May Med Magic - May 15 2010 - Meet thread

[dfsc]

Hello late seating Disers.

This is the latest PM's I have received for late dining requesting tables together. I'll ask DCL to group us at a couple of their large tables (depending on final #). If I missed you or you want to join the group send me a PM with your reservation # and names. I'll continue to send the info. to Jeff and he will keep a running post on the webpage link located on the first page of this thread.

dfsc x 2
ebony x 2
Florida Princess x 4
tripodjw x 2
Prinny27 x2
Dawnee577 x 2

We're looking forward to meeting everyone

 

[HelenMartinez]

DVCS - My husband and I both speak Spanish so if you decide to join in on the wine tasting your wife will have a few people to speak with.

 

[moneyhappy]

Hello Helen,

Welcome aboard!!!

 

[Jeff Spencer]

Hello fellow cruisers.

This will be our first cruise (thanks to Travelbee for asking we join them)! We're so glad it's a Disney cruise because we are huge Disney fans. I've been amazed with all the planning and organization that goes into these boards, FE, Dismeets, etc. Thank you to Jeff and all that contribute!

Counting down the days till we all meet
Helen

Hola Martinez family!

My wife and I think your family's roll call picture is so cute. The boys and dad having the matching shirts is adorable.

 

[tripodjw]

Welcome aboard Amtrak23.

DH decided last night that we should start packing this weekend. He must be soooo excited because normally i have to prompt him to start sorting out clothes about 3 days before

ANyhoo - quick reminder to all the FE people, if you haven't lready responded to my PM of 7 April please check your PM's and let me have a response to my queries. I'd appreciate a response even if there is nothing to add/change (I'm keeping a check list of who has responded you see).

Nearly the weekend.

 

[HelenMartinez]

Hello fellow Disers,

I was looking for luggage tags on-line and saw that KLM is offering free personalized luggage tags. You can add one of your own pics or use the stuff they have. They looked really cool so I did some for our family. The site says it takes about 3 weeks so hopefully they will make it in time. If not, they will be good for the future. I couldn't figure out how to attach the link but you can find it baggagelabel.klm.com or by just doing a search for free KLM luggage tags.

Helen

 

[rashdecision]

I spoke with the wife last night and she didn't mind if I offerred up our room for the cabin crawl. It would help if the crawl was on the first at sea day since our cabin will likely get messy by the end of the week with 2 boys under 10 years old. It would also be good if we could move as a group that way, if you offer your room up to the crawl, you can still participate in the crawl instead of staying in the room to show it off to people. We are staying in cabin 8102 which is the aft cat 3 suite. Its not the Roy Disney but the veranda is apparently large. We should also wait to pick a specific time until I know when the wine tasting is going to be since they thought it would be on an at sea day. Maybe we could conclude the crawl or start the crawl after the wine tasting?
On another note. Does anyone know the best way to address paying for private tours that want cash instead of credit cards. Is it best to bring travelers checks, pay from the ATM, bring cash from the states. Just curious what people usually do. My TA was against travelers checks. We are staying with disney excursions in Tunisa so Im only really dealing with euros.

 

[tripodjw]

I popped home at lunchtime and we've had our DCL travel documents and luggage tags.

 

[Jeff Spencer]

I spoke with the wife last night and she didn't mind if I offerred up our room for the cabin crawl. It would help if the crawl was on the first at sea day since our cabin will likely get messy by the end of the week with 2 boys under 10 years old. It would also be good if we could move as a group that way, if you offer your room up to the crawl, you can still participate in the crawl instead of staying in the room to show it off to people. We are staying in cabin 8102 which is the aft cat 3 suite. Its not the Roy Disney but the veranda is apparently large. We should also wait to pick a specific time until I know when the wine tasting is going to be since they thought it would be on an at sea day. Maybe we could conclude the crawl or start the crawl after the wine tasting?

Thanks for volunteering your cabin. Doing it on the first Sea Day also is a good suggestion. If the DIS wine tasting does turn out to be the first sea day, I agree it makes sense to link the two. Could be either before or after. I like Cindy's suggestion too of having groups go together...the number of groups obviously dependent upon how many are interested.

On another note. Does anyone know the best way to address paying for private tours that want cash instead of credit cards. Is it best to bring travelers checks, pay from the ATM, bring cash from the states. Just curious what people usually do. My TA was against travelers checks. We are staying with disney excursions in Tunisa so Im only really dealing with euros.

Not knowing, what we did on our Med cruise in 2007 was get the Euros we needed ahead of time through a local bank. Once there, we found it very easy (thanks to the comments from previous cruisers that we were following) to locate ATMs and get Euros there. At the time we also were not aware that DCL does cash exchanges at Guest Services on board. They will be providing that service again to their cruise guests. I hope to learn from the 4/24 cruisers what kind of exchange rate DCL is providing. So, I'm not sure what is "best" but there are plenty of options.

tripodjw: Woo hoo! The cruise will be here before we know it.

 

[rashdecision]

Jeff, I will email the concierge to ask what disney is giving currently for an exchange rate. If I understand your last post, you brought the appropriate amount in euros with you from the states. I wasn't sure about doing that verses stopping by a bank in Barcelona before the cruise (we arrive 2 days early) and picking up euros that way. It would allow me to carry less cash as we travel. I have heard Barcelona has a problem with theft, especially pick pocket etc.

 

[Jeff Spencer]

Jeff, I will email the concierge to ask what disney is giving currently for an exchange rate. If I understand your last post, you brought the appropriate amount in euros with you from the states. I wasn't sure about doing that verses stopping by a bank in Barcelona before the cruise (we arrive 2 days early) and picking up euros that way. It would allow me to carry less cash as we travel. I have heard Barcelona has a problem with theft, especially pick pocket etc.

I brought what I knew I would need for the private tours. We got additional euro for miscellaneous purchases in Rome and in Florence via ATMs. Regarding Barcelona's theft problem, there is a good write-up on it on the Barcelona Tourist Site. As it notes, the biggest problems are along La Ramblas, train & metro stations and on the beaches. Also be aware if/when on buses.

 

[moneyhappy]

Does anyone know the best way to address paying for private tours that want cash instead of credit cards. Is it best to bring travelers checks, pay from the ATM, bring cash from the states. Just curious what people usually do. My TA was against travelers checks. We are staying with disney excursions in Tunisa so Im only really dealing with euros.

I'm in the same situation that you are. The tour companies want cash or traveler checks in euros at the end of the tour. I do not like traveler checks, but will pay half of the tour in travelers checks and the other half in cash. For cash we will go to an ATM as needed.

I think the traveler checks give me a false sense of control because I cannot use my credit card.

They also allow us to pay with paypal but that has to be done before the tour not after.

 

[dvcspain]

Gracias Martinez Family!!!!!

we would like to be part of the crawl but my wife said we are not going to enjoy the tasting because we don't drink wine normally, but i have to talk with her about that now she can find 3 people to talk with and to find help......so now my wife is on a trip and a ican't speak with her i will wait to say our answer.

thank you to all

 

[Travelbee]

Helen - it's great to see that you finally made it to this thread! You'll find that this group is very friendly AND a wealth of knowledge!

Jeff - I noticed that the wine packages are now listed under Gifts and Amenities with prices in case you want to update the webpage. It's $395 for the premium package and $275 for the classic.

 

[Jeff Spencer]

Helen - it's great to see that you finally made it to this thread! You'll find that this group is very friendly AND a wealth of knowledge!

Jeff - I noticed that the wine packages are now listed under Gifts and Amenities with prices in case you want to update the webpage. It's $395 for the premium package and $275 for the classic.

Yes, I saw that too. Most of the wines changed too so the spreadsheet I had is out dated. Wife and I are now thinking we'll forego the package and instead pick what we want from the entire wine list since we see some good picks and favorites on both the classic and premium packages.

 

[has]

Any word from DCL on exchanging $. need USD for private excursions and foreign currency for each port. When using the DCL Guest Services exchange, is it just added to your KTTW card on file?
Thanks,

 

[Jeff Spencer]

Here is what DCL has said:

Guests are able to cash personal checks drawn from U.S. banks
only up to $100.00 per checking account, per voyage onboard at the Guest
Services desk. There are no limits set for currency exchange.

Currency exchange is available at Guest Services. During the
Mediterranean sailings, the currencies listed below can be exchanged to
Euros.

The following types of currency can be exchanged onboard:

Dollar (Australia, Canada, Cayman, Hong Kong, United States)
Franc (Switzerland)
Kroner (Denmark, Norway, Sweden)
Peso (Mexico)
Pound (United Kingdom: England, Scotland)
Yen (Japan)
Euro (European Union)

I hope this information has been helpful. If you require further
assistance in planning your visit, please feel free to contact us.

We look forward to sailing with you!

Have a Magical Day!

Reservations Department
Disney Cruise Line

 

[has]

Thank you Jeff
Any idea what the currency exchange fee will be?
Also, when exchanging money, can I use my KTTW card or do I have to have currency in hand?

Thanks,
Heidi

 

[Jeff Spencer]

Heidi,

No, rashdecision is trying to find that out now.

 

[dawne577]

I made another payment to my on board account today and the cast member I talked to is sailing on the 5-5 Med cruise. She said that she just received her documents so to all of us that are west of the pond be looking for them soon.
Finished all on line check-in today - going to start packing Sunday!