June 5, 2016 - Magic Goes to England, Ireland, Scotland and France

[nzdisneymom]

We booked our return flight out of Gatwick for noon on the day we return to port. Disney recommended not making a departure flight till 330 pm. I think we will have enough time. It says we could go ashore by 730 I arranged pick up for 8. Anyone else have a flight at this time.? Thanks

We are flying from Gatwick but waiting until the next morning. For us, we've flown home the same day post-cruise and been so wiped out that we've been miserable. We've found it's better for our overall well-being to stay one extra night and be more refreshed for the long flight home. We are usually up super late the last night between packing, cramming in the last bits of fun, hanging out with our new friends, etc., and that early morning wake-up / rush off the ship just sucks the fun out of the last moments on-board. By having our flight the following day, we don't have to get up quite so early (we always skip the dining room breakfast in favor of a quick bite from the buffet so that we can sleep in a little longer). We are still out of the cabin in plenty of time so as to not delay our cabin steward from chores and we like not having to juggle our hand-luggage while we eat. We spend our last day sight-seeing in our departure port because we often have things we didn't get to see or do on the front end. in this case, we'll stay overnight at Gatwick and just take our time going from Dover back to Gatwick doing some sightseeing along the way.

 

[Susan Simmons]

Hello All

We are onboard and looking forward to an active meet thread. It is me, DW and 2 DD (age 24 at cruise)

Janet I got through at 8:47 and got the last 9b four person stateroom. Will be watching for openings to move.

Hi...
We will be traveling with 2 daughters (19 and 23 at time of cruise). This will be our 9th DC. So excited about the British Isles! We spent a week in Ireland last summer before boarding the Baltic Sea Cruise (my favorite trip EvEr!). We are very interested in the Panama Canal cruise. Any insights or information you could share?

 

[DISNEY FANTASY]

I am very pleased you are all visiting my homeland England, and most likely my home city, London.

Some may have seen this, but cruising from and to Dover is different to Port Canaveral, here is a cruise report from this year, with photos and videos of embarkation at Dover, and travel information.

http://torussiawithmickeybars.blogspot.co.uk/?view=mosaic&m=1

 

[Mr Ferret 88]

Here's a short video of the last port of call for you guys.

 

[LoveMickey]

Good morning folks.

How are plans going? I've been reviewing this thread again. We are on the sailing but haven't been added to the list yet.

We are flying out of Boston to London. Haven't picked out pre or post stay yet nor our transportation to and from the port. Thanks for all your suggestions.

Have a great day.
Kathy & Tim

 

[2littlestitches]

Hi everyone, we unfortunately just cancelled this cruise.

My brother got engaged this month, and we are super excited about it. The problem is, they are having a destination wedding and it interferes with this cruise. Luckily, I was still in the window where I could get my full refund back so all is good.

I know you all will have a blast, and I wish everyone a wonderful trip! Thanks for chatting with me and hope to cruise with some of you another time soon!!!

 

[LoveMickey]

Just booked our Flights from Boston to Heathrow. We are coming in 2 days early and staying one day later. Now to find a hotel and transportation to and from the port. Wish us luck.

 

[Alohagirl73]

In just 30 weeks we will have set sail from Dover!!!

I am very pleased you are all visiting my homeland England, and most likely my home city, London.

Some may have seen this, but cruising from and to Dover is different to Port Canaveral, here is a cruise report from this year, with photos and videos of embarkation at Dover, and travel information.

http://torussiawithmickeybars.blogspot.co.uk/?view=mosaic&m=1

Definitely recommend reading Disney Fantasy's blog. Great pictures of Dover plus!

Disney Fantasy- Do you have a recommendation for getting from Heathrow to a hotel in the Tower Bridge area? I will have a 1 and 5 year old with us. I think I will be bringing my son's infant car seat with us. If I didn't have our baby with us, I would most likely take the express train etc. Thanks!

Mr Ferret 88-THANK YOU for the video. Beautiful. Can't wait to visit!

LoveMickey- Woohoo! Congratulations!

 

[Alohagirl73]

Just 29 weeks left until we set sail around the British Isles!

Can't wait!

 

[DCLCruiser84]

Hi, I'm Nora and my husband Dennis and I are sailing with you. This will be are first European Cruise and our 14th Disney Cruise. Please put us on your thread.

 

[Alohagirl73]

In just 27 weeks or 189 days, our cruise will be beginning!!

Welcome DCLcruiser84!!! This will be a wonderful cruise.

 

[nzdisneymom]

Hi...
We will be traveling with 2 daughters (19 and 23 at time of cruise). This will be our 9th DC. So excited about the British Isles! We spent a week in Ireland last summer before boarding the Baltic Sea Cruise (my favorite trip EvEr!). We are very interested in the Panama Canal cruise. Any insights or information you could share?

Susan - are you and abbycinnamon in the same traveling group? I wanted to ask before updating the who's sailing list so I get each group together

I am very pleased you are all visiting my homeland England, and most likely my home city, London.
Some may have seen this, but cruising from and to Dover is different to Port Canaveral, here is a cruise report from this year, with photos and videos of embarkation at Dover, and travel information.
http://torussiawithmickeybars.blogspot.co.uk/?view=mosaic&m=1

Disney Fantasy - thanks for sharing this. We sailed from Dover in 2010 but arrived by DCL transportation that morning and because we had already done check-in at the hotel, we were whisked right on board and totally missed seeing anything in the port area. This time we are staying over in Dover pre-cruise so our boarding experience will be quite different.

Good morning folks.
How are plans going? I've been reviewing this thread again. We are on the sailing but haven't been added to the list yet.

Just booked our Flights from Boston to Heathrow. We are coming in 2 days early and staying one day later. Now to find a hotel and transportation to and from the port. Wish us luck.

LoveMickey - I updated the list this morning so double check that I have your info correct. We're flying into Gatwick and spending two nights in Dover at a B/B Guest house. They've been so kind as to help with our transportation arrangements from the airport to Dover and also have said they will help us with arranging transporation from the B/B to the port.

Hi everyone, we unfortunately just cancelled this cruise.
My brother got engaged this month, and we are super excited about it. The problem is, they are having a destination wedding and it interferes with this cruise Luckily, I was still in the window where I could get my full refund back so all is good.
I know you all will have a blast, and I wish everyone a wonderful trip! Thanks for chatting with me and hope to cruise with some of you another time soon!!!

2littlestitches - we'll miss you but totally understand about wedding stuff. Hope it's at a fabulous location!

Hi, I'm Nora and my husband Dennis and I are sailing with you. This will be are first European Cruise and our 14th Disney Cruise. Please put us on your thread.

DCLCruiser84 - welcome - I added you to the list this morning!

 

[nzdisneymom]

Things have been so hectic this semester that I feel like I have neglected this trip - but once the shore excursions are out, there will be more to do - we've got transportation from the US to Dover and back all figured out, so there isn't a lot to do right now.

I expect we'll have some new folks joining us over the holidays when people unwrap a cruise itinerary

 

[nzdisneymom]

I thought this might be a fun way to get to know your fellow passengers. Please answer the following questions and feel free to add your own.

1. Favorite character(s)
2. Ever cruised in Europe?
3. Number of Disney Cruises
4. Port you are looking forward to the most
5. Early to bed or Early to rise?
6. AquaDunk or Quiet Cove?
7. Palo for brunch? tea? dinner?

 

[nzdisneymom]

Here are my responses for me and the family (DH Gary, DS Nathan (19) and DS Zachary (18)
1. Favorite character(s): Minnie (me), Donald (Gary), Mickey (Nathan), Stitch (Zachary)

2. Ever cruised in Europe? - yep, Mediterranean in 2007 and 2013, Baltic in 2010

3. Number of Disney Cruises - this will be number 9

4. Port you are looking forward to the most - hard to say. Liverpool for Gary because he's a big Beatles fan, for me because I found the documents where my great-grandfather sailed to America from Liverpool. Normandy for Gary and Nathan, our family history buffs. Guernsey for me because it just looks like a really cool place to be. I think we all want to look for the Loch Ness Monster, too.

5. Late to bed or Early to rise? - Early to rise (Cindy - don't want to miss a moment!) Boys and DH are late risers on non-excursion days!

6. AquaDunk or Quiet Cove? - Quiet Cove!

7. Palo for brunch? tea? dinner? - I'm the only one who has gone to Palo and that was for a group brunch with some fellow DISers. I think Zachary would really enjoy it but he hates getting dressed up. But maybe since this is his graduation trip AND since he has aged out of the Vibe and won't have that to occupy his time, then maybe I'll try to grab a brunch reservation.

 

[MandJHuff]

We are getting so excited!! We are flying into Heathrow and staying 3 days prior to the cruise and will be flying out the next day. It will be my first time in Europe so I am so excited! It is almost here!!!

 

[MandJHuff]

1. Favorite character(s) Mickey of course for me and Uncle Scrooge for hubby
2. Ever cruised in Europe? Nope
3. Number of Disney Cruises This will be number 9 for both of us on Disney
4. Port you are looking forward to the most I think I am looking forward to Kirkwall (Jan) and hubby is looking forward to Le Havre
5. Early to bed or Early to rise? Depends on the day
6. AquaDunk or Quiet Cove? Quiet Cove
7. Palo for brunch? tea? dinner? All of the above

 

[Alohagirl73]

Now that we are almost to 2016 we are getting more and more excited!!! Can't wait for the shore excursions to be put up to help with planning!

1. Favorite Character. For me I think either Minnie or Daisy. My DD would say any of the princesses. My DS definitely Mickey. DH just supports my Disney love!!!

2. We have never cruised Europe.

3. This will be our third Disney cruise and DS very first!!!

4. I think either Dublin or Invergordon. My DH would be Dublin or Paris. DD would be Paris.

5. With little kids we are both early to bed and early to rise!

6. For me Quiet Zone. DH Aquadunk

7. Palo brunch. Can't wait for the chicken Parmesan and grape pizza!!! Yum!

 

[nzdisneymom]

With the holidays upon us, are there things you are getting or giving related to the cruise?

 

[Alohagirl73]

Hoping to pay more of the cruise off with the paid in full day quickly approaching!

Also plan the ports better

What about you?