4/10/2010 eb ta "bound for barcelona"

[belle1627]

just fyi - I should have the quote for lanyards this week. Anyone who stilll wants to help in the cost it is not too late.
Are we considering this a FE gift? If so those wanting to "chip in" can join in the exchange if you want to.
Krisann

I just pm'd you

 

[Happy Goofy]

TOTALLY! And you'll need those coins too
We once got money from a French ATM and we got $100 Euro notes instead of smaller bills - what a pain in the A%$!



Just to clarify, are you doing Seville on an excursion or on your own? We are going to take the train, so if/when we figure out the details on that (how long the train is, etc.) we can post the info.

We are taking the Disney Excursion

 

[Mrs. Gumdrop]

Very good site for exchange rates:
http://www.xe.com/ucc/

We already have Euro's so we don't need to exchange them anymore.

My question is for all of you: Why why why do you want to leave the States with a couple of hundred euro's???
In my opinion is around €100 enough and then go to an ATM for more wehen you need more...
What is the reason for getting a couple of hundred €??

Tip: When you go to your bank just don't accept bills over the amount of €50.
Everything above the amount of €50 will almost never be accepted by stores or cabs......

Thanks for the tip Yvette! I think we intend on taking perhaps 200 euros for the whole family (5 adults) for this trip. I think we are paranoid that we will get caught out needing to hop a cab or purchase something small and not have the cash or an ATM nearby. We certainly wouldn't carry the entire amount on our person at each port.

In your estimation, are we over preparing? Thanks.

 

[Yvet]

In your estimation, are we over preparing? Thanks.

No €50 per person doesn't sound weird at all.

You want to make sure that you have some money in case of emergency...
Maybe you get stuck somewhere and you need to grab a cab then you want to pay with cash.
Also you probably want to buy some drinks or a snack from a store and you need cash money for that to.
And when you want to buy a souvenir that isn't very expensive you need cash for that also.

When you spend big amounts (somewhere around and above €40) then you can use your credit card without any problems.
I know in the USA you just pay everything with a credit card even when you buy a coffee at Starbucks for $5.
In Europe for those small amounts you use your debit card but for international people that's not an option, so for those smaller amounts and little expenses you need cash.

And please keep in mind that the prices are very high in Europe.
I think you can compare prices for drinks at a little stand somewhere to prices you pay for a drink at WDW.

 

[Happy Goofy]

Absolutely, Michelle!

We do not want our FE plans to fall apart.

I hope the other people who are involved in making FE gifts will join this discussion.

Well, you won't find us wearing lime green, but I have two Minnie Bride hats and Dr. Dave has a Mickey Groom top hat that we will wear after big day and may have on the ship.

I agree- this is getting too complicated- lets keep it fun. If all of us that are doing the FE can agree on keeping it simple and fun for all it would be great. The fun is getting little surprises .

 

[emma'smom]

Just weighing in....but when I was in Germany last summer, I my ATM card was not recognized by the foreign ATM's. It had the correct symbol and was a debit visa, but I couldn't get money anywhere! Luckily, I had taken out 600.00 dollars at an ATM at the Atlanta airport (just in case) and that gave me something to work with. I was really stuck. I ended up charging a bunch of group meals on my credit card and collecting cash from the rest of the people in my group to make it through the trip.

I wouldn't want that to happen again. This time I am taking traveler's checks (old school) and enough starter Euro's that I'm covered if I run into a problem. My colleague had a visa travel card (like a modern traveler's check---but a debit card). I might look into that.....but the situation last summer was pretty annoying.

That said---when I lived in Spain in college, I used to use my debit card all the time (different bank and 16 years ago). My parents would deposit money into the account at home and I could access it abroad.

Very good site for exchange rates:
http://www.xe.com/ucc/

We already have Euro's so we don't need to exchange them anymore.

My question is for all of you: Why why why do you want to leave the States with a couple of hundred euro's???
In my opinion is around €100 enough and then go to an ATM for more wehen you need more...
What is the reason for getting a couple of hundred €??

Tip: When you go to your bank just don't accept bills over the amount of €50.
Everything above the amount of €50 will almost never be accepted by stores or cabs......

 

[woody73]

I would love to hear your ideas on the FE. The sooner we start nailing things down, the better.

I am supposedly the one in charge, but Lynne has been doing the FE list, so I am not sure anymore.

Michelle,

I think this cruise will be here sooner than we realize.

People need adequate lead time for the FE exchange. There are people who will make hand-made FE gifts. There are others who will want to form groups for, perhaps, bigger gifts.

While there always will be people who who want to join the FE exchange after whatever deadline we set, I think the deadline should accommodate those who have already signed up.

I think you, as the activity organizer, should pick a date.

Anyone signing up after the deadline can be dealt with later.

Woody

 

[emma'smom]

I agree with this idea. I think it is pretty straightforward-- 40 cabins= 40 gifts. Easy peasy (and my dd4 would say). If we have a few more before Feb 1st, that's fine. I think we should all remember that these don't have to be expensive things (or, thinking of luggage, big things)....It's all about the fun of surprises more than anything.

Also, I would prefer that we do not have a time/date deadline. We tended to drop them off when we had some down-time throughout the cruise and whenever we were headed to certain parts of the ship--we would take ones for that direction.

Just weighing in...but willing to go along with whatever....

My preference would be that everyone in the group give to every cabin (or every person as they see fit) and we lock down the list by February 1st.

I hate to exclude anyone, it's not in my nature but the rest of us have to plan and have time to prepare. If there are enough newcomers after Feb. 1 to make a second exchange list, great!

I also don't think it should be mandated what time of day the gifts are dropped off. Coming back to gifts at the end of the day is fun too. Assigning days I agree with.

All that said, if we go in a different direction, I won't kick up a fuss.

 

[Happy Goofy]

Absolutely, Michelle!

We do not want our FE plans to fall apart.

I hope the other people who are involved in making FE gifts will join this discussion.

Well, you won't find us wearing lime green, but I have two Minnie Bride hats and Dr. Dave has a Mickey Groom top hat that we will wear after big day and may have on the ship.

What, where and for how much is this tour.
Please share more info with us because it sounds great!!!

We also might be interested in this.

 

[joius24]

Thanks Yvet for the money thing....I will get small bills/change. I called my credit onion about my ATM/debit/visa card (to check on exchange charges) and the woman told me it was good I called- because of the CC fraud...she needed to note when I would be there in my record...otherwise my CC would have been declined. PHEW !

 

[woody73]

My question is for all of you: Why why why do you want to leave the States with a couple of hundred euro's???

In my opinion is around €100 enough and then go to an ATM for more wehen you need more...
What is the reason for getting a couple of hundred €??

Yvette,

I think some people might feel more comfortable bringing a couple of hundred Euros.

They might be traveling with more than just two people. They might be worried about finding an ATM, or finding one that works with their ATM card. They might be planning ahead for all the ports (such as for taxis, entrance fees, or trains to Seville).

On my many travels to Europe, my ATM card was not accepted on several occasions. My ATM card does not have an embedded security chip required by many European ATM machines.

Woody

 

[CDN Prince Charming]

Notice Night 2 is both cruise casual AND formal? As there is no Night 3, I suppose they meant that night for formal. Also noticed they did not specify any themes except for pirate night.

Kristi

Thanks for all the info!

 

[grlzmom]

Yvette,

I think some people might feel more comfortable bringing a couple of hundred Euros.

They might be traveling with more than just two people. They might be worried about finding an ATM, or finding one that works with their ATM card. They might be planning ahead for all the ports (such as for taxis, entrance fees, or trains to Seville).

On my many travels to Europe, my ATM card was not accepted on several occasions. My ATM card does not have an embedded security chip required by many European ATM machines.

Woody

Agree.

We have had multiple ATM problems traveling abroad, using several different cards.

Some of the private tour guides only take cash payment at end of tour so some might need euros for that.

 

[Michelle2]

Michelle,

I think this cruise will be here sooner than we realize.

People need adequate lead time for the FE exchange. There are people who will make hand-made FE gifts. There are others who will want to form groups for, perhaps, bigger gifts.

While there always will be people who who want to join the FE exchange after whatever deadline we set, I think the deadline should accommodate those who have already signed up.

I think you, as the activity organizer, should pick a date.

Anyone signing up after the deadline can be dealt with later.

Woody

I agree, sounds good!

My preference would be that everyone in the group give to every cabin (or every person as they see fit) and we lock down the list by February 1st.

I hate to exclude anyone, it's not in my nature but the rest of us have to plan and have time to prepare. If there are enough newcomers after Feb. 1 to make a second exchange list, great!

I also don't think it should be mandated what time of day the gifts are dropped off. Coming back to gifts at the end of the day is fun too. Assigning days I agree with.

All that said, if we go in a different direction, I won't kick up a fuss.

I so appreciate everyone's input. Now I have a better idea of where the majority stands.

So, it seems to me that the majority wants to do every cabin/everyone. Those that want to do smaller groups/bigger gifts can form groups on their own.

It seems that the majority wants an ealier deadline, so let's make the deadline February 1st.

Everyone seems split half and half on the assigning of days, so I am still in limbo on that one. I am leaning towards not having days assigned just to keep it simple. It usually has worked out in the past...some do come on the same day, but with enough sea days, there should be plenty of opportunity. That way if plans come up, someone can do it a different day if they want.

I will update post #10 with all of the general info, deadline, etc.
Thanks everyone!

 

[grlzmom]

I agree, sounds good!



I so appreciate everyone's input. Now I have a better idea of where the majority stands.

So, it seems to me that the majority wants to do every cabin/everyone. Those that want to do smaller groups/bigger gifts can form groups on their own.

It seems that the majority wants an ealier deadline, so let's make the deadline February 1st.

Everyone seems split half and half on the assigning of days, so I am still in limbo on that one. I am leaning towards not having days assigned just to keep it simple. It usually has worked out in the past...some do come on the same day, but with enough sea days, there should be plenty of opportunity. That way if plans come up, someone can do it a different day if they want.

I will update post #10 with all of the general info, deadline, etc.
Thanks everyone!

Sounds great Michelle, thanks for doing it!

 

[joius24]

Thanks Michelle!

 

[auntlynne]

I like Michelle's thinking on the FE procedures.

My 2cts is also no assigned days.

I'm sitting in my local airport on the way to LAX via ATL. Got here 90 min before flight - took about 5 min going thru security - one person in front of me.

Everyone keep posting info for name tags - when I get back to my computer with the website on it, I'll be able to make any updates.

It is so much easier to type on a std keyboard.

 

[stlkeeler]

Lynne, I was thinking about you this morning, wondering if you were on a plane somewhere. Hope all your vacation days are great!

 

[Beauty & the Best]

Ok to look up stateroom reports for these rooms. DH and I have never had an outside room let alone a verandah. So excited!!!

Be careful Brooklyn, once you go balcony, you never go back! or, you never want to anyways...

I emailed DCL asking for specifics on theme nights and formal/semi-formal nights. Yes, Pirate night is the night we are in Madeira

Anyway, this is their response.

14-Night Transatlantic Eastbound Cruise
*Nights 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 10, 11, 12, 14: cruise casual
*Nights 2 & 8: "formal night" - formal wear for men: tuxedo or suit;
for women: gown or dress
*Night 9: pirate night with deck party - cruise casual or bring your
best pirate outfit!
*Night 13: "semi-formal night" - semi-formal wear for men: suit/jacket;
for women: dress or pantsuit.
Kristi

Thanks Kristi. I was wondering how many formal nights would be on our cruise. So happy that its only 2...I love dressing up but w/ limited luggage its just too difficult!

My question is for all of you: Why why why do you want to leave the States with a couple of hundred euro's???
In my opinion is around €100 enough and then go to an ATM for more wehen you need more...
What is the reason for getting a couple of hundred €??

Tip: When you go to your bank just don't accept bills over the amount of €50.
Everything above the amount of €50 will almost never be accepted by stores or cabs......

Well for us it's about being cheap. Keep in mind that every time you pull money out of an ATM overseas, you are being charged a fee from the ATM bank and also an extra fee from your bank, and (for us) the "exchange" fee from our bank - there is also an extra charge for us when we use our credit card in Europe.

Bringing a few hundred Euros (which we know we'll spend anyways) is a way to lower the fees. Plus it's just peace of mind knowing that you'll arrive at your first European port w/o having to look for money right away.

 

[Mrs. Gumdrop]

I agree, sounds good!



I so appreciate everyone's input. Now I have a better idea of where the majority stands.

So, it seems to me that the majority wants to do every cabin/everyone. Those that want to do smaller groups/bigger gifts can form groups on their own.

It seems that the majority wants an ealier deadline, so let's make the deadline February 1st.

Everyone seems split half and half on the assigning of days, so I am still in limbo on that one. I am leaning towards not having days assigned just to keep it simple. It usually has worked out in the past...some do come on the same day, but with enough sea days, there should be plenty of opportunity. That way if plans come up, someone can do it a different day if they want.

I will update post #10 with all of the general info, deadline, etc.
Thanks everyone!

Great Michelle! Thanks being the Executive on this one.

I love our little democracy.