EBTA 2014...Across the Atlantic we go!!!

[DisneyCruiser83]

Hey everyone! I just wanted to jump in and say hello! I have booked this cruise for myself, DBF and his mother and I am pretty sure we are going to go ahead with it. We all just got back from Alaska on Monday and are already looking forward to more! For DBF and I, this will be our 15th cruise and 4th transatlantic and for his mother it will be her 5th cruise and 2nd transatlantic. It really is one of the best cruises! I hope to chat with you all soon and hope these 10 months fly by in a blink!

 

[Kirbo]

The flight to NY was Turkish Airlines. I found it on Expedia. I was playing around with several large American airports and flying to NY is the best option. The only ones under $1000 that I saw.

I haven't looked at air yet..but my theory is that a rt is cheaper than a one way..so I booked the EBTA and the WBTA 2014 so I have one rt fare. BCN to ORD and back..plus a rt ord to mco and back, that way the only one way fare is san Juan to Orlando for the wbta..

Now that sounds nice!

For anyone who did this year's EBTA, the navigators mention that you can exchange currency for Euros. Did anyone do this? Do you remember what the fee was? Wondering if this was the best way to get Euros an how much we might need. I have no experience with getting foreign currency in bulk.

Our credit cards would charge us a fee, so we decided to not use them for getting Euros. Our credit union charges no fees and had a great exchange rate, but we ended up just getting Euros onboard for cash. But they also take checks or travelers checks onboard. It was somewhere around 1.3US to 1E. I think I changed $200US and got back $146E. When in towns we used our debit card to buy a lot and ended up not using all of our Euros. Our leftovers we used for extra tips to our servers and room host.

We were on the 2013 EBTA. As the PP mentioned, an ATM is the most cost effective way to get euros, but check with your bank for fees (sometimes there's a per transaction fee, a fee up to 3% built into the conversion rate, and/or fees by the owner of the ATM), as those can vary.

As I recall, the rate onboard was $1.375 per 1.00 euro, with no transaction fee. Cash only, though some have mentioned using a personal check. Keep your receipt, as Guest Relations let you exchange unused euros back to USD at the same rate (euro cash only, no coins).

I used bank ATMs four times, and was charged rates ranging from $1.297 to $1.342.

Woody

I just did the math and Woody's right on the boat's exchange rate

Hey everyone! I just wanted to jump in and say hello! I have booked this cruise for myself, DBF and his mother and I am pretty sure we are going to go ahead with it. We all just got back from Alaska on Monday and are already looking forward to more! For DBF and I, this will be our 15th cruise and 4th transatlantic and for his mother it will be her 5th cruise and 2nd transatlantic. It really is one of the best cruises! I hope to chat with you all soon and hope these 10 months fly by in a blink!

 

[sasmmb]

The discussion on exchange rates reminded me I needed to get a "chip and pin" credit card for our Italy trip in Sept. In researching I found the following website handy. https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0Ani-u3tGk5hedGRvcE1ELVg5UmlGZk01SHZvTUMxdUE#gid=0

So for other Americans, if you plan to stay in Europe be aware that the normal "swipe" on our cards may or may not work everywhere in Europe. If you have a "chip and signature" card you'll have much better luck. "Chip and pin" cards seem to be the only thing that is guaranteed for automated ticket dispensers like at train stations and such.

 

[Deb in IA]

The discussion on exchange rates reminded me I needed to get a "chip and pin" credit card for our Italy trip in Sept. In researching I found the following website handy. https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0Ani-u3tGk5hedGRvcE1ELVg5UmlGZk01SHZvTUMxdUE#gid=0

So for other Americans, if you plan to stay in Europe be aware that the normal "swipe" on our cards may or may not work everywhere in Europe. If you have a "chip and signature" card you'll have much better luck. "Chip and pin" cards seem to be the only thing that is guaranteed for automated ticket dispensers like at train stations and such.

We ran into this in Barcelona.

We were trying to get tickets for the Hop On Hop Off Bus Turistic, and it would not take our VISA card. I guess it didn't have the "chip".

This was the only place we encountered this.

 

[woody73]

. . . So for other Americans, if you plan to stay in Europe be aware that the normal "swipe" on our cards may or may not work everywhere in Europe.

That's been our experience.

Woody

 

[JLSE50]

If no one else has done so, I'll organize group tee-shirts.

On the 2013 TA there was no TA merchandise, none. No shirts, pins, magnets, none. Don't know if they will have any for 2014 but think we should have our own to be sure.

Wonderful plan Val! Your Hawaiian shirts were a great success.

We were disappointed in the Venice cruise shirt options--too much orange. All we bought at the ship stores were the Venice pins and the Med magnet. I got a charm in Malta and no shirts from anywhere. How ever shall we live?

We are Jan and Tom, booked this cruise on the first Venetian-Med cruise and (baring unforeseen circumstances) will be making our second EBTA with you in less than a year.

HI to everyone we have sailed with before. Many familiar names here!


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[MrsMork]

Wonderful plan Val! Your Hawaiian shirts were a great success.

We were disappointed in the Venice cruise shirt options--too much orange. All we bought at the ship stores were the Venice pins and the Med magnet. I got a charm in Malta and no shirts from anywhere. How ever shall we live?

We are Jan and Tom, booked this cruise on the first Venetian-Med cruise and (baring unforeseen circumstances) will be making our second EBTA with you in less than a year.

HI to everyone we have sailed with before. Many familiar names here!


.

YAY!! Jan and Tom!

 

[JLSE50]

private group tastings

​

As I previously requested could you just send me a pm if you
Would like to sign up for Chocolate, mixology, martini or tequila/margarita tastings.

I've already had lots of pm's from people who have signed up
This allows me to keep track of numbers so I can let folks know if they
Are On the wait list due to number restrictions.

What happens at a chocolate tasting?

Jan


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[JLSE50]

I was trying to change our avitar using a picture from my i-phone. I've read the instructions and tried numerous times and can't manage it.


Will some one explain it to me in plain English.

Thanks, Jennifer

I had to contact a Webmaster and have them fix it.
Jan

 

[JLSE50]

I discovered that my comments were out of date as I read more of the thread.
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[JLSE50]

I heard back from the shirt company in Berkeley and they do not have an open office. The good news is they've accepted my amended images and given me design numbers anyone can use. Unless I told you I had de-disneyed them I don't think you would even notice. I've gotten tees from Vista Print today, for the DCL Alaska cruise I am going on 7-8. When my TA test shirt comes I'll let you know how they compare. Vista will print anything - to bad they don't have colored shirts and only do embroidered polo's and jackets.

I had offered to work on designs for the WBTA FB group, or setup a Vista account, but a few made it clear they were running things and they didn't want my help. In fact they all but said I stole the image from one of their group members. I explained, as I have here, that I didn't create the sunrise image but that a DCL artist Tiki had, and that I got it from the DCL blog, probably the same place the person in the group got it from. Now they are trying to find a company, other then Vista, who will make shirts with a Disney theme and/or setup a Vista account everyone can use. That group has to much drama for me and often isn't very nice to each other.

We had a FB-DIS group with a LOT of drama once I was not at all upset when we had to cancel that cruise

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[Tod&Copper]

I'm in the Facebook WBTA group, in defence, 99% of the people on there are lovely

 

[starlightprincess]

So is there anybody sailing alone or in a small group on this cruise? I am 25 and will be travelling with my parents (as a family holiday because we haven't done it in years and I'm their only child lol) and was hoping three would be some people on board for me to hang out with we'll all be Disney nuts so we already have something in common LOL Feel free to PM me can't wait to get to know you all better. Debs x

 

[boswellnakia]

The discussion on exchange rates reminded me I needed to get a "chip and pin" credit card for our Italy trip in Sept. In researching I found the following website handy. https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0Ani-u3tGk5hedGRvcE1ELVg5UmlGZk01SHZvTUMxdUE#gid=0

I should have looked harder, I found this website that made me feel a little less worried....http://www.ricksteves.com/plan/tips/chip-and-pin.htm

 

[JLSE50]

I'm in the Facebook WBTA group, in defence, 99% of the people on there are lovely

As was the case on this other cruise, but the drama made the cancelation easier to bear.


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[Disney mam]

I had a good experience at the BW there area years ago. The rooms were small, but the breakfast was good, close to beach and would stay their again.

Thanks for your response. I will probably decide closer to the time on which one, I had hoped people may have stayed here and had reviews. I am thinking that the breakfast at BW option could over rule the 2 bedrooms and sitting area of cocoa beach suites.

 

[Gigi22]

DH and I have switched our reservations to the 2014 EBTA from a previously booked 7 day Caribbean cruise. Looking forward to it, a TA cruise has been on our bucket list for a while.

Just learned that some friends of ours will also be on the cruise. I was checking post-cruise Barcelona hotels for our friends (DH and I already have our reservation, friends have said that the hotel we are in would be too much $$$), and it looks as though a lot of the more moderately-priced hotels are already fully booked, or are not available for some reason.

Anyone else have the same experience?

 

[JLSE50]

I was messing around with Tagxedo. If anyone likes these, go ahead and use them. I thought they might work for door magnets or on FE gifts perhaps. If anyone sees a mistake or a missing or incorrect entry, let me know please.

Thanks
Jan

 

[DisneyDreamer2504]

DH and I are looking into booking this cruise, and I can't believe how involved this group is already! We're going on the Fantasy 7-nt in sept this year, planning to book on board for this cruise. We're not the type to book far ahead (no kids, difficult work schedule) so I feel like we're gonna be late to the party!

 

[JLSE50]

DH and I are looking into booking this cruise, and I can't believe how involved this group is already! We're going on the Fantasy 7-nt in sept this year, planning to book on board for this cruise. We're not the type to book far ahead (no kids, difficult work schedule) so I feel like we're gonna be late to the party!

No such thing as late.
WELCOME!!

Come read and post as you can and when you are sure you can come, add yourself to groups as you see fit! Feel free to ask questions!

Jan