-=*September 10 2011, Westbound Transatlantic from Barcelona to Port Canaveral*=-

[edith75]

Hi again,
Thanks for all the welcomes!!! We are very excited about being able to do both Tranatlantic crossings! Disney Cruises are definately the best vacations ever!! My 2 girls love them, we get to relax and enjoy ourselves so much as a family because life is so busy! I love the longer cruises and all the special things that you see and do!! The surprises are the best, things you don't get to experience on the shorter cruises!!! I didn't want the Eastbound to end, but I guess you have to get back to reality!!! Well I can't wait for the time to pass, looking forward to another exciting cruise and yes those 6 hours will be welcomed!!!

 

[MandyGirl]

I love reading these comments!! Thank you!

 

[squitty]

I've enjoyed reading those highlights too, thanks for sharing.

It's making me even more excited

 

[granmaz]

I think we have so many highlights. Not sure we have any low ones to be honest. Obviously there would be some individual issues for people, and I don't think our server was the best, but nothing spoiled our cruise, not even my $940 medical centre bill!!! One of our major highlights was that it was low numbers onboard, even though all the cabins were in use, and there were so very few children and all of them beautifully behaved. Most of the children were little ones too with the timing of a long cruise in term time.

Sometimes there was no queuing for characters. We were 'accosted' by Minnie to have a photo taken with her one night when we were leaving dinner at Lumieres as she was all alone(bar minder)!!!

I have to say we, and quite a few others, felt that standards had slipped in WDW when we had our post cruise stays. I think we are spoiled so much with DCL anyway that it even WDW's normal high standards were poor in comparison. But, many really thought things, service, CM's etc at WDW were not as good as they once were. Be prepared for that.

I just can't wait. Though, 8 weeks today, we leave for the airport to set off for our Wonder Panama Canal cruise, so I think that will help don't you?

 

[squitty]

I think we have so many highlights. Not sure we have any low ones to be honest. Obviously there would be some individual issues for people, and I don't think our server was the best, but nothing spoiled our cruise, not even my $940 medical centre bill!!! One of our major highlights was that it was low numbers onboard, even though all the cabins were in use, and there were so very few children and all of them beautifully behaved. Most of the children were little ones too with the timing of a long cruise in term time.

Sometimes there was no queuing for characters. We were 'accosted' by Minnie to have a photo taken with her one night when we were leaving dinner at Lumieres as she was all alone(bar minder)!!!

I have to say we, and quite a few others, felt that standards had slipped in WDW when we had our post cruise stays. I think we are spoiled so much with DCL anyway that it even WDW's normal high standards were poor in comparison. But, many really thought things, service, CM's etc at WDW were not as good as they once were. Be prepared for that.

I just can't wait. Though, 8 weeks today, we leave for the airport to set off for our Wonder Panama Canal cruise, so I think that will help don't you?

Gosh Maz I hope it wasn't anything too serious for you to get a Medical bill like that.
I know on one of our previous trips DH had a rather large bill, he only had a scan and some antibiotics, but it was high.

This is a major reason for us doing the Cruise, the standards at WDW! We've noticed the decline too. We spent 11 days at WDW this September gone and a 3 day cruise. Whilst we had a good time, the cruise was just perfect. We had 2 really great servers. If I had not of had our accommodation booked I would've seriously considered the WBTA.

How lucky are you....8 weeks and you're cruising again.

 

[MandyGirl]

Gosh Maz I hope it wasn't anything too serious for you to get a Medical bill like that.

Ditto! But with today's prices, a bandaid could have rendered that bill it seems.

We have yet to take our girls to WDW, and I have not been since high school, so your comments help reinforce the decision we made to cruise Disney first. In fact, we vacationed a week in Orlando last summer, staying at Reunion Resort just a few miles from WDW, and only visited Downtown Disney once. Focused our time on Universal Studios, Islands of Adventure, Sea World, Aquatica, and Busch Gardens (Tampa) before flying over to Williamsburg, VA. Fewer people, less walking (with kiddos), shorter lines... we figured that would be a more positive experience for us all at this point, and save WDW for later.

 

[Con5421]

Ah, I'm not 'alone' on here. *waves to Connie*

Hi, yes you're alone on the ship.

But you will have a great time, we did last time.

You can always ask us about things you want about the cruise.

Groetjes,
Connie

 

[Pinky166]

Just catching up, loved reading about your experiences on this years WBTA. I hope next years will be just as much fun.

........not even my $940 medical centre bill!!!

I just can't wait. Though, 8 weeks today, we leave for the airport to set off for our Wonder Panama Canal cruise, so I think that will help don't you?

Wow that is a big bill, I hope you are all ok now Maz.

I am sure the PC cruise will help, what kind of things have been organised for that cruise?

 

[granmaz]

Just catching up, loved reading about your experiences on this years WBTA. I hope next years will be just as much fun.




Wow that is a big bill, I hope you are all ok now Maz.

I am sure the PC cruise will help, what kind of things have been organised for that cruise?

I'm pretty good at the moment thanks. I had pancreatitis last December, and was still having pain ever since. I had a tummy upset on the last sea day with lots of severe pain which just wasn't settling and I think John was worried it was another pancreatitis attack as much was very similar. They took bloods which showed it wasn't pancreatitis, but I had an infection somewhere. So they put a drip up for an hour and gave me iv antibiotics and anti emetics. They were all lovely down there. It was worth it just to know, even without the treatment. But, everything is very expensive of course, all itemised. So much for seeing the Dr, so much for seeing the nurse, so much for being admitted(albeit only for an hour)so much for the drip being put in, so much for the IV injection, blood tests...etc etc etc.

The PC cruise hasn't quite as much organised as this last TA one, but some good things. John doesn't like group things, and I get very lazy onboard, so tend not to join much. We have only booked one excursion as yet. Really looking forward to it of course. We did it in 2008 and it is a fantastic experience.

 

[goofieslonglostsis]

Marylin, LDL; love the report! You guys have got me so psyched right now! I want this cruise, I want it, I want it.

Let me guess, that first rain was around St. Maarten? Marylin, what you said about crew doing anything to keep guests safe and away from nasty weather is so true. One of the reasons I have no worry at all about doing DCL in september. I know any cruiseline will keep you safe, it might just end up another itinerary. Which in itself can be just as much fun.

LDL; I've had the pleasure of doing Palo Brunch and High Tea before. SOOOOOO want to do those again or double. We ended up not going to dinner (eventhough we had it for free ), just too much food, too much too do, both of us were to tired to drag ourselves back out of the stateroom for dinner. Ah well. That suitcase, isn't there a picture of it posted somewhere on the DCL board? I know I've seen a pic of such a suitcase with Barcelona on it. Cute indeed! If either of you have any pics to share; please do so. Perhaps it could become a tradition if there are enough pics? Like our weekly fix of "only so many more weeks until we get to do/see/taste/feel like in this picture".

I know what you mean by the feeling of "knowing" folks on board. On our previous 7-night cruise I had the delight of meeting many folks online prior through a roll call just like this one. We had like a 100+ DIS'ers, which apparently is a rather large number considering it was just a regular plain old itinerary and nothing special going on. It was so....... cozy by lack of other words, to run into so many people that I already knew before the cruise and got to know even better during the cruise. I had some of the best times interacting with other DIS'ers at the diningroom table, at some of the events the group planned and just running into eachother on the ship.


LDL, be as biased as you want to about Queensland! It's nice when somebody loves their home so much. And I can't blame you, judging from the little things I've seen on tv and pictures of it.


Marylin, that's a pretty decent medicall bill. What did you have done? For the amount you could've gotten a nice set of stitches and 2 plaster casts, but I'm sure that's not the only thing they're handing out down there. Seriously though; hoping that was just a little bumb and nothing major? Did you run into the Australian doc? He is so cute. Add; ah jus read up on your posting about that trip. Doesn't sound like an activity I'ld put on your "need to repeat-list". Just trying to help you, in case you're not sure yet if you want to repeat that one.

Only 56 more days for you next cruisefix. Lucky you! That'll be another special blast. Can't wait to hear your stories.



I'm on full speed ahead with regards to raising the needed funds for this cruise+WDW+the flights and all other costs. Have thrown myself on our national sorta equivalent of Ebay, selling basically anything and everything I can. As long as folks want to pay me enough for it; come and get it, jus give me the money! Hopefully some of my Disney stuff will be loved by some other folks and I'll get to turn that into making even more Disney memories. Let's see if there's a Dutch market for all kinds of Disney trinkets even including a brandnew DCL bathrobe etc. I've already found there is a real market for Disney puzzles. Had myself a dozen or so 1000+ piece puzzles with Disney themes and they sold within no time for more than I reckoned they'ld be worth. More pricey to by then regular puzzles but also keep their value so it seems. Now only to say a mental goodbye when I pack them up to ship them to their new owner tomorrow. It's kinda sad having them go. Silly little me. Finding it hard to part with a puzzle just because it has caracters on it that bring so many amazing memories to life. I don't need a puzzle for that, I get to keep the memory, had fun putting the puzzle together and now am a step closer to embarking on sept 10th.

 

[ebony]

I hope everyone had a great weekend . The weather in our part of the UK is horrible today. Windy and rainy, I wish I didnt have to go out.

Hi Jan.

When do you arrive in Florida in December/January?

Actually, forget that as I think your cruise begins on the day we arrive, 3rd Jan. What a shame. Not for you of course setting off on the cruise.

Now, if the rumoured photo op of the 3 ships takes place then I will think of you over on the Wonder, and wave!!!! Won't that be so exciting. I really can't think DCL would miss that opportunity.

We arrive on New Years eve . Cruise starts on the 3rd.
I really hope they do decide, to take photos of the 3 ships together.
If they do, I will go up on the top deck to wave to you - even better gets Carls binoculars
What date does your Panama cruise start Marilyn ?.

Ebony/Jan; did we run into eachother earlier? Your name sounds so familiar. Could it be you were on the sept 26th '09 eastern cruise?

We were going on that cruise, but had to pull out. I was on the thread for that cruise.

Yep. Families of those with chronic or auto-immune illnesses totally understand, and appreciate the advocacy efforts.

I echo this. My son has Cystic Fibrosis and Haemophilia B and I am so grateful for people, who work on their behalf to try and make things better/ easier for them.

 

[ebony]

Everyone has made such a good job, of giving an account of the Transatlantic Cruise, that I havent really go much to add.

I loved the length of the cruise, because you could really relax. We were both quite lazy and spent a lot of afternoons reading and chilling.
It was nice to go for a walk, around the ship and start to recognise cruisers and Cm's.

We also skipped dinner a few nights so we had room service one evening - very indulgent and another night, we went to the fast food outlets, up on the pool deck, for food and then, sat and watched a movie on the big screen.

In all, I am very excited that we are fortunate enough, to be able to repeat this all over again.

 

[U2FanHfx]

Hi everyone,
I booked the WBTA while we were on the EBTA in April!! We are so excited, too bad it is such a long wait. We are a family of 4, myself, husband Darren and 2 daughters, Mallory(12) and Mackenzie (9). We are from Newfoundland, Canada and love Disney Cruising! Looking forward to meeting everyone!! We had the best time ever on the EBTA and hear that the WBTA is even better!!! In the meantime we are doing the Mexican Riveira in February to tie us over till September!!! The WBTA will be our 6th cruise and we will finally be Gold Castaway club members!

Great to see more east coasters! My wife and I are counting down the days but have our Dream cruise to break up the wait.

 

[BigHugsForEeyore]

We arrive on New Years eve . Cruise starts on the 3rd.
I really hope they do decide, to take photos of the 3 ships together.
If they do, I will go up on the top deck to wave to you - even better gets Carls binoculars

We're are on the 3rd Jan Double Dip cruise too!

I hope all three ships will be out together too - I can't wait!

 

[squitty]

We also skipped dinner a few nights so we had room service one evening - very indulgent and another night, we went to the fast food outlets, up on the pool deck, for food and then, sat and watched a movie on the big screen.

That just sounds wonderful Jan....sitting eating some food and watching the movie

Relaxing is just what we want to do.

Maz it's awful weather here too..3pm and it's so dark, wet and miserable.

 

[squitty]

Can anyone remember how much the refills for the refillable beer mug was this year. For the life of me I can't remember.

 

[granmaz]

I hope everyone had a great weekend . The weather in our part of the UK is horrible today. Windy and rainy, I wish I didnt have to go out.



We arrive on New Years eve . Cruise starts on the 3rd.
I really hope they do decide, to take photos of the 3 ships together.
If they do, I will go up on the top deck to wave to you - even better gets Carls binoculars
What date does your Panama cruise start Marilyn ?.

Aaaw, we will miss you. Our cruise is the 6th. We arrive in the afternoon of the 3rd. As least we have this cruise to look forward to and having a cuppa together!!!

Relaxing is just what we want to do.

Maz it's awful weather here too..3pm and it's so dark, wet and miserable.

I really can't believe how relaxing the cruise was. Honestly we did nothing.

Just been out this afternoon, and it is very cold as well as wet and windy and dark!!! Nasty. Back in the warmth now with a cup of coffee.

 

[karentan]

i havent been out of the house for two days (have got food poisoning) but even if i could, i dont think i'd want to anyway, its done nothing but rain in essex for the past 48 hours

 

[granmaz]

i havent been out of the house for two days (have got food poisoning) but even if i could, i dont think i'd want to anyway, its done nothing but rain in essex for the past 48 hours

Poor you. I hope you soon feel better. Keep snug and warm inside and dream of the cruise.

 

[goofieslonglostsis]

We were going on that cruise, but had to pull out. I was on the thread for that cruise.

Ah, so my memory still has some working parts left. Nice to have another chance at cruising together. Sounds like you've gotten yourself a bit addicted to longer cruises. Poor you.

Karen, hope you're back to feeling your same old very soon again.

No help from me when it comes to anything related to alcohol, sorry. Don't drink any so have no clue what so ever about prices.


Weather, nah not a subject I like discussing around this time a year. For me it can never be spring, or rather; summer quick enough again. Not holding my breath, it looks like we're in for another long, cold winter first. Sure hope it's got a lot less snow than 09.