4/24/2010 Med cruise: Friends, Romans, Countrymen lend me your Ears

[skoi]

Welcome Emiel and Yvette!

We've come along way since we were the only people on board that first month.

Julie

 

[brannose]

We are booked B2B on the EBTA & 4/24 Med cruises. We got our cabin assignment for the EBTA and were upgraded from a Cat 11 to a Cat 6. Naturally, we are very happy with that. Our 4/24 Med cruise shows that we were upgraded from a Cat 12 to a Cat 11. I am hoping that this is an initial assignment and that they will be doing upgrades on the 4/24 cruise in the next few weeks.

Does anyone know if the current 4/24 Med cabin assignments are before or after upgrades?

Also, what are our chances of getting a free upgrade for the 4/24 Med cruise while we are on the EBTA?

If all else fails, we will try to get a cheap paid 4/24 upgrade while onboard the EBTA or at the terminal prior to the 4/24 cruise.

 

[grlzmom]

We are booked B2B on the EBTA & 4/24 Med cruises. We got our cabin assignment for the EBTA and were upgraded from a Cat 11 to a Cat 6. Naturally, we are very happy with that. Our 4/24 Med cruise shows that we were upgraded from a Cat 12 to a Cat 11. I am hoping that this is an initial assignment and that they will be doing upgrades on the 4/24 cruise in the next few weeks.

Does anyone know if the current 4/24 Med cabin assignments are before or after upgrades?

Also, what are our chances of getting a free upgrade for the 4/24 Med cruise while we are on the EBTA?

If all else fails, we will try to get a cheap paid 4/24 upgrade while onboard the EBTA or at the terminal prior to the 4/24 cruise.

We are BTB also! Congrats on the 11 to 6, those are some awesome upgrades going on for the TA, unheard of so many people going that many categories up!

We already had assigned rooms for the TA. Our rooms for the MED are GTY12s and showing GTY12s. Guessing if you were previously GTY12 and now showing an 11 assigned, you have a room, which of course could change. Hopefully the rest of us 12s will hear something soon then!

Having done back to back cruises before and sailed DCL a lot my opinion is that chances for a free upgrade for MED while on TA are small unless shoreside is still doing free upgrades. Unless something has changed, the ship doesn't get the manifest until couple days prior.

For a paid upgrade you will not be able to pay until you are rechecked in at terminal even if you already know the upgrade exists and then it's first come first served, they won't hold it or anything (been there done that on previous cruises where bunch of people BTB wanted to upgrade).

Upgrade price will be based on the category you paid for (12) even if they already assigned you a higher category, so it kind of negates any free upgrade they may have already given you already.

It used to be different, DCL would charge you based on category assigned, now they charge you based on category paid for.

I'm not looking forward to switching cabins between cruises but with the awesome rates we got for the CAT12s on MED, can't complain, well worth packing up the stuff and moving!

There will probably be bunches of us in the same situation as our BTB group seems to be growing daily!

 

[mrosen]

Congrats on the upgrades that I've read about here today.

I assume the chances of upgrades is also tied to how full the ship may be on bookings. Does anyone know if the transatlantic cruise isn't that full given these incredible upgrades of so many categories? I'm just making an assumption that this is the case and that the 4/24 Med cruise will have more people booked on it.

 

[shushh]

For the other BTB cruisers who booked as GTY, did you receive your med room allocations as well like brannose?

mrosen, last I checked our sailing had every category in GTY status other than cats 4 and 5. I don't know if this is any indication of how full our sailing is. Can't really comment on the TA cruise.

 

[auntlynne]

We have our EB TA cabin # (went from a Cat 12 GTY to Cat 11 on Deck 6, midship - yeah! maybe less seasickness in midship), but no assignment for the Med.

I do think the TA is severely undersold. They have had that $699 pp offer for Cat 12s for over a month - and before that is was $799.

And the Med dropped the kids sail free pretty quickly - maybe they had a sufficient # of takers to make the cruise profitable. (Although I've looked at the prices for these cruises for anything above Cat 11 and there is a rapid escalation in price).

- Lynne

 

[mrosen]

Do cruises always go into GTY status for all categories this close to sail? I noticed that too that you can't pick rooms but wasn't sure if that was indicative of it was pretty full or not vs within a window of sail. I wondered if it means the cruise has filled up pretty good.

I also agree with Lynne on price escalates quickly above Cat 12 for room rates. The way they priced the Cat 12 GTY encouraged in my opinion taking a chance. I would have stuck with my Cat 10 if Disney had lowered it more back in Nov when I switched given the Cat 12 pricing that was too good to pass up.

I'm looking forward to the trip so hoping April gets here soon.

 

[shushh]

Congratulations Lynne on the upgrade!

$699 for cat 12 is really a good deal. Pity DH doesn't have enough leave!

 

[TheCruisers]

For the other BTB cruisers who booked as GTY, did you receive your med room allocations as well like brannose?

mrosen, last I checked our sailing had every category in GTY status other than cats 4 and 5. I don't know if this is any indication of how full our sailing is. Can't really comment on the TA cruise.

I did not. Not yet anyways. For the TA we were upgraded from gty cat 12 to cat 9. The med still shows gty 12.

Eleasa

 

[grlzmom]

We have our EB TA cabin # (went from a Cat 12 GTY to Cat 11 on Deck 6, midship - yeah! maybe less seasickness in midship), but no assignment for the Med.

- Lynne

Congrats on the Cat 11

Do cruises always go into GTY status for all categories this close to sail? I noticed that too that you can't pick rooms but wasn't sure if that was indicative of it was pretty full or not vs within a window of sail. I wondered if it means the cruise has filled up pretty good.

I'm looking forward to the trip so hoping April gets here soon.

Cruises don't automatically go into GTY status close to sail date.

When they do show available staterooms in a category, they usually only show 8 per category regardless of how many more are available.

I have booked on cruises that showed GTY status and the next day been assigned a room number and also booked GTY and not had a room until I got to port. Sometimes they will even call you and tell you the room number to write on the luggage tags.

Seems in the last year or so they have been assigning GTY rooms earlier and earlier which is good because who wants to keep wondering and waiting any longer than they have to.

 

[Leesh77]

Hello all!

Since I know that most of you are veteran DCL-ers...I need your advice. For whatever reason I just realized today that one night on our cruise dinner is formal. I have one word for that...UGH! (Not that big a fan of dressing up.)

In the FAQ on the DCL site, it says
"formal wear for men: tuxedo or suit; for women: gown or dress; semi-formal wear for men: suit/jacket; for women: dress or pantsuit."

So I guess my question is this...for the ladies...what can I "get away with" for a dress? I don't really have a gown, and I haven't been to a wedding in awhile, so do I need to go and buy something?

I wanted to hear about past experiences at formal nights. I don't want to commit a fashion faux pas, but at the same time I don't really want to go and buy a formal gown for one night on a cruise.

Any thoughts would be appreciated.
(oh, and this is my 10th post! HURRAH!)

 

[linkandclover]

Hello all!

Since I know that most of you are veteran DCL-ers...I need your advice. For whatever reason I just realized today that one night on our cruise dinner is formal. I have one word for that...UGH! (Not that big a fan of dressing up.)

In the FAQ on the DCL site, it says
"formal wear for men: tuxedo or suit; for women: gown or dress; semi-formal wear for men: suit/jacket; for women: dress or pantsuit."

So I guess my question is this...for the ladies...what can I "get away with" for a dress? I don't really have a gown, and I haven't been to a wedding in awhile, so do I need to go and buy something?

I wanted to hear about past experiences at formal nights. I don't want to commit a fashion faux pas, but at the same time I don't really want to go and buy a formal gown for one night on a cruise.

Any thoughts would be appreciated.
(oh, and this is my 10th post! HURRAH!)

We have done 5 cruises and have really seen a variety of attire on formal and semi formal nights. A nice dress or pantsuit will be fine although you will see some in long gowns at least on formal night. The other option you have is to eat elsewhere and avoid all the hoopla. ( I will apologize ahead as I will be in a long gown only because I have it and figure it should get worn once in a while).

 

[NC_Tink]

Hello all!

Since I know that most of you are veteran DCL-ers...I need your advice. For whatever reason I just realized today that one night on our cruise dinner is formal. I have one word for that...UGH! (Not that big a fan of dressing up.)

In the FAQ on the DCL site, it says
"formal wear for men: tuxedo or suit; for women: gown or dress; semi-formal wear for men: suit/jacket; for women: dress or pantsuit."

So I guess my question is this...for the ladies...what can I "get away with" for a dress? I don't really have a gown, and I haven't been to a wedding in awhile, so do I need to go and buy something?

I wanted to hear about past experiences at formal nights. I don't want to commit a fashion faux pas, but at the same time I don't really want to go and buy a formal gown for one night on a cruise.

Any thoughts would be appreciated.
(oh, and this is my 10th post! HURRAH!)

Congratulations on your 10th post!!!

As for formal night -- I only have the Caribbean cruises as reference - but just about anything goes! I mean really - many people dress up, but there are many that don't as well. I've seen some people in evening dresses and tuxes and others in jeans and khakis. I must admit though - I don't remember seeing too many tuxes on our cruise in September. I think just about anything "nice" - like good "Sunday" clothes and you'll feel in place. I have a nice cocktail dress that I'm wearing for formal night - but I've been really working my "rear" off to loose weight (am down about 18lbs now) and am ready to dress up in my new (hopefully by the actual cruise) 25lb lighter frame. I won't be bringing an evening gown just cause I'm trying to make sure we bring only 4 suitcases After that we gotta pay for luggage and my DH is already starting to throw a fit about the cost of this vacation Don't stress about formal night. As for my husband - he'll wear his dark suit for formal night and the boys will probably wear their dark suits - if they fit. If the suits don't fit - then they'll be wearing nice slacks and shirts. As for semi-formal night - it's a toss up - some people dress up - some people even wear their formal night attire on semi-formal because of the "lifestyle portrait" backrounds that are available for photographs - these are the white background photos. Again - don't stress! There's always Topsiders, room service and other options if you really want to avoid formal night - but no one will kick you off the ship if you come to dinner in something other than a sequin gown and tuxedo

 

[auntlynne]

This is a hot-button topic. There are people who swear you should dress up - or else you should not even show up in the dining room.

While I think it would be great fun for everyone to be dressed up in the designated level of formality, I hold no ill feeling to those who do not for whatever reason.

And you will not be stopped at the door and kept out, either. This is not a cruise line with different levels of cruising - my Cat 12 steerage ticket buys me the same dining room as everyone up to Cat 4 - now the Concierge level is a different matter, they can eat in their rooms, not among the hordes in the massive cafeteria-sized dining rooms.

Just make sure you wear a smile (and some clothing).

- Lynne (not from Scotland)

 

[grlzmom]

So I guess my question is this...for the ladies...what can I "get away with" for a dress? I don't really have a gown, and I haven't been to a wedding in awhile, so do I need to go and buy something?

I wanted to hear about past experiences at formal nights. I don't want to commit a fashion faux pas, but at the same time I don't really want to go and buy a formal gown for one night on a cruise.

Any thoughts would be appreciated.
(oh, and this is my 10th post! HURRAH!)

Really, you can get away with wearing just about anything as long as you are clothed, it isn't a bathing suit and you have shoes on your feet.

Formal night in my opinion has become a little less formal recently and I don't know if it has more to do with luggage constraints or so many repeat cruisers who have enough formal photos they stop bringing tuxes and gowns.

I personally would not buy a formal gown for one night on a cruise. Nor would DH rent a tux for a 7 night cruise anymore (not many people wearing them).

We cruise frequently so the formal attire already exists but with luggage constraints we are scaling down on what we will bring and for me it will be cocktail dresses.

Dh will rent a tux for the transatlantic (to keep from packing) and not for the MED. By the MED we will be tired of dressing up, port days will be long and so he will wear his "church clothes" there will be plenty of others there dressed the same way, and there will be plenty of people in all out formal attire, and then there will be those there in jeans and tshirts and they won't be turned away from the dining room.

Yes, the fashion police exist but honestly, I can't imagine my dining experience being negatively or positively for that matter affected by someone elses attire.

More important things to worry about, like what kind of dessert is on the menu that night

Now if you are going to Palo, you can be turned away without meeting dress "code".

 

[Becx N Gav]

Congratulations on your 10th post!!!

As for formal night -- I only have the Caribbean cruises as reference - but just about anything goes! I mean really - many people dress up, but there are many that don't as well. I've seen some people in evening dresses and tuxes and others in jeans and khakis. I must admit though - I don't remember seeing too many tuxes on our cruise in September. I think just about anything "nice" - like good "Sunday" clothes and you'll feel in place. I have a nice cocktail dress that I'm wearing for formal night - but I've been really working my "rear" off to loose weight (am down about 18lbs now) and am ready to dress up in my new (hopefully by the actual cruise) 25lb lighter frame. I won't be bringing an evening gown just cause I'm trying to make sure we bring only 4 suitcases After that we gotta pay for luggage and my DH is already starting to throw a fit about the cost of this vacation Don't stress about formal night. As for my husband - he'll wear his dark suit for formal night and the boys will probably wear their dark suits - if they fit. If the suits don't fit - then they'll be wearing nice slacks and shirts. As for semi-formal night - it's a toss up - some people dress up - some people even wear their formal night attire on semi-formal because of the "lifestyle portrait" backrounds that are available for photographs - these are the white background photos. Again - don't stress! There's always Topsiders, room service and other options if you really want to avoid formal night - but no one will kick you off the ship if you come to dinner in something other than a sequin gown and tuxedo

I agree with this.

We've only done one 4 night cruise and we dressed up a bit - me cocktail dress, DH suit trousers (slacks), shirt and neck tie. I don't think DH would wear a tux. We'll probably do the same this time around too. We will not bring a jacket for DH either, he'll take it off when he eats so I don't see the point and it'll take up valuable space in our one checked peice of luggage (I'm having nghtmares over this ).
I think as long as you are comfortable with what you choose you'll be fine As others have said you can eat somewhere else if you don't want all the hassle. I am hoping we'll get a nice picture of the two of us to make dressing up worthwhile.

- Lynne (not from Scotland)

Love that Lynne

 

[linkandclover]

:
I have a nice cocktail dress that I'm wearing for formal night - but I've been really working my "rear" off to loose weight (am down about 18lbs now) and am ready to dress up in my new (hopefully by the actual cruise) 25lb lighter frame.

Congratulations on the weight loss.

 

[Leesh77]

Ok. Great! You have all made me feel much better! I have a few little black dresses --so as Tim Gunn says, I can "make it work".

Thanks all!

 

[auntlynne]

Well, if you have a few "black dresses," you're covered (literally and figuratively).

 

[Dicecatt]

We still have room for two more on our Villefranche tour...Monaco, Monte Carlo, Eze, Saint-Paul and Old Nice...600 euro divided among everyone (we have 6 now, looking to top out at 8).

Also, anyone going to Portofino on the la Spezia day? We have the Portofino Santa Margherita tour booked through DCL but I've been trying to figure out if there is a better way...and the one tour guide that answered me is like 800 Euro which is a little outrageous!