2010 news from the Magic

[danielle782001]

When I booked our Med trip, I got online right when bookings opened. I booked the room, but received an error message due to the large volume of bookings they were getting. Then I called while still attempting to book online. When I finally got a rep on the phone, she told me that my original booking had gone through, which was good since I was watching the price go up by a few hundred dollars while I was trying to book. It was crazy. I was on both the phone and computer at the same time for several hours. My original booking was definitely an "opening" price and a good room. SO, if I were you, I would get online first thing.

Jodie

Do we know the exact date yet? And what time does the booking open?? Thanks for the information.

 

[Skallywag]

I am just hoping it will be a uk port the cruise/cruises leave from and would just selfishly love it to be Dover. This is becoming a very busy cruise port and has Dover Castle, Canterbury Cathedral and Cinque Ports, Tudar villages and good access to London by road and rail.

 

[pillow]

I am just hoping it will be a uk port the cruise/cruises leave from and would just selfishly love it to be Dover. This is becoming a very busy cruise port and has Dover Castle, Canterbury Cathedral and Cinque Ports, Tudar villages and good access to London by road and rail.

Hi Brenda. Do you live near Dover?

Jodie

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

Do we know the exact date yet? And what time does the booking open?? Thanks for the information.

We have been told October 7th is ''preview'' date, and I was told on sale on 21st, however a few others have posted on sale as a week after the 7th, ie the 14th. I am sure this will be clarified on the preview.

We do not know the time, at the moment assume its 8am Eastern when bookings open but they have been later when paired with a press event, ie once was 1pm Florida to coincide with a 10am press event in Disneyland Cl.

 

[Skallywag]

Hi Brenda. Do you live near Dover?

Jodie

Hi yes about an hour I suppose to Dover so that would be wonderful for us.
Bren

 

[GoofyontheHiSeas]

Thanks Jodie. If booking opens on the 21st, we're going to be in Disneyland. So it looks like I might lose a few park hours booking the trip. But booking a Disney Cruise is the ONLY thing that would keep me out of the park! Oh wait, do you think I can get a wi-fi connection on POTC?

Booking on the Westcoast begins at 5am (8 EST) so you won't miss any time at the park.

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

Booking on the West coast begins at 5am (8 EST) so you won't miss any time at the park.

Hi,

Only Brits are up at That time in California, ( as our body clock is on UK time)

 

[taysmom]

Andrew (or any other Virgin Atlantic fliers) - are you a "Flying Club" member? If so, do you know if it's very difficult to use your miles? Meaning, are there lots of black out dates, or is it pretty easy to use you miles if you book far enough in advance? And (sorry for so many questions), how far out can you typically book using miles? TIA

Wait, there's more - I'm looking at getting the Virgin Atlantic American Express Black Card if anyone has any info on that as well.

The only thing I've noticed is that you really can't fly on the weekends too often. Most are blackout. The really nice thing about virgin atlantic (and I've have no real experience w/ other airlines) is that they have the calendar available to show you whats available with miles. So you can plan. I looked at next june just for an example and most weekends were blacked out and some week days but towards the end of the month. Hope that helps.

 

[taysmom]

It is a possibility, but I personally do not think so, the E/bound repo through Panama had loads of kids on it and was basically the same time, and why rush back to the possibility of hurricanes in the Caribbean.

I still think the August repo will leave mid August.

Now it leaves various options, one being.

• Transatlantic into say Barcelona as before,
• Cruise Barcelona up to Harwich, via Gibraltar and Cadiz, and Madeira.
• Baltic cruises.
• The above in reverse. Cruise to Barcelona from Harwich, via Gibraltar and Cadiz, and Madeira. Then Repo back.

I love it andrew..this is exactly what I was saying I was hoping for the other day! I hope they do florida to barcelona, then barcelona to england then baltic then reverse. I would love to go back to barcelona again. Even though we were they 3 days before it wasn't enough time with the time change to see everything. Our clocks were all screwed up. I would love to go back and really see the town again. Depending on the price for barcelona to england..maybe take a second cruise up there?? That would be amazing

 

[taysmom]

Yes, I think ours was one of the slower ones to book up. I'm guessing that its because some school systems let out JUST before cruise time and people wanted a week or two to decompress before taking off. Interesting to note that it was also a little cheaper than the July trips. Maybe some folks wanted warmer weather, and waited for July. Our weather in June was great, and as a matter of fact, we had 2 days where it was unseasonably hot (too hot for me really). I think that more people will prefer July for the Baltic for the warmer temperatures, so the early June cruises may be even slower filling up - maybe more chance of some sales?? Who knows, but thats where my thoughts are going.

Jodie

I believe one of those days was naples..OMG how how was it! 90++ humidity. I remember trying to upgrade too but I meant that it was booked up with kids. our ship was really low child to adult ratio. More couples. I agree too that I think the early june ones didn't fill up as fast due to schools. The july and august were much more crowded with kids and expensive. One can only hope that patterns hold true and these cruises will be slow to fill early. hee hee

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

I love it andrew..this is exactly what I was saying I was hoping for the other day! I hope they do florida to barcelona, then barcelona to england then baltic then reverse. I would love to go back to barcelona again. Even though we were they 3 days before it wasn't enough time with the time change to see everything. Our clocks were all screwed up. I would love to go back and really see the town again. Depending on the price for barcelona to england..maybe take a second cruise up there?? That would be amazing

I would love it as well, and I think its a chance, but on this one, I must say it comes with a health warning, it is speculation on my part on the extra bit.

I called ( or look to have) the Baltic cruises right for 2010, so I know a lot of people look to my posts, on this bit I do not know!!!! But hopeful and speculating.

DCL have always left for there REPOS second week May and back mid August, with the Baltic's of 4 x 12 days, there is 'gaps' on what we know, I hope for some West coast Europe trips at those times.

People have mentioned a 'series of' one way cruises, that fits this.

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

I believe one of those days was naples..OMG how how was it! 90++ humidity. I remember trying to upgrade too but I meant that it was booked up with kids. our ship was really low child to adult ratio. More couples. I agree too that I think the early june ones didn't fill up as fast due to schools. The july and august were much more crowded with kids and expensive. One can only hope that patterns hold true and these cruises will be slow to fill early. hee hee

The MED in July and August was hot hot hot, Bar Barcelona that was rather windy.

 

[Luv2Travel]

The only thing I've noticed is that you really can't fly on the weekends too often. Most are blackout. The really nice thing about virgin atlantic (and I've have no real experience w/ other airlines) is that they have the calendar available to show you whats available with miles. So you can plan. I looked at next june just for an example and most weekends were blacked out and some week days but towards the end of the month. Hope that helps.

That is helpful info - thank you.
But I'm afraid I'm having a hard time finding a calendar listing of availability. I've just been entering different dates as if booking a flight. Could you point me in the direction of the calendar, please?

My thanks to you and Andrew again for answering questions.

 

[pillow]

I believe one of those days was naples..OMG how how was it! 90++ humidity. I remember trying to upgrade too but I meant that it was booked up with kids. our ship was really low child to adult ratio. More couples. I agree too that I think the early june ones didn't fill up as fast due to schools. The july and august were much more crowded with kids and expensive. One can only hope that patterns hold true and these cruises will be slow to fill early. hee hee

Steph,

Yes, it was Naples and Rome. Very hot!!

Based on Andrew's guess about the TA leaving from Barcelona, and based on the fact that Aer Lingus has great one way fares (the best of which is to Dublin - direct), I checked one way fares from Dublin to Barcelona just to get an idea. They are dirt cheap - some as low as $65 per person. Being in the States, I'm just not used to airfares that are that cheap. Maybe its not unusual for traveling around Europe though?? Anyway, I'm thinking that a direct flight to Dublin would be nice - then spend a week driving around Ireland - then hop a direct cheap flight to Barcelona and sail home! I really should stop speculating - who knows what the options will be. I'm spending WAY too much time thinking about this. I think my dh is ready to commit me! I must abstain!!

Jodie

 

[danielle782001]

We have been told October 7th is ''preview'' date, and I was told on sale on 21st, however a few others have posted on sale as a week after the 7th, ie the 14th. I am sure this will be clarified on the preview.

We do not know the time, at the moment assume its 8am Eastern when bookings open but they have been later when paired with a press event, ie once was 1pm Florida to coincide with a 10am press event in Disneyland Cl.

Thanks for the information

 

[Hygiene99]

Andrew

Please get DCL to add Antwerp to the route, Jenn needs to get some bling...
http://www.ajediam.com/

 

[mickeyteachers]

Hi Jodie, Steph, and Brenda,
I am so excited about this new cruise. This would be wonderful. We went this summer and have next summer booked. But, of course we must plan for 2010. It would be really fun if we all went on the same cruise.
Take Care,
Kathy

 

[taysmom]

That is helpful info - thank you.
But I'm afraid I'm having a hard time finding a calendar listing of availability. I've just been entering different dates as if booking a flight. Could you point me in the direction of the calendar, please?

My thanks to you and Andrew again for answering questions.

Use the book with miles option and it will give you a calendar view option.

 

[taysmom]

HI kathy! Theres a bunch of us from the med on this thread...we should start calling ourselves the disney med group!

Jodie..MY friends all think I am crazy just for thinking about vacation in 2010. They haven't even planned this summer yet. hahaha

 

[mickeyteachers]

It does seem strange to start planning for 2010. But, that is the only way to get a really good price and the stateroom you really want. This summer we went on the Med cruise, we decided to go a week to Hawaii, and then to Cancun. I felt like we vacationed all summer. But, it was so much fun and I got a really good tan.