*Sept 10th 2011 WB Transatlantic* From Spain to Space Mountain - Part 4

[karentan]

I am so disappointed and frustrated as they seemed really keen to accomodate us when I first enquired, and I really feel that I am somehow letting everyone down.

please dont feel like you've let people down sarah, it sounds like their customer service is non existent, so maybe its for the best anyway

Are the Rock & cable cars within walking distance of the port?
.

from what i remember last year they're about 15-20 minutes walk from the ship. its pretty much all the way at the other end of the high street then uphill a tiny bit

Jeremy and Chris - you should never have mentioned Swarovski - that means more money to save up!!

I have stayed away from the chocolate discussion = that could be a never ending topic for me!!

Now that retirement is official on the 30th, this cruise is in full gear preparation! Caroline

yay for the official retirement!!!

 

[Chris&Jeremy]

Actually it just occurred to me - there aren't any issues with customs, etc when going into port? I didn't know if you could only buy so much wine/liquor (or anything for that matter) without having to pay duty?

Do you have to declare anything when you get onto the ship from port or is that only for any left over (ha) when you get to Port Canaveral?

 

[karentan]

dont forget that its the gibraltar day bank holiday the day we're in port so not all shops may be open.

 

[liesbeth1012]

So what are folks thinking for Gibraltar then if the Dolphin tour falls through? Just explore on your own?

I was looking at the Gibraltar excursions this AM and none of them really stands out at me - most seem to be things that we could just handle on our own (going to the top of the rock, etc).

Are the Rock & cable cars within walking distance of the port?

We would also like to hit Morrissons and the Swarovski store while in port. Jeremy collects Swarovski's Disney series and we are hoping we may find some deals. When in Paris a couple years ago we got some pieces way cheaper than they would have been here in the States.

Maybe there will be enough of us to just meet and share cabs to see the sights. I am beginning to think that might be the best plan since I am not getting good vibes about trying to pre-book with anyone there.

Karen

We're not fond of the cable car (Curt hates heights, and we read the one in Madeira is better). We do want to see the apes. Like you, none of the DCL tours jump out at me. So far, we are thinking of winging it at the dock and getting a taxi there.

Please don't feel like you're letting us down, Sarah! I think you've done everything you can to get them to work with you. Maybe it's time to just let it go. You don't need the stress, and it sounds like we'd see just as many dolphins from the ship as from their excursion.

I've been thinking of what to do if this doesn't work out, and I know I'd like to do the same things everyone else has mentioned. We can live without the dolphin watching if it isn't going to happen, and not be terribly disappointed at all.

I was reading a bit about Gibraltar on TripAdvisor, and I found something that hasn't been mentioned much here. I'm wondering if anyone has any info about it. I know about the Siege Tunnels, but I'd rather see the WWII tunnels (not the same thing, apparently). I love learning about that period - one of my all-time favorite places to visit was the Cabinet War Rooms in London. Fascinating! So I think we'd like to go there, and also see the apes (a must do), and maybe go to Europa Point. And, of course, Morrison's and maybe the Swarovski store, now that you've mentioned it. Any ideas on the best way to do this? I guess taxis would work, but could we do all this with a bus pass, too? I usually prefer using public transportation to taxis. We have no problems with the cable cars to the top of the Rock if that's how we have to do it - it's an adventure!

I had also looked at the gribraltarsite and we will go on ourselves. The DCL excursions we don't like. We want with the cablecar and see the apes. Then perhapes the tunnels and then we will see. We also like public transportation. I believe there are several busroutes. I was not intended to reserve and pay in advance. We buy our tickets there so we can then decide what we are going to do. If there are more that want to do it this way, we can do it together.

 

[fly4free2]

[

QUOTE=Chris&Jeremy;41608687]Yes, it was getting the VAT back on the purchase that made it doable. Granted, these weren't bought at a proper Swarovski store, but it was a shop that sold crystal and other art pieces that we found while walking around Versailles.

When I was in Germany last year, I just got an envelope from a shopkeeper and mailed everything in after I got home. It wasn't all that much, but why not get it anyway. Sometimes its a hassle doing it at the airport. I also find the best deals at little shops, they want to work with you. I am really getting excited about the adventure ahead.

 

[binkytell]

Attention All People Interested in the Dolphin Tour in GIbraltar

I really feel that I am somehow letting everyone down.

i dont feel your letting anyone down sarah

sometimes you just have a gut instinct about these things

im sure we will all still have a great day in gibralter

 

[birkner]

Attention All People Interested in the Dolphin Tour in GIbraltar

I am afraid I am having great difficulty with communication with this company. I have been sending them emails daily stating that I need to know what they are doing about the time, whether we can go back to the 10:15 time slot as originally arranged and basically just wanting to know what is going on. Apart from one email about 2 weeks ago which said they were trying to accomodate us on the 10:15 trip, but they had been approached by a cruise ship which was why they wanted us to move in the first place. They said they would get back to me the following day and I have heard absolutely nothing, despite me sending almost daily emails and it is becoming a bit stressful to be honest.

It appears to me that they have had a better offer from a cruise ship and they are not really interested in honouring our original agreement.

I have decided that I will give them one more week to respond, and if I still hear nothing then I am going to suggest we pull out of this trip as a group booking.

Obviously people can still go ahead and try and book this as individual smaller groups and maybe they will ahve better luck. I am so disappointed and frustrated as they seemed really keen to accomodate us when I first enquired, and I really feel that I am somehow letting everyone down.

Sarah, thank you for all of your hard work!! Sounds like DCL may have made them a better offer. What a bummer!

 

[birkner]

For those new to DCL cruising and don't like to be left out of the loop, here are some thoughts about Special Clothing:


Formal x 2 nights - Finally, a chance to wear your tiara and gloves!

Semi-formal night - think cocktail dress

Villains night - wear purple and black (DIS tradition, not DCL)

Pirate night - well, they do own the POC franchise and rights to the POC name since they built the ride at DL

Mickey Mouse Club night - wear your Mouse ears, t-shirts can be ordered from Zazzle (this is a DIS event)

PJ Breakfast - (DIS event)

Pub Crawl - shirts available for order

Champagne Girls - PINK + boa + tiara

We'll be wearing lanyards (free - don't forget to order yours from Birkner) - you'll even have a personalized name tag. It really is fun when the crew knows who you are - and you are wondering "how?" until you look down and it hits you.

There will be DISers with personalized t-shirts on - utilizing many of the designs found on this forum. You can also design your own. Also, a great chance to wear all your Disney attire without having your co-workers (and non-Disney family members) roll their eyes.


Night 2 - Formal Night (Sea Day)
Night 6 - Theme Night TBC (Sea Day) (perhaps this is Villain's Night?)
Night 7 - Formal Night (Sea Day)
Night 11 - Pirate Night (St Maarten)
Night 13 - Semi-Formal (Sea Day)

Lynne, may I use this post to put on the website so people can have it the DIS Navigator?

 

[birkner]

That's a great design Lynne - perfect for the Ladies



Noel - the info is correct for the Mixology & Mojito tastings for now

Thanks!!

 

[auntlynne]

I was having so much fun with artwork, I played around with it some more:

I'm definitely not trying to steal the beer glass thunder; just doing a martini version for the fun of it. And nobody but DISers would appreciate all the graphics.

 

[auntlynne]

It is definitely a shame that they take art and music out of schools when there's a funding problem.

Last year one of the EBTA cruisers got into making graphics for the cruise - and made some really good ones. Gets that other side of the brain working for those of us who aren't so right? brained - you know, creative. I have a hard time making any of my stuff asymmetrical - that would just be too non-mathematical.

 

[auntlynne]

Lynne, may I use this post to put on the website so people can have it the DIS Navigator?

Definitely.

I went to special needs camp as a nurse (no, not as a camper) one year and was the only one not notified that they have a dance where everyone dresses to a theme. I felt so left out. So I post this type of stuff. That's why I love your Welcome Wagon post. Gets the group activity info out there to EACH of the new posting cruisers (and any lurkers reading, too). to you for that.

 

[hazelandannie]

Hazel has had her crafty hat on this afternoon and has turned a dull Poundland whiteboard into a super Mickey shaped whiteboard with matching pen!!!
Thought we'd share her work, sorry about the size of photo, shouldve made it smaller!!!!

Resized now!!

 

[poohluv2u]

That's fair enough hun, you've been more than patient with them.

They obviously prioritise the bookings directly from the ships as they are regular customers as opposed to a private group but it's no excuse for not replying to you!

I am sure you are sick to the back teeth of it, I know I am with trying to book the Ladies High Tea.

Hugs for you and Sarah. Neither of you is letting anyone down, you just have to reach a point where you say; this is no longer worth it.

Sarah, I would feel uneasy trusting money to these guys, even if they did get back to you within the week

Claire, unless Disney was willing to put on a tea just for the ladies of the DISboards, it doesn't seem possible that we could all get ressies on the same day. If we were onboard the Wonder, I would suggest just meeting at Outlook Cafe, and ask Disney to prepare some goodies for us to have with coffee. Not sure the Magic's space is as big.

..... Any ideas on the best way to do this? I guess taxis would work, but could we do all this with a bus pass, too? I usually prefer using public transportation to taxis. We have no problems with the cable cars to the top of the Rock if that's how we have to do it - it's an adventure!

It's a shame that not all places have HOHO busses, it sure would simplify touring

 

[poohluv2u]

Hazel has had her crafty hat on this afternoon and has turned a dull Poundland whiteboard into a super Mickey shaped whiteboard with matching pen!!!
Thought we'd share her work, sorry about the size of photo, shouldve made it smaller!!!!

Cute idea .. did she cut it into a circle or did it come that way?

 

[birkner]

duplicate

 

[hazelandannie]

Cute idea .. did she cut it into a circle or did it come that way?

No it was just a regular rectangle so she cut it to shape

 

[poohluv2u]

Fun graphics Lynne, I've always loved the shape of Martini glasses ... is there such a thing as a virgin Mojita?

 

[squitty]

They're great Lynne

 

[hazelandannie]

duplicate message