May Med Magic - May 15 2010 - Meet thread

[Jeff Spencer]

Have noticed from the "live from the EBTA magic" that with regards to currency exchange onboard you must have US dollars - cash or travellers cheques in order to exchange into another currency.

...and it sounds like they won't exchange from any other currency (e.g. UK pounds sterling to euros)

I'm sure they only posted that because they're from the US. Per DCL email:

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

 

[pixiedust519]

Oh, now that's a good idea! (Traveller's checks). They aren't very useful in port, but if you could then exchange them for Euros onboard, that would work quite well. I like that idea!

I do hope we get to see that "The Dream Goes On" show. It sounds quite good. Sad to hear about "Villains". Ah, well. They can't all be hits!

Sayhello

I really hope we get to see it too!! Sounds like a great show.

One month from today we will be in ROME!!!

 

[sayhello]

One month from today we will be in ROME!!!

Sayhello

 

[rashdecision]

The dining groups are for DISers to be put in the same dining rotation (rotate to the same restaurant) and be seated together and in the same area of the dining room. With a party of 6, you'd either be seated at a table to yourselves, with a party of two, or a party of three. If you let dfsc (Felicia) know if you'd like to be seated with someone in particular, she'd let DCL know when she passed on the request.



Cool. Speaking of the concierge, do you have an update for the wine tasting list? Any more info about when/where it will be?

I have an email from the concierge last week that stated the first at sea day would be the wine tasting but she could not give me a time until a week before the cruise since we will need a larger room and plans for their rooms change so she doesnt want to quote a time too early. I think it would be helpful to close the registration for the wine tasting this week so I can give her the final tally. Lets officially close on Thursday and I will forward the final list to you and the concierge on friday and I will ask her to get me a time as soon as she can.

We watched "Alice in Wonderland" and "Princess & the Frog" on our March cruise and loved both of them! Some cruisers were complaining about "Alice" but both my wife and I liked it. We are looking forward to seeing "Sherlock Holmes".

Rashdescision I would like to see the lab serum values app! I wonder if they have one for fluids and electrolytes... would make medsurge a breeze for nursing students

If you go on the itunes site and look up their apps and specify the medical apps you can find several. Dont have my ipad yet so havent seen them personally.

 

[jubes]

I have an email from the concierge last week that stated the first at sea day would be the wine tasting but she could not give me a time until a week before the cruise since we will need a larger room and plans for their rooms change so she doesnt want to quote a time too early. I think it would be helpful to close the registration for the wine tasting this week so I can give her the final tally. Lets officially close on Thursday and I will forward the final list to you and the concierge on friday and I will ask her to get me a time as soon as she can.



My husband and I would like to join in the wine tasting! Do I need to send you any other information?

 

[AlohaJoe23]

As of now still 6 spots available for the afternoon sailing. This allows time in morning to walk Valletta for site-seeing or shopping. A 15 minute cab ride to the yacht. 3 - 4 hours on the water and cab ride back to the Magic in time to be on board at 6:00 PM.

The yacht is very close to the casino if that is of interest to anyone. Casino opens at 10:00 am. Also close to the Bay Street Mall which opens at 10:00 as well. IMAX theatre, bowling alley etc. For those looking for something other than cathedrals and museums.

Jeff if you could add to the excursion page of the website that would be great.

Thanks,
AlohaJoe

 

[rashdecision]

I have an email from the concierge last week that stated the first at sea day would be the wine tasting but she could not give me a time until a week before the cruise since we will need a larger room and plans for their rooms change so she doesnt want to quote a time too early. I think it would be helpful to close the registration for the wine tasting this week so I can give her the final tally. Lets officially close on Thursday and I will forward the final list to you and the concierge on friday and I will ask her to get me a time as soon as she can.



My husband and I would like to join in the wine tasting! Do I need to send you any other information?

If you could PM me the full names of the people wanting to do the wine tasting and your reservation number then I can put you on the list.

 

[Jeff Spencer]

Jeff if you could add to the excursion page of the website that would be great.

Thanks,
AlohaJoe

Done.

 

[dfsc]

There appears to be good news and bad news regarding the volcano this am. The bad new is the eruption appears to be increasing in regards to lava flow. The good news is it appears to be spewing less ash. I suppose that means the engines may suck less ash. We are flying directly from Atlanta to Barcelona. Do you think this cloud will be an issue that far south? Another thing we must all take into consideration is the fact that our boat will likely be completely full for our cruise if the previous cruisers cant get to barcelona since some people will try to rebook on the next boat out. There may be less upgrading then people hoped for. Just a thought.

Would someone tell me a bit about the early dining group gathering. Is this for small groups of people to join so they are grouped with fellow DISers? We are a group of six so I am unsure if we would be grouped together with another group or not. Im a little confused about that one.

I will email the concierge about the whole lost finale on the cruise. I would doubt they would show it as a special request b/c of the logistics of getting access to the tape but she could at least let us know if they already plan on showing it.

Send me a PM with your name and reservation # and I will request you stay as a party of 6 but want to be in the same dining rotation and dining room location as the other disers. dfsc

 

[amackay]

Good news! British airspace has reopened at 2200hrs after test flights have proved that aircraft engines can tolerate the current levels of volcanic ash. It seems as if the DfT (department for transport) and our Transport minister have put pressure on the Civil aviation authority to lift some of the restrictions. Hopefully everything will be running normally in 3 weeks time

 

[Pinmeister]

On the shows, the EBTA cruise has gotten to see the "filler" show "Once Upon a Song" that was on the Magic prior to "Villains Tonight" starting its run in March. Reviews for it seem to be pretty good. They've also seen a show called Walt Disney - The Dream Goes On and I've seen nothing but glowing reviews. I've not heard anything about this latter show and I'm hoping we get to see it. The awful reviews for Villains Tonight continue.

Here is a review for Once upon a Song from the allears.net blog:
" Once Upon a Song. This show featured the vocal talents of 5 members of the Walt Disney Theater cast. Definitely two thumbs up for this one! They started with a tribute to the Sherman brothers by singing several Mary Poppins’ tunes. They followed that with a wide variety of songs from many of the well-known and lesser-known Disney movies – Mulan, Brother Bear, Hunchback of Notre Dame, Beauty & the Beast, Toy Story, Enchanted, Cinderella, Peter Pan, Little Mermaid, and so many more."
Sounds good...I hope we get to see it. I love Mary Poppins.

 

[Jeff Spencer]

Here is a review for Once upon a Song from the allears.net blog:
" Once Upon a Song. This show featured the vocal talents of 5 members of the Walt Disney Theater cast. Definitely two thumbs up for this one! They started with a tribute to the Sherman brothers by singing several Mary Poppins’ tunes. They followed that with a wide variety of songs from many of the well-known and lesser-known Disney movies – Mulan, Brother Bear, Hunchback of Notre Dame, Beauty & the Beast, Toy Story, Enchanted, Cinderella, Peter Pan, Little Mermaid, and so many more."
Sounds good...I hope we get to see it. I love Mary Poppins.

I added that blog to the Links page earlier today.

 

[trampslady]

I just wanted to stop in and say, "howdy." I am on this thread about seven times a day to check in. I'm getting really excited about our journey. But, hubby was supposed to be in Germany right now...cancelled last Friday. Now his trip has been bumped until this Friday, returning on May 7--just a few short days before we depart on the 12th. My contingency plan is to meet him in Barcelona if I can get to Spain but he can't get out of Frankfurt. For now, things look good, but volcanoes are just too darn predictable! I have a good friend off of a Regent cruise last Saturday in Venice. She couldn't get confirmed to come home until this Saturday!

This is going to be such a fun trip! I'm definitely wishing I was onboard that relaxing transatlantic journey right now. Ahhhh.....nothin' to do but take in the world as it sails by on those sea days!

 

[MPS516]

NASA Continues To Track Persistent Iceland Volcano

The continuing eruption of Iceland's Eyjafjallajokull volcano was observed Mon., April 19, 2010, by the Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER) instrument onboard NASA's Terra spacecraft.

You just had to know if it is up in the air, NASA is going to be involved. So now with the real experts involved I know they are going to find a way to ensure that I get to Barcelona, oh yea, the rest of you can come too.

 

[trampslady]

Okay...question. I made the mistake of dragging my feet on insurance. I always buy through insuremytrip.com, mainly for the assurance that we would have air evac coverage in the event of a medical situation. That said, when I add it now, I can pretty much forget any trip cancellaton/delay coverage.

Does anyone know what Disney will do in the event our flights are cancelled and we don't make it to the ship? We are scheduled to arrive on the 13th, so we have a buffer, but still......

I don't anticipate this, but it keeps creeping back into my mind. Outta luck? $$ gone?

 

[abdmom]

Okay...question. I made the mistake of dragging my feet on insurance. I always buy through insuremytrip.com, mainly for the assurance that we would have air evac coverage in the event of a medical situation. That said, when I add it now, I can pretty much forget any trip cancellaton/delay coverage.

Does anyone know what Disney will do in the event our flights are cancelled and we don't make it to the ship? We are scheduled to arrive on the 13th, so we have a buffer, but still......

I don't anticipate this, but it keeps creeping back into my mind. Outta luck? $$ gone?

From what I'm reading on the April 24th thread, DCL is saying "get your money from your travel insurance". DCL isn't doing anything for those whose flights have been cancelled.

 

[KDavies29]

OK, here is a crazy question and way off topic -- I decided to book the DCL Beach Resort excursion in Tunisia. The description says it is in the resort town of Gammarth, 4.5 hours with beautiful pools & beaches and a sunbed & umbrella included.

Sounded great and a nice break from touring and something my teens would enjoy and I liked the idea of sticking my feet in the Mediterrenean (even if it might be a little too cold for the rest of me)

I read the entire description on DCL and it does not mention any warnings about topless/nude sunbathers - like it does on the beach excursions in the french riviera. I am aware that topless is the norm in spain, france and italy but I thought Tunisia being a Muslim culture that would not be the case.

I had a few second thoughts and decided to do some research, but i am getting alot of mixed reviews. Some say it is very frequent at hotel pools and some touristy beaches. Our family is not really comfortable with the whole topless thing - especially with the kids. Is there any way to find out if this is going to be a problem at this resort? The disney tour info does not give the name of the resort. Is my only option to call DCL?...... that ought to be an interesting conversation...... will there be Topless Tourists in Tunisia?

 

[AlohaJoe23]

The disney tour info does not give the name of the resort. Is my only option to call DCL?...... that ought to be an interesting conversation...... will there be Topless Tourists in Tunisia?

Well Wickipedia says:

Respect
Tunisia is a Muslim country, and dress code is important, particularly for females. Whilst a lot of skin (even topless) is tolerated on beaches and within hotel complexes, a modest amount of exposed skin may be frowned upon outside these areas.

Be aware that the further south one travels, the more conservative Tunisia becomes. While most women wear western clothes in the Capital (which has a mix a Mediterranean, European and Arabic cultures), the south of Tunisia is practically devoid of any lingering European influence and is thus far more traditional.

Be warned that the Tunisian government discourages critical discussion of local politics, particularly in public forums. In general, it is wise not to discuss politics with anyone you do not know.

 

[amtrak23]

Anybody familiar with the AC Diplomatic Hotel? I just booked it via Expedia for Friday night and used their Best Rate Guarantee to get them to match the lowest published price and a $50 coupon for a future booking. Should be able to use the coupon after the cruise in either BCN or MAD hopefully.

It has some nice numbers on Trip Advisor: http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g187497-d228512-Reviews-AC_Diplomatic-Barcelona_Catalonia.html

And the location looks pretty good I think : http://maps.google.com/maps?q=AC+Diplomatic&oe=utf-8&client=firefox-a&ie=UTF8&hl=en&hq=AC+Diplomatic&hnear=&ll=41.390493,2.17113&spn=0.018159,0.045447&z=15

Anybody have any other recommendations? Some of the others mentioned earlier in the thread were all booked up last time I checked.

 

[rashdecision]

I would like to get everyones sign ups for the wine tasting finished by tommorrow if possible and then I will tally up the names, post the responses on the web and board and get the info to the concierge. If anyone is still interested but not PM'd me their names and reservation numbers please do so by tomorrow so I can update the concierge. The last email she gave said that we would have the tasting on the first sea day but can not give me an actual time until the week before we sail. I would expect it would be between 2-4 since it would need to be after lunch but I doubt they would schedule it near their dining times. Previous tasting on our last cruise were either in the sports bar or the piano bar on the (I think) third floor so I would bet thats were we would have it.

On a side note, I called Apple and I will have my Ipad on April 30th!!! Just in enough time to download some cool apps for traveling through spain! I also just picked up the rest of the FE gifts so we should be good to go. Is it still the plan to give FE gifts per room or per person in the room? How are people going to do this?