May Med Magic - May 15 2010 - Meet thread

[DopeyFan1966]

Cindy, don't you love living in Europe! I will miss it so much when we move back stateside this summer.

Are you in SHAPE? So, if you are going to bring Belgium chocolate, can you swing by Mary's and bring me some champagne truffles?

Yes, I LOVE traveling in Europe, but I don't like living here in the SHAPE area. But, the traveling opportunties trump the living so it is all good. We've only been over here since January 2009, and have been to Dublin for St. Patty's Day; Brugge, Belgium; Paris a couple times; Disneyland Paris; Rotenburg Ob de Taber; Nurnberg; Amsterdam twice; Lloret De Mar, Spain; Barcelona, Spain; Tossa De Mar, Spain; Regensberg, Germany; and Kaiserslautern, Germany (two many times to count). We are going to go to keukenhof Gardens later this month or in May I can't remember.

I will miss all of this traveling when we leave, but at least I can do it now and enjoy it. I don't think I could afford all of this traveling after I go back to the states. Money doesn't go as far as it used to.

Cindy

 

[tripodjw]

Thanks!!!!
I tried to send you a PM but I am not able since I don't have enough "posts"... ???

You should be able to send a PM - it's 10 posts. If it still doesn't work - just post up the answers here in the thread - i'll get them there.

Thanks!

 

[DopeyFan1966]

No cruise documents yet , hoping they will be here soon. Figure I don't have them because they are coming to an APO address and will take longer for me to get them.

Keeping my fingers crossed that they arrive on time.

 

[tripodjw]

No cruise documents yet , hoping they will be here soon. Figure I don't have them because they are coming to an APO address and will take longer for me to get them.

Keeping my fingers crossed that they arrive on time.

Don't worry even if you don't get your docs. Most of it is irrelevant info or duplicated online.

All of the important ones for filling in are on the DCL website when you log into your reservation (just fill them in and print out a copy to take with you).

The green DCL luggage tags are handy but to be honest you can label your luggage with your room number yourself - just get a big blank luggage label and put on your room number in big black marker pen. (I suspect that you can get blanks when you arrive at port/DCL check in at the airport)

 

[jojo6617]

Hi all
Do are any of you guys fancy doing Nice and Monte Carlo as a group by the train? The trains run every 30 mins and only cost €1.50 to nice and €2.50 to Monte Carlo apparently the station is only a short walk at the back of the bay or alternatively we could take the #100 bus that also is just outside the port.

 

[Jeff Spencer]

Was wondering what port are you looking forward to the most/least? Which port do you think will surprise you the most?
For us: Rome/Corsica/Malta

The most...tie between Rome and Florence. I'm blown away by history and to see it first hand like you can in these two cities is amazing. Least...Corsica, though I hope to be surprised. I'm hoping that Tunis will surprise me. In the back of my mind I'm thinking it's going to be an African version of one of those Caribbean ports that I'd consider just staying on the ship. On the other hand, there's relatively little written up about it on cruise forums so I'm hoping that equates to not ruined by tourists and an interesting cultural experience.

 

[trampslady]

Which ports are we most anticipating?

ALL OF THEM! I'm probably most excited by Rome and Naples (for the Amalfi Coast). But since we've never visited this part of Europe, we are jazzed about all of it.

My husband leaves for two weeks in Germany, where we have spent quite a bit of time, on Friday, and when he's back it's only ten days until we are off for Barcelona!

I'm ready NOW!


JEFF, I thought you might like to add the following info to your dandy web page:

We will have five ships (yikes) in port in Naples, two in Civitavecchia, and two in La Spezia. According to cruisecal.com, all other ports list only our beloved Disney Magic in port.

I'm afraid that Pompeii and the Amalfi Coast are gonna be very crowded!!!

 

[Jeff Spencer]

Which ports are we most anticipating?

ALL OF THEM! I'm probably most excited by Rome and Naples (for the Amalfi Coast). But since we've never visited this part of Europe, we are jazzed about all of it.

My husband leaves for two weeks in Germany, where we have spent quite a bit of time, on Friday, and when he's back it's only ten days until we are off for Barcelona!

I'm ready NOW!


JEFF, I thought you might like to add the following info:

We will have five ships (yikes) in port in Naples, two in Civitavecchia, and two in La Spezia. According to cruisecal.com, all other ports list only our beloved Disney Magic in port.

I'm afraid that Pompeii and the Amalfi Coast are gonna be very crowded!!!

I will do that later today. Another note on the website...I added a second EBTA blog to the top of the links page for those that are interested. Also, click on the Magic link there too and follow her as she crosses the Atlantic over the next 6 days. Finally, I should hear on Thursday whether our request for the Palo brunch is approved.

 

[maddisney]

No cruise documents yet , hoping they will be here soon. Figure I don't have them because they are coming to an APO address and will take longer for me to get them.

Keeping my fingers crossed that they arrive on time.

I received the cruise document last Thursday through FedEx mail.

Don’t worry, it stays enough time before the cruise. Even if you don’t receive them, with your reservation number and your id cards, there will be no problem on port.

There is no new critical information on these documents. Nevertheless, if you don’t receive them within a few days, and if you wish a copy of the document and tags (without our private references), I can provide you that as we live nearby.

 

[maddisney]

Hi all
Do are any of you guys fancy doing Nice and Monte Carlo as a group by the train? The trains run every 30 mins and only cost €1.50 to nice and €2.50 to Monte Carlo apparently the station is only a short walk at the back of the bay or alternatively we could take the #100 bus that also is just outside the port.

The main difference is that there is more frequently bus shuttles (+/- one every 15 min.) than trains between Nice and Monte-Carlo.

 

[jedijill]

Yes, I LOVE traveling in Europe, but I don't like living here in the SHAPE area. But, the traveling opportunties trump the living so it is all good. We've only been over here since January 2009, and have been to Dublin for St. Patty's Day; Brugge, Belgium; Paris a couple times; Disneyland Paris; Rotenburg Ob de Taber; Nurnberg; Amsterdam twice; Lloret De Mar, Spain; Barcelona, Spain; Tossa De Mar, Spain; Regensberg, Germany; and Kaiserslautern, Germany (two many times to count). We are going to go to keukenhof Gardens later this month or in May I can't remember.

I will miss all of this traveling when we leave, but at least I can do it now and enjoy it. I don't think I could afford all of this traveling after I go back to the states. Money doesn't go as far as it used to.

Cindy

The Keukenhof is amazing! I miss being able to jump in the car and drive through three countries or have lunch in Luxembourg...just because!

Jill in CO

 

[sayhello]

Was wondering what port are you looking forward to the most/least? Which port do you think will surprise you the most?

I think I'm looking the most forward to Rome, just because it's a place I've read about, heard about, watched movies about for SO VERY long. The whole concept of being around that much history is just mind boggling.
Least, I think, is Corsica. Just don't know that much about it, and the ABD excursion for that day sounds cute (visit a candy factory), but I'm not sure what else we'll be doing.
I'm hoping to be most surprised by Tunis. I'm afraid, like Jeff, that it's just going to be a poor tourist trap, but hopeful that I'm wrong, and it's an amazing cultural experience. Fingers & toes crossed.

Got my docs, but still nothing from ABD (and, surprisingly, my cruise docs say nothing about the ABD, except that my gratuities are already prepaid). I really, *really* hope we get something from them before we leave. I really love the little countdown calendards ABD gives you (30 days from now, you'll be taking a powerboat to the Island of Gozo; 15 days from now, you'll be walking the streets of ancient Rome, etc...) I put them up in my cubicle at work, and lovingly cross out each day. I still have my Southwest Splendors & Alaska ones up in my cube... And I *REALLY* want the more detailed itinerary.

Oh, well, DCL says it's up to ABD. ABD says DCL is sending whatever. I'll find out eventually. If this is the biggest issue I have with this trip, I'll be the luckiest gal around!

Sayhello

 

[snackyx]

Hi snackyx,

The consensus seems to be that to avoid traveling with an excessive amount of cash, either dollars or Euros (or whatever your native currency might be) it's probably better to just wait until to get to Europe and withdraw Euros from ATMs as you need them. We're waiting to see what kind of premium Disney will charge on the ship, but what I saw in 2007 when we first did the cruise was the DCL premium was similar to what my bank charged me locally when I got some Euro ahead of time. As to banks in the states, it really depends. Some seem to handle such exchanges routinely and can do it quickly and with little premium charged. Others have quoted weeks turn-around time to order and receive the currency. I would think that more urban banks would be the easiest to deal with; however, your mileage may vary.

Are there ATM's on the ship? Do they charge out-of-whack fees?

 

[Jeff Spencer]

No, there are no ATMs on the Magic.

 

[Jeff Spencer]

I I have also heard that you can purchase a picture package for a flat rate. Is that true?

Here are the photo packages DCL offers:

Photo Value Pkg: 10 Photo Credits - $89

Use photo credits in any combination, each 6 x 8 photo = 1 credit, and each 8 x 10 photo = 2 credits. Receive a gift message card in your stateroom to redeem at Shutters. (A $1 service fee will be charged)

Photo Choice Pkg: 20 Photo Credits - $149

Use photo credits in any combination, each 6 x 8 photo = 1 credit, and each 8 x 10 photo = 2 credits. Receive a gift message card in your stateroom to redeem at Shutters. (A $1 service fee will be charged)

Photo Premium Pkg: 30 Photo Credits - $199

Use photo credits in any combination, each 6 x 8 photo = 1 credit, and each 8 x 10 photo = 2 credits. Receive a gift message card in your stateroom to redeem at Shutters. (A $1 service fee will be charged)

Gifts and Amenities (Including Photo Pkgs) can be found at the following link:

http://disneycruise.disney.go.com/planning-center/gifts-and-amenities/#Barcelona%20Onboard%20Merchandise,%20Spa,%20Photo%20and%20Beverage%20Pre-purchase%20Options

 

[jedijill]

Here are the photo packages DCL offers:



Gifts and Amenities (Including Photo Pkgs) can be found at the following link:

http://disneycruise.disney.go.com/planning-center/gifts-and-amenities/#Barcelona%20Onboard%20Merchandise,%20Spa,%20Photo%20and%20Beverage%20Pre-purchase%20Options

They were also offering a Photo CD on the Wonder in November. Not sure if that has been introduced on the Magic yet.

Jill in CO

 

[jedijill]

Hi all
Do are any of you guys fancy doing Nice and Monte Carlo as a group by the train? The trains run every 30 mins and only cost €1.50 to nice and €2.50 to Monte Carlo apparently the station is only a short walk at the back of the bay or alternatively we could take the #100 bus that also is just outside the port.

I would be interested.

Jill in CO

 

[jedijill]

I'm most excited to see Malta, Tunis, and the Amalfi Coast. I've been to Rome, Florence, Pisa, Naples, and Nice/Mote Carlo before. I'm excited to see them again but I don't think I would ever see Malta or Tunis on my own otherwise. I also plan on going to Sorrento as I've heard it is spectacular.

Jill in CO

 

[Jeff Spencer]

For sheer beauty I'm not sure any place can surpass the Amalfi coast. I'm looking forward to returning there too and spending time in Sorrento and Positano.

 

[rashdecision]

Im most looking forward to naples, rome and florence. Sort of getting jacked up about Barcelona as well. We will be there for 2.5 days before the cruise!