Bringing Home the Magic - Part 2 - 8/18/07 - 9/01/07- list of cruisers on page 1

[faireygod mother]

Well, we have made some big changes in our plans. I obviously need this vacation as much as DGD so I can learn some geography. To keep with our plan on seeing things we would not see here at home (or close by) we are no longer doing the cataraman in Teneriefe (thanks to a lesson from Hannosmom). So here is our new schedule.

Day 1 - Barcelona, Spain (arrive around noon)
Walk the city and see the fountains at night.

Day 2 - Barcelona, Spain
Private tour booked

Day 3 - At Sea

Day 4 - Gibraltar, U.K.
Explore the Rock On Your Own10:15AM - 12:45PM (may cancel and really do it on our own or with some new friends)

Day 5 - Cadiz, Spain
Jerez De La Frontera & Royal Equestrian School with Training *Available on Transatlantic Westbound Cruise only 9:30AM - 2:30PM

and

Flamenco in Puerto de Santa Maria6:00PM - 9:30PM

Day 7 - Tenerife, Canary Islands
Tenerife, Teide, & the Garden of the Valley9:15AM - 5:15PM

Day 12
Palo Brunch11:30AM - 1:30PM (To celebrate our anniversary)


I hope this will give us a nice sample of the culture and area we visit.

 

[kugalbelle]

Hi everyone,
I managed to capture the Magic arriving into Gibraltar this morning off the port's webcam.
The video is up on youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3LQ2wgzdwa8
(Couldn't get to capture the stream so this is video footage of the PC screen - sorry it's a little bumpy!)

 

[Izza]

Thank you to everyone for your welcome. I'm looking forward to meeting you all and running into you over and over again onboard.

momma4v3, thanks for your tip. I'm going to call DCL and see if I can add my brother to the excursions.

So far, our plans are:
Day 1 - arrive about 11am. Explore Barcelona on our own. I want to see some of the Gaudi sites and the kids want to see the fountains they saw in the Cheetah Girls movie. lol

Day 2 - the Flamenco and Tapas excursion

Day 4 (Gibraltar) - See the rock on our own. The planned excursions seem unnecessary for this one.

Day 5 (Cadiz) - We're booked for Jerez De La Frontera & Royal Equestrian School, but I might change it to the walking tour.

Day 7 (Tenerife) - I have no idea what to do here. All of the excursions seem to long for my 5 year old to be patient through. I may just wander around for a bit and take the kids to the Mickey pool while my brother goes off to take pictures.

Castaway Cay - nothing but relaxing on the beach

 

[Hannosmom]

Just saw the pics of Gibraltar on the live thread. WOW! I can't wait!

After wrangling with the DCL site, my TA was able to get us our excursions and dinner at Palo, but no brunch or tea. Not worried, she will take care of it (thanks, Barb!) or I will book on board.

In Barcelona, we have a private tour scheduled for Sunday. If I am still in my right mind after the flight over, I may go out exploring on Sat evening. Or maybe I will just sleep.

In Gibraltar, we are exploring on our own in the am, with a bunch of friends, then we have tea in the afternoon. I thought it would be really cool to sip tea and gaze at Africa.

In Cadiz, we are doing the Equestrian thingy in the am, the going to a Flamenco show in the evening.

In Tenerife, we will be doing a private jeep tour with a group of good friends, then shopping and eating.

Lots of eating opportunities on this cruise!

 

[happyfeet]

saw Magic in Gibraltar today,looks great.
Loads of pax,just strolling along Main Street(VERY warm today!)Spoke to a few Disss.....inc the Kissimmee family,all having a great time,kids really happy with the clubs etc.
Have the Navigator for today,will get DS to scan & post as soon as he finishes homework.
Tonight they are watching "Dreams "& At 9.45pm there is "Party
paradise"goofys pool stage,"a celebration of magic,fun & excitement of our european adventure!"
Drink of the day is "English Rose!"(make mine a double) & If you buy a bingo card,you get a 2 for 1 spechial for the drink of the day,sorted.

 

[kugalbelle]

Got video of the Magic leaving Gibraltar today from the webcam ....
Up on youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j3_7TstT8EM

 

[bellelinus]

Hi everyone -- my three daughters (15, 12, and 10 at the time of the cruise) and I were booked on the Aug. 8 Med from the time it went on sale, but today switched to BOTH the July 28 Med cruise and this transatlantic one for the same price! It was too good to pass up. We booked cat 12 GTY, but I see online that we already have a cat. 10 room. I am very much looking forward to this cruise and all those sea days (and already feel I know some of you from the 2008 PC repo thread).

 

[DisCrazzy]

Welcome aboard Julie & family!

Jennifer

 

[kugalbelle]

Hi everyone -- my three daughters (15, 12, and 10 at the time of the cruise) and I were booked on the Aug. 8 Med from the time it went on sale, but today switched to BOTH the July 28 Med cruise and this transatlantic one for the same price! It was too good to pass up. We booked cat 12 GTY, but I see online that we already have a cat. 10 room. I am very much looking forward to this cruise and all those sea days (and already feel I know some of you from the 2008 PC repo thread).

Hi Julie,
Welcome. We'll be sailing with you on both this Transatlantic and the July 28th Med cruise.

 

[bellelinus]

Hi Julie,
Welcome. We'll be sailing with you on both this Transatlantic and the July 28th Med cruise.

Yes! And I will miss being with you on the Aug. 8 Med cruise but you can tell me what I missed when we meet up on the transatlantic one . . .

 

[bellelinus]

Welcome aboard Julie & family!

Jennifer

Thank you!

 

[kugalbelle]

Yes! And I will miss being with you on the Aug. 8 Med cruise but you can tell me what I missed when we meet up on the transatlantic one . . .

Hope you have a good time in Paris and at DL Paris.

 

[bellelinus]

Hope you have a good time in Paris and at DL Paris.

If we don't have a good time, we don't deserve to go! Can't go wrong with all that time on the ship, either . . . you will have a wonderful experience.

 

[faireygod mother]

I am now working on the money aspect of this cruise. That is exchanging money. I cannot find where anyone onboard has answered about getting money from the ship and the exchange rate.

I have checked with Wachovia and AAA. I am trying to find an American Express Travel service to see what they charge. Doing at the airport will be crazy. We used to wait and do it a a local bank, but we will be arriving on Saturday and they will be closed.

Anyone have any ideas or suggestions to offer?

 

[gpb_1]

I am now working on the money aspect of this cruise. That is exchanging money. I cannot find where anyone onboard has answered about getting money from the ship and the exchange rate.

I have checked with Wachovia and AAA. I am trying to find an American Express Travel service to see what they charge. Doing at the airport will be crazy. We used to wait and do it a a local bank, but we will be arriving on Saturday and they will be closed.

Anyone have any ideas or suggestions to offer?

Have you thought about using an ATM to take out the money? It's generally what we do when we come over to the US.

 

[faireygod mother]

Have you thought about using an ATM to take out the money? It's generally what we do when we come over to the US.

I had thought about it, but was concerned about the fees and exchange rate. I think I will call Wachovia and see if they can recommend a bank/branch to use. Thanks

 

[Mmouse1964]

last year when DD15 was traveling in Europe, we bought her a AAA travel money card. I believe she used it at any ATM. We were able to monitor her spending on the internet, and add money to the card whenever needed.

But, that being said...as adults I'm sure we will be doing some visa charges, etc. I'm still wondering if we should get travelers checks to exchange or possibly one of the AAA cards as well. I'm still confused I thought I read somewhere on a thread that exchanging on the ship was easy, but you could only do so much $$, not sure.

 

[faireygod mother]

last year when DD15 was traveling in Europe, we bought her a AAA travel money card. I believe she used it at any ATM. We were able to monitor her spending on the internet, and add money to the card whenever needed.

But, that being said...as adults I'm sure we will be doing some visa charges, etc. I'm still wondering if we should get travelers checks to exchange or possibly one of the AAA cards as well. I'm still confused I thought I read somewhere on a thread that exchanging on the ship was easy, but you could only do so much $$, not sure.

When we went to Germany and Italy a few years ago we encounter a surcharge of sorts for using the travlers check.

I am thinking the ATM may be the way to go.

 

[rwatterson]

It has been a fun week - We had to rebook our flights as Air Plus Comet no longer flys to N.America - got everything rebooked now we will be in Barcelona on Friday Morning and our group has grown to 10 over the last 24 hours - this is fun Can't wait for the trip to start

Bob
Cdn group of 10

 

[faireygod mother]

It has been a fun week - We had to rebook our flights as Air Plus Comet no longer flys to N.America - got everything rebooked now we will be in Barcelona on Friday Morning and our group has grown to 10 over the last 24 hours - this is fun Can't wait for the trip to start

Bob
Cdn group of 10

Congrats and glad it all worked out for you.