6/29/15 Magic to Norway & Iceland

[DL1957]

Cool!

Don't feel you have to justify your use of DVC points... I know some places on these boards you do... It's pretty amazing to me how many strong opinions you see on what someone does with their own DVC points.

It must feel great to have this cruise paid for...

Thanks it really does feel great to go into the DCLsite and not see an outstanding balance. This is cruise #13 for us we have use points for 10 cruises!
Sue

 

[CaliforniaGirl09]

Well I changed our reservation from the cash deposit to DVC points so we are locked in!
I realize there are lots of opinions on using DVC points to cruise we choose to use ours for cruises. We broke even on DVC costs about 5 years ago so if the cost of the cruise is more than than the annual fees assocated with the points it is a great deal. Also the insurance through DVC is $89 a use year! Much less than DCL insurance costs.
Sue

I didn't know that about the insurance costs--that is MUCH cheaper. On our last cruise that would have saved hundreds of dollars. Thanks for the head's up. We haven't used our points for cruising either, but that's mostly because I always have too many DVC trips planned

 

[calypso726]

GOOD MORNING LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, BOYS AND GIRLS! WE SET SAIL IN 62 WEEKS! THAT IS 434 DAYS!

​

 

[disneymath]

Happy Easter everyone!

Love these weekly countdowns calypso ... A great way to start Mondays!

 

[CTXRover]

Reservation #: xxxxxxxxx

Dear xxxxxx,

Thank you for selecting a Disney Cruise Line vacation. We're glad you are sailing with us in the summer of 2015.

In order to provide you with a premier family experience, we have modified our 11-night Copenhagen to England repositioning cruise to include a call on Kirkwall, Scotland, instead of the call on Torshavn, Faroe Islands. We're excited to provide our Guests with this revised sailing itinerary that offers the opportunity to visit both of the countries that inspired the recent blockbuster hit, Frozen from Disney Animation Studios and Brave from Pixar Animation Studios. Kirkwall, located off the Northern coast of Scotland in the Orkney Islands, offers many fascinating historic attractions, adventure tours, and bountiful wildlife.

We are confident that this revised itinerary featuring a call on the popular port of Kirkwall will allow for an exceptional Guest experience. Our Port Adventures team is currently planning a vast range of excursions ashore that we are certain everyone will enjoy. Please visit My Cruise Plans at www.disneycruise.com early next year for a full listing of available excursion options.

Again, thank you for sailing with us. We are looking forward to providing you with an excellent cruise experience.

Sincerely,

The Cast and Crew
Disney Cruise Line

 

[DL1957]

Reservation #: xxxxxxxxx

Dear xxxxxx,

Thank you for selecting a Disney Cruise Line vacation. We're glad you are sailing with us in the summer of 2015.

In order to provide you with a premier family experience, we have modified our 11-night Copenhagen to England repositioning cruise to include a call on Kirkwall, Scotland, instead of the call on Torshavn, Faroe Islands. We're excited to provide our Guests with this revised sailing itinerary that offers the opportunity to visit both of the countries that inspired the recent blockbuster hit, Frozen from Disney Animation Studios and Brave from Pixar Animation Studios. Kirkwall, located off the Northern coast of Scotland in the Orkney Islands, offers many fascinating historic attractions, adventure tours, and bountiful wildlife.

We are confident that this revised itinerary featuring a call on the popular port of Kirkwall will allow for an exceptional Guest experience. Our Port Adventures team is currently planning a vast range of excursions ashore that we are certain everyone will enjoy. Please visit My Cruise Plans at www.disneycruise.com early next year for a full listing of available excursion options.

Again, thank you for sailing with us. We are looking forward to providing you with an excellent cruise experience.

Sincerely,

The Cast and Crew
Disney Cruise Line

I just saw this and DH and I are really excited. We were still thinking we might do Hawaii if they decide to sail there well this great cruise has been made even better by going to Scotland! We are ready to leave now!

 

[GarakDS9]

Mixed reaction to today's news. I didn't book this sailing because of the Faroe Islands but I am always excited to visit someplace new. People here have raved over the Faroe Islands and I'm sure there will be some disappointed people today.

On the other hand we visited Kirkwall last summer on a Princess British Isles sailing. For us it was possibly the best stop on the trip. History and culture galore. Upon our return home we all decided that Oarkney and the Scottish Highlands were the two places we most wanted to return to. Little did we know how soon.

In summary we lose out on visiting someplace new, bummer. We get to visit a favorite place again, yippee.

 

[TheMouseGeeks]

TheMouseGeeks are in!
It will be DH, myself and DD (15).
We were on the 12-night Med to Greece & Turkey last summer and DD made some wonderful friends. We have since done a reunion on the Fantasy (New Years sailing) and will reunite again on the Fantasy for Thanksgiving 2014 and now back on the Magic to Norway and Iceland!



Please add us to the roll call (I have also sent a request for the FB group).

Jennifer

 

[disneymath]

Mixed reaction to today's news. I didn't book this sailing because of the Faroe Islands but I am always excited to visit someplace new. People here have raved over the Faroe Islands and I'm sure their will be some disappointmented people today.

On the other hand we visited Kirkwall last summer on a Princess British Isles sailing. For us it was possibly the best stop on the trip. History and culture galore. Upon our return home we all decided that Oarkney and the Scottish Highlands were the two places we most wanted to return to. Little did we know how soon.

In summary we lose out on visiting someplace new, bummer. We get to visit a favorite place again, yippee.

Thanks for posting your thoughts ... it's all new to us, so as long as Iceland doesn't get changed, we won't be disappointed with the ports but having read great things about the Faroe Islands it's good to hear that Kirkwall is also a great port stop.

 

[CaliforniaGirl09]

I'm crushed. The Faroes were number one on my bucket list. I can't believe they changed the port. I've been to Kirkwall, and it's lovely, but the Faroe Island port stop was the biggest reason for this cruise for us.

 

[GarakDS9]

I'm crushed. The Faroes were number one on my bucket list. I can't believe they changed the port. I've been to Kirkwall, and it's lovely, but the Faroe Island port stop was the biggest reason for this cruise for us.

Rembering one of your previous posts, you came first to mind when I suggested great dissapointment among some travelers. I am sorry for you about this change.

Changes like this always make me very curious. These itineraries are only weeks old. Is their described reasoning sincere? Is the change truely about the Brave connection? Why didn't someone at DCL come up with this idea earlier? The Scotland/Brave connection was mentioned in the DIS several times as we anticipated the new itineraries. Hard to believe DCL just became aware of this improvement opportunity?

This inevitably leads to speculation. Is this about money? Is it about logistics? I have read surprise that a large ship like the Magic would go to the small port of the Faroe islands. If so, wouldn't they know this ahead of time? Lastly, could this decision be somewhat in response to the massive whale killings that go on in the Faroe Islands. Could there have been possible herding kills going on during the ship's visit?

Not angry here, just curious?

 

[tajz90]

Rembering one of your previous posts, you came first to mind when I suggested great dissapointment among some travelers. I am sorry for you about this change.

Changes like this always make me very curious. These itineraries are only weeks old. Is their described reasoning sincere? Is the change truely about the Brave connection? Why didn't someone at DCL come up with this idea earlier? The Scotland/Brave connection was mentioned in the DIS several times as we anticipated the new itineraries. Hard to believe DCL just became aware of this improvement opportunity?

This inevitably leads to speculation. Is this about money? Is it about logistics? I have read surprise that a large ship like the Magic would go to the small port of the Faroe islands. If so, wouldn't they know this ahead of time? Lastly, could this decision be somewhat in response to the massive whale killings that go on in the Faroe Islands. Could there have been possible herding kills going on during the ship's visit?

Not angry here, just curious?

I almost want to breathe a sigh of relief. I was very scared of my older son's reaction to the Faroe Islands and the whaling. Sad, because I doubt I'll go there otherwise, but a-ok with the new Scotland stop! Iceland is our main draw.

 

[slg]

I never received this notification! The stop at Faroe Islands was very short...only until 3:45 so I wonder if they were having a hard time finding excursions. Hopefully the Scottish stop will be longer.

I wonder why I haven't been notified yet. Is anyone else in this position?

 

[CaliforniaGirl09]

This inevitably leads to speculation. Is this about money? Is it about logistics? I have read surprise that a large ship like the Magic would go to the small port of the Faroe islands. If so, wouldn't they know this ahead of time? Lastly, could this decision be somewhat in response to the massive whale killings that go on in the Faroe Islands. Could there have been possible herding kills going on during the ship's visit?
Not angry here, just curious?

I'm curious also and disappointed (not angry). It seems really odd that DCL would spend all this time planning the new itineraries (releasing them months later than last year) and then change a port a month after release. You would think they would have done a little due diligence and the whale issue would have come up well before the port was released. It could have also been something like they were waiting for Kirkwall and using the Faroes as a placeholder. Who knows. I'm going to write and ask, but I doubt I'll get anything substantive back.

I wonder why I haven't been notified yet. Is anyone else in this position?

I haven't received notification either! I hear that the change is on the website (part of it at least). Port time at Kirkwall is 8:30 to 4:45.

 

[scottrob]

We just got an email from Dreams Unlimited. We are excited either way.

 

[ejw]

We were on the Magic last week and love all the new changes. It's like a breath of fresh air.

elle

 

[GarakDS9]

I haven't received notification either! I hear that the change is on the website (part of it at least). Port time at Kirkwall is 8:30 to 4:45.

Thanks, I haven't had a chance to check the DCL website yet. 8:15 hours in port is a good amount of time. I was worried that it would be cut short since travel to Kirkwall is greater than travel to Faroe but port time actually increased. Probably because we are that much closer to Dover.

 

[Silverfox97]

I'm disappointed but not angry. I think it's directly rated to whaling but then again you never know. I'd much rather go to the Faroe Islands than Scotland but I'm not going to cancel or anything like that.

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

 

[newfamilyman]

It could also be because the tour operators weren't willing, or were going to charge a lot more, for plussing their tours for Disney. I remember what a big deal was made of the special Disney touches that were being added to the usual Alaska excursions the first year that the Wonder went there.

 

[calypso726]

We booked mostly because of the Norway/Iceland stops. The Faroe Islands were icing on the cake. I did like the idea of going somewhere so unique. I am quite fine with the change to Scotland but I do know I am missing out on something that would have been pretty awesome. I feel bad for Californiagirl though. I know she was really looking forward to this stop which is what got me excited about the Faroe Islands in the first place.