June 27, 2013 - Magic in the Med (Venice)

[jkind]

I just discovered this forum last week and have been trying to read as much as I can to get some tips from experienced Med. cruisers. If there is any one piece of advice on what to bring to Europe, what would you recommend. We are getting so excited, this is our fourth Disney cruise. Thanks!

 

[nzdisneymom]

I just discovered this forum last week and have been trying to read as much as I can to get some tips from experienced Med. cruisers. If there is any one piece of advice on what to bring to Europe, what would you recommend. We are getting so excited, this is our fourth Disney cruise. Thanks!

jkind, welcome to the party! Glad you are here - we have a lot of things going on, so be sure to read the info in the first thread for details about meets and such that are planned (there are links to spreadsheets with cruise events, excursions, who's sailing, etc.).

I'm Cindy D., traveling with DH (Gary), and two teenage boys. We are also doing the cruise before this one. These will be our 7th and 8th DCL cruises, all on the Magic except for two on the Wonder. We haven't had a chance to sail on the Dream or Fantasy yet.

As for what to bring to Europe, I would say your Passport Because you can't get there without it! As for other things, I would say your ATM card so you can get Euros for when you need them while in the ports. And your camera - don't want to miss those photo ops.

 

[jkind]

Thanks! This is helpful!

 

[jkind]

jkind, welcome to the party! Glad you are here - we have a lot of things going on, so be sure to read the info in the first thread for details about meets and such that are planned (there are links to spreadsheets with cruise events, excursions, who's sailing, etc.).

I'm Cindy D., traveling with DH (Gary), and two teenage boys. We are also doing the cruise before this one. These will be our 7th and 8th DCL cruises, all on the Magic except for two on the Wonder. We haven't had a chance to sail on the Dream or Fantasy yet.

As for what to bring to Europe, I would say your Passport Because you can't get there without it! As for other things, I would say your ATM card so you can get Euros for when you need them while in the ports. And your camera - don't want to miss those photo ops.

Thanks this is helpful!

 

[JayCeeDoubleU]

I just discovered this forum last week and have been trying to read as much as I can to get some tips from experienced Med. cruisers. If there is any one piece of advice on what to bring to Europe, what would you recommend. We are getting so excited, this is our fourth Disney cruise. Thanks!

Welcome! I just discovered this forum as well! It has been so helpful so far!

 

[carpenta]

and a credit card and bank cards with the "chip" embedded in the card, old type credit cards are not usually accepted. On that note keep note of where you carry your cards for some thiefs carry scanners that can gather your info off your card and use it fraudulantly. Those new lined wallets are a good bet and an old timer said to wrap your card in aluminum foil. Me? I have the former.

 

[nzdisneymom]

and a credit card and bank cards with the "chip" embedded in the card, old type credit cards are not usually accepted. On that note keep note of where you carry your cards for some thiefs carry scanners that can gather your info off your card and use it fraudulantly. Those new lined wallets are a good bet and an old timer said to wrap your card in aluminum foil. Me? I have the former.

Just called our credit card company to ask about the chips and foreign transaction fees and to put our travel alert on the account.

 

[thumpery]

None of our credit cards have the "chip" in them. Should I be trying to get one with it?

 

[Kouris_Family]

I just discovered this forum last week and have been trying to read as much as I can to get some tips from experienced Med. cruisers. If there is any one piece of advice on what to bring to Europe, what would you recommend. We are getting so excited, this is our fourth Disney cruise. Thanks!

I say don't forget your cork screw, since we're gonna be in Italy and picking up some fun wines

 

[jel0511]

None of our credit cards have the "chip" in them. Should I be trying to get one with it?

US card issuers don't issue ones with chips, so there is no way to get one. We never have had a problem with our cards in Europe. Most of the bigger cities and cruise ports, get enough US travelers to have swipe machines.

 

[thumpery]

US card issuers don't issue ones with chips, so there is no way to get one. We never have had a problem with our cards in Europe. Most of the bigger cities and cruise ports, get enough US travelers to have swipe machines.

THANK YOU!!! That is such a relief!

 

[nzdisneymom]

US card issuers don't issue ones with chips, so there is no way to get one. We never have had a problem with our cards in Europe. Most of the bigger cities and cruise ports, get enough US travelers to have swipe machines.

Not quite true... Our card issuer is sending us one with the chip, but it is chip and sign, not chip and pin. She said they don't do chip and pin.

 

[gydell]

5 weeks from today I will be flying to Barcelona!

 

[disprincess4ever]

Not quite true... Our card issuer is sending us one with the chip, but it is chip and sign, not chip and pin. She said they don't do chip and pin.

we're getting one with some sort of chip as well from our bank.

 

[nzdisneymom]

we're getting one with some sort of chip as well from our bank.

Rick Steves says you don't HAVE to have them, but you might encounter some locations that won't accept those that just have the magnetic stripe. But that ATMs should be fine without the chips. But he also says that the major tourist areas (like where we will mostly be) should be able to process both kinds of cards; they might not like the extra hassle of the US kind, but they sure will like the $$$ we tourists will be spending.

This whole discussion got me thinking about what we have to do regarding money and cards etc for the trip so I had to blog about it, so thanks for today's idea! Today is 101 days since we started our blog and you all have often provided inspiration. So thanks!

 

[thumpery]

Well, I called my bank and they are sending me a card with the chip and sign format. One more obstacle I can check off my list. Honestly, thank goodness for this board! I would have never known about this if it weren't for you guys! THANKS!!!!

I picked up our cruise documents from our TA today!!! Unfortunately, I can't say the same about the Adventures By Disney precruise portion. I guess they aren't mailing anything out till May 28th. I don't understand the delay. Since it had to be booked with DCL, I would have thought they would come together. Oh well, another thing to look forward to!

 

[nzdisneymom]

Well, I called my bank and they are sending me a card with the chip and sign format. One more obstacle I can check off my list. Honestly, thank goodness for this board! I would have never known about this if it weren't for you guys! THANKS!!!!

I picked up our cruise documents from our TA today!!! Unfortunately, I can't say the same about the Adventures By Disney precruise portion. I guess they aren't mailing anything out till May 28th. I don't understand the delay. Since it had to be booked with DCL, I would have thought they would come together. Oh well, another thing to look forward to!

We received our chip and sign card today; they overnighted it to us for free. That way I didn't have to wait for it to get held up in the regular mail.

We use an online TA and are so glad that she has our documents sent directly to us rather than to her first.

 

[thumpery]

We received our chip and sign card today; they overnighted it to us for free. That way I didn't have to wait for it to get held up in the regular mail.

We use an online TA and are so glad that she has our documents sent directly to us rather than to her first.

The bank said it would only take 1-2 business days. They are using Fedex. We should have it in plenty of time for the trip!

My TA actually called DCL while I was with her and are having them mail the Adventures By Disney documents to me directly. As much as I love my TA, I didn't want to make another appointment to get them. She actually gave me a huge DCL tote bag today! It will definitely be used on this vacation!

 

[jel0511]

This info is for those of you who are worried about having a non-chip card. NOT ALL banks/issuers have them yet. Our main CC is the Capital One Venture card and Capital One doesn't have chip cards available in the US yet. We didn't have any problem in 2010 with a non-chip card and I don't anticipate a problem this time either....

http://creditcardforum.com/blog/chip-and-pin-credit-cards-usa/

 

[jel0511]

Read the comments on the link I posted above. LOTS of problems with chip and signature cards in Europe.....