May 18, 2013 Magic EBTA Part Two - From Tejas to España

[Kirbo]

I posted this on FB and will repost here.


Hello friends! We were talking today and think we are going to try to change our dining from late to early. The more we thought about it, the more worried we became that we'll just go to sleep stuffed and gain even more weight. Is that crazy? We've decided to keep late dining for the Med portion since we'll have long days in port, but for the EBTA it might just work better to go with early. Our one concern is that we were really looking forward to linking with all of you crazy cats! Is anyone else doing early dining?

 

[SophiaMax]

Just heard back from DCL re: liquor amounts. "
"Disney Cruise Line does not prohibit each Guest 21 years of age and
older from bringing alcohol onboard. However, please be aware these
items must be hand-carried onboard in a day bag and/or carry-on, which
cannot exceed 22" x 14" x 9". " So the Wine Check cube luggage I bought isn't allowed.... my apologies to anyone who was going to buy one for the trip...

We bought one and still plan to use it. I think it will still work! If you take out the interior box at the airport and discard it, then just put the wine back in the collapsible bag; I think it should be small enough?!

 

[Kirbo]

Ok, I put in a call to our travel agent (they are in a staff meeting, so I just left a message). We're going to try to switch. I'll send a PM to the person doing linked dining.

 

[MandyGirl]

For any of you pretending to work and wanting to be sneaky to watch sailaway this afternoon.... I think it is at 4:00 or 4:30 cst.... The Disney Magic is is the only ship in port and visible right now.

Three webcams from three angles are good:
CruiseCam (now)
Pier (after out of view of CruiseCam)
then Harbor (as heading out to sea!)

http://www.galveston.com/webcams/

 

[MandyGirl]

We did the Med on another cruise line and it was fine. The Med is so port intensive, any line is fine..Looking at doing the Baltic on another line too;on the other hand, I wouldn't do a TA on others as the DCL is wonderful and the ship and activities are beyond compare. our next DCL cruise is WBTA 2014.

We've been just as happy cruising other lines as well. For us, it all comes down to itinerary, schedule, and cost for the four of us. Hopefully when we hit our 40s, 50s or 60s we can cruise more, but we do what we can now with the balance of life's other constraints. With our Med cruise after the EBTA, a 7-nt schedule did not appeal to us, but we could do 12-nts with more ports we wanted to see for less than the DCL 7-nt fare. We are definitely not afraid of trying other lines, or recommending the ones we have been on.

IIRC, NCL usually offers one of those flat rate "stuff your laundry bag" specials on the longer cruises. It's pretty reasonable and it's amazing the amount of items I can stuff in a bag when it's a deal!

That's on our checklist! Last I read were the specials being about $24.99 for the stuff your bag.... I will definitely be rolling and stuffing like we do for packing cubes! No weight limit - just make it as dense as possible We also selected an apartment in Barcelona with a washer.

 

[kris3kid]

Certainly, the kilt is coming with the full outfit which is worn with different jackets and medals for formal and semi formal nights(it weighs a ton) you have to make the effort in my book. It may be just me, however I love to see the ladies all dressed up, it's just part of the whole experience and no more so than on the previous transatlantic's that I have been on so far.

If you don't have a long dress, then get one off ebay if you don't want to spend a lot or even hire one. We even managed to get dressed up despite losing our cases before the last TA and I am glad we got some "hirewear" and ladies long dress for the evening as we saw nearly all in formal wear.

Sorry I don't own a dress and have no desire to purchase a dress. I will be in nice pands and a nice top.

 

[GoofyNewfie]

I posted this on FB and will repost here.


Hello friends! We were talking today and think we are going to try to change our dining from late to early. The more we thought about it, the more worried we became that we'll just go to sleep stuffed and gain even more weight. Is that crazy? We've decided to keep late dining for the Med portion since we'll have long days in port, but for the EBTA it might just work better to go with early. Our one concern is that we were really looking forward to linking with all of you crazy cats! Is anyone else doing early dining?

There wasn't too many of us doing early dining last time I checked, but I'm with you in that I don't want to go to bed stuffed. I'd rather sit and watch a show stuffed.

Happy to have you join the early eaters.

 

[padalyn]

Is there a list of participants for the chocolate tasting. I have not received anything regarding confirmation. We think it will be great fun!

Bobbi

we didn't receive an email either - are we confirmed?

Airline limits. I don't think DCL has bag limits. But we're trying to keep ours to one bag each as we'll be paying for that and a second bag will cost even more.

They technically do - but I have never seen it enforced. They will NOT store bags, so be creative! Some will fit under the beds, but not all.

It's great that DCL lets you bring on "reasonable personal consumption" of alcohol.We've never had a problem with packing and carrying on board our stash. But we've never gone on a 14 day cruise, either. Question: how much (beer, wine, hard alcohol, etc) have you brought on board an EBTA or WBTA before? Does Disney ever say "That's too much?"
Thanks!

Whew - well in 2005 on the TA I carried 27 bottles of wine and 3 of liquor, for the NYC we brought 4 "iron mountain" boxes containing 1 case Strongbow, 25 bottles wine, 4 bottles liquor and 2 dessert liquors.

The whole status debate has been running for years on airlines, remember many of those have been running loyalty programs for a lot longer than DCL has been in existing.

But it's about opportunity and awareness. There was a time (and I don't know if you can still do it) due to a code share between Virgin Atlantic and Singapore airlines where you can take a flight to Singapore and fly back and forth between Singapore cities at very cheap rates and acquire VA Gold Status.

It was never really seen as a fairness issue, (although obviously some did) but maybe a challenge.

However you structure your loyalty program people will not be happy.

From a company perspective it is probably really important to get that first repeat business. Once we have all take a few cruises we are probably set on Disney anyway - They don't have a lot (if any) direct competition as such. Yes there are a load of cruise companies does the same/similar itineraries but we do it for the Disney Experience.

In the same way a couple can hit plat after 30 nights, you might find that someone with 60 nights has done that cheaper than someone else who hit plat after 45 nights for example.

Airlines tend to reward higher categories with more 'points' which cruise lines tend not to.

However all that said, I achieve Diamond (and am close to Diamond Plus) on RCCL but I doubt I will cruise with them again and it's nothing to do with the perks - It's like being at Universal Studios with the way they try to nickel and dime you at every corner (and yes it is there with Disney, but a little more subtle but at least they still give you free soft drinks on DCL).

Anyway, I am sure this debate with go on for ever and ever (like the tipping debate ....) but maybe we should just accept it is what it is and those of us without the black lanyards and continue to strive to achieve those.

Paul

well said. DCL is not going to change the program, they may add an upper level (this is from way up the line of management (Karl H actually)) but they have no plans on changing it.

Cayla

 

[birkner]

we
Whew - well in 2005 on the TA I carried 27 bottles of wine and 3 of liquor, for the NYC we brought 4 "iron mountain" boxes containing 1 case Strongbow, 25 bottles wine, 4 bottles liquor and 2 dessert liquors.


Cayla

I was going to use a Brookstone wine carrier which has a 55" overall dimension but was told that it is too large to carry on. Any thoughts?

 

[Kirbo]

There wasn't too many of us doing early dining last time I checked, but I'm with you in that I don't want to go to bed stuffed. I'd rather sit and watch a show stuffed.

Happy to have you join the early eaters.

 

[p17blo]

I hope my post didn't come across as sour grapes. .... )

Of course not - all interesting debate

 

[p17blo]

I am putting out a personal plea - To those of you who haven't signed up for the Cabin Cruisers Tour yet. Please please please consider signing up. I love to see other categories of cabins and this may be my, and others, only chance to take a sneaky peek.

I know most of you peer into rooms that are being made up, but wouldn't you prefer to have a decent look? And remember we need people to offer their cabins up for viewing also.

I have, so won't you - Please?

Paul

 

[p17blo]

Having only cruised on Dream and Fantasy with DCL I have never experienced a character breakfast.

So will there be a character breakfast on Magic on the EBTA? And is it worth doing (I don't have kids.... other than me!)

 

[platinumcruzer]

Throwing in my two cents...this being cruise # 30 with Disney, I was platinum before it was cool. Of the 30, less than 5 were 3 or 4 night. the first was the inaugural Magic, the Wonders' 10 year anniversary, the Dream inaugural, and a last minute Mother's Day that we booked 3 days before we sailed. I cruise disney because I love it and have not cruised any other cruise line in the last 15 years. The debate will continue between nights and cruises, but like Cayla said, I don't believe the program will change.

 

[NancyIL]

Sorry I don't own a dress and have no desire to purchase a dress. I will be in nice pands and a nice top.

I own dresses, but I am not bringing any. I'll be dressed similarly to you.

 

[heatherb819]

That's makes 3 of us!

 

[padalyn]

I was going to use a Brookstone wine carrier which has a 55" overall dimension but was told that it is too large to carry on. Any thoughts?

we have ordered everything from a store in Galveston, I am planning on sending him those dimensions and hoping he will find boxes that fit them. We are taking an old set of "wheels" and will not be using any carry luggage - so this will be it. Boxes of booze...lol. My real concern is the markings on the boxes. Yes, they allow it - but by the case? I would prefer to not flaunt it that much. We are thinking of getting some dark garbage bags and wrapping the boxes a bit...just to downplay it.

In NYC we were lucky - we had a friend drive us into the city, so there was no worry. We used our good "wheels" and loaded them up. the TSA had a great laugh...the folks behind us - not so much. The agent said "you guys are on the Magic?" we said yes, "have a great cruise - hope you remember it!" then to the next folks "no, you can't bring alcohol" "but they did!" pointing at us..."then sail on Disney next time" was the reply!


I know that carrying all that weight will be difficult. Since we don't get into the cabins until after 1pm (usually about 13:30 nowadays)...I would hate to have to actually carry it all. I did that one time in a back pack...never again. (that was 6 bottles...ouch!) Figure 1 liter weighs 2.2 pounds (metric conversions are SO nice - 1 liter is 1 kg - no matter liquid or solid). Add the glass and each 750ml bottle weighs about 2 pounds...times HOW MANY????

So, wheels are a necessary evil. We are going to abandon them once in Barcelona since they won't fit IN our luggage, and we will have two backpacks for carry luggage on Easy Jet to Paris...very weight restrictive. Since we are paying by the kilo for the luggage - the wheels are going to be lost by that point.

Cayla

 

[gramfrog]

We bought one and still plan to use it. I think it will still work! If you take out the interior box at the airport and discard it, then just put the wine back in the collapsible bag; I think it should be small enough?!

Ooohhh!!! Smart woman!!! I think that will work! I will try a dry run with it as home. LOVE that solution!!!

 

[gramfrog]

I am putting out a personal plea - To those of you who haven't signed up for the Cabin Cruisers Tour yet. Please please please consider signing up. I love to see other categories of cabins and this may be my, and others, only chance to take a sneaky peek.

I know most of you peer into rooms that are being made up, but wouldn't you prefer to have a decent look? And remember we need people to offer their cabins up for viewing also.

I have, so won't you - Please?

Paul

Thanks so much for posting, Paul!!! Since I seem to be organizing this now, I am pleading with any of you here on DISboards to PM me to offer your cabins. I think we have about seven or eight or so, pretty decent, but not all categories are covered...

 

[WonderTwinsMom]

we have ordered everything from a store in Galveston, I am planning on sending him those dimensions and hoping he will find boxes that fit them. We are taking an old set of "wheels" and will not be using any carry luggage - so this will be it. Boxes of booze...lol. My real concern is the markings on the boxes. Yes, they allow it - but by the case? I would prefer to not flaunt it that much. We are thinking of getting some dark garbage bags and wrapping the boxes a bit...just to downplay it.

In NYC we were lucky - we had a friend drive us into the city, so there was no worry. We used our good "wheels" and loaded them up. the TSA had a great laugh...the folks behind us - not so much. The agent said "you guys are on the Magic?" we said yes, "have a great cruise - hope you remember it!" then to the next folks "no, you can't bring alcohol" "but they did!" pointing at us..."then sail on Disney next time" was the reply!

I know that carrying all that weight will be difficult. Since we don't get into the cabins until after 1pm (usually about 13:30 nowadays)...I would hate to have to actually carry it all. I did that one time in a back pack...never again. (that was 6 bottles...ouch!) Figure 1 liter weighs 2.2 pounds (metric conversions are SO nice - 1 liter is 1 kg - no matter liquid or solid). Add the glass and each 750ml bottle weighs about 2 pounds...times HOW MANY????

So, wheels are a necessary evil. We are going to abandon them once in Barcelona since they won't fit IN our luggage, and we will have two backpacks for carry luggage on Easy Jet to Paris...very weight restrictive. Since we are paying by the kilo for the luggage - the wheels are going to be lost by that point.

Cayla

Hi Cayla

We're flying to Paris too, upon arrival in Barcelona. Have you done the EBTA with DCL before? What time do we get off the ship? How long does it take to clear customs? We're looking at an 11am flight. This way, twin DD3 and DS3's nap times won't be totally off-kilter. Have you found an affordable place in Paris?

See you soon.

Cheers,
Teri