Live from the Magic!

[ibouncetoo]

OK, they're all there. Click on my link, on left side click on DCL EBTA 2010 album. We went to Madeira first, Cadiz 2nd, Gibralter 3rd and Barcelona last. There are lots of scenic pics of the cities. Nothing in particular, just landscapes. The cities are all separated by stuff from the ship, like towel animals, food porn, etc. Going to work, talk to you later. Enjoy!

Oh lordie....those two shots of me are pretty unfortunate!

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[tink too]

HOWEVER -
AT BCN Terminal A, which was beautiful, with plenty of shopping and eating choices, we entered the duty-free shop just to browse. When asked where we were flying to, I replied Estados Unidos. The clerk told me I could bring one liter of liquor per person into the states...

....HERE"S WHERE IT GOT UGLY -
As we went through passport control in Zurich, we encountered another security line. Mind you, we never left the terminal into any outdoor or uncontrolled area. Our bags went through X-ray, and we were pulled aside for a search. The Swiss agents removed the sealed bag, and we were informed that the US did not allow them onto inbound flights.

Unfortunately here, the clerk did not lie to you - you told her you were flying to the USA, and would have been OK to bring your duty free with you if this was the case. If you had said you were flying via Zurich, they probably would have told you about the "no liquid" rules in European airports.

We can no longer buy duty free goods when we travel as we always have to fly via our local (small) airport to one of the main airports in the UK. So if we bought anything at the duty free shop at MCO, it would be confiscated in London even though we would just be getting off one plane and onto another one to get home.

Here's hoping other traveller's learn from your mistake - and sorry you had to learn of this the hard way. It is not really explained very well by customs/border control.

 

[Beauty & the Best]

Just wanted to say hi to everyone!! We LOVED our first Disney cruise, it was a magical experience

We headed to Madrid after debarkation & spent 3 days there. Madrid is very lovely & more like Paris than Barcelona...definitely would go there again.

Glad to see everyone got home safe (too bad about the liquor though!)

 

[stlkeeler]

Oh lordie....those two shots of me are pretty unfortunate!

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Sorry, do you want me to delete them? I just uploaded everything on my card. I needed to get to work and it was faster than picking individual ones.

They were asking me at work today - did anyone have any travel troubles because of the volcano? I haven't seen anyone reporting any but there were people going through London, Paris, Dublin, etc. Just curious.

 

[orlandothebeagle]

We didn't go through passport control at BCN, probably because we flew first to Zurich and then on to JFK. We went through control as we went from the Barcelona-Zurich flight to our JFK bound plane.

HOWEVER -
AT BCN Terminal A, which was beautiful, with plenty of shopping and eating choices, we entered the duty-free shop just to browse. When asked where we were flying to, I replied Estados Unidos. The clerk told me I could bring one liter of liquor per person into the states. I knew that was the duty free limit, but asked about transporting it carry-on, since our bags were checked before entering through security into the sterile zone. The clerk then said that the bottles would be put into a sealed customs bag, and could be carried aboard. Seemed to make sense, since we HAD cleared the security lanes, and would merely be going from gate to gate in Zurich. I made my purchase, they sealed them in a heavy plastic official bag, and I put them into my carry-on. Boarded and enjoyed the short flight to Zurich, getting some great pics of French, Italian and Swiss Alps.
HERE"S WHERE IT GOT UGLY -
As we went through passport control in Zurich, we encountered another security line. Mind you, we never left the terminal into any outdoor or uncontrolled area. Our bags went through X-ray, and we were pulled aside for a search. The Swiss agents removed the sealed bag, and we were informed that the US did not allow them onto inbound flights. We had about 6 or 7 minutes to board our plane - we could see it boarding through the glass at the checkpoint - so I just acquiesced (not without a lot of gnashing of teeth on Debbie's part) and requested the duty-free shop's receipt, which had been taped inside the bag. The Swiss agent informed me that many duty free shops in the EU tell Americans the same thing, since they make the sale, and you're gone. We hurriedly went up the stairs, and boarded the flight minus about $100 US worth of liquor. I told the Swiss agent that I gave them permission to enjoy it, and not destroy it, especially the three-wood Scotch whisky! So it goes . . . . .

And, to her credit, the clerk in a different Barcelona Airport shop DID tell me not to buy a vacuum sealed package of Iberian ham, since I could not take THAT into the US. If only the clerks at the duty-free had been as honest.

I have disputed the charge with American Express, but am afraid I'll probably be told that it was a case of my own error. If they deny the charge-back, maybe the Conde' Nast Traveler's Ombudsman column can help. I will report back.

That sucks, but we are trained here in the uk now to know that, its so so annoying to learn the hard way. I flew from tenerife to edinburgh with ryan air a few weeks ago, people were giving up there duty free because they could not fit it in there hand luggage, you were not allowed ANY EXTRA carry ons whatso ever except the 1 bag!! and EVERYTHING had to go into that 1 carry on. so for all you uk peeps be warned they are super dooper strict on ryan air, even weighing and measuring bags at the dep gate.

 

[orlandothebeagle]

Sorry, do you want me to delete them? I just uploaded everything on my card. I needed to get to work and it was faster than picking individual ones.

They were asking me at work today - did anyone have any travel troubles because of the volcano? I haven't seen anyone reporting any but there were people going through London, Paris, Dublin, etc. Just curious.

great pics, thanks for sharing.

 

[orlandothebeagle]

Did any of you guys notice if Leslie from India was on board.
He was fab on our last cruise.

 

[disdel]

Unfortunately here, the clerk did not lie to you - you told her you were flying to the USA, and would have been OK to bring your duty free with you if this was the case. If you had said you were flying via Zurich, they probably would have told you about the "no liquid" rules in European airports.

We can no longer buy duty free goods when we travel as we always have to fly via our local (small) airport to one of the main airports in the UK. So if we bought anything at the duty free shop at MCO, it would be confiscated in London even though we would just be getting off one plane and onto another one to get home.

Here's hoping other traveller's learn from your mistake - and sorry you had to learn of this the hard way. It is not really explained very well by customs/border control.

Thanks, Tink, too -
Very confusing, the whole lot. I don't recall if I told them my routing or not. But the Swiss agents clearly said it was the US that had the restriction. So that's where I'm confused. If the US doesn't allow it, what would have stopped me from getting onto a direct flight from BCN? Would it have been passport control there? It seems from earlier posts that if I had been on a direct flight and cleared passport control in BCN, there would have been no duty-free shop (no shops at all, for that matter) once I was past there, so it would have been moot - no CHANCE to shop.

That sucks, but we are trained here in the uk now to know that, its so so annoying to learn the hard way. I flew from tenerife to edinburgh with ryan air a few weeks ago, people were giving up there duty free because they could not fit it in there hand luggage, you were not allowed ANY EXTRA carry ons whatso ever except the 1 bag!! and EVERYTHING had to go into that 1 carry on. so for all you uk peeps be warned they are super dooper strict on ryan air, even weighing and measuring bags at the dep gate.

Thanks. It WAS in our (one apiece) carryon, but it was the "No liquids over 3 ounces allowed in carry-on going to the US" that caught us up.

Oh well, think I'll open a thread with all this so others from the US that will be cruising the Med or Baltic this summer don't get burned, too.

 

[ibouncetoo]

Sorry, do you want me to delete them? I just uploaded everything on my card. I needed to get to work and it was faster than picking individual ones.

They were asking me at work today - did anyone have any travel troubles because of the volcano? I haven't seen anyone reporting any but there were people going through London, Paris, Dublin, etc. Just curious.

No problems through to London with British Air. As a matter of fact, or flight from London home on AA still had plenty of seats!

Perhaps you can remove the one with the stupid face...

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[Hoagie Pie]

I remember someone said that they stayed at the Hotel Continental in Barcelona. How far from the port is this hotel? I cannot find it anywhere on the maps from the port or recommendations. THANK YOU!!

 

[birkner]

I remember someone said that they stayed at the Hotel Continental in Barcelona. How far from the port is this hotel? I cannot find it anywhere on the maps from the port or recommendations. THANK YOU!!

Here in the website:
http://www.hotelcontinental.com/web/

Says it In Barcelona, on Ramblas, Hotel Continental Barcelona and Hotel Continental Palacete, next to Catalunya Square, facing Canaletas fountain. In the best shopping and business area.Right in the Gothic quarter. Next to Gaudi: Sagrada Familia.

Here is the trip advisor review:
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Re...ontinental_Barcelona-Barcelona_Catalonia.html

 

[Hoagie Pie]

Here in the website:
http://www.hotelcontinental.com/web/

Says it In Barcelona, on Ramblas, Hotel Continental Barcelona and Hotel Continental Palacete, next to Catalunya Square, facing Canaletas fountain. In the best shopping and business area.Right in the Gothic quarter. Next to Gaudi: Sagrada Familia.

Here is the trip advisor review:
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Re...ontinental_Barcelona-Barcelona_Catalonia.html

Thank you for the info!!!!!!!!! I am STILL trying to make the September trip, but things are looking better. I appreciate your help!

 

[birkner]

Thank you for the info!!!!!!!!! I am STILL trying to make the September trip, but things are looking better. I appreciate your help!

You are very welcome. Let me know if you need more info on anything.

 

[Dicecatt]

Just wanted to pop in and say hi, live from the Magic! It is our last night of the most amazing time...so wonderful, I could stay and do it all again tomorrow. Wonderful, fantastic, perfect. Seriously one of the best experiences in my existence. I have written a lot of my trip report but unfortunately bad internet connections have prevented me from updating often...I should have it done in the next week or so because it is mostly written. Talk to you soon, when I am on US soil!!!

 

[ibouncetoo]

For those that did the B2B.....tell us how they handled that. I understand they had a record number of B2B cruisers on the EBTA/1st Med.

(I'm also wondering if the LA-Vancouver/1st Alaska will beat that number!)

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[PPFQP]

Did any of you guys notice if Leslie from India was on board.
He was fab on our last cruise.

He was our server on our 2009 Spring Break cruise. He's great!

 

[DL1957]

Just wanted to pop in and say hi, live from the Magic! It is our last night of the most amazing time...so wonderful, I could stay and do it all again tomorrow. Wonderful, fantastic, perfect. Seriously one of the best experiences in my existence. I have written a lot of my trip report but unfortunately bad internet connections have prevented me from updating often...I should have it done in the next week or so because it is mostly written. Talk to you soon, when I am on US soil!!!

Glad to hear you had an awesome time. That is how DH and I felt in 2007. In fact I wanted to do the Med again but he and DS and BIL won out with the Baltic.

 

[Allesma]

He was our server on our 2009 Spring Break cruise. He's great!

Was Hans from Belgium a youth counseler in the Ocean Lab? He was on the Wonder in february and told us he would move to the Magic in april. Our DD looks really forward to se him aigain on our trip in August.

 

[scrapycruiser]

Have any of the kids on the Med cruise received a nice journal from DCL ? In Port Hole magazine it mentions one. It has info about the diff countries and games, etc. ???