7/13/13 ~~ Eastern Mediterranean Mouseketeers!

[slg]

I'm not worried about the cruise cancelling, but about the ABD. They have been very remiss in sending me any information and won't commit to it happening. With my cruise docs it states that the ABD portion can be cancelled at any time for any reason and then they will reimburse us. Well if they cancel a week or two out they will give us the money, but I will be in Paris and I have nothing planned!

Just got an email from my TA:

"There are 5 Guests requesting connecting rooms for their Adventures By Disney Barcelona Escape Package. The hotel informed us they can only accommodate connecting rooms for a total of 4 people because each room only has 1 bed. We will try to get them rooms next to each other but they will not be connecting.

I hope this information has been helpful. "

Not sure what is helpful about this email. I feel really depressed. This ABD has cost our family of 5 about $10,000 and we won't even have connecting rooms and who knows if they'll even be close to each other. As of this moment, I wish I had just done Barcelona on my own.

Grrr.

 

[JimmyJackJunior]

Link to June 15th Greece Cruise Thread....

http://disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2867052

I was looking for the current June 1st cruise.

 

[bellelinus]

DUH! It has just dawned on me that i will need foreign currency (euros & lira, is all, I think).
Anyone know best method for exchange rate? Rates at banks appear steep.
Will my ATM card work?

Perhaps I shouldn't be let out without adult supervision!
So looking forward to this...

You will always get the best rate using your ATM card at a bank abroad. Just be sure that you contact the back before you leave and let them know the dates and places of your travel.

 

[bellelinus]

I actually looked for one last night but could not find one. Is there a link?

I've looked a few times and haven't been able to find a trip report or blog for the first Med cruise.

 

[bellelinus]

I'm not worried about the cruise cancelling, but about the ABD. They have been very remiss in sending me any information and won't commit to it happening. With my cruise docs it states that the ABD portion can be cancelled at any time for any reason and then they will reimburse us. Well if they cancel a week or two out they will give us the money, but I will be in Paris and I have nothing planned!

Just got an email from my TA:

"There are 5 Guests requesting connecting rooms for their Adventures By Disney Barcelona Escape Package. The hotel informed us they can only accommodate connecting rooms for a total of 4 people because each room only has 1 bed. We will try to get them rooms next to each other but they will not be connecting.

I hope this information has been helpful. "

Not sure what is helpful about this email. I feel really depressed. This ABD has cost our family of 5 about $10,000 and we won't even have connecting rooms and who knows if they'll even be close to each other. As of this moment, I wish I had just done Barcelona on my own.

Grrr.

I have to say, this would upset me a lot, too - that's a lot of money to spend and not be able to have connecting rooms - or even be certain that it wouldn't get canceled altogether! I hope it works out for you.

 

[LovesToRun]

I'm not worried about the cruise cancelling, but about the ABD. They have been very remiss in sending me any information and won't commit to it happening. With my cruise docs it states that the ABD portion can be cancelled at any time for any reason and then they will reimburse us. Well if they cancel a week or two out they will give us the money, but I will be in Paris and I have nothing planned!

Just got an email from my TA:

"There are 5 Guests requesting connecting rooms for their Adventures By Disney Barcelona Escape Package. The hotel informed us they can only accommodate connecting rooms for a total of 4 people because each room only has 1 bed. We will try to get them rooms next to each other but they will not be connecting.

I hope this information has been helpful. "

Not sure what is helpful about this email. I feel really depressed. This ABD has cost our family of 5 about $10,000 and we won't even have connecting rooms and who knows if they'll even be close to each other. As of this moment, I wish I had just done Barcelona on my own.

Grrr.

Oh, I see. You were talking about ABD & not the cruise.

I am sorry about this situation! I would be upset, too! Did they tell you back when you booked you would have connecting rooms? If they did and now they are saying you may not is a little "bait & switch-ish". Given this is ABD, you would think they would expect a majority will want connecting because it's a family thing, so they should use a hotel w/ lots of connecting rooms, or family rooms.

Well, hopefully your family will get the connecting room. I would be the "squeaky wheel" and bug them about giving you the connecting room.

I hope other than the room situation, your ABD experience is beyond amazing!!

I also would call them and just plain ask, "what are the chances this ABD would get cancelled?". If they say no chance, then that might put you at ease. If they say high chance, I'd be keeping the backup hotel room!

Take care! Hopefully you can get some better answers!

 

[DionysiusP]

Cruise Docs! Yippee!

 

[slg]

It's a chore to talk to anyone. Luckily my TA is handling this...she is wonderful. Thank you Kelsie from DU. I checked on the hotel's website and they have family rooms that connect for 4, but they also have suites for up to 6 and on the website they are the same price. The email they sent is poorly worded...I think they mean that they can only connect families of 4, and families of 5 have to be near by. Considering the hotel does have large suites, and that we were the first to book and that we are paying a fortune, I can't see why they can't book us into that one.

When I booked, they didn't promise connecting, but I assumed they were possible since I looked at the website. I wish they had said, NO, you can't connect.

And the fact that they won't commit even at this late date, and that I haven't received any paperwork.

When you call DCL, they say talk to ABD, when you call ABD, they say talk to DCL. ???? ABD promises that they won't cancel past 70 days out, but because it's a DCL/ABD they won't promise anything except they'll refund you if they have to cancel.

Unless they organize themselves better for the future, I wouldn't recommend this for anyone. It has been a stress and continues to be. This was supposed to be a treat for my 50th, and last year I found out I am BRCA1+ and I was so down I wanted to splurge. Now I wish I had just booked everything on my own like I did in Paris.

Sigh. We'll see what they come up with. My Ireland ABD was beyond wonderful.

 

[bellelinus]

It's a chore to talk to anyone. Luckily my TA is handling this...she is wonderful. Thank you Kelsie from DU. I checked on the hotel's website and they have family rooms that connect for 4, but they also have suites for up to 6 and on the website they are the same price. The email they sent is poorly worded...I think they mean that they can only connect families of 4, and families of 5 have to be near by. Considering the hotel does have large suites, and that we were the first to book and that we are paying a fortune, I can't see why they can't book us into that one.

When I booked, they didn't promise connecting, but I assumed they were possible since I looked at the website. I wish they had said, NO, you can't connect.

And the fact that they won't commit even at this late date, and that I haven't received any paperwork.

When you call DCL, they say talk to ABD, when you call ABD, they say talk to DCL. ???? ABD promises that they won't cancel past 70 days out, but because it's a DCL/ABD they won't promise anything except they'll refund you if they have to cancel.

Unless they organize themselves better for the future, I wouldn't recommend this for anyone. It has been a stress and continues to be. This was supposed to be a treat for my 50th, and last year I found out I am BRCA1+ and I was so down I wanted to splurge. Now I wish I had just booked everything on my own like I did in Paris.

Sigh. We'll see what they come up with. My Ireland ABD was beyond wonderful.

So sorry to hear about BRCA1+ . . . hopefully everything about this trip will be completely magical for you!

 

[bellelinus]

OK, FINALLY . . . docs for me today! Hopefully everyone will have received them by today!!!!

Does anyone else have someone in their group aged 18-20 and have the page in their docs you can sign to let them have an alcoholic drink since the drinking age in Europe is 18?

 

[WDW Princess 71]

Got ours today too! Feels so close when you get that little booklet!!

 

[tajz90]

No docs

I did order my Euro though.

Waiting....

 

[tajz90]

OK, FINALLY . . . docs for me today! Hopefully everyone will have received them by today!!!!

Does anyone else have someone in their group aged 18-20 and have the page in their docs you can sign to let them have an alcoholic drink since the drinking age in Europe is 18?

Is there a page or are you asking if there is one? I have a 20 yr old.

 

[slg]

can't decide how many euros to buy

Found out a strange rule today. That public pools in France require men to wear speedos...swim shorts are not allowed.

Not sure how that's going to go over with my kids. We picked the Explorer's Hotel specifically for the pool...hmmm.

 

[tajz90]

can't decide how many euros to buy

I only purchased enough for the 2 Spain days before cruise. I'll change money on ship if we need more. 180 euro is all I'm taking with me. We generally use cc when traveling.

 

[slg]

I use cc too, but some of our transfers are cash only and we are in france 10 days before the cruise and in spain 3. Hmmmm.

 

[bellelinus]

Is there a page or are you asking if there is one? I have a 20 yr old.

There is a page - it's page 27 in my docs (the last page), called European Cruise Beverage Waiver. I have a 21 year old (just turned on Monday) but also an 18 year old that I will probably sign this for just in case I want her to be able to have a glass of champagne in Palo or something. It was interesting because it's not something I had seen before. The form says to fill it out and turn in at Guest Services on Deck 3.

 

[bellelinus]

No docs

I did order my Euro though.

Waiting....

Sorry you didn't get yours today

 

[LovesToRun]

Found out a strange rule today. That public pools in France require men to wear speedos...swim shorts are not allowed.

Not sure how that's going to go over with my kids. We picked the Explorer's Hotel specifically for the pool...hmmm.

Well, I guess you all will get a true cultural experience at the pool at your hotel in France.

 

[WDW Princess 71]

can't decide how many euros to buy

Found out a strange rule today. That public pools in France require men to wear speedos...swim shorts are not allowed.

Not sure how that's going to go over with my kids. We picked the Explorer's Hotel specifically for the pool...hmmm.

Where did you read this, and does it definitely apply to hotels? I find that really hard to believe, given that hotels cater to tourists from around the world. Most men from countries that don't wear speedos as the normal bathing attire don't even own one. I hope this is not really enforced, otherwise my dad will be sitting on the pool sidelines since he does not own one nor would he buy one (and nor would I want to see him in one lol!). We are staying at Disney's Hotel New York for 4 nights post cruise and I've never seen this mentioned on the Disneyland Paris forum. Guess we'll find out!