May 18, 2013 MAGIC EBTA - Who is with us?

[Tink1987]

DCL are pretty relaxed when it comes to dress code, except for Palo where men are always required to wear jackets.

For casual a t-shirt and shorts will be fine, semi-formal would be collared shirt and for formal night shirt and tie would be fine - that's for men obviously, you can get an idea of the women's from that.

Thanks - that sounds much more relaxed really! As much as we loved P&O and dressing up on the nights, it was all a little bit overwhelming as it was our first cruise.

It's kinda the same now as it's our first DCL cruise

 

[Tink1987]

I think lots will have the same questions when reservations open for Palo bookings.

We knew a lot of the planning information for our WBTA 2011 over a month in advance, and at 30 days out had all of our PALO groups for private room brunch booked. However, it has been reported in this thread that DCL will no longer take dining requests more 30 days out and it has to be the month of the cruise. That being May 1, some folks will already be enroute to Texas. (However, I have already linked 5 cabins together with no issues for dining with this cruise.) On WBTA 2011 we had families linking together for dining, as in same table, and then multiple tables linking together to all have the same rotation / section of dining room. So we were able to request our dining groups in advance and still also sit in the same vicinity of others from the boards. It was quite fun.

As far as Palo brunch versus dinner, we only did brunch as a group. Did not do dinner, so I don't have a personal comparison. With my parents last month, we just ate in the dining room each night.

Thank you very much!

Do you think we would have any trouble waiting until we got on the ship to book Palo? May do that and then at least we can see which restaurant we are in which night

 

[woody73]

I got by with one carry-on sized rolling bag (that I checked) plus 2 carry ons for 10 nights at WDW and a Fantasy cruise this month. I'd like to get by with the same smaller rolling bag on the TA, too. . .

I'm all for packing light.

Woody

 

[MandyGirl]

I got by with one carry-on sized rolling bag (that I checked) plus 2 carry ons for 10 nights at WDW and a Fantasy cruise this month. I'd like to get by with the same smaller rolling bag on the TA, too. After dragging my larger rolling bag around Europe a bit last summer, I swore I wouldn't do that again. Therefore, I will not pack "formal" clothes. I wore black dress pants and a nice top on formal night on the Fantasy, and it will work for the Magic as well.

How does the dress code lay out on DCL then? The only cruise we have been on was a P&O one and they had:

Formal - obviously dress for women and tux for men

Semi formal - dress or smart suit/separates for women and shirt, jacket and tie for men

Casual - dress or smart separates for women, collared short for men.

Thanks as always

DCL are pretty relaxed when it comes to dress code, except for Palo where men are always required to wear jackets.

For casual a t-shirt and shorts will be fine, semi-formal would be collared shirt and for formal night shirt and tie would be fine - that's for men obviously, you can get an idea of the women's from that.

I'm also planning to go light this time. A 7-day rotation of laundry to do onboard, and we booked our latest-and-greatest cabin near a laundry room. In November, I wore capris and a shirt to dinner for casual nights on the Magic. For formal nights I had nice black flip flops that could double for formal night and other nights. At first I felt weird wearing flip flops for formal night, but they were "blingy" enough LOL. And besides, when I sat down for dinner, if anyone was looking at my feet under the table, they had some serious psychological issues. Two pairs of shoes grand total. For that 7-night cruise, I packed my 2 year old and I (including her diapers) into one checked bag and one carryon backpack. Did no laundry.

I will say that I saw more shorts than ever on the cruise in November, but then again, I have seen jeans in the dining room on formal night on Celebrity for a southern Caribbean cruise.

 

[MandyGirl]

I'm all for packing light.

Woody

After discovering packing cubes, and my nerdiness with organization, it is a mission to see how light I can go! I always have to calculate in stroller, car seat, etc so my arms are at a minimum. I also have backpacking backpacks for camping... stuff those suckers full and check them, so we have arms available for handling kids LOL.


Tink - I would still make a reservation ahead of time so you can ensure you have one. Then change it onboard if necessary, if nobody is able to find out the general gameplan.

 

[wickesy]

DCL asks that people NOT wear shorts in the dining room for dinner, although apparently they don't enforce it.

You're right Nancy - I was thinking of swimwear that isn't allowed in the dining rooms. The official dress code is here:

http://disneycruise.disney.go.com/faqs/onboard-dining/dining-attire/

 

[MandyGirl]

BTW - Although no casinos onboard, here is what I am gambling for start of the cruise....

Saturday - embarkation
Sunday - first formal night (??)
Monday - Pirate Night (??)
Tuesday - Castaway Cay
Wed - at sea
Thurs - at sea
Fri - at sea
Sat - at sea
Sun - at sea
Mon - at sea
Tues - Madeira
Wed - at sea
Thurs - Gibraltar
Fri - at sea
Sat - disembarkation in Barcelona

Maybe some former EBTA'ers can input their predictions! Wasn't there a "Welcome to Europe" party previously? But I am thinking that Pirate Night is normally the night before arriving at Castaway Cay?

It just hit me.... Binkytell had shared a while back about something she saw when logging into her reservation - PreArrival Guide (page ten for me), so I just took a peek:

Saturday - embarkation
Sunday - first formal night (??)
Monday -
Tuesday - Castaway Cay
Wed - at sea
Thurs - at sea
Fri - at sea - PIRATE NIGHT (on my Pre-Arrival Guide)
Sat - at sea
Sun - at sea
Mon - at sea
Tues - Madeira
Wed - at sea
Thurs - Gibraltar
Fri - at sea
Sat - disembarkation in Barcelona


I'm sure "subject to change" but that is what is what it is showing as of today

 

[Tink1987]

It just hit me.... Binkytell had shared a while back about something she saw when logging into her reservation - PreArrival Guide (page ten for me), so I just took a peek:

Saturday - embarkation
Sunday - first formal night (??)
Monday -
Tuesday - Castaway Cay
Wed - at sea
Thurs - at sea
Fri - at sea - PIRATE NIGHT (on my Pre-Arrival Guide)
Sat - at sea
Sun - at sea
Mon - at sea
Tues - Madeira
Wed - at sea
Thurs - Gibraltar
Fri - at sea
Sat - disembarkation in Barcelona

I'm sure "subject to change" but that is what is what it is showing as of today

Oh wow - good spot!

We are also travelling as light as possible, want to buy as many souvenirs as poss

 

[woody73]

I also have backpacking backpacks for camping... stuff those suckers full and check them, so we have arms available for handling kids LOL.

I like traveling with a backpack, as it leaves my hands free.

Woody

 

[MandyGirl]

I like traveling with a backpack, as it leaves my hands free.

Woody

I made the mistake of taking my good backpack with us last year, and it was damaged (just the latch ripped off, but still...). We noticed it when getting it off the luggage bin at BCN, and it was fine during our stay in NYC. Could not find the AA Baggage office anywhere for the life of me at BCN, so I finally just gave up since it was replaceable. Two kids, new timezone, overnight flight, and other rollcall members to ride the aerobus with the Placa Catalunya... said heck with it. Have I gotten that one fixed? Nope. Might be resorting to my backup... MIL bought hubby and I matching backpacks before our first trip to Europe. We look like twinkies carrying yellow/black packs! Thankfully our 6 year old knows the expectation of carrying a backpack too. The 2 year old... she beats to her own drum.

Christmas present for mother-in-law traveling with us? An assortment of packing cubes.

 

[valbob89]

When we sailed in 2010 there were no wavephones. We can call each other's phones and text too? That sounds awesome. I guess you just need the room number? Is there 1 or 2 phones per room though? would a call go to both? Sorry for the ignorance.

Most of the cabins have 2 wave phones. The suites have up to 4. When we leave our room for the last time, I find our room host, give them a parting gift and point out to them that the phones, laundry bag and robes are in their place. A month after one cruise we noticed a $10 DCL charge on our card. When I called they told me it was because we had taken the laundry bag (I had never seen nor used it - I bring a laundry bag with me). I wrote to them and said I was really offended that they would accuse us of stealing anything without asking AND if I was going to steal something out of the Roy Disney Suite it wouldn't have been a cotton bag. They reversed the charges.

Are the formal night and Pirate night normally so close to each other then? Was hoping they would be have been spread out more so you have two big nights to look forward too!

Do you think there will only be one formal night then?

And thanks for the answer about the dining rotation/formal night! I am stressing about which night to book Palo on as I don't want to miss our favourite restaurant on the night we are in Palo if that makes sense?

Although my DB has read somewhere that Palo on the night is nowhere near as good as the Palo brunch so he wants to skip it! Not sure where he has got that idea from

On the last TA, there were 2 formal nights and a semi-formal night. Some go all out with formals that would fit right in at the inaugural ball. The little girls and boys, all dressed up are so cute. Others, seem to dress down more then other nights - which is their choice and fine with me. I most likely will just bring a formal top and black pants unless Bob wants to bring his tux.

We went to Palo's three times on the PC cruise and all three times the room was almost empty. While brunch is more popular, I think you won't have any trouble getting a reservation for dinner. They have updated the dinner menu at Palos, changed the china ect. The service is wonderful and the food ok but I won't be upset if we missed it.

DCL asks that people NOT wear shorts in the dining room for dinner, although apparently they don't enforce it.

I have never seen them enforce the dress codes, except in Palo

Don't know about 2013, but 2012 DCL's returning guest gift was a medium size backpack.

 

[Tink1987]

On the last TA, there were 2 formal nights and a semi-formal night. Some go all out with formals that would fit right in at the inaugural ball. The little girls and boys, all dressed up are so cute. Others, seem to dress down more then other nights - which is their choice and fine with me. I most likely will just bring a formal top and black pants unless Bob wants to bring his tux.

We went to Palo's three times on the PC cruise and all three times the room was almost empty. While brunch is more popular, I think you won't have any trouble getting a reservation for dinner. They have updated the dinner menu at Palos, changed the china ect. The service is wonderful and the food ok but I won't be upset if we missed it.

Thanks very much Val

 

[GoofyNewfie]

I've trolled the Disney website, our reservation website, and that pre-arrival-guide that Mandy remembered. There's no mention about transfers in Barcelona or hotels.

Has anyone seen Disney information about Barcelona hotels? I seem to recall someone saying that they had not announced them yet. Maybe it's come out by now? I need to book...

 

[GoofyNewfie]

Saturday - embarkation
Sunday - first formal night (??)
Monday -
Tuesday - Castaway Cay
Wed - at sea
Thurs - at sea
Fri - at sea - PIRATE NIGHT (on my Pre-Arrival Guide)
Sat - at sea
Sun - at sea
Mon - at sea
Tues - Madeira
Wed - at sea
Thurs - Gibraltar
Fri - at sea
Sat - disembarkation in Barcelona

In my opinion, Pirate night on that night is the perfect spot. A way to help people forget we're in the middle of the Atlantic ocean!

 

[Tink1987]

It's question time yet again folks

Will DCL offer transfers from the Barcelona port to the airport? I have just had a quick look at the maps and can see it's only 20 minutes away so would be be cheapish in a cab but was just wondering.

 

[heatherb819]

Last time we packed light & plan to do so again! I wore capris on mist dinner nights sometimes jeans. Formal & semi-formal I took a black pair of dress pants with a different shirt or even solid shirt with different scarf. And yes blingy flip flops therefore I only had 3 pair of shoes for the cruise. Blingy flip flops, beach flip flops & tennis shoes for excursions. We noticed this cruise was much more casual I'm sure due to packing issues! Some were really formal but I would say majority weren't. I did laundry once & sent some off to be done once. They had a special midway $30 to fill a pillowcase full of laundry. It's amazing how much you can cram into a pillowcase

 

[Tink1987]

Last time we packed light & plan to do so again! I wore capris on mist dinner nights sometimes jeans. Formal & semi-formal I took a black pair of dress pants with a different shirt or even solid shirt with different scarf. And yes blingy flip flops therefore I only had 3 pair of shoes for the cruise. Blingy flip flops, beach flip flops & tennis shoes for excursions. We noticed this cruise was much more casual I'm sure due to packing issues! Some were really formal but I would say majority weren't. I did laundry once & sent some off to be done once. They had a special midway $30 to fill a pillowcase full of laundry. It's amazing how much you can cram into a pillowcase

We will definitely be doing laundry half way through - I'm the type of person to take 14 day tees and then 14 night tops - definitely not doing that on this holiday!!

 

[heatherb819]

I think I only took 5 each, laundry was no bug deal. We would throw a load in while getting ready for dinner. Didn't think I could do it but with all if those sea days & not having the humid caribbean weather, you can wear clothes longer. In the Caribbean I feel like I have to change twice a day!

 

[sdlong329]

When we leave our room for the last time, I find our room host, give them a parting gift and point out to them that the phones, laundry bag and robes are in their place. A month after one cruise we noticed a $10 DCL charge on our card. When I called they told me it was because we had taken the laundry bag (I had never seen nor used it - I bring a laundry bag with me). I wrote to them and said I was really offended that they would accuse us of stealing anything without asking AND if I was going to steal something out of the Roy Disney Suite it wouldn't have been a cotton bag. They reversed the charges.

- There really is no need to point out items to your stateroom host. With regard to the $10 charge ... nobody is accusing anyone of stealing anything. It is a known fact, if you take something from the room ... you will be charged. Some people want a souvenir. It may have been, the stateroom host may have swapped out the laundry bag (dirty / stained), or something may have been coded incorrectly.

We went to Palo's three times on the PC cruise and all three times the room was almost empty. While brunch is more popular, I think you won't have any trouble getting a reservation for dinner. They have updated the dinner menu at Palos, changed the china ect. The service is wonderful and the food ok but I won't be upset if we missed it.

- Who said brunch is more popular? Quite the contrary ... you get much better food at dinner. Then again, everyone has different tastes, likes, wants and desires. Palo Brunch offers most of the meal in buffet style (for the non-hot items), while the server takes your entree order, and brings your your entree. No matter what happens, I am ordering the Palo Tenderloin (Filet Mignon) with Gorgonzola sauce ... as well as the Souffle (neither are offered with brunch). In addition, Palo dinner includes sorbet to cleanse the pallet, as well as Schiopinnio (some incorrectly refer to this as Limoncello) after dinner. I am not a cheese-aficionado, but the balsamic vinegar with the cheese is fabulous!

I have never seen them enforce the dress codes, except in Palo

- Much of what gets enforced depends on the individual ship. Shorter cruises are generally more relaxed. I recall seeing one "man" in a ragged Harley Davidson shirt, with cut-off jean shorts in the MDR. Much of the restaurant was shocked. I, for one, would not wear shorts in the MDR. Yes, I am on vacation as well, and I believe in packing light ... but have no problems wearing a pair of khaki's or nice pants, with a pair of real shoes.

Camp / Hawaiian / Bowling shirts are not permitted in Palo.

Some men wear a shirt and tie (or, jacket and buttoned shirt) on formal night ... some wear suits or tuxedo's. Some cruises see hoards of tuxedo's on formal night ... but a cruise on the Fantasy earlier this month saw surprisingly few tuxedo's on formal night.

If you show up to Palo without a jacket, MOST Palo Managers will either turn you away, or provide you with a jacket. Palo AND Remy provide you with a phone confirmation of your reservation one day in advance. You are reminded of the dress code, and asked to (show respect ... my words, not theirs), and oblige.

Don't know about 2013, but 2012 DCL's returning guest gift was a medium size backpack.

- Remained the same as of earlier this month. Platinum continues to get choice of Platinum bonus ... fruit, sparking wine, cheese platter

Steven

 

[kaseyC]

It's question time yet again folks

Will DCL offer transfers from the Barcelona port to the airport? I have just had a quick look at the maps and can see it's only 20 minutes away so would be be cheapish in a cab but was just wondering.

DCL does offer transfers from the port in Barcelona to the airport. My TA booked them for us. I believe they are $30 pp. You can add them now or wait until you are on board.