May 26, 2007 (5/26/07) "First Magical Med Cruise!!" (The M&M's!)

[winotracy]

Just to give you an idea how some other cruiselines handle it:

When we sailed on Holland America in Alaska our departure time was also 9pm. Since some people were boarding very late (because they had land/cruise packages), the first night was completely open dining. They had 2 seatings for the regular dining room and you could choose either of those or simply do the buffet upstairs. We did not meet our servers or sit at our assigned table until the second night.
It's possible that Disney will do something similar.

Disney is thinking about doing this for the whole cruise! We'll learn more in a week or so.

 

[jeanneg]

Disney is thinking about doing this for the whole cruise! We'll learn more in a week or so.

Oh no, that would be horrible! One of the things that makes DCL so special is having your great serving team rotate with you. Please say it isn't so!

 

[sweetsue]

I was asking when our dinning rotation (sit down dinner at our assigned times) begins.

Added!

I'll make it all much prettier by category and post to page 1 sometime this weekend.

Sue

 

[Hygiene99]

Hi
I am starting to get very excited!!!!


Wow more news in the weeks to follow!


Peter

 

[jeanneg]

Peter: any surprises planned for this cruise? I know 2 people who were originally scheduled to sail on this cruise that we hardly ever hear from anymore........they got me good last time!

 

[poconoboatniks]

Sue,

Thanks for compiling the list of questions and answers. I can add to the list:

Question: If we stay at a DCL hotel in Barcelona, but do not book through DCL can I purchase the DCL transfers?

Answer: Yes and No! You can purchase transfers from the hotel to the port and back, but not from the airport to the hotel and back.

The answer to this question took 4 calls and 2 DCL supervisors to get a straight answer.

I don't like the idea of open seating for the whole cruise either. We love having the same servers and seating location. I was wondering how they were going to handle the ports such as Rome. Our excursion is 8:45 am to 8:45 pm and we have main seating. I figured we would have to go to Topsiders that night.

I can't believe that DCL's insurance company would allow them to leave port without having a specified number of passengers in attendance at the life boat drill.

Did anyone read the thread on the main board about Castway Club members getting new cards and packet in the mail in late April? After 6 cruises we will finally have CC cards.

Pocono

 

[icunurse_celeste]

I've had my card for years, but nobody else in my family does. But I know they have different numbers...I got an email newsletter a few weeks ago.

 

[jeanneg]

What they need to do is basically keep the rotation dining with the exception of the few very late ports. Instead of an A,P or L those nights would have a * or some other symbol meaning nonrotation. Dining rooms could be open as they are for lunch, which means you can't choose your tablemates or servers. Topsiders would also be an option. I could live with something like that, but to totally do away with the rotation dining would spoil alot of the fun.

 

[winotracy]

I don't like the idea of open seating for the whole cruise either. We love having the same servers and seating location. I was wondering how they were going to handle the ports such as Rome. Our excursion is 8:45 am to 8:45 pm and we have main seating. I figured we would have to go to Topsiders that night.

This is why they are considering this. The earliest all aboard for all of the ports is in Palermo and that is at 5:30 pm. They are worried that no one will ever be at the main dining on the port days and Topsiders, Goofy's, Pinocchios, Plutos will be swamped.

 

[winotracy]

What they need to do is basically keep the rotation dining with the exception of the few very late ports. Instead of an A,P or L those nights would have a * or some other symbol meaning nonrotation. Dining rooms could be open as they are for lunch, which means you can't choose your tablemates or servers. Topsiders would also be an option. I could live with something like that, but to totally do away with the rotation dining would spoil alot of the fun.

Or they could have a couple dining rooms on each night with rotation and eliminate one rotation leaving that open to open dining.

 

[icunurse_celeste]

Or they could have a couple dining rooms on each night with rotation and eliminate one rotation leaving that open to open dining.

That might be interesting... I love being the trial group... Anyone for sleeping in the halls??

 

[Ruth B]

Great list Sue

 

[Jeisur]

I've had my card for years, but nobody else in my family does. But I know they have different numbers...I got an email newsletter a few weeks ago.

We got our card about 6 weeks after our first cruise with Disney last year. Our son, who is now 21 months, even got his!!!!!

I guess we were lucky?

 

[meb51]

I have a follow up question about boarding. Here's what I've learned from reading the boards. I know we can board at 1:00 and I know that we can leave the ship. I also believe that I've read that we can leave our luggage at the port without boarding. Ok - here's my question. Can we leave our luggage at the port before 1:00 on May 26th? For example, could we leave the luggage at 10:00 AM and then go sightseeing. I know I could call Disney but wondered if anyone else had already looked into this. I'm not sure we actually will want to do this but I did want to see if it's a possibility.

Marie

 

[winotracy]

I have a follow up question about boarding. Here's what I've learned from reading the boards. I know we can board at 1:00 and I know that we can leave the ship. I also believe that I've read that we can leave our luggage at the port without boarding. Ok - here's my question. Can we leave our luggage at the port before 1:00 on May 26th? For example, could we leave the luggage at 10:00 AM and then go sightseeing. I know I could call Disney but wondered if anyone else had already looked into this. I'm not sure we actually will want to do this but I did want to see if it's a possibility.

Marie

I heard that we can drop off luggage after 10 am. We cannot necessarily board the ship at 1:00 pm though. They start check in then (3 hours later than they do in Port Canaveral).

 

[Kissimmee]

I think there are a number of people that are leaving the ship on the 25th.

Has anyone thought to ask if they can board a day early their cabin is vacant?

Yeah I know it's not likely...

 

[misseulalie]

I was told today that we will have our first dining rotation on the 26th. The CM said it will be the same as any other DCL trip...

 

[Hygiene99]

I think there are a number of people that are leaving the ship on the 25th.

Has anyone thought to ask if they can board a day early their cabin is vacant?

Yeah I know it's not likely...

 

[Scooby3x1y]

That might be interesting... I love being the trial group... Anyone for sleeping in the halls??

Back to that group thing again!

 

[sweetsue]

I found out a few answers - and will add more questions for my next DCL chat. Of course DCL called back while I was away from "the list", so I only remembered a few questions.

1) The lifeboat drill is at 5:45 PM, however shipboard services are closed from 5:15PM to 6:00 PM. Time to change that 5:45PM spa reservation!
2) As of today, we are having normal rotations.
3) Palos is sold out for booking on this cruise (which is not typical - usually inventory has a few bookings available). Guess we're atypical guests!
4) The normal dining will begin on Saturday, May 26th.
5) All items are subject to change based on DCL preference, user complaints and general "this is the first time" changes.

Isn't being the guinea pig such fun!

Sue

P.S. I edited the FAQs to add the answers and will add the new questions soon.