Short but Sweet 6th Aug 2013 Magical Med

[milliesmum]

Thought I would just say hi and say me and my DH will be joining you all on this cruise. This will be Disney cruise number 8, number 7 being in a weeks time when me, DM and DSis are taking the 1/6 med cruise so at the moment I am planning madly for that one and when I get back I can start again for this cruise.
Looks like there will be alot of people from the UK on this one

 

[MJ6987]

It probably will be mainly Brits on this cruise, I think it isn't selling as well as the longer cruises. I work for tesco and this particular cruise is even listed with the tesco travel service (supposedly a staff benefit) but they are not offering anything special rate wise. My previous 2 disney cruises were on the Magic, I'm looking forward to saying goodbye to the old Magic this summer. I booked a 12 night med for 2014 on opening day and have just today booked the following 4 nighter. It will be our first B2B, I can't believe I'm going to be on the Magic for 16 nights. Just hope I will be brave enough for the Aquadunk.
I think we've only got about 11 weeks to wait for this one so hopefully it will fly by.

I have booked the Palo brunch and also the Highlights of Monaco / Monte Carlo half day excursion. Think we will just explore Palma on our own - get a taxi there from the Port.

With it possibly not selling well, I wondered if they might offer last minute discounts? Although I guess it would be difficult for us to take advantage now without losing our deposit?

At least the Ship should not be too crowded!

 

[Goofylou]

Apologies for another question, How dressy are the restaraunts?

 

[JoyB-UK]

I have booked the Palo brunch and also the Highlights of Monaco / Monte Carlo half day excursion. Think we will just explore Palma on our own - get a taxi there from the Port.

With it possibly not selling well, I wondered if they might offer last minute discounts? Although I guess it would be difficult for us to take advantage now without losing our deposit?

At least the Ship should not be too crowded!

Now we are after full payment date we wouldn't be able to get any better rates. The deposit and possibly more would be lost if you cancelled and rebooked. I think it will sell last minute, I can't see it sailing much below capacity.

Apologies for another question, How dressy are the restaraunts?

Europeans and UK tend to dress a bit smarter on casual nights than Americans but on formal nights you see all kinds of things from full tuxes to smart jeans. I think we might only have a semi formal night with it being a shorter cruise so personally we won't be bringing the cocktail dress and dinner suit just a nice summer dress and shirt and tie for DH. I think the only rule tends to be no shorts in the dining rooms on a night but some still wear them.

 

[MJ6987]

Hi All,
Does anyone fancy joining me and my family for this private tour (4-12 persons) of Barcelona following the cruise? They would pick us up from the Port Terminal off the ship and then drop us off at our hotels at the end of the 4 hour tour. They would also keep our luggage secure in the vehicle during the tour.

There are 3 of us (me, my wife and daughter (14)) so we need at least one more to secure it...

Its 59 Euros per person.

http://www.barcelonadaytours.com/barcelona-city-tour/

Got great reviews on Trip Advisor too:

http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Attrac...-Barcelona_Day_Tours-Barcelona_Catalonia.html


Thanks,
Matthew

 

[bats]

I have booked the Palo brunch and also the Highlights of Monaco / Monte Carlo half day excursion. Think we will just explore Palma on our own - get a taxi there from the Port.

With it possibly not selling well, I wondered if they might offer last minute discounts? Although I guess it would be difficult for us to take advantage now without losing our deposit?

At least the Ship should not be too crowded!

It had a ton of Spaniards and French on it in 2011. Be warned that the Spanish in particular tend to ignore the 'adults only' signs by Quiet Cove pool and the 'don't talk during the shows' notices!!
I'm hoping it will be quiet though!!

Hi All,
Does anyone fancy joining me and my family for this private tour (4-12 persons) of Barcelona following the cruise? They would pick us up from the Port Terminal off the ship and then drop us off at our hotels at the end of the 4 hour tour. They would also keep our luggage secure in the vehicle during the tour.

There are 3 of us (me, my wife and daughter (14)) so we need at least one more to secure it...

Its 59 Euros per person.

http://www.barcelonadaytours.com/barcelona-city-tour/

Got great reviews on Trip Advisor too:

http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Attrac...-Barcelona_Day_Tours-Barcelona_Catalonia.html


Thanks,
Matthew

I've replied to your PM. We're doing a B2B so will not be able to do any tours. Thanks for asking anyway

For the dress code, like Joy says, it's smart casual for the MDRs (Main Dining Rooms). DCL ask that no shorts, vests or swimwear is worn in the MDRs and I would beg everyone to adhere to these guidelines. There's nothing worse than seeing people in tatty shorts, swimsuit coverups and the like ... please, please, dress for dinner!
Nothing posh needed ... jeans and a polo shirt, Capri pants and a nice shirt ... ??

For those who have booked Palo, don't forget it's trousers and collared shirt for men, dresses or tailored trousers for ladies (think capri pants are ok too) .. no jeans at all.

Rant over

 

[shavlin]

Cool ... Are you from the UK? I can't see your location (if it's there) as I'm on my IPad.

This will be our 7th Disney cruise (3rd on the Magic) so if you have any questions at all, fire away!!!

Joa

Hi Joa,

I'm on this cruise too and was wondering if you know anything about the cruise traditions of secret gifts and swapping pins and magnets. What's the protocol and do you have to get into an organized group online to arrange this pre-cruise? I can see lots of stories about it out there but not sure if it happens on every cruise. Also, what is the check in area and boarding at Barcelona Port like? I was planning on keeping our cruise a secret from our kids until we are boarding but perhaps you are kept in a rather boring holding area for ages before you can board? I might have to tell them when we are driving to the port but wanted to keep the act going to make them think that we are just 'looking' at the ship and then wait to see their faces when we board. I've got Mickey cards with tickets inside for each of them with Disney Magic Dust Confetti in the envelope. Not sure when or where to surprise them with these envelopes as maybe you have to check in and wait around first in a grey room by the dockside - which might be a bit less exciting.
Any tips would be much appreciated

Sarah x

 

[bats]

Hi Joa,

I'm on this cruise too and was wondering if you know anything about the cruise traditions of secret gifts and swapping pins and magnets. What's the protocol and do you have to get into an organized group online to arrange this pre-cruise? I can see lots of stories about it out there but not sure if it happens on every cruise. Also, what is the check in area and boarding at Barcelona Port like? I was planning on keeping our cruise a secret from our kids until we are boarding but perhaps you are kept in a rather boring holding area for ages before you can board? I might have to tell them when we are driving to the port but wanted to keep the act going to make them think that we are just 'looking' at the ship and then wait to see their faces when we board. I've got Mickey cards with tickets inside for each of them with Disney Magic Dust Confetti in the envelope. Not sure when or where to surprise them with these envelopes as maybe you have to check in and wait around first in a grey room by the dockside - which might be a bit less exciting.
Any tips would be much appreciated

Sarah x

Hi Sarah
The cruise terminal at Barca is quite grey but DCL put lots of signs up saying welcome aboard etc, so not sure how you'll keep it a secret for long. You'll all need to check in too so that may give the game away, but you could manage that by passing a short note to the CM maybe asking if they could play along and say you had a ships tour booked? You can register the children online for the clubs which will save time in port, but the children would still need to go and get their wristbands (depending on age), although this could be done once onboard with no problems.

What about your luggage? How will you explain that one? Are you arriving by taxi or DCL transfers? I suppose you could say that they're just looking after it for you, but be mindful that your luggage tag from DCL will have your name and stateroom number on it (you'll get them in the post in the next couple of weeks probably).

If you do tell them in the terminal, please find me first as I'd love to watch their faces!!!

For the swapping of gifts, it's the Fish Extenders. There isn't one for this cruise as its so quiet (on here, not on the ship). It really has to be an active cruise thread to even think about running it really I'm afraid. We're on the 7 night after this cruise too and they only have 3 people on the FE list .. Not good, but cheap!!!

Personally, I would stick to door magnets (have you done those or would you like some help?). Although FE are great, it impacts on your luggage allowance a fair bit sometimes!! We've done it on almost every cruise we've done, but we've opted out this year and Mick is super pleased!!!

Hope that info helps, but let me know if I can help any more. Only 50 odd days to go now and I can't bleddy wait!! A bit of sunshine will go a long way right now.

Joa

 

[bats]

Here's the movies that will be showing onboard (maybe not all of them as its a short cruise, but a choice of these):

Tangled
Chimpanzee
Avengers
Brave in 2D and 3D
Oz
Monsters University
Finding Nemo 3D
Frankenweenie
Wreck It Ralph
Lincoln
Iron Man 3
The Lone Ranger

Joa

 

[julmops]

Here's the movies that will be showing onboard (maybe not all of them as its a short cruise, but a choice of these):

Tangled
Chimpanzee
Avengers
Brave in 2D and 3D
Oz
Monsters University
Finding Nemo 3D
Frankenweenie
Wreck It Ralph
Lincoln
Iron Man 3
The Lone Ranger

Joa

Seen most of them but the one I'm looking forward to is Monsters University

 

[bats]

Seen most of them but the one I'm looking forward to is Monsters University

Us too ... Although I'm definitely up for watching Oz again.

 

[JoyB-UK]

My daughter and I have been holding off seeing quite a few of the films as I thought they would be onboard. Don't know how many we will fit in though I would like to see at least a little bit of the sun. I noticed that Planes is due for release on Aug 9th so I wondered if it would be getting a premiere in the theatre.

 

[bats]

My daughter and I have been holding off seeing quite a few of the films as I thought they would be onboard. Don't know how many we will fit in though I would like to see at least a little bit of the sun. I noticed that Planes is due for release on Aug 9th so I wondered if it would be getting a premiere in the theatre.

I've never heard of Planes ... Is it a thriller?
We had a premier once, think it was on the Wonder .. Beverley hills Chihuahua. Everyone went to the theatre in their PJs at midnight!!

 

[JoyB-UK]

It's a new animation, it's supposed to be like Cars but with planes. The release date for the US is Aug 9th, don't know for UK but we might get it on the ship.

 

[bats]

It's a new animation, it's supposed to be like Cars but with planes. The release date for the US is Aug 9th, don't know for UK but we might get it on the ship.

They may well do a midnight premiere then on the 8th/9th.

Meet you there in PJs ok!

 

[MJ6987]

Isn't it a bit of a waste of time watching a movie on a Cruise when you can do that anytime?

 

[JoyB-UK]

For us the cinema is as big a part of the disney cruise as anything else. It's useful for getting out of the sun for an hour or 2 on a sea day whilst everyone else is fighting for a sunbed and the pools have only standing space. In the evening I would much prefer watching a movie than a show. We are not big drinkers so hanging around the bars doesn't interest us unless there is a quiz on.
I'm not going to sit in the cinema when the ship is in port and there are plenty of things to do but when nothing else appeals its good to know something is always on.

 

[bats]

Isn't it a bit of a waste of time watching a movie on a Cruise when you can do that anytime?

It would be a premiere hopefully. Film is shown at midnight and it's a little bit special as you're one of the first people in the world to see it.

It's only a waste of time if there's something else you want to be doing. Like Joy, we have seen all of the shows before so have no need to see them again. I'd like to think I can lay in the sun all day, but my skin will tell you otherwise, so going to the movies is a great thing to do.

 

[julmops]

They may well do a midnight premiere then on the 8th/9th.

Meet you there in PJs ok!

That would be AWESOME!!!!

 

[JoyB-UK]

YAY luggage tags have arrived so not long to go now. No free upgrade unfortunately but I had one last time so it must be someone else's turn.