25 Days on the Disney Magic to Europe About This Page:

[Colexis Mom]

Thanks for the wrap up Bruce It was great to hear of your adventures

[Zazu]

Originally Posted by lauriep

How did DCL handle the pin sales for the repo? I remember reading about the problems on the first Panama cruise. Did they figure out a better distribution method?

They surely did find a better way. Like the Eastbound Panama cruise, an order form is left in your cabin. You mark up how many of each pin you want and drop them off. For pins in shorter supply than demand, a lottery is held to distribute them. For pins in long supply, they ended up in the onboard shops and sold out promptly.

And another "merchandise" question... Any special items in the ship's shops specific to the destinations?

Yes indeed! There is a set of merchandise from each of the three major countries on the cruise (France, Itlay, and Spain). I didn't notice any that were specific to the ports of call (other than the pins, which were probably Chinese), but I didn't look all that hard.

You said you'd have trouble fitting your purchases into your suitcases for the trip home. Any of the ports especially good for shopping?

Actually, it was just our dirty laundry we had trouble packing. Afraid I'm not the one to ask this question of. We aren't big shoppers, and the few things we did fancy were obviously not going to make it home in our luggage.

We did see one guest carrying a six-foot model of the Tower of Pisa onto the ship -- I still wonder how he managed to fit that into the overhead compartment for his flight home!

[chezp]

Originally Posted by Zazu

We did see one guest carrying a six-foot model of the Tower of Pisa onto the ship -- I still wonder how he managed to fit that into the overhead compartment for his flight home!

Oh my goodness, I'd forgotten about that - that was quite a sight!

[lauriep]

Thanks for all the shopping info, Bruce! I'm glad the pin problems have been resolved. That sounds like a very fair and low-stress system. I'll start saving now for the Panama repo pins!

I'm sorry your trip is over. I'll miss the reports.

[jns]

Thank you for a great report
just finished catching up

[katspjs]

Thank you for sharing your trip with us!

[WvT3rd]

[quote=Zazu;1638339]There's a free breakfast buffet that comes with all rooms at DLP resorts. It's overpriced, overcrowded, and overcooked.

Oh, the ugly American head rises swiftly! How can a free buffet be overpriced? Second, you're in Europe. European fare is different from American fare, and this includes buffets. Having been to DLP a couple of times I know just what to expect for breakfast - pastry, bread rolls (love the taste of those), or croissants, a selection of meat (usually ham and salami), selection of cheeses, yogurt, cold ceral, variety of juices, plus hot coffee, tea, or hot chocolate. Very filling. Pity the Newport has gone down so much. Was very nice when we visited, with none of the hassles of checking in that you experienced. Walter

[Zazu]

Originally Posted by WvT3rd

Oh, the ugly American head rises swiftly! How can a free buffet be overpriced?

A fair question (if a harsh charge). I consider a free buffet to be overpriced if I would gladly pay for the same thing. Were there but a single table-service restaurant at DLP that served an "English Breakfast", we would have paid to dine there and been glad of it.

Second, you're in Europe. European fare is different from American fare, and this includes buffets. Having been to DLP a couple of times I know just what to expect for breakfast - pastry, bread rolls... or croissants....

Yes, we're aware of the "Continental Breakfast". But as first-time guests we based our expectations on the descriptions on the web site and brochures. What we found was not how it was advertised to us. It was also inadequate for SWMBO, whose diabetes requires some substantial protein at that hour of the morning. Had we known, we'd likely have brought our own breakfast makings.

And surely you weren't meaning to suggest that Nescafe was a just substitute for coffee?

Pity the Newport has gone down so much. Was very nice when we visited, with none of the hassles of checking in that you experienced. Walter

Let's hope they manage to recover from their present status before their reputation sullies the rest of the resort.

[Twice Charmed]

any twice charmed pics.