Mediterranean Excursions

[kyla]

Question: can excursions be booked via phone or is it only online? What time does the excursion booking open up via phone, via online?

 

[Shercara]

Last night I was told by DCL ( over the phone) that excursions/palo/spa can only be booked on line.

Concierge level 105 days before your cruise
Castaway Club Memebers 90 days before your cruise
Everyone else 75 days

She also advised that it means at 12:01AM on that day.

Good Luck!
Sherri

 

[kyla]

Last night I was told by DCL ( over the phone) that excursions/palo/spa can only be booked on line.

Concierge level 105 days before your cruise
Castaway Club Memebers 90 days before your cruise
Everyone else 75 days

She also advised that it means at 12:01AM on that day.

Good Luck!
Sherri

Would that be EST?

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

Would that be EST?

West coast time 8AM UK

 

[Shercara]

Just called DCL - cast member advised that the 12:01am is EST.
<---- That will be me!

 

[wdwsos]

Just called DCL - cast member advised that the 12:01am is EST.
<---- That will be me!

Did she say if this was new? As far as I know, it's always been PST. Midnight would be so much easier...

Dotti

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

Just called DCL - cast member advised that the 12:01am is EST.
<---- That will be me!

Got got it from the official source, but my understanding was 3AM EST.

Can anyone else confirm?

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

Did she say if this was new? As far as I know, it's always been PST. Midnight would be so much easier...

Dotti

If they have changed it will mean 5am for me, but it always has been 3am EST and 12.00 PCT.

 

[jrabbit]

Regarding Palo Ressies: I understand wanting brunch, but why is everyone booking dinners.

From DCL:
"Delight in delicious Northern Italian cuisine..."

and
"Savor Northern Italian specialties amidst the warmth of candlelight and the elegance of a true gourmet experience."

Granted, we're in Northern Italy only for 1 stop, but we have 5 days in Italy where we can get "Real" Italian food. Probably don't have the time for the elegant and gourmet experience while on shore - but the food's going to be GOOD!!

So we're not to interested in dinning in Palo on this cruise - if we can get to brunch on a sea day - wonderful. We usually make sure that we're on board for meal times on Caribbean port days since we've already paid for the food. But NOT on this trip - eating ashore has been budgeted and planed for

 

[Shercara]

Ok – I just called DCL again and this time “Dee” advised that it is not 12:01am it is more like 8:00AM – and – I also asked her to confirm that it is EST, and she said twice yes, EST.

Sorry to post incorrect info before – but that is what I received from DCL – although – I think I will call one more time to ask this question as the date gets closer – I may just try at 12:01 am that night/morning anyway!

Sometimes it seems that different cast members have different answers.

I AM SO CONFUSED!!

Let me know if anyone hears anything different.

Thanks,
Sherri

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

Ok – I just called DCL again and this time “Dee” advised that it is not 12:01am it is more like 8:00AM – and – I also asked her to confirm that it is EST, and she said twice yes, EST.

Sorry to post incorrect info before – but that is what I received from DCL – although – I think I will call one more time to ask this question as the date gets closer – I may just try at 12:01 am that night/morning anyway!

Sometimes it seems that different cast members have different answers.

I AM SO CONFUSED!!

Let me know if anyone hears anything different.

Thanks,
Sherri

Still say ONLINE 3AM EST 00.00 Pacific 8.00AM UK, think 8AM is when DCL opens the phones.

 

[MrsJobba1]

It is really upsetting when you get conflicting information from DCL.

Dont think I'll be able to sleep that night anyway so i'll try on the hour through out the night!

 

[Worktoplay]

I'm on the June 16th cruise and everyone was expecting to book excursion at 3:00 AM EST. However, most people were not able to book until after 4:00 AM. I personally waited until the next morning and I didn't have problems getting my excursions, but was only able to book 1 Palo dinner and no spa services.

 

[funnybunny921]

I'm on the June 16th cruise and everyone was expecting to book excursion at 3:00 AM EST. However, most people were not able to book until after 4:00 AM. I personally waited until the next morning and I didn't have problems getting my excursions, but was only able to book 1 Palo dinner and no spa services.

that was our experience too. we couldn't try again until work the next day at about 9am cst. by then the palo ressies were almost all gone dinner brunch etc but the excursions were ok. I even added a spa visit today- days after it went up.

 

[DVC4US]

I'm on the June 16th cruise and everyone was expecting to book excursion at 3:00 AM EST. However, most people were not able to book until after 4:00 AM. I personally waited until the next morning and I didn't have problems getting my excursions, but was only able to book 1 Palo dinner and no spa services.

Worktoplay is correct, the online booking window opens up at 12:01am PST or 3:01am EST. Because of the early daylight savings time change this year, there is some thought that DCL's computers were not set up to the correct time, so for CC members on our cruise it ended up being 1:01am PST or 4:01am EST. When I booked at 105 days(which was before the time change) I did it at 3:01am EST.

HTH

 

[profdsny]

Regarding Palo Ressies: I understand wanting brunch, but why is everyone booking dinners.

From DCL:
"Delight in delicious Northern Italian cuisine..."

and
"Savor Northern Italian specialties amidst the warmth of candlelight and the elegance of a true gourmet experience."

Granted, we're in Northern Italy only for 1 stop, but we have 5 days in Italy where we can get "Real" Italian food. Probably don't have the time for the elegant and gourmet experience while on shore - but the food's going to be GOOD!!

So we're not to interested in dinning in Palo on this cruise - if we can get to brunch on a sea day - wonderful. We usually make sure that we're on board for meal times on Caribbean port days since we've already paid for the food. But NOT on this trip - eating ashore has been budgeted and planed for

That's a very good point. Sort of like sitting out the window looking at Italy but not wanting to eat there. Kind of like going to the Italian pavilion at WDW. It's nice, but it's not really Italy. I suspect that by the time we hear a few reports back from early cruisers, we all will have some pretty good places to go eat. That's one of the things that worries me about the restaurants on the excurrsions. I wonder if they are just places that make their living off the tourist trade and not the locals.
Looking at the booklet they sent, it seems that there may be a few nice meals just in the regular rotation anyhow.

 

[Disney Lover Linda]

I personally love Palo's but not for its northern Italian cuisine - it is just a beautiful place with the BEST food on the ship. I enjoy its special feeling. Especially with 11 days in the regular restaurants, Palo's feel like a special night out. Unfortunately I couldn't get the brunch but I'll try when I get on the ship. It's great too!

 

[MrsJobba1]

I personally love Palo's but not for its northern Italian cuisine - it is just a beautiful place with the BEST food on the ship. I enjoy its special feeling. Especially with 11 days in the regular restaurants, Palo's feel like a special night out. Unfortunately I couldn't get the brunch but I'll try when I get on the ship. It's great too!

I totally agree with you there

 

[Jmoore215]

When you get off the ship in Rome , you should spend your day touring to learn the city, so be prepare to eat on the run. It take a few days to see everything, but do not try to see everyone, save something for your next visit

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

When you get off the ship in Rome , you should spend your day touring to learn the city, so be prepare to eat on the run. It take a few days to see everything, but do not try to see everyone, save something for your next visit

I have ''lunch time'' on my private tour but hope to cut that to on the run to see more, we can always catch up eating somewhere, maybe, on the ship, later.