Magic to The Med Report VERY LONG

[DizzneyDAnn]

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.

 

[Tink rules]

Whoa!!!!

Isn't that like the inmates running the assylum?????

We'd have the whole place painted lime green!!!

 

[professorandmom]

Well, if you get enough disboarders, they could probably run most of it...

I suspect most of us would not be adequate in roll-reversal mode...especially if a family in tuxedo t's decided not to tip at all

Barb

 

[sandyneck]

Just wanted to add my family to the ones who had a magical vacation. We had a wonderful room steward who even gave us flowers for our anniversary! He also went out of his way to find me a bathrobe when I asked if there was any possibility of getting one. Our servers, Ivo and Jonathan were top-notch-Ivo had been on the Wonder for over 7 years and decided to switch over to the Med cruise. He was excellent. We never had any trouble with slow service and he always went out of his way to get us whatever we needed or wanted. Please remember, the crew is not one of Disney's animatronic displays. This was the first 14 day cruise for them also. They were working long hard hours. With so many sea days, they never got a break when cruisers would normally be in port.
Also, all of us were so excited to be on the "first" Disney cruise to the Med. I for one, know how firsts of anything are. They are exciting and once in a lifetimes, but the kinks have also not been all worked out. New menus, new shows, etc, are bound to have a few problems. I thought Disney was awesome to change the entire day time dining schedule when they realized most of us were sleeping until noon. They added the buffett in Parrot Cay until 2pm and served breakfast and lunch at the same time. I was very impressed with that. They could have stuck to the same schedule and too bad if you didn't get out of bed, not their problem. And what about the beyond belief fireworks put on at a cost of who knows what in Barcelona? Incredible. I am sure we all had suggestions on how things could have been done or scheduled better, and I am sorry some did not think the cruise was up to par, but we had a wonderful time and did not let any minor things bother us.

 

[DMMarla07860]

some post said it was the first 14 day cruise, for disney it wasn't the first one ever but that does make a good point, after about 8 days of food on a ship I think I might get sick of food lol, at home I don't get all that stuff so I could eat it every day lol. if my dad could get off so 14 or 15 or so days to do the trip in august he said we would have done it because really compared to the last trip it isn't that expensive he said. darn it I want to do that

 

[ssnyder]

I did hear some inside information on what was causing the kitchen problems and consequently frustrating the servers. Apparently the kitchen staff is split to handle the kids vs adult menus. With there being such a small percentage of kids on this cruise, the staff that handles the kids stuff was standing around twiddling their thumbs, which the other team was frantically trying to get everything out to the adults. To compensate, individuals were pulled off the kids line and placed on the adults line with no prior experience on that line. This was a large part of the problem and shouldn't be a problem for the rest of the cruises where the adults/kids ratio should be more balanced.

I also felt sorry for the CM's that had to work so many straight days without any shore time. The only time I had a problem with the servers was during lunch on the first port after the crossing. Those that were serving lunch were those that were stuck on board for another two days and the low moral definitely showed. I did notice that by the end of lunch they were making the best of it and cheering up a bit. It really does help to talk to the CM's and find out what's going on! A little understanding goes a long ways towards making things better for all concerned.

 

[jlawall]

I really appreciate the candor in your trip report. Hopefully DCL will get the kinks worked out - but at least we know what to watch out for.

I agree!

 

[woody73]

Thanks Laura for the report. DCL should have done better.

Woody

 

[cruiseletters]

Thanks Laura for your candor. Robin

 

[been2marceline]

We had numerous issues with our EB Panama Canal Cruise in August of 2005. We were in a Cat 3 and had concierge service and we STILL had some really interesting issues!

First, we spent hours trying to book our excursions, etc. online, only to have multiple issues. We called and were told by DCL when we called about our excursions and Palo/Spa visits that they had encountered issues with their website and that everything that we needed would be arranged by our concierge when we boarded the ship. We boarded the ship and went to the lounge where concierge would work with us. When we mentioned what had been said via DCL phone help, our concierge basically said that it was not true and they would see what they could do to get us a few of our requests! Not too happy with that one!! After DH turned red and just about burst a gasket, we did get what we wanted and where "at peace" with our concierge team (great couple of gals, Connie and Sonia).

Next, our concierge had informed us that we would have a "pin order form" in our room guide book, DCL's way of fixing the issues with pin lines on the WB cruise. We couldn't find ours, in anything. In addition, our luggage had arrived very late, so we were still unpacking when I called our concierge to let them know that we did not have it. They sent the head of housekeeping to bring us one. Instead, she came and basically accused us of hiding it!! She wanted to look through everything that we had in our room!! After both DH and I lividly told her that we did not have it and had never seen it, she told us we would get one "soon". Needless to say, our concierge gals got an earfull about that one! They delivered one to us the next day.

The next issue that first night was that the hide-a-bed in the living room, that we opened up for DD was "soaked" in some sort of red juice. It had never been remade!! It was late and it took almost an hour for them to come and fix the problem! While we were waiting we got ready to get in our own bed and found that it didn't have a top sheet or a bottom sheet, just a plushy comforter. Very nice, but sheets would have been nice. When we mentioned it to the housekeeping person that fixed the hide-a-bed, he said that beds below cat 3 had top and bottom sheets, but our bed just had the "nice" comforter!! He didn't know why!

These may seem trivial, but when your tired and have paid for a Cat 3 (no upgrade, we paid for it from the get go!) you do expect that things should be "good to go".

We were also diverted from Cabo San Lucas because of Hurricane Hillary and they pulled into Manzanillo instead. DCL pulled together some alternate destinations to do on your own. We walked out of the ship and boarded a DCL approved Taxi. Unfortunately this one had a broken windshield that seemed like it would fall into me. The Polizia thought the same as they pulled the guy over and told him he needed to take us to our destination and then put his Taxi out of commission! BUT, we never made it, as our drive got lost and after driving around in the humidity (no air) he took us back to the ship!! It wasn't even a scenic drive, it was all in the industrial area!!!

We arrived back at the ship we let concierge know about the "approved taxi's" and our completley wasted morning. They arrived with roses for our room and appologies, but DH was fuming! He had not slept well in the oddly made bed for two nights and was just DONE!! They said that they would send someone to properly make the bed, they agreed that it seemed that it was oddly made. THEN the "lovely" head of housekeeping came to see what was "wrong" with the bed! She felt that there was nothing to change!! Talk about fuel to the fire! After she left, I told Connie and Sonia that if we saw this woman and her attitude again, I would not be responsilbe for DH's actions!! The bed was remade shortly thereafter! She really needs a course in "the customer is always right"!!

We had several other really bizarre issues the first few days, but they are minor and would have seemed even smaller without the other strange issues.

All of these issues happened in the first 3 days of our 14 day cruise and the rest of the trip was really magical!! We had GREAT meals, especially our brunch, tea and 2 dinners in Palo. We had Marco each time and he is fantastic!!

We had very nice Servers, though our beverage gal was new, she was so nice. Our Room Steward was very nice too, but also seemed new. He was very attentive to us and took care of all of our needs.

Sonja and Connie were awesome and dealt with all of our Issues with smiles and supreme customer service.

That's why we are doing the WB Panema Canal Cruise next May! Even with issues, it was a great trip.

OK, glad I got that off my chest, it's been brewing for almost 2 years and I guess I need to "share" it with our DIS friends!!

Karen

 

[granmaz]

Oooh, Karen!!!

I have so pursuaded John to do this next Panama Canal cruise - he doesn't really want to cruise at all!

I know there are always small problems, but some of these seem completely unnacceptable. For goodness sake we are the ones paying, and paying quite a lot, for good service - the crew are supposed to be working to make things great for us. Ok, we can feel sorry for them etc, but in the end......!

I am a little worried now.

 

[rikimuk]

I was on this boat and Im sorry but I think I must have been on another boat reading your comments. I had the most amazing time of my life on this cruise even with the bad weather. The food was amazing, the staff could not do enough for you and the entertainment was second to none. I stayed out in the rain for the mouse 2 o party and had an excellent time. I was impressed that the staff wanted to carry on regardless of the weather to try and give the people remaining a good time.

As someone who has worked in the hospitality industry I know you cant please everyone all of the time but I honestly feel that Disney did their best. They choose the best time of year for transatlantic crossings and have no control over the bad weather on the trip over which was unusual. The weather in Europe though is normal for the time of year and to be expected.

The new staff were amazing as far as I could see and there was not alot that could be done as lots of people resigned before leaving as they didnt want to do the med because of the loss of tips (due to the extra tax). I know a number of bar staff quit at the end of the cruise because of how much money they have lost in tips.

I dont know about the stateroom gifts as it says everywhere that its one per stateroom so I guess that they will change that in certain situations but the likelyhood was the new staff only saw the rule about one per state room and can only go with what they know.

That being said an opinion is personnal and this is just mine. I have to say though that every person I spoke to on the boat and off it had nothing but praise for the cruise and the staff so I dont think this is the view of the majority. Unfortunatly one bad experience can ruin everything even if the rest of it is good.

On a side note we had afternoon tea at Palos and I thought the service was dreadful. Our server was the rudess man I have ever met and he was clearing our plates away before we had finished our food. I believe Alex was our server (I may be wrong) so obviously we must have had him at a bad day but I will NOT be going back there again.

Lindsay

 

[rikimuk]

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.

Totally agree with you. Life changing is what I thought as well hence why I have booked on the next one. My husband however was bored but then he did nothing all day so its not surprising lol.

Im glad it was not just me who thought I was on a different cruise lol.

Lindsay

 

[kaseyC]

AuntyBrat, thank you for your review. Hopefully, DCL will work out the kinks.

I would like to say that I am amazed at the number of posters flaming you for your INDIVIDUAL experiences and PERSONAL perceptions of your trip. I appreciate your candor.

 

[kidcoos3]

The new staff were amazing as far as I could see and there was not alot that could be done as lots of people resigned before leaving as they didnt want to do the med because of the loss of tips (due to the extra tax). I know a number of bar staff quit at the end of the cruise because of how much money they have lost in tips.

Lindsay

Could you explain teh "loss of tips (due to the extra tax). I was under the impression that tips would be the same as a usual cruise.

AuntyBrat, thank you for your review. Hopefully, DCL will work out the kinks.

I would like to say that I am amazed at the number of posters flaming you for your INDIVIDUAL experiences and PERSONAL perceptions of your trip. I appreciate your candor.

Ditto

 

[disneyjunkie]

AuntyBrat, thank you for your review. Hopefully, DCL will work out the kinks.

I would like to say that I am amazed at the number of posters flaming you for your INDIVIDUAL experiences and PERSONAL perceptions of your trip. I appreciate your candor.

I have to agree. I feel sorry for the OP. Just because some had an awesome trip, doesn't mean that everyone did.

As someone who has never cruised, I appreciate hearing both the good and the bad.

From what I've read, I know that we'll have a blast next year. The trip may not be perfect, but it beats being at home.

AuntyBrat and everyone else, thanks for taking the time to share your experiences with us.

 

[cmash95]

i believe i read in one of the live trip reports that DCL was working on a new menu designed just for mediteranean. I believe that is why there were lots of dishes with fruits and dates. Since this was the first time Disney has ever sailed across the atlantic or the mediteranean, there are bound to be a few snags. I do hope that our westbound repo doesn't have quite so many problems but then the magic has sailed through the canal before. T
Thank you for your report, I enjoyed it and will take both the good and the bad into consideration.

 

[gismo1554]

Could you explain teh "loss of tips (due to the extra tax). I was under the impression that tips would be the same as a usual cruise.

I can explain this one. In the Med they are adding tax on to alcohol so the bar tenders were expecting tips to fall because people wont be giving extra on top of the 15% grat because they know that there is also this extra tax making the prices higher anyway. Hope this makes sense?

 

[AuntyBrat]

I can explain this one. In the Med they are adding tax on to alcohol so the bar tenders were expecting tips to fall because people wont be giving extra on top of the 15% grat because they know that there is also this extra tax making the prices higher anyway. Hope this makes sense?

I don't recall seeing that on my bar reciepts in any of the ports. I generally order the drink of the day or a drink off of the menu, which were usually $4.95 plus the 15% tip. I did not see any additional tax, but perhaps that is something that started after our cruise ended and they were only in the Med?

 

[gismo1554]

I don't recall seeing that on my bar reciepts in any of the ports. I generally order the drink of the day or a drink off of the menu, which were usually $4.95 plus the 15% tip. I did not see any additional tax, but perhaps that is something that started after our cruise ended and they were only in the Med?

They were only adding it on to the med cruises not the transatlantic. They were changing the menus in the bars to reflect this when we got off our cruise. I think DCL were covering the extra tax in the ports for our cruise as they didn't want to upset people by changing the rules in the middle of the cruise. I can't remember how much they said the extra tax was going to be but it was being added from last Saturday so I'm sure someone will post shortly to let people know the exact amount.