We'’re out of it! A summer 14 “MAGICal” Med adventure Day 14/Aug 05 updated 05/05

[pas130]

Sorry for house troubles, always the worst. Epic updates Karin. Love those views. My virtual European tour

 

[debsters41]

What amazing photos! I admire them especially because I can never seem to be able to tear my eyes away from looking at things long enough to take a photo. Now I have a new plan... Visit places Karin and Tom have gone or are going to so that I can 'borrow' their pictures

 

[MEK]

Wow - that city is absolutely breathtaking and you did such a wonderful job at capturing the unique architectural designs and the amazing foliage. So, so glad you decided to go tour so I could look at these wonderful pictures. You have quite the eye!

 

[HowieHowie]

Karin...I'm finally caught up on your TR. Beautiful pictures of Barcelona. I was there back in the day, and I don't remember the city looking so beautiful. I hope Rachel can visit there when she studies in Madrid.

 

[perfectmatch300]

I'm all caught up! Pictures are beautiful, as usual. I know you have been busy, but I am anxiously waiting for the rest of your report. Really, I don't know how you do it. I am still trying to finish up with my pictures from our Grand Cayman trip back in May. Never mind my Dream trip pictures, or managing to put them together in a trip report. I really admire you and the others whose reviews I so enjoy reading and appreciate all you do.

Nancy

 

[Leshaface]

Oh no sorry about your house problems. Hope they get resolved! We are currently having car issues and of course, timing couldn't be worse.


How fun that he knew German! Bet it was a pleasant surprise.

The view of the city is amazing! And the artchitect on those buildings are so cool.

 

[Poolrat]

All caught up and WOW you had a fantastic view of the city.

Love all the different architecture in the area, very cool.

 

[jenseib]

Take your time Karin...I am leaving for a week on Sat. and I am already behind on most threads before I even leave!

 

[podsnel]

Hi Karin! I am so sorry I have been MIA- just so busy with work and school since we got back from, well, August! I am subbed and going back to read!

 

[podsnel]

So sorry about your house troubles- I hope they are clearing up for you.:good vibes

Barcelona looks like a very busy city! Your photos are fascinating- Gaudi creations are completely unique!

I am very much looking forward to seeing what you will be doing in the ports- Pods and I are planning on doing a Celebrity cruise there in 2016 for our 30th anniversary (we are going in September after DCL leaves, and I like Celebrity, though of course not NEARLY as much as Disney, but nice to do something different, too). Anyway, we overlap on some of the ports (I think- there is no actual itinerary yet, I am going by what was offered 9/14 & 9/15). So I am VERY excited to see all your pics and see all your FUN!!!!

On another note- I was quickly excited and then deflated this week when I was doing an FB search for a Fantasy cruise meet this summer- we are 2 before you on the 15th! But I did see you will be sailing with a friend of mine from town- her name is Courtney- I hope you will meet her, she is a sweetheart.

Ok- Think I need to do a little updating of my TR....so I can finish and move on to alaska (which was SPECTACULAR as expected!!!).

 

[Linda67]

Stunning photos of Barcelona Karin

 

[RGirl]

Hi Karin! Thank you for taking such wonderful pictures from you tour. I cannot wait to see more of Spain!

 

[dizneeat]

Karin, so sorry about your house troubles!!

We are slowly getting back to normal life. 2 more appointments with the electician and we should be fine again.
It would not have been such a big deal had it happened while I was still on holiday, but with the start of the school year it was just really hard to get everything figured out.

I am amazed at how different Park Guell is now! When we were there it was still only half refurbished and there were only a handful of tourists. I don't even remember an entrance fee!! But I remember the colonnades that provided shade when Katharina and I were battling with sun allergy!

It is a HUGE tourist magnet now. When we first visited Barcelona we did not even visit it. But now, I was really impressed. They were so organized as well. I had found it pretty funny that when you bought the tickets you had to decide on a special time frame when you wanted to visit. Well, with all the tourists there now I do understand that they cannot just let everyone in at the same time.

I read your comment about hoping that a European cruise would come out more economically and had to chuckle at that. I always look at the prices Disney dares to charge for those cruises and shake my head. But since they seem to be able to fill the ship... Our Norwegian cruise price was kind of ok, but we are staying in an 11B and since it is only a 7 night cruise, this helps as well. The good thing hopefully will be that all the ports are places where we can just walk off the ship and explore on our own. I would think that this is the case for many Med ports as well. I am looking forward to reading about what you did in the ports. I think we Europeans tend to explore differently on European cruises as for us it is less of a once in a lifetime experience.

Cruising Disney, I knew that the cruise would not come cheap - just cheaper than our normal back to backs, but boy was I wrong. And with all the excursions we had planned it came in way more expensive than our vacations in the US.
Plus, I was not as impressed with the Magic as I had hoped to be. So we have made our minds up that when (yes, it is when not if) we cruise the Med again it will most likely be on another line. I heard that TUI is pretty good.

And you are so right about us Europeans doing things a bit differently. I especially noticed that when doing the planning - there was VERY little done. We often would say, that well, if we missed something we could always return some other time.

I hope you resolve all your situation, because I need your report☺ a smile on my face every time I read it!!! Cant March come faster please!!

We are nearly back to normal life. Just a few more bits and pieces to be done next week and I am trying now to catch up on everything here, so I can post some more updates - there should be some REAL soon.

Sorry for house troubles, always the worst. Epic updates Karin. Love those views. My virtual European tour

Ah, thank you, Jeanette!
Fun fact about the house troubles is, that not only did we have trouble in our house (where Tom lives) but I came home to a flat without power and it took a week to figure out a way to get someone to come at a time when I did not have a school appointment.

I am glad you enjoy the updates and photos. There are LOTS more to come.

What amazing photos! I admire them especially because I can never seem to be able to tear my eyes away from looking at things long enough to take a photo. Now I have a new plan... Visit places Karin and Tom have gone or are going to so that I can 'borrow' their pictures

Debbie!!!!!!!!
I am so happy you like the pics so far. There are two of us taking pics, so there should be enough to go around.
Hope you enjoyed your trip too!

 

[dizneeat]

Wow - that city is absolutely breathtaking and you did such a wonderful job at capturing the unique architectural designs and the amazing foliage. So, so glad you decided to go tour so I could look at these wonderful pictures. You have quite the eye!

Thank you, Mary Ellen!
It is a truly wonderful city and so unique in its architecture.
I just wish we had had more time to explore. There were so many places I had wanted to visit and we never got around to it.
Hm, maybe it means we need to go back again, soon.

Karin...I'm finally caught up on your TR. Beautiful pictures of Barcelona. I was there back in the day, and I don't remember the city looking so beautiful. I hope Rachel can visit there when she studies in Madrid.

Hi Elaine!
I have been so busy I have not even had time to answer your PM yet. I promise I will do so soon.
Rachel is going to study in Madrid? YEAH!!! Great. I am sure, she is going to love it.
And with Rachel in Madrid, do I see a trip to Europe by the whole family in your future? If so, please let me know.

I'm all caught up! Pictures are beautiful, as usual. I know you have been busy, but I am anxiously waiting for the rest of your report. Really, I don't know how you do it. I am still trying to finish up with my pictures from our Grand Cayman trip back in May. Never mind my Dream trip pictures, or managing to put them together in a trip report. I really admire you and the others whose reviews I so enjoy reading and appreciate all you do.

Nancy

Ah, Nancy, you are too kind.
I am working on a few more updates at the moment and will post more very soon.

Oh no sorry about your house problems. Hope they get resolved! We are currently having car issues and of course, timing couldn't be worse.

So sorry to hear about your car issues. Hope you can resolve the matter soon.
And I am so with you when it comes to bad timing. I still had 2 weeks of vacation time after we got back - would it have happened then, it would have been a matter of a day or two, but no it only started when I was back at work and the first few weeks are so stressful and there is no way to take a day off.

How fun that he knew German! Bet it was a pleasant surprise.

It was so funny that he spoke to us in German. We just could not believe our ears. But it really was a fun surprise.

The view of the city is amazing! And the artchitect on those buildings are so cool.

It is a beautiful city. And the view from a higher up viewpoint was amazing. And Antoni Gaudi sure left his mark in the city. There are so many beautiful and unique buildings in the city that he designed.

 

[dizneeat]

All caught up and WOW you had a fantastic view of the city.

Love all the different architecture in the area, very cool.

Parc Guell is beautiful and the view was just awesome. And it was amazing to see how one architect, Antoni Gaudi, influenced the skyline of the city so much.

Take your time Karin...I am leaving for a week on Sat. and I am already behind on most threads before I even leave!

Thanks Jen!
I did take my time and am hoping to be able to update a bit more, but I promise to slow down until you return.
Have fun on your trip, wherever it may take you!

Hi Karin! I am so sorry I have been MIA- just so busy with work and school since we got back from, well, August! I am subbed and going back to read!

Ellen, I so understand. You have been travelling as much as we have if not more, so falling behind just happens.

So sorry about your house troubles- I hope they are clearing up for you.:good vibes

Some of our troubles have been resolved. There is just a little more to get done, but it should not take too long now and will not interfere with "normal" life that much.

Barcelona looks like a very busy city! Your photos are fascinating- Gaudi creations are completely unique!

It definitely is a city worth visiting. Unfortunately our stay was just too short. There were so many more things we wanted to visit and never got around to.

I am very much looking forward to seeing what you will be doing in the ports- Pods and I are planning on doing a Celebrity cruise there in 2016 for our 30th anniversary (we are going in September after DCL leaves, and I like Celebrity, though of course not NEARLY as much as Disney, but nice to do something different, too). Anyway, we overlap on some of the ports (I think- there is no actual itinerary yet, I am going by what was offered 9/14 & 9/15). So I am VERY excited to see all your pics and see all your FUN!!!!

Ellen, we had some AWESOME private tours in some of the ports. If you should be visiting these same ports, let me know and I am more than happy to share them with you.

On another note- I was quickly excited and then deflated this week when I was doing an FB search for a Fantasy cruise meet this summer- we are 2 before you on the 15th! But I did see you will be sailing with a friend of mine from town- her name is Courtney- I hope you will meet her, she is a sweetheart.

Ellen, if you are on the Fantasy cruise that leaves on August 15, then you are on the one directly ahead of us! We are doing another back to back! First one starts on August 22nd - that should be the day you will get off. I cannot believe we are missing you again.
Is your friend Courtney on the on on August 29?

Ok- Think I need to do a little updating of my TR....so I can finish and move on to alaska (which was SPECTACULAR as expected!!!).

You are just flying through that TR right now. And I am loving every minute of it.
Can't wait for your Alaska TR! That one we are still toying around with, but at the moment it's not in the cards.

 

[dizneeat]

Stunning photos of Barcelona Karin

Thanks, Linda! More to come.

Hi Karin! Thank you for taking such wonderful pictures from you tour. I cannot wait to see more of Spain!

Thank you, Roni! There was so much to see, it was hard not taking that many pics. And there is still more to come!

 

[jedijill]

I'm home and playing catch up! I'm sorry I missed Parc Guell....it looks beautiful! Timed tickets are really popular here for museums so it doesn't get so crowded.

Sorry about all the house issues...hope you get them sorted soon!

Jill in CO

 

[eandesmom]

All caught up! So sorry about the house and flat troubles, absolutely no fun to come home to. Gorgeous update! I could just stroll through those sights for hours. I'm not sure why, in my kind, Gaudi is limited to Sagrada Familia (perhaps as it continues to this day) but oh what a visual treat your update was. I am so sorry you were not as impressed with the Magic as you'd hoped. Having just gotten off of her I will be curious as to what specifically it was. We had small links, quickly resolved and any of other issues were port related and luckily for us, also a non issue.

I know what you mean about the cost, we did get a couple of quotes but being past opening day prices and with the new 18 month restriction it sadly, just didn't pencil for what we were interested on.

 

[Flossbolna]

Cruising Disney, I knew that the cruise would not come cheap - just cheaper than our normal back to backs, but boy was I wrong. And with all the excursions we had planned it came in way more expensive than our vacations in the US.
Plus, I was not as impressed with the Magic as I had hoped to be. So we have made our minds up that when (yes, it is when not if) we cruise the Med again it will most likely be on another line. I heard that TUI is pretty good.

And you are so right about us Europeans doing things a bit differently. I especially noticed that when doing the planning - there was VERY little done. We often would say, that well, if we missed something we could always return some other time.

Sorry that the Magic was not as wonderful as you hoped it would be. It will be interesting for me to have the comparison with the Wonder (which I now know pretty well after 20 nights onboard in total). I have been following on the DIS DCL boards for quite some time before I ever went on my first cruise and it seems that the Magic was always the more problematic ship. Of course that is no real scientific method, but to me it seemed that I read far more complaints about the Magic being in need of refurbishment than the Wonder. I seem to remember a lot of negativity about the Magic when she was doing the cruises out of NYC. Also, it appears that the sewage problems that come up again and again as an issue on the Magic very rarely are mentioned with regard to the Wonder. Of course in the past when the Wonder did only 3 and 4 night itineraries people might not have noticed things as much. But for the last years the Wonder has been doing a lot of longer itineraries with Alaska, Mexican Rivera, Galveston.

I think for a port intensive cruise the added pixie dust of DCL is far less important, I can very well understand why you are looking for a different cruise line for your next Med cruise! Also, I find that the DCL itineraries are to a large degree not that interesting (they mixed it up nicely this year though) as they try to cover the "big name places". Friends of mine went on a TUI cruise last fall from Malta to Lissabon and it was a great itinerary. They loved their cruise and were very happy with the Mein Schiff 2. And their pictures were beautiful. They can definitely recommend TUI! Just don't make the same mistake as they did and cruise when NRW has their fall vacation - you end up on a ship full of Rheinländer (including their boisterous humour and noisiness... ). But don't think that cruising with TUI will be cheaper than cruising with Disney!!

 

[dizneeat]

I'm home and playing catch up! I'm sorry I missed Parc Guell....it looks beautiful! Timed tickets are really popular here for museums so it doesn't get so crowded.

Sorry about all the house issues...hope you get them sorted soon!

Jill in CO

I cannot believe you are back home already! Where did the time go?????

So, timed tickets are popular in the US? It was the first time we came across them when we visited Barcelona. But I do understand the need for it.

All caught up! So sorry about the house and flat troubles, absolutely no fun to come home to. Gorgeous update! I could just stroll through those sights for hours. I'm not sure why, in my kind, Gaudi is limited to Sagrada Familia (perhaps as it continues to this day) but oh what a visual treat your update was. I am so sorry you were not as impressed with the Magic as you'd hoped. Having just gotten off of her I will be curious as to what specifically it was. We had small links, quickly resolved and any of other issues were port related and luckily for us, also a non issue.

There are so many buildings designed by Gaudi and so many of his students that you cannot miss them. They are literally everywhere. But the Sagrada Familia is his masterpiece.
I think we had our expectations set far too high when it comes to the Magic. There were no huge issues, but they just added up and then even the tiny things started to annoy me big time. Like doors that would not stay shut, a balcony door that you had to latch because otherwise it would not lock. The need to get an air freshener for the toilet and the list goes on and on.
I got really annoyed with Brent the CD, who sounded so fake and his spanish sidekick was the worst.
Food quality lacked ......... you need me to go on?

I know what you mean about the cost, we did get a couple of quotes but being past opening day prices and with the new 18 month restriction it sadly, just didn't pencil for what we were interested on.

I thought I would NEVER EVER say that, but they definitely outprized us when it comes to Europe. And while we LOVED the ports, the Magic was no value for money.
We are not against cruising the Med (or Europe) again, but if we do it will definitely be on another line.

Sorry that the Magic was not as wonderful as you hoped it would be. It will be interesting for me to have the comparison with the Wonder (which I now know pretty well after 20 nights onboard in total). I have been following on the DIS DCL boards for quite some time before I ever went on my first cruise and it seems that the Magic was always the more problematic ship. Of course that is no real scientific method, but to me it seemed that I read far more complaints about the Magic being in need of refurbishment than the Wonder. I seem to remember a lot of negativity about the Magic when she was doing the cruises out of NYC. Also, it appears that the sewage problems that come up again and again as an issue on the Magic very rarely are mentioned with regard to the Wonder. Of course in the past when the Wonder did only 3 and 4 night itineraries people might not have noticed things as much. But for the last years the Wonder has been doing a lot of longer itineraries with Alaska, Mexican Rivera, Galveston.

We had read about the kinks on the Magic beforehand, but with all the hype of her having been in dry dock and as good as new we expected more. And the thing is, once I don't like what I see I look for more issues and unfortunately found them. Mr. FB didn't help it much either.

Magdalene, we LOVED the Wonder. We loved everything about her. And as I explained to Cynthia, I think we had our expectations set very high and this time they failed to meet them on several levels.
Then, on the other hand, we just LOVE the new ships (can't say anything against German craftsmenship )

I think for a port intensive cruise the added pixie dust of DCL is far less important, I can very well understand why you are looking for a different cruise line for your next Med cruise! Also, I find that the DCL itineraries are to a large degree not that interesting (they mixed it up nicely this year though) as they try to cover the "big name places". Friends of mine went on a TUI cruise last fall from Malta to Lissabon and it was a great itinerary. They loved their cruise and were very happy with the Mein Schiff 2. And their pictures were beautiful. They can definitely recommend TUI! Just don't make the same mistake as they did and cruise when NRW has their fall vacation - you end up on a ship full of Rheinländer (including their boisterous humour and noisiness... ). But don't think that cruising with TUI will be cheaper than cruising with Disney!!

I really liked this summer's itinerary, but you are right, they are repeated about every year.
And whilst TUI is not the cheapest either, I really like what they offer. I looked at a few different itineraries as we had hoped to fit in a cruise in 2016 for half term and I really like what they offer.