct. It's called Dynamic Currency Conversion, and it's to be avoided. Sometimes the salesclerk doesn't even ask.

Woody

 

[geffric]

We fly down one week from today

yeah us too..only 1 week left before I leave...

maybe I'll think about packing/charging batteries etc..

 

[padalyn]

thanks for the tip about the currency! I have not encountered this before. I will be on the watch for it.

Except for the two dresses we have to wear tonight, we are all packed and ready to go. Got the luggage all weighed and everything is looking good!

final checklists in process:

mail hold - done
home watcher - done
all confirmations printed - done
timers set - in process
luggage weighed and sealed - done
family notified - this weekend!
away message for cells - drafted

whew...getting there!

Cayla

 

[twopeasonepod]

I haven't found an answer to one question:

Any of you know how quickly the disembarking tours fill up? We want to do the Montserrat to hotel 1/2 day. I'm wondering if I need to just walk up to GS when we embark.

 

[Viking_53]

We were on the Fantasy last fall, and they started the policy of adding the tips to accounts on that ship when it started sailing in spring 2012.

They were going to migrate that policy over to the other ships by the end of last year (at least that's what we were told).

They said that you could go to Guest Services and have them removed at any time, and then added in later at your discretion. There are quite a few threads on the board about this policy, going back to last year.

 

[JenDen]

We were on the Fantasy in December and the tips were placed on our account the 2nd day.

FE group Walt, looks like the only room # we need is AashleySEG?

Getting excited!!

 

[MandyGirl]

FE group Walt, looks like the only room # we need is AashleySEG?

Yep! As soon as we know that cabin number, Sarah (binkytell) left me the links to update the spreadsheet while she is partying with Mickey and gang. Sarah is now onboard the Magic with the delayed sailing due to weather in Houston (from what I understand)

 

[birkner]

Yep! As soon as we know that cabin number, Sarah (binkytell) left me the links to update the spreadsheet while she is partying with Mickey and gang. Sarah is now onboard the Magic with the delayed sailing due to weather in Houston (from what I understand)

Prayers and for better weather next weekend!

 

[gramfrog]

So I'm telling my family about this R&R cruise - I Really Need ! - then I tell them about pub crawl and Champagne Girls and Chocolate/Alcohol tasting !! So I'm getting these unhuh - sounds more like partying than the resting and all - lol !!!!

Oh, God, I hope they're right. I'm counting on it!!!