7/9/11 - Summer Magic in the Med

[Monstro]

Hi everyone! I'm a new poster and am very excited about our upcoming cruise!! Also, thank you for this wonderful link!

We are:
Cheryl, Kyle, Sarah (15) and Cynthia (9)
Cabin: 8004
Dining: Main
From: Bolton, Ontario Canada
DCL #: 3
Fish Extender: Yes

We are also travelling with my sister Lynne, husband Kevin and Paden (9) and Emma (8)
They will be in cabin 8006, Main dining. They are from Walnut Creek, California.

Welcome Aboard! I've got you added on the site under castaways and on the Fish Extender page.

 

[Monstro]

What do you all think of the new 2012 homeports and itineraries?

 

[VACruiser]

What do you all think of the new 2012 homeports and itineraries?

Would like to go out of New York, though the prices seem a bit high to see Nassau again.


Oh and Thanks for the add on the website. I'm still trying to find pictures of the 3 of us together.

 

[lcsmom]

Wow. Just priced some of the new itineraries. I was very excited about Galveston as a home port, but less than thrilled about the Western Caribbean. I continue to be unimpressed. Veranda cabins on the 7 day Fantasy eastern were frequently a few hundred less than the same time frame on the Magic! Between DH's points and miles, getting to Orlando is always cheap (or free) and DVC allows for a night or two pre/post cruise. So, unless the Magic does a repositioning cruise NYC to Galveston, looks like 30th anniversary will be in Florida.

Back to planning my 2011 Disney cruise.

 

[lcsmom]

Didn't mean to scare everyone away.
I've spent most of the last several hours reading trip reports, etc. A few questions:
I've learned which ports are tendered and at which we dock. Am I correct in understanding that at tendered ports, those doing their own excursions have to wait until DCL excursions are off the ship?
Does anyone actually go to Florence? This is THE priority for DH and DD. Can someone point me to TRs that include Florence? DD gave me that teenager "look" when I mentioned Pisa.
How formal is "formal" night? DH likes to dress up, should he do a tux? I will need to do some serious shopping for myself.

 

[Dazed]

90 days to go.
Sorry I can't answer questions really as a first timer, but from reading hundreds of posts it seems that people dress smartly at least on formal nights and from there up you can be as formal as you like -it's your holiday.

Just been checking up on another post which noted a change in itinerary time for Naples. Seems we are back aboard for 7pm now instead of 9pm. Thought I should highlight for any like me who are doing there own thing there. Don't want anyone left behind!

I've just happily found a couple of hundred dollars in dollar TCs I'd forgotten I'd saved for a next trip. My question is, will I be able to get plenty of dollar notes (for room service tipping) from guest services if I pay this into my account on boarding? I'm hoping that with this and my OBC I'll just need to buy Euros for shore activities.

 

[Monstro]

Let me see if I can answer some of your questions. I wear a suit and tie for formal night. I've had friends who has wore a suit coat without the tie. Dazed is correct - you can dress up as formal as you want. I've seen people in tuxes.

No - if you're doing your own thing you do not have to wait for Shore excursons to get off firsty. They may want people to think that, but it's not the case. They have tenders running from both ends of the ship. It goes pretty quick.

You can pay tips at guest services through your on-board account. They will give you a slip to give to the person you are giving the tip to. so no worry about having dollars - unless you're talking small tips for room service etc. In that case it is a good idea to have some singles.

Jeff

 

[Dazed]

Thanks Monstro,
Yes it's the small tips I'm talking about. I was hoping I could get some dollar bills in exchange on the ship as I don't think it's easy to get the smaller notes here. and I won't really need to buy more dollar currency.

 

[Monstro]

I was wrong. There is a tender process. You need to go to the Walt Disney Theatre to get tender tickets. I found the tender lettter they gave us in 2007. I'll post it to the site.

 

[lcsmom]

Thank you, Thank you! Now to talk hubby out of the tuxedo. Perhaps the money for the rental could go toward a new suit. Been a few years since he had to wear them daily, so he doesn't buy one very often any more.

Ah, so there is a "tender process." I shall check the website.

 

[Monstro]

The Tender Process is on the website.

http://magic2011.wikidot.com/tender-process

 

[Monstro]

The Tender Process is on the website.

http://magic2011.wikidot.com/tender-process

So is Spezia and Villefranche.

 

[lcsmom]

Jeff - Thank you.
Reading how the tender process works was very helpful. We're still undecided about whether to use Disney's "Florence on your Own" to get to Florence or arrange a private tour. I can now make reservations, so I'm off to check Disney's website.
Seeking thoughts on Naples/Pompeii/Amalfi coast. We had planned catching the train to Pompeii, renting the head phones, then making our way to Capri. However, I keep reading how stunning the Coast roads are. However, I'm also known for motion sickness issues. Any opinions, please.

 

[Monstro]

So, I was thinking it would be nice to add more pictures to the website. If I had a enough peictures to make it worthwile, I could make us all a small book we could use as a note book to collect addresses or whatever.

 

[Monstro]

Jeff - Thank you.
Reading how the tender process works was very helpful. We're still undecided about whether to use Disney's "Florence on your Own" to get to Florence or arrange a private tour. I can now make reservations, so I'm off to check Disney's website.
Seeking thoughts on Naples/Pompeii/Amalfi coast. We had planned catching the train to Pompeii, renting the head phones, then making our way to Capri. However, I keep reading how stunning the Coast roads are. However, I'm also known for motion sickness issues. Any opinions, please.

We're probably going to "Florence on Your Own" as well.

Our daughter is real bad with motion sickness, but did OK on our drive in 2007. You just need to gauge how easily you get it and what you can do to prevent it. The drive is beauriful.

I've added the navigatores for Naples and Rome.

 

[emma2]

Monstro - Thanks for the tender info. But what time do you recommend that we go get our tickets if we are not doing a DCL tour?

Malta- I think we will be using a private tour for this as well. Haven't decided if we will do just a driver or add on a tour guide. What do you all think - for those that have been to Malta?

Barcelona - we will be arriving the morning of the 6th. Way to early to check in to our hotel. HAve read that some people actually have a taxi pick them up at the airport and immediately do a half day tour and get their bearings. Since we are 5, taxi will be at least 65e. Tour is about 390e, which would include the 65euro already. Or do we just do the HOHO bus for two days? Or do we have the taxi take us immediately to MOnserrat ( wasn't sure if we should do this at all since it's our first trip to Barcelona - but is sounds marvelous)? I keep reading that the HOHO bus is way too crowded in the summer. For those of you that have done this in the summer - what do you recommend?

 

[emma2]

Our TA booked us for Mysterious Palermo - it is only available in the afternoon and is from 1:30 -5 pm. Are others on this? I am disappointed it's not in the morning. But then I guess I can let my kids be out later the night before - so maybe this is ok?

Are there stores near the port that may be worth going into before the tour?

 

[klaubaugh]

Hi all - we are joining the cruise thread. I'll post our family info later.....but my question is did anyone have luck booking Palo brunch? We were traveling yesterday and I didn't look until this morning and there are no reservations. Also in Palermo I was going to book the Selinunte & Marinella excursion, but no luck there either. Did anyone get that?

 

[VACruiser]

Hi all - we are joining the cruise thread. I'll post our family info later.....but my question is did anyone have luck booking Palo brunch?

First of all Welcome...
Yes, we were able to get Brunch for Friday.

 

[lcsmom]

Hi KlauBaugh! Welcome to the group.
When I checked yesterday, around 11AM, there was no Brunch left for the first sea day, Sunday. I grabbed the first opening on the Friday sea day, 11:30. Keep checking, something may open up.
I haven't decided on Palermo, yet. I shall need to see whats left.