2010 news from the Magic

[gydell]

did you do EB or WB?
I'm thinking WB may be warmer and my kids would be out of school if it's in Aug.
Is WB longer as in flying (against the jet stream) or does that not apply with ships?
not a big deal really, just curious...

We were on the EB. We lost 6 hours in 7 days. The last of these most the ship slept to noon or later. But since we start school the 1st of August the last 2 weeks are better to miss than the first couple(at the age the dgs is).

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

I don't think dh could cruise for 14 days. I know I could. Who ever wants it to end? he does... He says he gets "cruised out."

I was hoping it would something like 8-10 days. 7 days does go by in a flash.

 

[CRSNDSNY]

This is quite a long thread and I haven't visited in days.
Can someone be kind enough to give me the Cliff Notes version on the latest "rumour" for 2010?

 

[NancyIL]

This is quite a long thread and I haven't visited in days.
Can someone be kind enough to give me the Cliff Notes version on the latest "rumour" for 2010?

We know the ship will be in Copenhagen and Oslo in the summer of 2010 - so it won't be going to Alaska!

 

[edna mode]

Don't you love it? David Morse is my new celebrity crush!!!! Bye bye Antonio! Though I still love it when telemarketers don't know how to pronounce my last name and end up calling me "Mrs. Banderas"
I never correct them!!!

Here is my dilemma. We have a cruise scheduled for 11/09. Will it be too late then to book a 2010 cruise to get the onboard re-booking discounts? We probably would be able to do either a Baltic cruise or the WB TA, since our kids don't usually start school until after Labor Day.

Or should I book it this October when it first comes out and then cancel and re-book when I'm onboard in 11/09?

Book in October, it will be too late by 09.

We were on the EB. We lost 6 hours in 7 days. The last of these most the ship slept to noon or later. But since we start school the 1st of August the last 2 weeks are better to miss than the first couple(at the age the dgs is).

The Californians were running for breakfast every morning at topsiders at 10:59. It was crazy.

 

[pansmermaidzlagoon]

this sounds awesome - I may finally get to Europe! and would love for our DD to see Europe as well!!!

I have DH interested (half the battle!). He and I are thinking this is kismet: a few years back we were "this close" to going to Copenhagen for three months. DH was going for business, but due to politics his slot went to someone else. We are both thinking here's our chance again to see Copenhagen!!!! I had researched and gottne so psyched I was practically there - only to have it yanked out from under us.

Can't wait to here the official details!

Awesome sleuthing you guys!!!!!!

 

[CRSNDSNY]

Interesting. THANKS!

We know the ship will be in Copenhagen and Oslo in the summer of 2010 - so it won't be going to Alaska!

 

[Pluto 2]

to anyone who's done the TA:
how rough were the seas? I've always wanted to cruise to Bermuda but my dad always talks us out of it. He says seas in the Atlantic are much rougher than in the Caribbean. He's an avid boater so I usually trust his opinion about anything nautical.

I'd love to do the TA but a cruiser-neighbor mentioned rough seas too.
Any experienced opinions out there?

in aug 2007 dcl repo we had very good seas, but the may repo was very rough. the cruise director we had on the aug repo said that was her 13 transatlantic sailing and this was the only one where they didnt have rough seas.

 

[pillow]

In terms of flights - I have seen some 1 way flights to London that were cheaper than the round trip prices, saving a couple hundred per ticket. You just have to hunt around for them. Some of the websites I found were ones I wasn't familiar with . . .

www.farecompare.com

http://www.1800flyeurope.com/

http://www.flycheapabroad.com/Europe/Cheap-Flights-to-Europe.aspx

Of course, I was looking at 09 fares. Who knows what 2010 will look like.

Jodie

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

in aug 2007 dcl repo we had very good seas, but the may repo was very rough. the cruise director we had on the aug repo said that was her 13 transatlantic sailing and this was the only one where they didnt have rough seas.

thanks, I will just have to patiently wait and see what the itinerary & prices are like.

 

[kaseyC]

In terms of flights - I have seen some 1 way flights to London that were cheaper than the round trip prices, saving a couple hundred per ticket. You just have to hunt around for them. Some of the websites I found were ones I wasn't familiar with . . .

www.farecompare.com

http://www.1800flyeurope.com/

http://www.flycheapabroad.com/Europe/Cheap-Flights-to-Europe.aspx

Of course, I was looking at 09 fares. Who knows what 2010 will look like.

Jodie

Bookingbuddy.com and kayak.com are also two sites that are great for looking for international airfare.

Has anyone been like me and lurking over at the cruise critics Europe boards.

I've been copying links to private tour companys for some of the possible ports and saving them in a folder on my web browser.

 

[mousemom11]

I also did a bit of playing around with airfare to London. 4 RT tickets from Seattle to London were about $6,000. However, if I priced multiple destinations (assuming we did the WB TA), 4 tickets Seattle to London and then Orlando to Seattle were $4,000, a $2,000 difference.

 

[NancyIL]

For the Transatlantics - you would book airfare as multi-city: from home to London and from Port Canaveral to home (or the reverse).

 

[NancyIL]

Bookingbuddy.com and kayak.com are also two sites that are great for looking for international airfare.

Has anyone been like me and lurking over at the cruise critics Europe boards.

I've been copying links to private tour companys for some of the possible ports and saving them in a folder on my web browser.

I used to have the Baltic Ports forum bookmarked...looks like I'll need to do so again! http://boards.cruisecritic.com/forumdisplay.php?f=192

We did a private tour in St. Petersburg with DenRus, and I would gladly go with them again: www.denrus.ru Looking at DenRus's site - I see they now offer private tours in other northern European ports as well.

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

As mentioned before DCL would not wish to loose the same income again as it did on the transatlantics in 2007, so they will be 'beefed up' a lot more.

My feeling it will Include Bermuda and Maybe Madira, and a north Spain/Portgul or West coast French port before Southampton.

 

[granmaz]

Madeira is lovely and would make a great port to visit. You can walk in to the town from the port if you don't want to go on an excursion. However, the island is stunning.

 

[pillow]

As mentioned before DCL would not wish to loose the same income again as it did on the transatlantics in 2007, so they will be 'beefed up' a lot more.

My feeling it will Include Bermuda and Maybe Madira, and a north Spain/Portgul or West coast French port before Southampton.

Whats your guess on a WB return date? Do you think they'll finish up on Labor Day again? Our school here starts a week before Labor Day - wish they'd go WB a little earlier. Guess we'll soon see.

Jodie

 

[kaseyC]

I used to have the Baltic Ports forum bookmarked...looks like I'll need to do so again! http://boards.cruisecritic.com/forumdisplay.php?f=192

We did a private tour in St. Petersburg with DenRus, and I would gladly go with them again: www.denrus.ru Looking at DenRus's site - I see they now offer private tours in other northern European ports as well.

Yep, I have that website saved. DH and I did private tours on our Med cruise in 2006 and had a fabulous time without the "hurry up and wait" of the big bus tours. If we do the Baltic, we will take our 3 DDs so I know it will be more cost effective to do private tours.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

I'm getting $975 +tax for each leg from Philly to Heathrow on British Airways website. This was whether it's booked as one way or RT. Def. not cheaper to book RT.
Kayak showed BA to be cheapest from PHL and also added benefit of having non-stop.

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

Whats your guess on a WB return date? Do you think they'll finish up on Labor Day again? Our school here starts a week before Labor Day - wish they'd go WB a little earlier. Guess we'll soon see.

Jodie

My guess would be August 14th to get back on the 28th, DCL seem to be set on getting back before September each time, Labor day being the latest they consider.

Now with the Magic not showing in the Baltic from Mid July, I guess its doing something else as well, the Term 'Northern Europe' can cover many thnigs.