*Sept 10th 2011 WB Transatlantic* From Spain to Space Mountain - Part 3

[MandyGirl]

Mandy - what thread did you see this in? Do you know if the park hopper tickets were only for the days immediately following the cruise or were they an open-ended date that you could use them in the future?

It was Cruise Critic and I don't know any more than that. Definitely very curious!!

My adult son and I will be cruising with you all. Please add Karen and Kevin to the list. He is indeed my "dear son", but could you list our ages as "over 21" rather than being specific. I don't think either of us want to admit our ages!

I haven't read the entire board, but it sure seems like there will be a great many nice people on the cruise.

We are not big on organized activities, but we really like being around friendly folks.

I have been on many cruises in the Caribbean, but I have never attempted a crossing before. The idea of packing for such a long time freaks me out, but I am already getting excited about being on the ship for 14 days.

I look forward to meeting everyone,
Karen

Welcome abord, Karen! This is our first cruise over 7 days as well as the first cruise for our two children.

 

[PFlamingo]

I was looking at the Aerobus website to see the routes, fares, etc., and I came across these rules of conduct. Maybe it just got lost in translation, but I think the next-to-last "prohibition" is pretty funny.

Norms of use
USER RIGHTS
To be transported and continue the trip if the bus is stopped due to problems.
Apply for and receive information about services or route modifications.
To be treated correctly and with respect.
Fill in complaints and receive an answer.
Is able to go inside the vehicles all that that could be transported in suitably prepared or stiff plane (bicycles, baggage, objects, domestic animals ...) providing that he does not suppose a danger or an inconvenience for the rest of passengers.

OBLIGATIONS

Have and observe the minimum hygiene and sanitary conditions.
Have a ticket or valid document.
Keep the ticket and show it when asked to do so.
Pay attention to employee and poster indications.
Do not damage the installations.

PROHIBITIONS
Travel without a ticket or with a manipulated one.
Go on or leave the vehicle through an inappropriate door.
Go on the vehicle if advised that it is full.
Impede or force the opening or closure of the doors.
Distribute propaganda, hang up posters, beg, sell goods or services without authorisation.
Smoke.
Introduce objects or materials that are dangerous or bothering, except baby buggies.
Any dangerous behaviour.

OFFENCES AND FINES
The non-fulfilment of obligations will be sanctioned with a minimum fine of 50 euros.

So baby buggies are the only dangerous or bothering objects allowed on the bus. Of course, anyone who has encountered the crazed stroller drivers at WDW would agree that they are, in fact, dangerous and bothering.

 

[Seraphine]

Hi
I've just checked my booking details and my TA has included a "free" Disney transfer to MCO. We are picking up a car at the airport. I never asked why we did'nt pick it up at the port but I can guess it's more economical at the airport!

Check with your TA or Disney to see if this complementary transfer is across the board


Michael

Hi again Michael

Our TA checked this today and couldn't find anything about a free transfer. She suspected that if you booked your airfare though Disney that maybe it was included, but we booked our airfares independently so she had nothing for us other than booking full price of $35 each.

I think we're going to go with car rental!

 

[tojam]

My wife has asked some of your regular or recent cruisers for some help. On the 2007 WBTA we had a CM named Melanie (pronounced, Me-lon-ie). She was from South Africa and was our Bingo Queen for the trip. Does anyone have any recent experience with Melanie or know if she is still with DCL?

Thanks so much.

 

[binkytell]

Just spent a fab couple of hours with capt. Jack : )
trying to convince my DH that eye liner on men is very attractive but he's not having any of it!!!

 

[cliffy97]

Mel - We are with you in the bowels of the ship in 1048.......

Welcome to all of the new comers, its gonna be a great trip!

 

[steamboat will]

Charo was our guest star. Was interesting.

Krisann

Well talk about obscure!!!!

I had to google her to work out who she was,

Turns out she's some kind of "Margarita Pracatan" entertainer,

Now i'm guessing all of our American cruisers will have to google Margarita Pracatan,

I have to admit I love Margarita !

SW

 

[melonz]

Mel - We are with you in the bowels of the ship in 1048.......

Welcome to all of the new comers, its gonna be a great trip!

Hey Cliffy I hope I don't keep you awake with my snoring

Well talk about obscure!!!!

I had to google her to work out who she was,

Turns out she's some kind of "Margarita Pracatan" entertainer,

Now i'm guessing all of our American cruisers will have to google Margarita Pracatan,

I have to admit I love Margarita !

SW

OMGosh, That made me LAUGH Was she on the James Whale Show?

It was SOMEONE's show..I would love to see her

 

[Beauty & the Best]

Just spent a fab couple of hours with capt. Jack : )
trying to convince my DH that eye liner on men is very attractive but he's not having any of it!!!

LOL. I was wondering who has seen the new Pirates. I really want to see it but I think I will wait for the cruise (its likely they'll show it in the theater, but if they don't )

Its going to be very very hard NOT to see disney films this summer w/ the new Winnie the Pooh and also Cars2 coming out! But then again, some of these movies are prob worth seeing twice, so once on land and once on the ship is alright by me!

 

[Chris&Jeremy]

Mel - We are with you in the bowels of the ship in 1048.......

Welcome to all of the new comers, its gonna be a great trip!

agreed!

You can come visit us up on deck 7 for cocktails on the verandah.

 

[DISNEYFAN_SD]

I forM one do not miss them at all - now the area is still a "gallery" but all that it is is the one wall where the paintings hang on the side Studio Sea is. in front of the windows are nice benches to sit on to look at the paintings that are there. All the paintings that are there are available for purchase through Disney. Oh and the navigational chart is now in that area instead of outside treasure ketch.

Thanks for the info I really won't miss them either

 

[KrisannB]

Well talk about obscure!!!!

I had to google her to work out who she was,

Turns out she's some kind of "Margarita Pracatan" entertainer,

Now i'm guessing all of our American cruisers will have to google Margarita Pracatan,

I have to admit I love Margarita !

SW

here is a link for her: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charo

she is known as the "hoochie choochie" lady - she was on Johnny Carson as a young singer. And lets just say some of her show when she was talking raised some eyebrows when she was talking about wearing a good tight bra when on the running track to keep your moracca's from falling to the floor and Mirror Mirror please make my moracca's a 44. and this was during the family show, so I am sure some parents were having to explain what she meant about moracca's!

I have older kids so it was not a big deal but I imagine to some others may have questioned it. Many did not know who she was. But her spanish guitar music for the 2nd part of the show was really really good and very fitting for our cruise as we sailed into spain!

Krisann

 

[Chirpee]

thanks- not sure who the cruise director will be - we had Peter and I have to say I liked him, I miss Brent, but . . . Natalie is now an assistant cruise director and Carly has taken over as the "Bingo" queen
Krisann

Glad to hear that you enjoyed the EBTA, Krisann. Hopefully you'll be able to join us for the Magic's return voyage. If it is the same person, we have had Peter as our Cruise Director on 2 of our previous cruises. A very friendly guy; we really liked him

My adult son and I will be cruising with you all. Please add Karen and Kevin to the list. He is indeed my "dear son", but could
you list our ages as "over 21" rather than being specific. I don't think either of us want to admit our ages!

I haven't read the entire board, but it sure seems like there will be a great many nice people on the cruise.

We are not big on organized activities, but we really like being around friendly folks.

I have been on many cruises in the Caribbean, but I have never attempted a crossing before. The idea of packing for such a long time freaks me out, but I am already getting excited about being on the ship for 14 days.

I look forward to meeting everyone,
Karen

Welcome Karen and Kevin!

on a different note - just got back from my charity walk in dorset. despite honestly thinking a few times that i was going to die on a cliff top in lulworth, i'm really glad i did it, and between the whole group, we've so far raised
£23,500 for great ormond street.

Well done, Karen

Just spent a fab couple of hours with capt. Jack : )
trying to convince my DH that eye liner on men is very attractive but he's not having any of it!!!

Eyeliner certainly looks good on Johnny

 

[JessicasMom]

I hope everyone had a wonderful Memorial Day weekend (even those not in this country or not observing the holiday)

My mother (who lives in another state) called today just to say hi; we mentioned how excited our DD is getting about the cruise....and a few hours later, received another call from Mother saying she and my niece (adult but special needs) would like to go, too! (We introduced them to cruising this past January on RCI and now they're hooked ). Great, except now I have to do the legwork and make all of their arrangements, too. The cruise is the easy part....but coordinating air travel, etc. will be more challenging. Now, I'm not so sure staying directly on La Ramblas for a couple of nights is the best idea. Hmmmm; so much to think about, so much to plan .

They also did away with the keepsake menu this year - we still had the transatlantic menu - just not dated and it was the same as last year just without the dates.

The gifts we got was a Ducky print and a travel valet.

Hi Krisann: Too bad about the menus; they were a lovely keepsake. Did you receive the "steamer trunk" box that we got last year (I think on the final night)? Was the travel valet a CC gift or for everyone?

Looking forward to Charo, if she's the feature on the WBTA, too. I remember her well from many years of talk shows, incl. Carson. She's a riot, but very intelligent.

Not too bothered by the departure of the auctions, but I did like looking at all the artwork and chatting to the artists when they were on board.

I also enjoyed the artwork but never made a purchase after reading too many negative comments about the auction company . Hopefully, DCL has a decent inventory of new art to keep us entertained while we're sitting on those benches!

I was looking at the Aerobus website to see the routes, fares, etc., and I came across these rules of conduct. Maybe it just got lost in translation, but I think the next-to-last "prohibition" is pretty funny.

So baby buggies are the only dangerous or bothering objects allowed on the bus. Of course, anyone who has encountered the crazed stroller drivers at WDW would agree that they are, in fact, dangerous and bothering.

So true! Thanks for the reminder to check the website; it's these little things I've got to start doing. I've got to make a list....or two, one for us and one for my mother!

 

[LindaBabe]

oh and just wanted to say i'm disappointed in you guys - i go away for 4 days and you're still on part three!! was expecting at least a few pages of part 4 already!

on a different note - just got back from my charity walk in dorset. despite honestly thinking a few times that i was going to die on a cliff top in lulworth, i'm really glad i did it, and between the whole group, we've so far raised £23,500 for great ormond street.

GREAT Job, Karen!

Hello Karen,
I also cruising with my adult son. He is 24 en i am 56. And we love it to do disney trips together. This is our first cruise and afterwards our first time WDW.

Welcome, Liesbeth! We are Linda, Caroline & Eilean - all um . . . chronologically at least - Adults.

Charo? REALLY? Oh I hope so! She's even older than me but in a heckofa lot better shape! Used to be married to Xavier Cugat ( a big band leader back in the 50's) Smarter than one would think - she's made a packet off of playing the dumb senorita.

 

[Pixie Dust for Me!]

Hi all,

Saw Pirates last weekend and this as well. Penelope Cruz was very good and I just adore Cap'n Jack! DH thought this one was not as good as the last....but I still enjoyed it!

I am now up to page 98....so I'm making progress catching up. With all the "Karens" on this trip, I'm beginning to think we will need to go by number or nicknames otherwise it will be much like my 3rd grade class where we had 5 Karens....when you called Karen, all 5 of us would respond!

Karen & Kevin, I too am cruising with my son, but he's just 13. It would be lovely if the two of us could repeat this cruise when he is in his 20s or 30s....

Well, off to water the garden. I'm hoping for fresh tomatoes by July 4.

Karen

 

[Chris&Jeremy]

What is the cancellation policy for excursions booked through DCL? Is it 3 days prior to embarkation? I can't find this anywhere.

 

[KrisannB]

Hi Krisann: Too bad about the menus; they were a lovely keepsake. Did you receive the "steamer trunk" box that we got last year (I think on the final night)? Was the travel valet a CC gift or for
everyone?

no steamer trunk - the travel valet was the gift like that. CC gifts were the same.

Looking forward to Charo, if she's the feature on the WBTA, too. I remember her well from many years of talk shows, incl. Carson. She's a riot, but very intelligent.

I would be surprised if she is on the WBTA also - last year we had different entertainers between the EBTA and WBTA to some degree = but the main liner was different

I also enjoyed the artwork but never made a purchase after reading too many negative comments about the auction company . Hopefully, DCL has a decent inventory of new art to keep us entertained while we're sitting on those benches!

Their is only disney themed artwork on the walls - and not crowded at all they did have a CM stationed near by I guess to answer questions

/QUOTE]

 

[goofprincess]

WELCOME to Karen and Kevin.

Krissann---I hope you will be sailing with us EBTA last year was so fun and now Tony and I are going the other direction (hoping its easier gaining time)

Charo---oh my goodness. DH even knows who she is.

 

[Namsupak]

Welcome to all the new people that have joined us!

I see I've missed a lot of conversation. Still studying for the written portion of my boards which are Friday. I'm not excited at all about my test but keep thinking about all the fun things I get to do after I'm done with it. On a much happier note my SIL and I were talking and somehow we came to the conclusion that we should go to WDW for July 4th. So now I convinced DH and we're going July 2-7. I can't wait!

I saw someone was talking about the movies they hope are playing on board. Can anyone comment from last year about the variety of movies they played last year?