Magic cruises Dover to Barcelona August 3-10, 2015

[rachelsmom97]

I am very excited but also confused about FE does every group do them slightly differently ? Sone people seam to do one gift for the family and one for each person, some one for the family and some one for each person

Last time we did a gift for the adults and one for each kid. We had 35 families and I ended up bringing a carry on full of gifts. This time I am going to need to be creative in coming up with lightweight gifts since we are flying from the U.S. and spending 17 days in Europe.

 

[Claire2015]

I have so many ideas but am conscious of the fact that everyone will be flying home and the need to keep the weight down so am thinking edible in fact I have seen something fantastic I might try, but that means I miss out on all the crafts I would have got to do !

 

[ILovePixieDust]

Also tips ! We have been told we need to pay a set amount for tips (this is not done in England in fact if someone puts a tip on my bill I haven't asked them to I have it taken of as it really annoys me I should be able to decide how much tip I pay how ever I understand this is different in America) how does this work ? who are these shared between ? So for example does the person who brings room service get part of it ? Or the bar man ? Ect ? Do I need to have some cash to give to people who don't get part of the pre paid tips ?

The tips are added automatically to your onboard account for each member of your party (children included). They are for your server, assistant server, head server and room host/hostess. The amounts are quite standard and not that much when you break them down per day. They are suggested amounts and you can feel free to increase or decrease them at Guest Services onboard. THe tips are to cover all service that you receive for other meals and food during your cruise as well so (with the exception of room service and adult dining in Palo or Remy), for example, if you go for breakfast you don't need to tip then even though its not specifically your server that serves you.

Room service needs to be tipped separately and the bar automatically adds gratuity to your bill. Its a good idea to have cash available for tips just in case.

In the US/Canada we also tip the the baggage porters at the port - is this done in England/Europe?

 

[ILovePixieDust]

Forgot to add this link which is the amount that DCL automatically charges.

https://disneycruise.disney.go.com/planning-center/my-cruise-plans/faqs/onboard-services/gratuities/

 

[Claire2015]

Thanks for clearing that up ! I was rather confused, the man who took our booking said that tips where included but I had read about tipping on the various blogs ect, to be honest I've never had someone else handle my baggage before this is probably the poshest holiday I have ever been on, even when we went to the Dominican Republic I sorted my own stuff ! I would presume that you would normal tip the handlers though I want my bags to get on the ship not end up in the dock

 

[HermanTriplets+1]

Hi, Just checking in!
Now that the Magic is in Europe for its 2014 season, it feels more real! Lucky people who get to go this year. But I think that next year's itineraries are much more interesting!
I'm still a bit stressed that the Israeli army might mess up my plans. There is mandatory army service here after high school. The placement process starts in 11th grade, and sometimes the kids don't get a definite placement/date until the end of their last year of high school (12th grade). Yikes. My guys are relatively old for their grade, so they could be given an early summer enlistment date, and that would be bad bad bad. On the other hand, knowing that we want August free, maybe we can push the envelope a bit in what their placement will be and get a later date. Maybe... Because either this happens and we all go . Or they can't come and just me and DH with or without DS16 go without them (bad form, since they'd probably be in basic training and it's not nice to leave the country while they are in the hardest weeks of their life...). Or, none of us go. I'm going to play Polyanna here and say that the first best option just somehow is going to work out. Wouldn't that be a great family trip before their service???
Meanwhile, I just continue to read up on the ports and plan plan plan!
Have a great day, everyone!

 

[disfamilyfun]

Hi, Just checking in! Now that the Magic is in Europe for its 2014 season, it feels more real! Lucky people who get to go this year. But I think that next year's itineraries are much more interesting! I'm still a bit stressed that the Israeli army might mess up my plans. There is mandatory army service here after high school. The placement process starts in 11th grade, and sometimes the kids don't get a definite placement/date until the end of their last year of high school (12th grade). Yikes. My guys are relatively old for their grade, so they could be given an early summer enlistment date, and that would be bad bad bad. On the other hand, knowing that we want August free, maybe we can push the envelope a bit in what their placement will be and get a later date. Maybe... Because either this happens and we all go . Or they can't come and just me and DH with or without DS16 go without them (bad form, since they'd probably be in basic training and it's not nice to leave the country while they are in the hardest weeks of their life...). Or, none of us go. I'm going to play Polyanna here and say that the first best option just somehow is going to work out. Wouldn't that be a great family trip before their service??? Meanwhile, I just continue to read up on the ports and plan plan plan! Have a great day, everyone!

I hope it all works out. Where in Israel are you? Next May my daughter (who will be 18) goes with her senior class for 3 weeks. They start the month in Poland for a week. We have family in Israel who she will get to see, but knowing of another family might not be too bad.

Malikah

 

[JimmyJackJunior]

We have dropped out of the back to back portion of this cruise, the 5 day Barcelona to Barcelona cruise. We are going to go on the NCL 12 day Grand Mediterranean proceeding this instead because it is about the same price as the 5 day and went to better ports.

We will still be on this cruise.

 

[Claire2015]

Oh that sound amazing ! I am trying to convince hubby that when we go to Florida in a few years we should add a cruise on to the end ! We have only been to my sisters for a week and I need a holiday to get over my holiday lol

 

[ReadingFC]

Caropooh, any chance of putting a roll call at the start of this thread?

 

[Caropooh]

Caropooh, any chance of putting a roll call at the start of this thread?

Good Idea! I'll work on that this weekend!

 

[waltcanada]

Good Idea! I'll work on that this weekend!

Terrific Idea!

We are excited about this cruise. Bought the Rick Steves DVD's about London/England as we hope to come a week early and see some sights.

Fish Extender is a BIG part of our family's enjoyment on DCL. I agree with others that we who have to cross the ocean to get there need to be creative with our gift selection. On other cruises, the FE has split into several sub-groups to keep the number of cabins to a manageable number (like 12 or 15). This has worked VERY well... just sayin'...!

Walt's Wife, rooms 7040 and 7042

 

[redsox13]

Myself and DH are very much looking forward to participating in the FE this time.
Didn't have time last year what with house move a week before honeymoon.
I agree with 12-15 in each group and up to you whether you join another group as well as one you go in.

More than welcome to john our Facebook group.

 

[Caropooh]

The Roll Call has now been added to the first post of the thread. I just took information from here, nothing from Facebook. Let me know if you'd like anything added or changed!

 

[ILovePixieDust]

The Roll Call has now been added to the first post of the thread. I just took information from here, nothing from Facebook. Let me know if you'd like anything added or changed!

Hi Caro! Thank you for doing the Roll Call. Just a simple adjustment please - my 6 year old is also a DS and not a DD. Thanks!

 

[Caropooh]

Hi Caro! Thank you for doing the Roll Call. Just a simple adjustment please - my 6 year old is also a DS and not a DD. Thanks!

I'm so sorry! All fixed, he's a DS again!

 

[ReadingFC]

Thanks for adding

 

[mlandon]

Hello everyone!

I just wanted to introduce myself and my family to this board as we'll be joining you on the August 3rd cruise from Dover!

Myself: Michael
DW: Shannon
DD Portia (She'll be almost 5 at the time of the cruise)

We live in Los Angeles and this will be our 5th DCL cruise! My wife and I are very excited to return to Europe. It's been quite a while! I however am not looking forward to lugging all our luggage to Europe! Does anyone know if our cruise has a pirate night?

We are also excited to meet all of you and perhaps join in on a fish extender. Just out of curiosity, has a Facebook group been started for our cruise?

Take care and look forward to discussing lots of things as the cruise gets closer!

Michael

 

[Caropooh]

Hello everyone!

I just wanted to introduce myself and my family to this board as we'll be joining you on the August 3rd cruise from Dover!

Myself: Michael
DW: Shannon
DD Portia (She'll be almost 5 at the time of the cruise)

We live in Los Angeles and this will be our 5th DCL cruise! My wife and I are very excited to return to Europe. It's been quite a while! I however am not looking forward to lugging all our luggage to Europe! Does anyone know if our cruise has a pirate night?

We are also excited to meet all of you and perhaps join in on a fish extender. Just out of curiosity, has a Facebook group been started for our cruise?

Take care and look forward to discussing lots of things as the cruise gets closer!

Michael

Welcome aboard!

I added your family to the Roll Call in the first post of the thread and also added the link to the FB page!

 

[redsox13]

Mlandon
Welcome aboard.

Nice to see you have a daughter close in age to my daughter. She will be 5 next September.

I have accepted yourself and Shannon on Facebook. Feel free to post photos and introductions etc.

Hope you guys are as excited as everybody else for a trip well over a year away.

Looking forward to doing the FE this time. Think we are all big kids at heart.