May 14, 2011 - Eastbound TransAtlantic

[birkner]

Krisann (KrisannB) asked me to give soem information on Daniel Taxi to this group. I planned a VERY successful DIS tour on the 2010 WBTA for our group. I can HIGHLY recommend this business.

If anyone would like more info on Daniel Taxi such as their email, please PM me.


Below I have listed what I am planning for the 2011 WBTA tours.

Information on Potential Madeira Tours
Here is a link to the tour we did last year.
Madeira Tour
Some of those who took the tour last year have expressed an interest in doing another tour.

Below in red is the emailed itinerary that Eusébia of Daniel Taxis who was our previous tour guide suggested for the East tour:

I think maybe you and everybody else who took last year’s tour, will like to do the East tour this time. It takes about 6.5 to 7h and, as you already have 30 persons, we’ll charge 25 EUR per person. Last year we charged 30 EUR per person, because we added Monte to the West tour, otherwise it would also have been 25 EUR.

Our East tour itinerary is as follows:

· Camacha
· Poiso
· Pico do Areeiro
· Ribeiro Frio
· Faial
· Santana
· Porto da Cruz
· Machico
· Santa Cruz
· Back to Funchal

As always, we’re open to any changes to this itinerary, in case anybody has any other preferences.

Our Port’s website says Disney Magic arrives at 7:30am and leaves at 9:30pm. As it leaves so late, some people will probably choose to stay in Funchal after the tour, but others may prefer to be taken to the cruise ship straight away, one way or the other will be quite fine with us.

 

[KrisannB]

Krisann (KrisannB) asked me to give soem information on Daniel Taxi to this group. I planned a VERY successful DIS tour on the 2010 WBTA for our group. I can HIGHLY recommend this business.

Thanks Noel for sharing! Do you know how much the vocanic/natural pools were? They were included on our disney tour and I cannot find any info about the price and did not see mention in your emails. Thanks!

Krisann

 

[birkner]

Thanks Noel for sharing! Do you know how much the vocanic/natural pools were? They were included on our disney tour and I cannot find any info about the price and did not see mention in your emails. Thanks!

Krisann

They were closed due to high tides when we went last time.

If you go to the private website I posted for the DIS tour under item 29 you will see that the cost to enter was about 2 Euros and the cost for a locker was 1 Euro.

 

[Winstanik]

Has anyone found quality street maps of Madeira (Funchal), Cadiz, or Gibraltar?
Thanks!

I'd love to get this info also. I've been on a few websites trying to figure out how far we are from stuff (to see if we can walk it instead of taking a taxi) and just walk around and see the local shops.

Also in Madeira, I would love to know how far we are from the Monte cable cars. I would love to do this on our own and then stroll around the area.

 

[KrisannB]

They were closed due to high tides when we went last time.

If you go to the private website I posted for the DIS tour under item 29 you will see that the cost to enter was about 2 Euros and the cost for a locker was 1 Euro.

Thanks Noel - I saw the Locker prices, but not the entrance - was reading too fast! Sorry!

We did the Disney tour on the WBTA and the pools were closed for us too BUT they had other pools up near the restaurant where we ate but the guide would not let us do those because they have no lifeguards there - had we been on our own we could have done them - we did put our feet in though! I am just concerned about the water temp in May.

We are booked on the WBTA also - and will decide this month if we are doing it for sure or not - so I could always plan that for then.


Krisann

 

[birkner]

I'd love to get this info also. I've been on a few websites trying to figure out how far we are from stuff (to see if we can walk it instead of taking a taxi) and just walk around and see the local shops.

Also in Madeira, I would love to know how far we are from the Monte cable cars. I would love to do this on our own and then stroll around the area.

If I remember correctly, it was an easy walk to town and then to the Cable Cars. If you have any more specific questions, I would be happy to answer them or if you PM me, I will give you an email address to ask questions.

Here is a map of Funchal

Here is a link to the Monte Cable Car.

 

[birkner]

Thanks Noel - I saw the Locker prices, but not the entrance - was reading too fast! Sorry!

We did the Disney tour on the WBTA and the pools were closed for us too BUT they had other pools up near the restaurant where we ate but the guide would not let us do those because they have no lifeguards there - had we been on our own we could have done them - we did put our feet in though! I am just concerned about the water temp in May.

We are booked on the WBTA also - and will decide this month if we are doing it for sure or not - so I could always plan that for then.


Krisann

I think it was just too dangerous that day for swimming even without a lifeguard. I would have been worried about getting swept away even if I stuck my feet in.

Hope you decide to join us again on the WBTA!!

 

[KrisannB]

I think it was just too dangerous that day for swimming even without a lifeguard. I would have been worried about getting swept away even if I stuck my feet in.

Hope you decide to join us again on the WBTA!!

The other set of pools (they were small) were up higher and very little water was coming into them at that time. Many people were swimming there (and changing clothes right in front of us! - they just stripped down and changed = I know we are not as open minded about this as other countries

I see a picture of them on one of the websites and if you did not know that is what they were you would not know. They were calm and smooth as ice.


I really want to come again on the WBTA! We shall see - I peeked at the thread meet and see many familiar faces from WBPC (2008), WBTA (2010) and EBTA (2010) and it makes me want to come even more!


Krisann

 

[Winstanik]

If I remember correctly, it was an easy walk to town and then to the Cable Cars. If you have any more specific questions, I would be happy to answer them or if you PM me, I will give you an email address to ask questions.

Here is a map of Funchal

Here is a link to the Monte Cable Car.

Thank you so much for the info !

 

[birkner]

The other set of pools (they were small) were up higher and very little water was coming into them at that time. Many people were swimming there (and changing clothes right in front of us! - they just stripped down and changed = I know we are not as open minded about this as other countries

I see a picture of them on one of the websites and if you did not know that is what they were you would not know. They were calm and smooth as ice.


I really want to come again on the WBTA! We shall see - I peeked at the thread meet and see many familiar faces from WBPC (2008), WBTA (2010) and EBTA (2010) and it makes me want to come even more!


Krisann

I do hope you get to come again as we have another great group on the 2011 WBTA!!

On last years WBTA Madeira tour, we were a bit behind you on the tour as our bus was the last to leave. I know where you mean but there was not enough time for us to stop there.

Having gone to Europe a number of times, I am quite used to the lack of modesty. People who go to Europe need to understand their customs. Sometimes the people without clothes are really very unattractive to look at but what can one do? Children need to be told that this might happen so they are not shocked.

I have come across a fair amount of nudity in the Caribbean especially in the the former French provinces like Martinique. The funniest line I ever heard was from another cruiser who told me that the cruise line should forbid them to have nude beaches!! Most people know which beaches are clothing optional so if one does not like nudity, one needs to avoid the beaches!!

You would not have liked the hotel where we stayed in Frankfurt as our room overlooked the pools and spa. Most people were swimming and sunning in the buff. Not too many of them were very attractive without clothes.

 

[birkner]

Thank you so much for the info !

You are very welcome. Any more questions, please do not hesitate to ask.

 

[Winstanik]

I do hope you get to come again as we have another great group on the 2011 WBTA!!

On last years WBTA Madeira tour, we were a bit behind you on the tour as our bus was the last to leave. I know where you mean but there was not enough time for us to stop there.

Having gone to Europe a number of times, I am quite used to the lack of modesty. People who go to Europe need to understand their customs. Sometimes the people without clothes are really very unattractive to look at but what can one do? Children need to be told that this might happen so they are not shocked.

I have come across a fair amount of nudity in the Caribbean especially in the the former French provinces like Martinique. The funniest line I ever heard was from another cruiser who told me that the cruise line should forbid them to have nude beaches!! Most people know which beaches are clothing optional so if one does not like nudity, one needs to avoid the beaches!!

You would not have liked the hotel where we stayed in Frankfurt as our room overlooked the pools and spa. Most people were swimming and sunning in the buff. Not too many of them were very attractive without clothes.

We travelled quite a bit in the caribean and we are used to the Europeans with their monokini ! Also, they can be sitting right beside you and one minute they have their bathing suits on, the next they are completely changed in their tops and shorts! And you never saw a thing !

 

[TammyAlphabet]

Hello neighbors, we will staying at 6609...

Maggie

I am glad you got your assignment too.

 

[TxMermaid1]

Thank you all for your kindness. They just returned from a week Carnival cruise yesterday. It was our spring break. They are in a GTY cabin. I'll let you know when she finds out. If I can ever do anything for you all on a future cruise please let me know.
Krisann- I will also email you. Thank you for your generosity.



I wish I could be there to see her face too. She is such a sweet little girl!

Please be sure to give us the room # and their name.

 

[Estreya]

Hi Noel -- I saw your posting about the Madeira tour. I'm a little confused (DIS newbie here) as to how to sign up for it. Do I go through you? Or contact Daniel Taxi? My family would love the tour -- three adults and two children. Thanks for the info you posted! (I would have sent this as a PM but the DIS boards won't let me send PMs until I've posted 10 times in the forum. And I refuse to post annoying junk just to get up to 10 posts! Sorry!)

~ Alicia

 

[birkner]

Hi Noel -- I saw your posting about the Madeira tour. I'm a little confused (DIS newbie here) as to how to sign up for it. Do I go through you? Or contact Daniel Taxi? My family would love the tour -- three adults and two children. Thanks for the info you posted! (I would have sent this as a PM but the DIS boards won't let me send PMs until I've posted 10 times in the forum. And I refuse to post annoying junk just to get up to 10 posts! Sorry!)

~ Alicia

Alicia, I am not on the EBTA. I was posting info about the WBTA this year to help people.

However, that being said, if there are 30 people out there that want to do the tour, I would be willing to contact Daniel Taxi to see if I could arrange for it. If anyone is interested in doing the same tour on the EBTA that I am doing on the WBTA, please PM me.

If there is enough interest, I will be glad to help you guys arrange the same tour.

Noel

 

[KrisannB]

I do hope you get to come again as we have another great group on the 2011 WBTA!!

On last years WBTA Madeira tour, we were a bit behind you on the tour as our bus was the last to leave. I know where you mean but there was not enough time for us to stop there.

Having gone to Europe a number of times, I am quite used to the lack of modesty. People who go to Europe need to understand their customs. Sometimes the people without clothes are really very unattractive to look at but what can one do? Children need to be told that this might happen so they are not shocked.

I have come across a fair amount of nudity in the Caribbean especially in the the former French provinces like Martinique. The funniest line I ever heard was from another cruiser who told me that the cruise line should forbid them to have nude beaches!! Most people know which beaches are clothing optional so if one does not like nudity, one needs to avoid the beaches!!

You would not have liked the hotel where we stayed in Frankfurt as our room overlooked the pools and spa. Most people were swimming and sunning in the buff. Not too many of them were very attractive without clothes.

Oh I have no problem with the nudity - my children are used to it as we too travel Europe and see it all the time.

Funny story though - on the WBTA last year I was up at some terrible time like 5 am and was downstairs in the promenode lounge and we had docked somewhere - maybe still in Europe or Tortola? - and the "officials" from that port were on and had other people with them and they were explaining how Disney was different than other cruise ships as their contract states they are not to be docked next to certain European ships that allow topless sunbathing on their top decks - I had never thought about it before till they said it. It seemed like this bothered them that they had to do this - most likely because they did not see the big deal - as they were from europe.

Krisann

 

[birkner]

Oh I have no problem with the nudity - my children are used to it as we too travel Europe and see it all the time.

Funny story though - on the WBTA last year I was up at some terrible time like 5 am and was downstairs in the promenode lounge and we had docked somewhere - maybe still in Europe or Tortola? - and the "officials" from that port were on and had other people with them and they were explaining how Disney was different than other cruise ships as their contract states they are not to be docked next to certain European ships that allow topless sunbathing on their top decks - I had never thought about it before till they said it. It seemed like this bothered them that they had to do this - most likely because they did not see the big deal - as they were from europe.

Krisann

I hear you about how some people feel about nudity.I guess different strokes for different folks but you must respect other peoples customs in their country.

 

[RockingTiggers]

Alicia, I am not on the EBTA. I was posting info about the WBTA this year to help people.

Noel

I say you need to book this cruise too

I'm just now getting to really looking at ports We do our own 90% of the time
need to go back and check what you posted better

but 2 adults and 1 three year old maybe interested

 

[twokings]

I have been working with Daniel Tours as well, our day in Maderia is my birthday. I am open to joining a larger tour with you guys or if anybody wants to join me for a smaller group, I.e. Two more people for a west coast tour including the volcanic pools, the price would be 36 ish euros per person. Slightly higher than going with a larger group. If you Pefer a smaller group let me know.

Also just so everybody knows the Toboggan ride closes at 1 on Sunday's. We will be there on Sunday May 22.