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

[Tink2312]

WOW! Got back yesterday from the 1st June DCL Med cruise, which was spectacular. It was definitely one of our best holidays of all time - saw so much and were treated like royalty aboard the ship. I'm hoping to do a brief TR but for those going in the next few weeks, if you have any questions please feel free to ask.

I know I wanted to know when the theme nights were so here is the schedule we had:
1/6 - rotational menu, welcome aboard show with ventriloquist Jimmy Tamley and comedy musician John Charles
2/6 - formal night, Prince and Princess menu, Twice Charmed show
3/6 - rotational menu, comedy and music of John Charles
4/6 - rotational menu, Walt Disney: the dream goes on show
5/6 - Mediterranean menu, Villains Tonight show
6/6 - pirate night, pirate menu, Scott Pepper - illusionist
7/6 - Captains Gala Dinner, Dreams show
Our rotation was PPLAPLA.

I did a port adventure every day for the 4 ports - Highlights of Monaco and Monte Carlo, Easy Pisa, Jumping Back into Eternal Rome and Half Day Pompeii. I did 2 without the rest of my travelling party but didn't feel out of place as there were a few solo excursioners on every port adventure.

We had Captain Robert and our cruise director was Peter.

One thing to be aware of (which we weren't and judging by the complaints we overheard at guest services, so weren't many others) once your shipboard account reaches $500 (which ours had already done purely for the cost of the port adventures) Disney automatically charge the credit card on file and again every time it reaches another $500. We had loaded up our Fairfx cards to cover the bill as we'd used them no problem on the Dream but it was an enormous hassle to get the charge refunded and Fairfx applied. I recommend you either plan to charge the credit card or take dollars with you as it seemed much easier to revoke the charge and pay cash. In the end, we've left some to be charged to the credit card and we'll use the surplus on our Ff cards for our trip to FL in November. Guest Services on the whole let the crew down - we found them abrupt and unhelpful and we have various complaints about their handling of the situation which because of their mistakes caused our shipboard account to be suspended temporarily - we'll be emailing DCL about that one!

Overall though, a fantastic holiday! Any questions, ask away.

 

[pascalstongue]

Glad to hear you had a good time overall. We are doing our first cruise next year, also doing the 7 night Med cruise. I will be subscribing to your TR!

 

[Tink2312]

Glad to hear you had a good time overall. We are doing our first cruise next year, also doing the 7 night Med cruise. I will be subscribing to your TR!

It was fantastic - I'm sure you'll have a great time and the benefit of all the tips from this year's cruisers

 

[wayneg]

Welcome home. Sounds like you had a great time.
We have never spent $500 on a Disney cruise to find out what happens

Only 454 days to our 14 night Transatlantic cruise.

 

[Tink2312]

Welcome home. Sounds like you had a great time.
We have never spent $500 on a Disney cruise to find out what happens

Only 454 days to our 14 night Transatlantic cruise.

I think we would have just been under had it not been for the Port Adventures. Can't wait to see if they're coming back to the Med in 2015 - I'd like to do a TA for my 30th. I booked a dummy cruise on board so fingers crossed I've been reading some of the TA TRs and I'm looking forward to hearing what you think - they certainly look great value and a week of total relaxation sounds fab

 

[disneyholic family]

welcome back!!

what category room were you in? how did the ship look?
i think she goes into dry dock at the end of the summer...i think...or did she already go into dry dock...(my memory is getting worse and worse!!!! )

 

[Tink2312]

welcome back!!

what category room were you in? how did the ship look?
i think she goes into dry dock at the end of the summer...i think...or did she already go into dry dock...(my memory is getting worse and worse!!!! )

We had a Navigators Verandah - is that 7A...can't quite remember? We loved it, nice and sheltered from the wind (it was fairly cool on our first day at sea) but a lovely space to relax and watch as we sailed into/ out of the ports and to look out to sea. Generally the ship was tip top - if you scrutinise every inch of carpet or every wall you will find frayed edges and scrapes/ rust here and there but nothing particularly noticeable and certainly nothing which spoils your enjoyment of the ship. As always with DCL, the ship is super clean and visibly sparkles. I know they are going to do a lot of refurbs at the end of this Med season and I would welcome some (room updates, update of Parrot Cay) but not others (watercoaster, adding more to kids area). I didn't realise how much I disliked the pool deck on the Dream until we saw the one on the Magic - lovely defined kids, family and adult areas and plenty of places to sit and relax away from the hubbub (unlike on the Dream). We definitely prefer the Magic/ Wonder smaller ships than the Dream/ Fantasy style.

 

[disneyholic family]

We had a Navigators Verandah - is that 7A...can't quite remember? We loved it, nice and sheltered from the wind (it was fairly cool on our first day at sea) but a lovely space to relax and watch as we sailed into/ out of the ports and to look out to sea. Generally the ship was tip top - if you scrutinise every inch of carpet or every wall you will find frayed edges and scrapes/ rust here and there but nothing particularly noticeable and certainly nothing which spoils your enjoyment of the ship. As always with DCL, the ship is super clean and visibly sparkles. I know they are going to do a lot of refurbs at the end of this Med season and I would welcome some (room updates, update of Parrot Cay) but not others (watercoaster, adding more to kids area). I didn't realise how much I disliked the pool deck on the Dream until we saw the one on the Magic - lovely defined kids, family and adult areas and plenty of places to sit and relax away from the hubbub (unlike on the Dream). We definitely prefer the Magic/ Wonder smaller ships than the Dream/ Fantasy style.

i loved the Dream, but agree about the pool deck...i much prefer the pool deck on the smaller ships!!!

 

[wayneg]

2 things we prefer on the new ships, the buffet restaurant and the virtual portholes, everything else we far prefer the older ships. Disney Dream is very badly designed in parts.

 

[disneyholic family]

2 things we prefer on the new ships, the buffet restaurant and the virtual portholes, everything else we far prefer the older ships. Disney Dream is very badly designed in parts.

concierge is MUCH better on the new ships!!!! much much

but i've heard that when the magic goes into dry dock, it's going to get a concierge lounge....if so, that will bring it up to speed...

but i really did like having a completely separate ship within a ship on the Dream....made it worth the extra money (for me - others won't agree with that, i know)..

 

[Tink2312]

2 things we prefer on the new ships, the buffet restaurant and the virtual portholes, everything else we far prefer the older ships. Disney Dream is very badly designed in parts.

Totally agree. We loved the lounge areas on the Magic, the outdoor areas and the adult only areas seemed either more spacious or less crowded. I must say though that we preferred the option of outdoor seating at Topsiders and the simple buffet line (I know others will disagree but we found the stations at Cabanas confusing and time-consuming to look around although there was more choice). didn't get to see a vp on the Dream although I imagine it would be much better than a standard inside room.

concierge is MUCH better on the new ships!!!! much much

but i've heard that when the magic goes into dry dock, it's going to get a concierge lounge....if so, that will bring it up to speed...

but i really did like having a completely separate ship within a ship on the Dream....made it worth the extra money (for me - others won't agree with that, i know)..

I don't think I would ever sail concierge - I don't think there is any benefit that it provides which would make the outlay worthwhile. However, I'm glad that's getting improved during dry dock if it's a necessary change.

 

[disneyholic family]

I don't think I would ever sail concierge - I don't think there is any benefit that it provides which would make the outlay worthwhile. However, I'm glad that's getting improved during dry dock if it's a necessary change.

i've never not gone concierge, so i have no frame of reference to say one way or the other..
i can say that i very much enjoyed it, despite the obscene cost..

on the wonder, "all" we got for the money was a very large room (first cruise - one of the very spacious midship one bedrooms, second cruise, the walt disney suite - absolutely worth every penny we paid for it)..

on the dream, we were in a one bedroom....the room itself was worth the extra money, but so was the concierge lounge and the services of the shoreside and onboard concierge staff..

but as i said, i've never not gone concierge so i can't say if i would like cruising without it..

people often say, once you cruise concierge, you can't go back...and i suspect that may be true.

we're hoping to cruise on royal caribean this august and i'm very worried that if i don't book a suite, i'm going to be very disappointed....
i haven't made a final decision yet...it might be that if i wait long enough to book, the decision will be made for me (whatever cabin is left two weeks before sail date)...

 

[Tink2312]

i've never not gone concierge, so i have no frame of reference to say one way or the other..
i can say that i very much enjoyed it, despite the obscene cost..

on the wonder, "all" we got for the money was a very large room (first cruise - one of the very spacious midship one bedrooms, second cruise, the walt disney suite - absolutely worth every penny we paid for it)..

on the dream, we were in a one bedroom....the room itself was worth the extra money, but so was the concierge lounge and the services of the shoreside and onboard concierge staff..

but as i said, i've never not gone concierge so i can't say if i would like cruising without it..

people often say, once you cruise concierge, you can't go back...and i suspect that may be true.

we're hoping to cruise on royal caribean this august and i'm very worried that if i don't book a suite, i'm going to be very disappointed....
i haven't made a final decision yet...it might be that if i wait long enough to book, the decision will be made for me (whatever cabin is left two weeks before sail date)...

We've loved both cruises also and fell like royalty every second. I never want to come home/ go back to work but perhaps if I sailed concierge, it would be even worse. We think the standard rooms are spacious and more than adequate for us. I find it difficult to think about the extra cost and how many other cruises/ flights/ holidays that would buy me. In the same way that I consider UC flights to be an unnecessary spurge. However, for those that do it, I'm glad they enjoy it I'm trying Royal Caribbean for the first time next May and I think whatever room/ ship/ itinerary it's never going to have the Disney "magic" but hopefully it will be an enjoyable trip.

Where are you planning on sailing/ what ship?

 

[disneyholic family]

We've loved both cruises also and fell like royalty every second. I never want to come home/ go back to work but perhaps if I sailed concierge, it would be even worse. We think the standard rooms are spacious and more than adequate for us. I find it difficult to think about the extra cost and how many other cruises/ flights/ holidays that would buy me. In the same way that I consider UC flights to be an unnecessary spurge. However, for those that do it, I'm glad they enjoy it I'm trying Royal Caribbean for the first time next May and I think whatever room/ ship/ itinerary it's never going to have the Disney "magic" but hopefully it will be an enjoyable trip.

Where are you planning on sailing/ what ship?

DD sailed on royal caribbean last summer - on the radiance in alaska..
she and her husband LOVED the radiance and royal...
DD said it was every bit as great as disney, so that's saying a lot...
she said the service was outstanding, as were the rooms, food, activities, etc...she was in a regular balcony room (not concierge)..

this august, i'm trying to decide between the freedom of the seas (the western itinerary that week) and the allure of the seas (the eastern itinerary that week)...

DD and her husband are also going - and i'm paying for them, so that's why i'd like to do it on the cheap this time..
so that will probably mean the freedom of the seas (even though i think i'd prefer the eastern itinerary...i really have no interest in cozumel, falmouth, or labadee),...

 

[cforsythe]

Thanks for the information!!! I would love to see some navigators if you have them.

It looks like they did Disney Dreams 2 nights. Is that true?

 

[cforsythe]

Nevermind on the show question. Searched and found the information on the Walt Disney: The Dream Goes On show.

 

[Tink2312]

Thanks for the information!!! I would love to see some navigators if you have them.

It looks like they did Disney Dreams 2 nights. Is that true?

My scanner is having a bit of a hissy fit at the moment, but I'll see what I can do. Hopefully someone over on the DCL board might post them if not. The just did Dreams on the last night, they did another show earlier on called Walt Disney: the dream goes on - that was like a history of Walt/ Disney films/ parks with music and dance numbers from the movies/ parks.

 

[Tink2312]

DD sailed on royal caribbean last summer - on the radiance in alaska..
she and her husband LOVED the radiance and royal...
DD said it was every bit as great as disney, so that's saying a lot...
she said the service was outstanding, as were the rooms, food, activities, etc...she was in a regular balcony room (not concierge)..

this august, i'm trying to decide between the freedom of the seas (the western itinerary that week) and the allure of the seas (the eastern itinerary that week)...

DD and her husband are also going - and i'm paying for them, so that's why i'd like to do it on the cheap this time..
so that will probably mean the freedom of the seas (even though i think i'd prefer the eastern itinerary...i really have no interest in cozumel, falmouth, or labadee),...

Sounds great - I'm doing Adventure of the Seas to the Norwegian Fjords and similar to you, I'm paying for my mum so I've gone for a Promenade stateroom, which is an inside but with a window with a view of the Royal Promenade. Hopefully I'll be doing an Alaskan in 2016, probably with Disney though if they are still doing that itinerary.

 

[eeyorefanuk]

DD sailed on royal caribbean last summer - on the radiance in alaska..
she and her husband LOVED the radiance and royal...
DD said it was every bit as great as disney, so that's saying a lot...
she said the service was outstanding, as were the rooms, food, activities, etc...she was in a regular balcony room (not concierge)..

this august, i'm trying to decide between the freedom of the seas (the western itinerary that week) and the allure of the seas (the eastern itinerary that week)...

DD and her husband are also going - and i'm paying for them, so that's why i'd like to do it on the cheap this time..
so that will probably mean the freedom of the seas (even though i think i'd prefer the eastern itinerary...i really have no interest in cozumel, falmouth, or labadee),...

I did a two nighter on adventure of the seas in may and if money was no worry disney are def better for me

 

[disneyholic family]

Sounds great - I'm doing Adventure of the Seas to the Norwegian Fjords and similar to you, I'm paying for my mum so I've gone for a Promenade stateroom, which is an inside but with a window with a view of the Royal Promenade. Hopefully I'll be doing an Alaskan in 2016, probably with Disney though if they are still doing that itinerary.

DD was going to do disney in alaska, but the disney alaskan itinerary was bad in comparison to just about all the other cruise lines...
in the end, she picked the radiance as it had the ports and port times she most wanted...she did the one way southbound from seward alaska to vancouver canada, with a week beforehand in inland alaska..

you can read her trip report from last summer here:

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1725813&highlight=diy

.