7/14/2014 - 12-Night Mediterranean Cruise (with Greece) Venice to Barcelona

[keenercam]

Shall I start a Facebook group for this cruise? If so, you'll all have to PM me your names so that I can send you invites (so that we can keep the group "closed" and accessible only to those of us sailing). I am glad to do it if you want me to. I'll gauge interest based on how many PMs I get.

 

[keenercam]

Has anyone looked at airfare for these dates this summer to get an idea of what to expect when we can book for next summer?

I was browsing airfare for this year for approximately those dates, flying NE US (Philadelphia, Newark or NY) to Venice and then Barcelona to Northeast US, just out of curiosity. It looks like booking one-way tickets (for example New York to Venice and then Barcelona to NY) is about twice the cost of round-trip using the same airport.

Can anyone give me advice on how to handle this? Is there a "window" where the airfare might be more reasonable than it seems it will be at this point? We paid about $1525 RT/person when we flew PHL-Barcelona-PHL in summer 2011. The airfares I am seeing now, because they are not round trip can be over $2000/person/one way, especially if we want direct flights.

I am seriously going to have to budget differently for 2014 airfare. Just can't believe it will cost Howard and me well more to do these flights than it cost my family of four adults in summer 2011.

 

[lgajohnson]

So when I booked our 12 night Med for June 27, 2013, my DD10 was the first to tell me that she just "didn't want to go to Italy" and that she would much rather "go to Greece" instead. I said well maybe next time...who knew this was going to be our next time!!!

My 2 DD will be almost 13 and almost 8 at the time. I am going to gauge this Greece itinerary by how well we do this summer...but I think we will do great!

Looking forward to counting down with all of you!!!

 

[keenercam]

Sorry for the serial posts!

I started another thread asking this question and was advised to book an "open jaw" ticket on any of the pricing websites (travelocity, priceline, etc.). As soon as I clicked on "multiple destinations" there was a huge difference in the pricing that I was getting.

So, the secret is to book round trip with multiple destinations. Whew!!! What a relief! Sorry I jumped the gun by posting my mini-panic here.

 

[htmlkid]

Has anyone looked at airfare for these dates this summer to get an idea of what to expect when we can book for next summer?

I was browsing airfare for this year for approximately those dates, flying NE US (Philadelphia, Newark or NY) to Venice and then Barcelona to Northeast US, just out of curiosity. It looks like booking one-way tickets (for example New York to Venice and then Barcelona to NY) is about twice the cost of round-trip using the same airport.

Can anyone give me advice on how to handle this? Is there a "window" where the airfare might be more reasonable than it seems it will be at this point? We paid about $1525 RT/person when we flew PHL-Barcelona-PHL in summer 2011. The airfares I am seeing now, because they are not round trip can be over $2000/person/one way, especially if we want direct flights.

I am seriously going to have to budget differently for 2014 airfare. Just can't believe it will cost Howard and me well more to do these flights than it cost my family of four adults in summer 2011.

I did a kayak multi city search from Miami to Venice and then Barcelona to Miami for the same dates this year and the cost was $1100.

 

[denise]

Denise, it looks like you live close to us. Great to share tips on airfares etc.

Yep....we are in Roseville....above Sacramento...so we are neighbors....

Looked at the air from SAC and freaked out I am hoping to book with airline miles once we can....

 

[SailingSeas]

You can also train from Barcelona to Venice as well, or take a smaller airline to "puddlejump" like Ryan Air, if you want. I'm toying with train transfers myself. there's a great timetable at:http://whitelabels.railkey.com/GContent/BNUS/Others-Train_Schedules

Their trip planner is at http://plannerint.b-rail.be/bin/query.exe/en?L=profi&

I would love to be able to add a night in Milan. Or heck, in Paris. The way I am planning this trip, I may not be home next July.

 

[keenercam]

Good morning, everyone!

I started our Facebook Group. It is a "closed group" called DCL Med 2014 - I originally had the dates in the Group name but then thought everyone might not want to "advertise" the dates they'll be away. LOL!

Here is the link to the group.
Facebook Group for July 14, 2014 Med Cruise


You have to go to it and ask to join. I'll then "approve" you as a member. Once we get it going, we can make modifications, like adding another moderator, etc.

 

[keenercam]

Good morning, everyone!

I started our Facebook Group. It is a "closed group" called DCL Med 2014 - I originally had the dates in the Group name but then thought everyone might not want to "advertise" the dates they'll be away. LOL!

Here is the link to the group.
Facebook Group for July 14, 2014 Med Cruise


You have to go to it and ask to join. I'll then "approve" you as a member. Once we get it going, we can make modifications, like adding another moderator, etc.

Yay! It worked! We have our third and fourth Facebook group member after me and Howard. I can't wait for others to join us.

 

[rewhitingjr]

I'll be booking this cruise during my May 4th cruise on the Magic out of Galveston, TX. It will be my Dad (88) and I. Can't wait to experience Greece and travel to New Testament sites where Apostle Paul preached.

 

[denise]

sent my facebook request....

 

[keenercam]

I've responded to all the facebook requests as of now, and I think we now have 5 or 6 members.

To keep it on the last page of the thread:

Here is the link to the group.
Facebook Group for July 14, 2014 Med Cruise

 

[vacationsitis]

Yep....we are in Roseville....above Sacramento...so we are neighbors....

Looked at the air from SAC and freaked out I am hoping to book with airline miles once we can....

Yes, we plan on using the miles too but don't know if the balance will suffice as we need 4 tickets. Will have to do a combination of miles & purchase.

 

[TammyAlphabet]

I just moved from the June cruise to this one. I am doing a B2B with my daughter who will be 16 at the time.

 

[SailingSeas]

Tammy, my daughter will be 17 at the time - if they wish to chat, let me know.

You are so lucky to do the Btb in Europe, talk about experiencing everything there is in the med!

 

[denise]

I just moved from the June cruise to this one. I am doing a B2B with my daughter who will be 16 at the time.

How exciting!! Have always wanted to do a B2B

 

[vacationsitis]

Tammy, my daughter will be 17 at the time - if they wish to chat, let me know.

You are so lucky to do the Btb in Europe, talk about experiencing everything there is in the med!

Hi Tammy & SailingSeas,

My older daughter will also be 16 at the time of cruise. It will be wonderful if they can chat.

 

[TammyAlphabet]

Hi Tammy & SailingSeas,

My older daughter will also be 16 at the time of cruise. It will be wonderful if they can chat.

We will have to get these three together for sure. I am glad they will get to know someone prior to cruising, I think it makes it alot more fun for them.

 

[denise]

We are coming too. DS will be 23, and DD will be 17. So happy to see folks their age. Pretty sure flying into Venice ahead of time, and staying a few days. I'm trying to remember the limited Greek from my childhood. Should be humorous.

Oh, and if you guys notice my stateroom is empty after Santorini, just grin and look away. (would love to move there)

So you speak some Greek?

 

[TammyAlphabet]

Tammy, my daughter will be 17 at the time - if they wish to chat, let me know.

You are so lucky to do the Btb in Europe, talk about experiencing everything there is in the med!

I did the med and baltic in 2010, which was a blast without a doubt! We will be doing some of the ports twice like Mykonos and Athens and a few days in Venice, but I am sure we find plenty to do. We have not been to most of these ports before.

How exciting!! Have always wanted to do a B2B.

It is really great if you can get the same cabin both cruises and don't have to move.