Magic to The Med Report VERY LONG

[rikimuk]

I am assuming this is due to the cruise being entirely within the European Union. I noticed in the stateroom book that for the Med cruises the onboard stores also have to include the VAT, and there were instructions on how US citizens can get it back. Something we didn't have to worry about either.

There are also now new rules for the number of hours the crew are legally allowed to work without a break and the length of time they have to break and that was causing nightmares for the dining room staff. They now have to have much longer break times which is causing problems for the dining rotations.

Lindsay

 

[LITTLEKID58]

 

[gismo1554]

There are also now new rules for the number of hours the crew are legally allowed to work without a break and the length of time they have to break and that was causing nightmares for the dining room staff. They now have to have much longer break times which is causing problems for the dining rotations.

Lindsay

Wasn't it something like outside the EU they have to have a 6 hour break a day but inside they have to have a 10? It was a really big difference I know and a lot of the servers were working over their times because of dinner service running over and then having to do breakfast the next day.

 

[Jeff Spencer]

...
I loved the cruise (cant you guess) but my husband hated it. Not because of bad service but he was bored (dont ask me how thats possible when there is so much to do but hes a man)...
Lindsay

Hey! Don't go hating on us men!

 

[gailadams_uk]

I too had a magical time on the cruise. Lots to do, good company etc.
However also agree there were teething problems that Disney will hopefully iron out.

Dining room - on the last 4 or 5 days the meal times took longer and longer to arrive - our server kept having to apologise for problems in the kitchen. On the night in Barcelona I left after the entree to ensure I saw the fireworks. It didn't help that one family arrived late on several occassions. However, saying that, on our table of 5 the adults, those ordering childrens meals seemed to get theirs OK.
Despite the problems with meals I must say that our servers were wonderful and would have no hesitation to ask for them again.
(I cannot say the same about the head server though - we barely saw him).

Our room host was not as attentive as previous hosts - We had toiletries on the first day, then after several days of none I asked for some every day. This was a bit hit and miss, some days we did, some we didn't, and the last few days we didn't get any.

Also on the 2nd night I stood on a pin, which I discovered was a foot from the dressing table stool. I gave it to the room host who said he would get the chair repaired. Several days later I then spoke to the head of housekeeping, showed her the chair and was again told it would be repaired (I was worried more would come off). The stool was never replaced or repaired. The pin made my toe bleed, but luckily I had antiseptic to use. I was in pain for the rest of the evening and had to hoble around (it happened as I was getting ready to go to tea). I was just glad a child had not stepped on it.

Palo afternoon tea was also a disappointment. (as RIKIMUK and GISMO1554 have already stated).
Our server offered us scones as we were sitting down (no time to try the sandwiches), then while we were still eating the cakes started taking our plates away (I held onto mine).
Trifle was definately not an "english trife". We were also not offered anymore water, or tea. Grand Floridian resorts afternoon tea is sooo much better.

Both the pin incident and the disappointment with Palos was recorded on my comment card. I still tipped my servers extra as the problems with meals was not down to them.

Disney could do nothing about the weather (It was just like being at home), and the Disney organised excursions I went on were well worth the money (2 in Gibraltar, one in Barcelona).

Overall a great trip, and I would not hesitate to do this cruise again.

Gail (mother of RIKIMUK and GISMO1554)

 

[rikimuk]

Hey! Don't go hating on us men!

Sorry Jeff lol. No men hating here just a typical moaning husband for me (yes I know they dont all moan but mine does lol)

 

[seaulater]

Odd that we were on the same cruise and yet I had the experience of a lifetime. It was posted in our very lengthy thread that the temps might be cold, that Europe was expensive... I think the food was fine, the Cm's were super. The cruisers were great and cheery and there was a real sense of community. I didn't think most were sick in their cabins. Those with illness issues had a patch behind their ears. The excursions were so cool. I cried repeatedly the last day at the thought the cruise of a lifetime was over. "Only had lobster once?" And you need it more than once during a two week period? How about the crab, the lamb, the fine beef, the salmon, chicken wellington, etc...more than enough variety for the two weeks. I', sorry you had such a rough time. For me, the experience was nothing less than wonderful, magical, spectacular, fabulous, life changing.

We had an awesome experience also. The few inconveniences we had, we were open minded, and worked it out. And we met many new disboard friends that we will cruise with again.

I will write a trip report when I get a chance. The weather was an issue, but I think Rachel (Cruise Director) did an awesome job of planning alternate activities and getting changes made to the day's itineraries.

 

[seaulater]

I am assuming this is due to the cruise being entirely within the European Union. I noticed in the stateroom book that for the Med cruises the onboard stores also have to include the VAT, and there were instructions on how US citizens can get it back. Something we didn't have to worry about either.

On the EB Med we did not get charged the VAT at all because we stopped at Castaway Cay. That is what I was told by Leah at Guest Services. The rest of the cruises in the Med get the VAT taxes on everything they purchase on the ship. However, you fill out a form to get back the VAT tax. That is what I was told.

 

[disneymom7851]

I think open minded is the key word. Try to remember that Cast Members had just as rough a waters as everyone else, but I to keep doing their jobs in spite of that. They had to clean, cook, serve and performers had to perform. My daughter is a performing cast member on this cruise and she felt pretty rocky most days also. I just think trip reports should give positive and negative, not just be a place to gripe because things don't go your way completely.

 

[disneymom7851]

I think the other issue is inexperienced European travelers. Research should be done by everyone and realize that things aren't the same as US travel. The reason the world hates us is we thing OUR way is the only way and everything else we complain about

 

[BethA]

I think the CMs who you have direct contact with can often change your experience.

We have cruised on another line and had what we perceived as a so so cruise and others lived it--veryone is different.

I am wonderiing about the CC gift though. We have cruised in a cat 1 where we had different families and only received one gift. We asked if we could get another and were told one per cabin and let it go. Often grandparents or aunts or friends share a cabin and many rooms have different families and a rule must be established, so I don't see this as the big negative you displayed it to be. No you cna't cut it in half or share, but to me one per cabin is one per cabin and we have never pressed the issue.

Sorry you didn't have a good time

 

[gismo1554]

I think the CMs who you have direct contact with can often change your experience.

We have cruised on another line and had what we perceived as a so so cruise and others lived it--veryone is different.

I am wonderiing about the CC gift though. We have cruised in a cat 1 where we had different families and only received one gift. We asked if we could get another and were told one per cabin and let it go. Often grandparents or aunts or friends share a cabin and many rooms have different families and a rule must be established, so I don't see this as the big negative you displayed it to be. No you cna't cut it in half or share, but to me one per cabin is one per cabin and we have never pressed the issue.

Sorry you didn't have a good time

Yeah we contacted DCL today and they said the rule is one per stateroom not one per party so therefore you are only meant to get one. The old gift was better because at least with the bag there were multiple items in one place but the new gift can't really be split up. Not sure if the Magic's new gift is just for the med due to luggage issues or not but I think that's why.

 

[DizzneyDAnn]

Well said. Iknow Oscar of the cruise staff was sicker than just about anyone on the boat. I can't imagine the stress of working with everyone on the boat for 6 days straight. At least on other cruises, people get off the boat at least every other day and the staff can breathe a sigh of relief for a few hours.

 

[LITTLEKID58]

Tfs

 

[lillygator]

OP, did you have two seperate reservations for the same room or were you both on one? (I am not sure how that type of booking process works)

 

[arlenesp]

I have been reading all the reports since waving the Magic off on the 12th. Since this was the first venture across the Atlantic, I think everyone hoped it would be smooth sailing but unfortunately the weather didn't allow for such. Those are the things that you cannot control. But if your perception of the service given to you was not up to Disney Standards, I would hope it would be addressed as soon as possible.For those of you,I hope they really go over the comment cards.For the most part, it seemed everyone had a great time and I was happy to read the daily reports. Anytime something is new, there are bound to be bumps.

There was an article in the Orlando Sentinel a week before the cruise where Tom McAlpin was speaking about how they took the new cms from Europe to Pt Canaveral, and were giving them the training to do the job the Disney Way. Maybe they should have been shadowing on the Magics last 7 day to see how it was to be done? Wonder if it would have helped?

I remember the reports from the first WBPC in 2005 and how differently things were done on the EB.I hope my cruise goes as smoothly but one never knows.

 

[gottaluvdisney]

I think the CMs who you have direct contact with can often change your experience.

We have cruised on another line and had what we perceived as a so so cruise and others lived it--veryone is different.

I am wonderiing about the CC gift though. We have cruised in a cat 1 where we had different families and only received one gift. We asked if we could get another and were told one per cabin and let it go. Often grandparents or aunts or friends share a cabin and many rooms have different families and a rule must be established, so I don't see this as the big negative you displayed it to be. No you cna't cut it in half or share, but to me one per cabin is one per cabin and we have never pressed the issue.

Sorry you didn't have a good time

I always like to hear the bad with the good. It sounds like you did have a good time. One thing that you wrote the most about was the CC gift. Just sounds like you fueled your own fire by going to guest services so much over the gift that was one per room. I agree with letting it go - have one family take the book and one family take the other gift. Sharing. I traveled with my parents and we just agreed who would take which gift. (that was the Aug PC cruise in 2005)

Please don't get all upset over the negative remarks here. Just as you have your own opinion, so do others. They may not agree, but it is nice for everyone to be able to share their different views.

 

[NHdisneylover]

Oh Laura,

I am so sorry you had so many bad experiences on board. Like some others of our fellow travelrs said much of your commentary made me feel that we were on the same cruise but different ships. You poor thing, what a disapointmnet that must have been.

We had a fantastic vacation and wish we could do it all over again (inlcuding have all our DISboard friends back on board with us).

Our experience with the food was different than yours. We thought it was about the same as the other 4 DCL cruises we have taken. The exception to that was the new flavours of the Med. menu which was terrible. I am picky anyway, but even my husband who will eat just about anythign tried multiple entrees and couldn't stand any (and he works/travels in Europe frequently and likes the local food). My in-laws LOVED the food and felt it was better than their two previous DCL trips. I know my daughter had lobster 3 nights (two servings each time). One particular serving was not very good (other one same night was) and seafood can vary like that (we live in New England and the lobster wasn't quite as good as the totally fresh stuff at home, but was close). Also big hits at our table (none of this being anything I eat--like I said I am picky) were scallops (on many nights), fillet minon (again multiple nights) and crab.

We had a great stateroom host, but like you (and others now have said) we had to ASK for tolietries to be repalced. This was annoying, but I get the impression it is some new (and hopefully shortlived) DCL policy. The ctruise was 14 nights. We had 4 in our cabin. Both my daughter and I have LONG, THICK hair. If we washed our hair daily we would have easily gone through a bottle of shampoo and conditioner every day or so. We do not hoard and bring home extras. We used only frou bottles of each, but had to ask for every single replacemnet (even bars of soap). I agree this is a yucky policy and needs to stop. I will be mentioning it in my mostly very complimentary letter to DCL. But, for us, it was a minor glitch given how lovely our host kept everything, how quickly our room was turned around, etc.

Crew--we found most of the cerw to be outstanding. The cruise staff was totally amazing (the best we have ever had) as were our servers and our stateroom host. My letter to DCL will have more names listed than ever before (all good). Multiple staff members sent us and our kids persaonl notes (just to be awesome, not to recitfy any problems) and we hated to leave them and cried when Michael left the ship a day early to fly back to the Wonder (our son said "Micahel is equal to Keyon" which is true and a HUGE complimnet from our family). I do have to agree with you about Guest Services though. Every time we dealt with them they were at the least unhelpful and often downright rude and mean (weird because we didn't even have any complaints, and were just doing basic easy stuff).

I hope your next trip is as Magical as it should be for you. And Luara, we miss you on the main thread.

 

[disneymom7851]

Hadley

Thanks for the good report. And Thanks for nice about Michael. He is my daughters boyfriend and I have never met him but they met on the ship. She is still on the Magic but flying home on the 6th. Glad to hear he did such a great job

 

[Basketchaser]

I had no problem getting duplicate books, posters, etc that were delivered to our room. I jsut asked our cleaning lady each time and the same day or the following day it would be in the room. Since the family I was traveling with and myself did not live in the same household we certainly wanted our own stuff to take home. As far as the food...it was OK, but not above and beyond what I had expected. It wasn't necessarly bad...but it was OK. With two weeks on the ship, the breakfast buffets got kind of boring with the same old foods every day. Over all, I would do it again in a heartbeat! I am not an avid cruiser like some, but I was thrilled with the over-all cruise.