The MAGIC is Back!!! - 6th Sept 2014 WBTA - Come & join the fun! - PART 2

[ShellB8585]

I know, thank you! It went online 45 mins ago, and I have had the EBTA booked for about 40 mins. So happy! (I made a new thread about it too, to let others know who might be waiting as well)

Congrats! we've just gone for the 7 night on the 30th May. May contemplate EBTA at a later date depending on prices

 

[annichan]

Congrats! we've just gone for the 7 night on the 30th May. May contemplate EBTA at a later date depending on prices

Congrats to you on booking that 7 night! May 30 is our wedding anniversary and I kind of wish we did not have to disembark the ship on that date, but I will still put "anniversary celebration" on our reservation

 

[Wedgeh]

Was this cruise unusually cheap? Next years EBTA is 1 day longer and almost twice the price (for those of us booking the lowest cat). The difference is just as marked when using DVC points which suggests they underestimated demand for the 2014 transatlantic to me.

 

[GatorMomInNC]

Was this cruise unusually cheap? Next years EBTA is 1 day longer and almost twice the price (for those of us booking the lowest cat). The difference is just as marked when using DVC points which suggests they underestimated demand for the 2014 transatlantic to me.

I just looked. it Is about 50% more expensive for the 2015 EBTA cruise than this one - Compared to when I booked last year. I think these transatlantics are catching on in popularity as they are such a good deal. Plus that cruise next year is a brand-new itinerary.

 

[wayneg]

Was this cruise unusually cheap? Next years EBTA is 1 day longer and almost twice the price (for those of us booking the lowest cat). The difference is just as marked when using DVC points which suggests they underestimated demand for the 2014 transatlantic to me.

Yes this cruise was cheap, we are paying around £680pp ($1100) for outside cabin. We were late to the party and didn't have any OB discount so others will have got even better prices.
My first idea was fly to Florida for 2 weeks then add on a 7 night cruise, the 7 nighters were way more than this 14 nighter, so I changed our plans to 14 night cruise then add on 7 nights in Florida.
But as well as that the EBTA next year looks a very desirable itinerary, something a little different so I assume they have increased costs knowing more will want to book.

 

[AlexL]

Congrats to you on booking that 7 night! May 30 is our wedding anniversary and I kind of wish we did not have to disembark the ship on that date, but I will still put "anniversary celebration" on our reservation

i see you have such experience!
it is our first TA, the 5 days at sea are they hard?
never been in a ship more than 7 days, is there any special plan? do menus repeat the 2nd week?
thank you!

 

[SpikenLex]

We finally booked our hotel and have our flight arrangements made. I'm now starting to think about packing.... what kind of weather can we expect in Barcelona / Malaga / for the sea days? Anyone who has done a TA before, can you give me an idea of what I should prepare for?

 

[Namsupak]

i see you have such experience!
it is our first TA, the 5 days at sea are they hard?
never been in a ship more than 7 days, is there any special plan? do menus repeat the 2nd week?
thank you!

New Menus each night. The sea days are the most relaxing days for us, one of the reasons we like the longer cruises.

 

[AlexL]

New Menus each night. The sea days are the most relaxing days for us, one of the reasons we like the longer cruises.

great thanks!

 

[AlexL]

i posted my rooms for roll call this week
i know claire is busy
do i get a confirmation or need to look somewhere to see if we are included?

thank you!

 

[MandyGirl]

We finally booked our hotel and have our flight arrangements made. I'm now starting to think about packing.... what kind of weather can we expect in Barcelona / Malaga / for the sea days? Anyone who has done a TA before, can you give me an idea of what I should prepare for?

Layers are best IMHO as weather can change.

i posted my rooms for roll call this week
i know claire is busy
do i get a confirmation or need to look somewhere to see if we are included?

thank you!

Just keep an eye on that post and it will be updated. That will be your confirmation

 

[AlexL]

Layers are best IMHO as weather can change.



Just keep an eye on that post and it will be updated. That will be your confirmation

thank you i will check!

 

[Tod&Copper]

CHAMPAGNE GIRLS UPDATE

I've been in touch with DCL this week as it had come to light that they have changed their numbers for private tastings now to a minimum of 25 to a maximum of 40. Obviously this causes an issue for champagne girls as we thought the numbers were up to 49 as in previous years.

My list on the opening thread consists of my list of 49 ladies, plus the wait list. I have just been replacing names as I have been receiving cancellations, so the list does not accurately reflect the correct order of booking your slot.

I will adjust the list over the next few days when I get a chance.

On the plus side, they also confirmed that they could potentially hold 2 champagne girls on the same day, I know from this year's EBTA, they were offered 12.30 and 2.30 as the times for each group.

DCL have taken my request and will confirm a date nearer the time.

I am going to adjust the list on the basis that we are holding 2 events but, if DCL change their minds, the first 40 names only can attend, but I don't think that will be the case as it seemed very positive that 2 would be available.

Potentially now everyone can join in and we will have a few spare places for newbies who book between now and September and want to join in too.

I will also post, over the next few weeks 2 group lists and will try to make sure there is an even mix, in each group, of previous WBTA, previous EBTA, existing friends and newbies.

 

[MandyGirl]

You ROCK, Mary! Thank you!!

 

[annichan]

CHAMPAGNE GIRLS UPDATE

That sounds great, Mary, thank you so much for organizing this! It will be my first Champagne Girls event and I am really looking forward to it

 

[ludari]

We finally booked our hotel and have our flight arrangements made. I'm now starting to think about packing.... what kind of weather can we expect in Barcelona / Malaga / for the sea days? Anyone who has done a TA before, can you give me an idea of what I should prepare for?

My previous TA I stayed in Barcelona a week before the cruise and the weather was perfect (mid 70's). I only remember one evening where it really rained hard but that was it. During the cruise the captain will try to avoid any bad weather if they can. The weather for the most part again was fine (remember we are in southern waters so it's going to be warmer weather). I recall during my TA the captain warned of a storm heading in our direction but the captain adjusted the course to avoid most of it (we had a day of high swells). I am a light packer but I always bring a lightweight jacket with a hood. I wouldn't recommend packing anything bulky but you want to layer your clothing (remember they are washing machines on board for your laundry). Aside from dinner and several meals at Palo's I wore shorts nearly everyday.

 

[mdvasquez]

It's Monday here in Japan, so happy Monday! I haven't been on here in a while, I was about 7 pages behind. So welcome to all of the new people who have joined us. And a sad goodbye to those who have left us.
Started looking into the cost of airline tickets for here to Barcelona and then back from PR. YIKES!! They are going to cost us as much as the cruise!! Yeah to everyone who has paid off their trip Hope you all have a great week!

 

[WDW Princess 71]

It's Monday here in Japan, so happy Monday! I haven't been on here in a while, I was about 7 pages behind. So welcome to all of the new people who have joined us. And a sad goodbye to those who have left us.
Started looking into the cost of airline tickets for here to Barcelona and then back from PR. YIKES!! They are going to cost us as much as the cruise!! Yeah to everyone who has paid off their trip Hope you all have a great week!

Dena, I hear you. Looking up airfare on our own for my dad and I, it was about $2000 each with 1 or 2 stops each way, which was ridiculous. He will be flying from Philadelphia and me from Phoenix. I have never done DCL air before, but for this trip DCL air even with the $75 deviation fee we had to pay to pick our own flights, came in far cheaper than what we could find on our own. It came in around $1200 for my dad nonstop both ways to/from Philly, and $1300 for me with just 1 stop each way to/from Phoenix. The good thing too is that for my outbound flight I connect in Philly so I will be on the same flight over to BCN with my dad. It still stings though that the tickets are that much $$$ when we only paid not even $1500 total for us for the cruise itself. Airfare sucks!

 

[WDW Princess 71]

Has everyone started making port plans or waiting for DCL to release theirs? I started booking some for us. So far I booked a private tapas tasting tour in Malaga. We are disappointed it won't include the market since it is the Holiday and it will be closed, but the tapas part I'm sure we will love since we did it in Barcelona last year and loved the experience. We figured this would be a good way to get a nice tour of the city in Malaga and enjoy food and drink at the same time! That morning we hope to get to go up to the Castle but it is unclear if that will be open yet either due to the holiday; my tour company said they will be able to find out when it gets closer. If we can't do the castle, we'll probably just enjoy the beach in the morning.

For Tenerife I booked us on a private tour that will take us to Mt. Teide and the surrounding area, including lunch. It had great reviews and sounds really scenic.

For St. Maarten I booked us on the full day snorkel tour with Captain Bob on Soualiga tours which was highly rated on trip advisor. I had been to St. Maarten before and did a great land tour with Joyce Prince tours but this time wanted to do something different and in the water. This tour includes several snorkel stops, BBQ lunch, and time to see the planes over Maho Beach which I did last time and it was amazing.

Still deciding on what to do for Antigua and St. Kitts. I found an ATV tour for St Kitts that sounded fun but it was way pricey at $120/pp and only a few hours so I don't think that is worth it. There are island tours available but I'm not sure I want to do more heavy touring in the Carribean or just do more beach/snorkel. Then there is nearby Nevis which I heard is beautiful. Antigua our port day is so short, I have no idea what we will do. Might have to check out DCL options for that day.

What is everyone else's plans?

 

[ludari]

Has everyone started making port plans or waiting for DCL to release theirs? I started booking some for us. So far I booked a private tapas tasting tour in Malaga. We are disappointed it won't include the market since it is the Holiday and it will be closed, but the tapas part I'm sure we will love since we did it in Barcelona last year and loved the experience. We figured this would be a good way to get a nice tour of the city in Malaga and enjoy food and drink at the same time! That morning we hope to get to go up to the Castle but it is unclear if that will be open yet either due to the holiday; my tour company said they will be able to find out when it gets closer. If we can't do the castle, we'll probably just enjoy the beach in the morning. For Tenerife I booked us on a private tour that will take us to Mt. Teide and the surrounding area, including lunch. It had great reviews and sounds really scenic. For St. Maarten I booked us on the full day snorkel tour with Captain Bob on Soualiga tours which was highly rated on trip advisor. I had been to St. Maarten before and did a great land tour with Joyce Prince tours but this time wanted to do something different and in the water. This tour includes several snorkel stops, BBQ lunch, and time to see the planes over Maho Beach which I did last time and it was amazing. Still deciding on what to do for Antigua and St. Kitts. I found an ATV tour for St Kitts that sounded fun but it was way pricey at $120/pp and only a few hours so I don't think that is worth it. There are island tours available but I'm not sure I want to do more heavy touring in the Carribean or just do more beach/snorkel. Then there is nearby Nevis which I heard is beautiful. Antigua our port day is so short, I have no idea what we will do. Might have to check out DCL options for that day. What is everyone else's plans?

I'm waiting for DCL to release their port excursions but typically I do adventure type trips such as scuba diving, hiking, biking, canoeing, etc.