Magic, or no Magic: Med Cruise 2013

[biggroofy]

We have booked Cat5 rooms for July 12 night Med cruise on Disney Magic. We have done a 10-night in 2010 and it was fantastic, and I booked this new itinerary mainly because of the overnight dock at Venice, Italy.

During my last sailing on Magic (5 night NY Cruise), I had a brief conversation with the hotel director, Thomas. I commented that the staterooms were dated, and he told me that Magic will be dry dock for 6-8 weeks in late 2013 (after the Med cruise) and there will be major renovations (redoing all the stateroom etc).

We've been on Fantasy this past Christmas and everybody loved it, especially my DD5. Now I am struggling if I should cancel/postpone the Med cruise until Magic's dry dock is over, although there is no guarantee that Magic will have Med itinerary in 2014.

We are talking about ~$20K travel budget for the whole family, as we know that the Med cruise is expensive. If I fly to Venice, Paris, and maybe Barcelona for a 12-night road trip it might be much cheaper.

If you were me, will you postpone the med cruise and wait for the "new" Disney Magic?

[woody73]

Originally Posted by biggroofy

. . . If you were me, will you postpone the med cruise and wait for the "new" Disney Magic?

No, as there is no guarantee if or when the "new" Disney Magic will return to the Med.

Woody

[kcashner]

If you want to save some money, you can do the same cruise on other lines. We seriously considered this as the Med is highly port intensive...but DD wants the Magic.

As to the ship being dated, in poor repair, etc....yes, the staterooms need some spiffing up. The ship as a whole is not in poor repair, but she doesn't have the high tech features of the newer ships. We're going to be "Magical" this summer with no hesitation about the ship's condition but fully realizing that she will be "prettier" after her dry dock.

And (are you listening, DCL) KEEP THE BEDS THAT SEPARATE. I seriously hope they don't go with the fixed bed like on the Fantasy. Different strokes for different folks--got it, Disney?

[WDW Princess 71]

Originally Posted by kcashner

If you want to save some money, you can do the same cruise on other lines. We seriously considered this as the Med is highly port intensive...but DD wants the Magic.

As to the ship being dated, in poor repair, etc....yes, the staterooms need some spiffing up. The ship as a whole is not in poor repair, but she doesn't have the high tech features of the newer ships. We're going to be "Magical" this summer with no hesitation about the ship's condition but fully realizing that she will be "prettier" after her dry dock.

And (are you listening, DCL) KEEP THE BEDS THAT SEPARATE. I seriously hope they don't go with the fixed bed like on the Fantasy. Different strokes for different folks--got it, Disney?

Is splitting the beds the most comfortable way for 2 adults to share the room? I figured one of us would take the bed and the other the couch bed, because I didnt know the bed split. We are in a Cat 11 A for the 12 night med. Does splitting the beds take away any significant space from the room, and will they remove the comforter from the room (so that isnt taking up valuable closet space)?

[lbgraves]

The issue of the beds splitting or not comes up when you have more than 2 people sharing a room with three sleeping spaces.

[woody73]

Originally Posted by lbgraves

The issue of the beds splitting or not comes up when you have more than 2 people sharing a room with three sleeping spaces.

There are also instances where two people are sharing a cabin and prefer two twin beds instead of having them put together making a king bed.

Woody

[kcashner]

My adult daughter and I do not care for sharing the big bed. On the other hand, the bed is more comfortable than the couch. Splitting the big bed fills both needs--we each have a comfortable bed and no one kicks the other in the night! When they split the bed, they move one end table to the space between them and move that bed toward the wall. It doesn't change the amount of space in the room.

Yes, they will remove the comforter if requested.

[biggroofy]

Originally Posted by woody73

No, as there is no guarantee if or when the "new" Disney Magic will return to the Med.

Woody

True, that's my concern. Once Magic is renovated, it may not have special itinerary.

Hard to decide, sail with "dated" Magic now, or wait for the chances to sail on a "newer" Magic next year :D

[woody73]

Originally Posted by biggroofy

True, that's my concern. Once Magic is renovated, it may not have special itinerary.

Also, a "dated" Wonder could follow the Magic's footsteps and cruise the Med in 2014 or so, followed by an extensive dry dock.

Woody

[WDW Princess 71]

Originally Posted by kcashner

My adult daughter and I do not care for sharing the big bed. On the other hand, the bed is more comfortable than the couch. Splitting the big bed fills both needs--we each have a comfortable bed and no one kicks the other in the night! When they split the bed, they move one end table to the space between them and move that bed toward the wall. It doesn't change the amount of space in the room.

Yes, they will remove the comforter if requested.

Great, thanks for the explanation. It is my dad and I so obviously we dont want to share 1 big bed, and its nice we'll both have the comfort of separate beds instead of 1 having to take the couch.

[GeneMachine]

You could easily come up with an itinerary for 1,000$ a night that allows you to spend 12 nights in Venice, Paris and Barcelona. Once you are in Europe, there are plenty of airlines that can get you places within Europe for very little money.

Balance that with the risk that maybe the Magic gets a super nice renovation and maybe has a Med itinerary in 2014 that maybe coincides with your schedule.

I don't mean to overdramatize; clearly, the choice between a med cruise or 12 nights in Venice, Paris and Barcelona is a great one to have. Either way, it's a great trip!

[WDW Princess 71]

Originally Posted by GeneMachine

You could easily come up with an itinerary for 1,000$ a night that allows you to spend 12 nights in Venice, Paris and Barcelona. Once you are in Europe, there are plenty of airlines that can get you places within Europe for very little money.

Balance that with the risk that maybe the Magic gets a super nice renovation and maybe has a Med itinerary in 2014 that maybe coincides with your schedule.

I don't mean to overdramatize; clearly, the choice between a med cruise or 12 nights in Venice, Paris and Barcelona is a great one to have. Either way, it's a great trip!

Totally agree! I have done 3 land-based trips through Europe and had lots of fun, but I'm super excited to try something new by visiting places via the 12 night Med cruise this summer. I wish the Magic was being refurbished beforehand, but its still not something that would make me wait for a "maybe" down the line. Plus, what are the chances that 1 of the only 2 eastern Med w/Greece & Turkey cruises in another year would fall on my birthday in July again? I get to spend my birthday in Cinque Terre, Italy sampling great food, wine and views and then return to the Magic--can't get any more better timed than that for me this year!

[tajz90]

Just a thought, I don't have a ton of experience with foreign hotels, but I do have some and I'd much rather head back to my American luxuries on the ship

We stayed at a lovely seaside hotel in/near Sorrento and every morning the hotel cut the air condition at 6 am. Didn't take long for the heat to come creeping . That's just one example of why I like to cruise overseas.

[heatherbelle]

Just to add to the discussion. I have postponed my DCL Med cruise and we are now doing a Med Cruise with Carnival (I know it will not be the same as DCL) because they spoil us all rotten at a price.

But we are saving a substantial amount of money.

Ports of call on our 12 day sailing are.

Venice
Dubrovnik
Athens
Izmir for Ephersus
Messina
Naples
Rome
Lorvorno for Pisa etc
Marseilles would prefer Villefranche myself
Barcelona final port.

So a fab itinerary. Lets hope the ship is okay more importantly the food!!

[Four Swampers]

Originally Posted by biggroofy

We have booked Cat5 rooms for July 12 night Med cruise on Disney Magic. We have done a 10-night in 2010 and it was fantastic, and I booked this new itinerary mainly because of the overnight dock at Venice, Italy.

During my last sailing on Magic (5 night NY Cruise), I had a brief conversation with the hotel director, Thomas. I commented that the staterooms were dated, and he told me that Magic will be dry dock for 6-8 weeks in late 2013 (after the Med cruise) and there will be major renovations (redoing all the stateroom etc).

We've been on Fantasy this past Christmas and everybody loved it, especially my DD5. Now I am struggling if I should cancel/postpone the Med cruise until Magic's dry dock is over, although there is no guarantee that Magic will have Med itinerary in 2014.

We are talking about ~$20K travel budget for the whole family, as we know that the Med cruise is expensive. If I fly to Venice, Paris, and maybe Barcelona for a 12-night road trip it might be much cheaper.

If you were me, will you postpone the med cruise and wait for the "new" Disney Magic?

No matter what, it will always be cheaper to do a land tour (provided you stay at cheaper places and eat cheaper food, and I mean less expensive, not "cheap" in a pejorative way) than to cruise DCL. No matter what, you can always find Med cruises that will be cheaper than DCL. So ask yourself, why are you really cruising with DCL?

If it is for fresh paint, fresh carpets, and a guarantee of no dripping faucets, then hold off for after the drydock. If it is for the food, the entertainment, the service, the activities, the adults-only areas, will those improve with drydock? How important are the physical aspects of the ship to you? If a leaky faucet or worn-out carpet will destroy your vacation time on the Magic, then don't pay the extra money.