First Med Cruise of the year - I'm back!

[disneyholic family]

i found my reservation - we're in 7540, sailing on August 7, 2014

 

[Disneymadhouse]

I've just posted the first day of my TR over on the UKTR board - hope you like it

Thanks, off to take a look

Claire

 

[Disneymadhouse]

i found my reservation - we're in 7540, sailing on August 7, 2014

See you on board then

I said to my DH wouldn't it be funny if we ended up sharing our dinner tables with dibbers or DISers! I have requested early dinner seating

Claire

 

[disneyholic family]

See you on board then

I said to my DH wouldn't it be funny if we ended up sharing our dinner tables with dibbers or DISers! I have requested early dinner seating

Claire

i see we have 2nd seating requested, but i'm probably going to change it to first seating (assuming the kids agree)...i had first seating on the Dream and i liked it better than second seating...

 

[Disneymadhouse]

Hi Beth, late seating would be too late for us! My DD will be 5, nearly 6, and at home we at around 5. Also the "bribe" of eat your dinner or you won't get to see the show might be helpful!

How old are your children?

Claire

 

[disneyholic family]

Hi Beth, late seating would be too late for us! My DD will be 5, nearly 6, and at home we at around 5. Also the "bribe" of eat your dinner or you won't get to see the show might be helpful!

How old are your children?

Claire

my children are old enough to have your children

i have 3 rooms reserved..
it will be DH and me, DD (28) and DSIL (25), DS (25) and DDIL (25)

i sailed on the Dream in October with my mom and sister...
they both wanted early dining, so that's what i booked - though as i said, my family had always thought we preferred second dining..

anyway, on the dream we had early dining....i don't remember when it was...5:45 maybe? i don't recall...
so we were in early dining and the later show...
i thought it was perfect that way...
who wants to eat at 8:30...and you don't eat at 8:30, you sit down at 8:30...if you're lucky, you eat by 9:00.....

with early dining, you get to see the show at the 'proper' time for seeing a show - 8:30....it just feels more appropriate seeing a big theater show at 8:30 rather than 6:30...

so i'm going to switch us to early dining....

do you know what our port times are? i didn't pay attention as to when we have to be back on the ship...

 

[Disneymadhouse]

Hi Beth, we are onboard 4pm
Palma is 7am to 4.45pm
Ibiza is 7.15am to 4.45pm
Sea day
Back to Barcelona for 7am

I haven't worked out yet what the PAT time means that I have read on the various forums - do DCL give you that (if so when?), and is it according to your room no etc?
We will be arriving at the port from portaventura which I believe is about an hour away. But obviously the sooner we can get on board the better!

Claire
And is it better to have a high or low no?

 

[disneyholic family]

Hi Beth, we are onboard 4pm
Palma is 7am to 4.45pm
Ibiza is 7.15am to 4.45pm
Sea day
Back to Barcelona for 7am

I haven't worked out yet what the PAT time means that I have read on the various forums - do DCL give you that (if so when?), and is it according to your room no etc?
We will be arriving at the port from portaventura which I believe is about an hour away. But obviously the sooner we can get on board the better!

Claire
And is it better to have a high or low no?

i have no idea...
i haven't read anything about the barcelona sailings so i don't know what the procedure is there...
do they give the PAT the same way as in the US - based on when you check in online?

 

[luke]

i have no idea...
i haven't read anything about the barcelona sailings so i don't know what the procedure is there...
do they give the PAT the same way as in the US - based on when you check in online?

When we sailed from Barcelona in 2011 we chose our arrival time on the DCL website.

Does selecting your Port Arrival Time even matter though? Our fantasy cruise from Port Canaveral in March, we didn't even choose one, just turned up when we were ready

 

[disneyholic family]

When we sailed from Barcelona in 2011 we chose our arrival time on the DCL website.

Does selecting your Port Arrival Time even matter though? Our fantasy cruise from Port Canaveral in March, we didn't even choose one, just turned up when we were ready

i don't know. Until now we've only sailed concierge - so there is no PAT. they take you when you arrive and you board as soon as boarding starts.

but we're not doing concierge on the med cruise - even though i've heard that they're going to add a concierge lounge to the Magic. But it's only a 4 day cruise with two interesting ports to visit (certainly more interesting than the blow your brains out boring nassau)...so i don't really see the need for concierge and in any case, there is no way i can afford concierge for 3 rooms!!

 

[Disneymad]

PAT is done to stagger guest arrivals so everyone isn't gnashing their teeth at DCL for a long wait in line - if you turn up earlier than your PAT and it's not too crazy then it won't be a problem, if many people turn up earlier than their PAT then expect to be asked to wait outside the building until either a) your PAT arrives or b) the line is small enough for them to not care about extras slowing it down.

I had the first available PAT at Barcelona and it was very smooth - the line was outside the building (and only a small part of it is under cover) but it moved very quickly and I think it was just a couple of minutes to get through security and then only another 5 or so to get fully checked in once inside. As such we were in the 3rd group called to board the ship and were able to start nomming lunch in a lovely and quiet Parrot Cay before the hordes arrived

Worth noting that DCL staff were checking documentation in the outside line as we were waiting to enter the terminal rather than waiting till we got to the entry area so the potential for them to pull you out of line is certainly there.

 

[Disneymadhouse]

Sorry to be dim, but how do you get your PAT? When do Disney give it to you - is it with your documents or can you call up to get it? (we have booked with VH if that makes any difference)

Thanks

Claire

 

[disneyholic family]

Sorry to be dim, but how do you get your PAT? When do Disney give it to you - is it with your documents or can you call up to get it? (we have booked with VH if that makes any difference)

Thanks

Claire

if memory serves, it's when you do the online check in.
which is why people wait up until midnight to do online check in as early as possible...but that's for the cruises out of port canaveral....i don't know how much it matters on a european cruise..

i think i'm going to try turning over a new leaf and be a bit more relaxed about boarding..... i probably won't succeed, but i'll try!