August 13, 2011 Med - Mickey's Marauding Mates

[Kels Sem]

Mikki - Sorry to hear about your father. Wow to discover you have a brother & sister must have been a shock but a great one.

LeeAnn - I will be taking 2 swim suits. I must say I had a great laugh at the thread you started. Not because of your question about the TP by the way but some of the reply's were a hoot!! Some of the threads on this forum really amuse me. What starts of as a simple question can end up with all sorts of reply's some of which really make me laugh cause I'm thinking is this for real

welcome aboard Shauna

Karen- Thanks for the posting about Dine & Play. We're at first sitting and I wish it was offered here as well. I do worry about how the kids will manage through such a long meal. They are generally great well behaved kids when they are out to dinner but like all young ones after a while they do get restless. Any tips anyone?

 

[west&east]

Karen- Thanks for the posting about Dine & Play. We're at first sitting and I wish it was offered here as well. I do worry about how the kids will manage through such a long meal. They are generally great well behaved kids when they are out to dinner but like all young ones after a while they do get restless. Any tips anyone?

Yes, it seems that other parents also wish Dine and Play was offered at the earlier dinner time. Before I discovered Dine and Play, my plan was to ask the waiter to accelerate the kids meals a bit (I read that they will) and then for one of the parents to walk them up to the kids club between courses, OR to feed the kids earlier and let them go to the kids club during dinner. That may not work so well for first seating. Otherwise, just lots of usual table entertainment. My kids remembered one cruise where we gave them silly putty at dinner. That really kept them entertained. They have requested it again.

 

[Anal Annie]

DS was 8 on our first cruise & we had late seating but they didn't have this Dine & Play thing set up as a "thing". We were at a large table of 16 & there were some other kids his age & the kids all pretty much just ate first then at some point during the meal we took him to the club. They all went before the adults were done. On our last cruise he was 11 and just went on his own when he was done eating. I left clothes out for him to go back to the room & change if he wanted to after dinner. BTW, you can FORGET bedtimes & schedules on a cruise!! They are out the window!! The kids love staying in the club as late as you'll leave them!! They will sleep good with the sea air & be fine!!

Sooo only 2 bathing suits each huh?! They ARE small!! I guess I'll see how our bags look with 2 & if I think I have a pound to spare I might stuff a 3rd one in. OH, and I was bad again. I was digging around in my room yesterday looking for a particular tank top that is a summer staple for me (never did find it) and I started pulling out some of my tops & shorts to count. I decided on a couple pair of shorts that I DON'T want to bring & wondered if a couple of the tops should be worn during the day or dinner, blah, blah. So yeah. You guessed it. I made another round thru Kohl's & TJ Maxx.

Hey calling all swimmer parents!!!! Anybody know anything about those high performance (technical) competition suits?! Are they worth the extra cost? Do you know what to look for in them & the differences? I know some are supposed to shed water & some compress muscle groups & some are seamless to reduce drag & some talk about turbulence but I don't know how much they are supposed to REALLY help as far as dropping time & stuff. Like I wonder how much of it is really just a mental game & how much of it is there to it REALLY. Any thoughts on that? I'm just toying with the idea of getting DS a special jammer for meets but I don't want to spend $170 + on it if I can get one for $80 or $90 or whatever that will be just as good. I am pricing around online. Our winter team club has a discount deal with Get Out Swim that beats the Swim Outlet prices on the TYR performance suits....like by a good bit on a couple of them. But they only sell TYR & Finals - no Speedo Fastskins (The kid that DS has been trading places with this summer showed up last Saturday with a Dome Cap & a Speedo Fastskin jammer). Yes, I am an obsessed mama!!

 

[BWV Dreamin]

Leann I got an upgrade!!! #6146. I don't know a thing about it yet. I hope this is an ok room. Help!

 

[west&east]

Leann I got an upgrade!!! #6146. I don't know a thing about it yet. I hope this is an ok room. Help!

Congrats and welcome to the Deck 6 party! Where were you before?
6146 is listed as Cat 5A Deluxe Oceanview with Verandah. It is port side, fairly aft. The deck plan does say that is has a solid white verandah.

 

[Anal Annie]

Leann I got an upgrade!!! #6146. I don't know a thing about it yet. I hope this is an ok room. Help!

WOWIE!! HOPE!! That's amazing!! You got a verandah for the price of an 11C or 10C GTY!! HOLY COW!! You got some major pixie dust chick!! That room should be great! It's aft and it has one of the solid wall verandahs. We were in #5144 on our first cruise. Just one deck down (had also booked a GTY). I think they like to save those solid wall verandah rooms for GTY's. Not quite the same as the plexiglass ones I guess but STILL it's a free balcony!!! Some people like the privacy of the solid wall too. You're one lucky duck!! Congratulations!!

Congrats and welcome to the Deck 6 party! Where were you before?
6146 is listed as Cat 5A Deluxe Oceanview with Verandah. It is port side, fairly aft. The deck plan does say that is has a solid white verandah.

Hope isn't actually sailing on our cruise any more!! She is booked on the last one in August but she pops in here from time to time to chat!! She WAS on ours way back in the beginning at some point but she changed her ressie almost as many times as I did before she finally settled on what she was doing. She's a fellow DVC'er from Maryland so we feel like we "know" each other since we "see" each other on the DVC boards all the time too.

 

[BWV Dreamin]

Woooohoooo!!!!

 

[MRAven]

Just stopping by to wish Annie and all the Morounding Mates a very happy Mediterranean Cruise.

Today July 13th you are defenatly on the final countdown; no more months, just days and few weeks.

Remeber Annie, when at the beguining The Peep search that was 1 year and 6 months ago.


Happy Cruising

 

[west&east]

I've been wishy washy about Palo but finally decided yesterday it would be nice to go. The only reservation available was Villefranche day at 6:30 which is too early for us and also formal night which we like to share with the kids. What are the odds that new reservation times will open up? The website says to keep checking the website but do they really open up online before the cruise or is our best bet to check on the ship?

 

[Anal Annie]

Just stopping by to wish Annie and all the Morounding Mates a very happy Mediterranean Cruise.

Today July 13th you are defenatly on the final countdown; no more months, just days and few weeks.

Remeber Annie, when at the beguining The Peep search that was 1 year and 6 months ago.


Happy Cruising

HEY HEY Mr. A!!! How's it going over on your cruise? I do so remember the days when I was the only one on my boat & you were the only one on your boat!! We leave for Paris in 3 1/2 weeks!! EEEEK!! I am NOT ready yet!! I have GOT to get my act together or I'll be up all night every night the whole week before we leave!!

I've been wishy washy about Palo but finally decided yesterday it would be nice to go. The only reservation available was Villefranche day at 6:30 which is too early for us and also formal night which we like to share with the kids. What are the odds that new reservation times will open up? The website says to keep checking the website but do they really open up online before the cruise or is our best bet to check on the ship?

We went to Palo only once before on the Wonder. We had tried to schedule around Pirate night etc. but then once we boarded they had CHANGED the night that Pirate night was to occur!! So I immediately called Palo from our stateroom & was able to switch nights. Tough call but I am pretty sure they hold back some slots for boarding day so if you're at the port early, get on the ship early and go check into it right away I think you can probably get something. Did you consider booking brunch instead?

 

[MRAven]

HEY HEY Mr. A!!! How's it going over on your cruise? I do so remember the days when I was the only one on my boat & you were the only one on your boat!! We leave for Paris in 3 1/2 weeks!! EEEEK!! I am NOT ready yet!! I have GOT to get my act together or I'll be up all night every night the whole week before we leave!!

We are having a wanderfull time Annie, just today peeps from UK and US started to receive the Disney Package, although I'm still waiting for mine.

Enjoy Paris and do go to at least one of the Cafes by the Champs-Élysées and treat youself with a service of French Wine & Cheese. I recomend around 6:30 pm. A very romantic afternoon.

 

[Anal Annie]

Morning peeps! Just a quick bump back up to page 1 from page 3!!! Where is everyone these days?! Less than a month to go & I'm starting to PANIC!!

 

[BWV Dreamin]

Morning peeps! Just a quick bump back up to page 1 from page 3!!! Where is everyone these days?! Less than a month to go & I'm starting to PANIC!!

LeAnn, did you buy your Euro yet? I bought mine yesterday. The exchange rate finally fell some, although still not enough. BUT, our government is getting on my nerves with the debt ceiling crap. Just bit the bullet and bought. Check the rates, they might still be down today.

 

[jd99]

Haven't been paying any attention to xchange rate and didn't realize how bad it was.

 

[west&east]

Finally enjoying some cooler temps in Charlotte and getting ready to send DD off to camp on Tuesday for 12 days. Once I get her packed and off (boo hoo, never been away from her that long), I will focus on packing and Euros and all that. Euros, ugh

 

[Anal Annie]

LeAnn, did you buy your Euro yet? I bought mine yesterday. The exchange rate finally fell some, although still not enough. BUT, our government is getting on my nerves with the debt ceiling crap. Just bit the bullet and bought. Check the rates, they might still be down today.

NO I have NOT gotten our euros yet! I looked at the rate today & it was 1:41. Pretty sad when you can call that DOWN!! So where did you go to get yours? Did you say you were going to a PNC Bank? What were the fees? I was debating if I should stick with my Cap One or check at PNC (it's next door). But most of the money I'm going to USE to exchange for the euros is at Wachovia (Wells Fargo...whatever it is these days) and the rest is at Cap One which is our regular bank. I hate to run all over the place. Cap One charges a flat $10 I think to order it. Takes a couple of days. So this leads me to my next question...do you get the rate that it is whenever you place your order or do you get the rate that it is whenever they actually GET the money like when you put a charge thru on a credit card? I'm a tad confused how that works.

One reason that I have not ordered it yet is because I can't decide HOW MUCH to get. I don't want to use ATM's in Europe. I don't use them HERE. Why would I want to bother with them there - esp. since I know there will be a fee tacked on by the bank. How much did you order per day?? I am getting scared how much this will add up to if I say I want 100 euros per day that is over $2,000 USD!!! I really wasn't prepared to fork over that much cash right now! And then on top of that if I over estimate to exchange it BACK!! I just don't know how often we will encounter a place that won't take a credit card (shopping / vendors / meals). Someone said entrance to Pompeii is by cash (12 euro pp), tips...trains in Villefranche & La Spezia I am guessing...Bell Services for storing our bags in Paris & Barca....bathrooms (is 20 euros enough?)...taxis (where are we using those again? Palma...maybe Barca?!). Is 100 euro / day big time overkill?? Should I cut that in half and just bring our checkbook & cash checks on ship? But wait - that is limited to $200 USD / day, right? So in EUROS that is like nothing!! (OK, it's approx. 141-142 euros) I am soooo confused right now!! Someone help me figure this out please!!!

1,500.00 EUR = 2,124.86 USD
1 EUR = 1.41657 USD 1 USD = 0.705929 EUR

or would you say 1000 euros is enough for 3 people for 15 days?!

1000.00 EUR = 1,416.16 USD
1 EUR = 1.41616 USD 1 USD = 0.706136 EUR

I can add up at LEAST probably 400 euros that we will need just for tips & trains & bathrooms & stuff like that over the course of the 2 weeks.

 

[BWV Dreamin]

I don't know where you got that xchange rate at, but NO BANKS are giving that! PNC...my exchange rate was 1.51. No fees to buy or sell.

We have to pay for our private tours in Euros. So I bought enough to cover that, then have 250 Euro left over. I will bring my ATM card and Cap One CC for purchases in other countries. I'll use my Disney Visa for purchases on the ship.

You get the xchange rate on THE DAY YOU BUY your Euro.

NO I have NOT gotten our euros yet! I looked at the rate today & it was 1:41. Pretty sad when you can call that DOWN!! So where did you go to get yours? Did you say you were going to a PNC Bank? What were the fees? I was debating if I should stick with my Cap One or check at PNC (it's next door). But most of the money I'm going to USE to exchange for the euros is at Wachovia (Wells Fargo...whatever it is these days) and the rest is at Cap One which is our regular bank. I hate to run all over the place. Cap One charges a flat $10 I think to order it. Takes a couple of days. So this leads me to my next question...do you get the rate that it is whenever you place your order or do you get the rate that it is whenever they actually GET the money like when you put a charge thru on a credit card? I'm a tad confused how that works.

One reason that I have not ordered it yet is because I can't decide HOW MUCH to get. I don't want to use ATM's in Europe. I don't use them HERE. Why would I want to bother with them there - esp. since I know there will be a fee tacked on by the bank. How much did you order per day?? I am getting scared how much this will add up to if I say I want 100 euros per day that is over $2,000 USD!!! I really wasn't prepared to fork over that much cash right now! And then on top of that if I over estimate to exchange it BACK!! I just don't know how often we will encounter a place that won't take a credit card (shopping / vendors / meals). Someone said entrance to Pompeii is by cash (12 euro pp), tips...trains in Villefranche & La Spezia I am guessing...Bell Services for storing our bags in Paris & Barca....bathrooms (is 20 euros enough?)...taxis (where are we using those again? Palma...maybe Barca?!). Is 100 euro / day big time overkill?? Should I cut that in half and just bring our checkbook & cash checks on ship? But wait - that is limited to $200 USD / day, right? So in EUROS that is like nothing!! (OK, it's approx. 141-142 euros) I am soooo confused right now!! Someone help me figure this out please!!!

1,500.00 EUR = 2,124.86 USD
1 EUR = 1.41657 USD 1 USD = 0.705929 EUR

or would you say 1000 euros is enough for 3 people for 15 days?!

1000.00 EUR = 1,416.16 USD
1 EUR = 1.41616 USD 1 USD = 0.706136 EUR

I can add up at LEAST probably 400 euros that we will need just for tips & trains & bathrooms & stuff like that over the course of the 2 weeks.

 

[Anal Annie]

I don't know where you got that xchange rate at, but NO BANKS are giving that! PNC...my exchange rate was 1.51. No fees to buy or sell.

We have to pay for our private tours in Euros. So I bought enough to cover that, then have 250 Euro left over. I will bring my ATM card and Cap One CC for purchases in other countries. I'll use my Disney Visa for purchases on the ship.

You get the xchange rate on THE DAY YOU BUY your Euro.

I've been using this to track it:

http://www.xe.com/ucc/convert/?Amount=180&From=EUR&To=USD

It was pretty close to what we got charged whenever I prepaid our hotels & tours with romeinlimo. Of course it fluctates a few dozen times a day so that can affect it too. I didn't realize the banks had that much of a mark-up on what they charge.

 

[BWV Dreamin]

I've been using this to track it:

http://www.xe.com/ucc/convert/?Amount=180&From=EUR&To=USD

It was pretty close to what we got charged whenever I prepaid our hotels & tours with romeinlimo. Of course it fluctates a few dozen times a day so that can affect it too. I didn't realize the banks had that much of a mark-up on what they charge.

Definitely call the banks, daily. Yeah the banks all have built in fees so they are included in the rate. That's probably why people like using the ATM cards even with a transaction fee, it's still probably cheaper.

 

[Kels Sem]

LeeAnn, I'm finding it really hard to estimate how much cash we will need also. I was going to take 600 euro but Dh said to take 700. This is for the 4 of us for 10 days. i will put meals etc on CC in Barcelona. I am really relucant to use an ATM anywhere. A colleague of mine lifted 200 euro from an ATM in Barcelona last year after his cruise. He was followed and then they picked it out of his pocket He said himself that it was partly his fault for putting it in his back pocket but it's a bit scary to think that he was followed.

When ordering currency in the bank I work at we get the rate the day we pick them up and not the day we order them. Not sure what way the US banks do it but to be honest it's really only going to fluctuate a few cents in the space of a couple of days.

If you want to pay me the money for your share of the transfer in Dollars that's fine with me. I can operate in either currency as it will never go to waste with me